Press releases

Brass bands and Ode to Peace set the tone for 13th Slavianski Bazaar

VITEBSK, 23 June (BelTA) – Twenty-three days are left until the 35th International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk. BelTA invites everyone to dive into the festival’s history: each day, we look back at archival materials to highlight the most memorable moments of each festival, year by year. Today highlights the 2004 edition.

The 13th Slavianski Bazaar, held on 14-22 June, welcomed visitors from 27 countries, including Denmark for the first time. The new Luchyesa hotel complex opened its doors to them.

The Summer Amphitheater received a modern makeover. According to scenographer Zinovy Margolin’s design, the stage featured TV screens totaling about 80 square meters in area.

In 2004, the festival was timed to coincide with a significant date - the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi German invaders - and a significant part of the program was dedicated to military-patriotic themes. For the first time, an International Marching Band Parade took place along Vitebsk’s central streets. The festival’s opening gala was titled Ode to Peace.

As tradition holds, participants and guests were welcomed by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who emphasized that the theme of peace is close and understandable to people around the world, that wartime music and songs are heard everywhere, and most importantly, that young people love and sing them. The head of state noted the enduring value of the festival as a symbol of the peaceful community of Slavic nations. Aleksandr Lukashenko presented Union State awards in literature and arts to People’s Artist of the USSR, composer Alexandra Pakhmutova, and People’s Artist of the USSR, artist Valentin Sidorov.

For the second consecutive year, the festival featured a Union State Day. The leadership of the Union State Permanent Committee met with veterans of the Great Patriotic War.

During Russia’s Culture Day at the festival, an agreement was signed to hold the Year of Russian Culture in Belarus, a reciprocal initiative, as 2004 had seen the Year of Belarusian Culture in Russia, dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the country’s liberation.

The gala concert of Belarusian artists was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the renowned Belarusian ensemble Syabry, featuring Yadviga Poplavskaya and Aleksandr Tikhanovich, the National Academic Folk Choir named after G.I. Tsitovich, and others. At the Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theatre, an evening presentation titled The Creative Legacy of People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Mulyavin took place, where audiences explored a sheet music album called V. Mulyavin. Belarus - My Song, featuring famous songs by the founder and longtime leader of Pesnyary, a book titled Note of Fate compiled from interviews and memoirs, and a documentary film called The Sound of Life.

A concert titled Vitebsk - My Native City was dedicated to People’s Artist of the USSR and USSR State Prize laureate, composer Mark Fradkin, who was born in Vitebsk. In 2004, he would have turned 90. He often visited his hometown and performed concerts; in 1988, during the opening of the Summer Amphitheater, the builders presented him with a symbolic key to the festival’s main stage.

The 13th International Young Pop Singers Competition Vitebsk 2004 featured 22 young singers from 19 countries. The international jury was chaired by Mario Moreno, Secretary General of the International Federation of Festival Organizations (FIDOF). Also on the jury were three previous Grand Prix winners: Filip Zmaher, Rafael, and Taisia Povaliy. The main prize, the Golden Lyre, was awarded to Belarusian singer Petr Elfimov. Following his brilliant victory, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko sent him a message of greetings: “All of Belarus was rooting for you. Thank you for this creative triumph. We are proud of you and believe that this victory will be a stepping stone to new achievements”.

The 2nd International Children’s Music Competition featured 18 young performers from 16 countries. The Grand Prix was awarded to 11-year-old Roman Grechushnikov from Russia, who performed the song Horse a cappella.

In 2004, Vitebsk celebrated its 1,030th anniversary. Audiences named the spectacular concert Lovers Above the City, dedicated to the city, the best.

The Summer Amphitheater hosted six solo concerts by Russian pop stars. Live broadcasts were shown on a large screen set up on Svobody Square.

For the 2004 Slavianski Bazaar, the Communications and Informatization Ministry of Belarus issued a special commemorative stamp with a fixed date, featuring a lyre and a cornflower - the festival’s symbols.

The International Youth Forum made its debut during the festival, with participants from organizations in Armenia, Belarus, Latvia, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Russia. Prior to meeting in Vitebsk, they visited Grodno, Gomel, and Brest.

The second nationwide bell-ringing competition took place on Vitebsk’s 1000th Anniversary Square. In the final, master bell-ringers held demonstration performances.

In 2004, Slavianski Bazaar visitors could purchase not only handicrafts in the Town of Artisans but also products from 50 enterprises from Russia and Belarus at the 5th international trade fair Slavic Kaleidoscope. On Mayakovsky Street, near the festival directorate, a theatrical opening of a public garden took place, featuring benches, flowerbeds, lighting, and an old-style fountain.

The festival’s closing gala was held to a full house. It concluded with a celebratory fireworks display that lit up the Vitebsk sky for over 20 minutes.

In 2004, the Slavianski Bazaar expanded its borders. A concert program titled Hello, Festival by the forum’s participants was held in Minsk at the Palace of the Republic. Additional performances were organized in Grodno, Brest, and Gomel as part of the Festival Mosaic program.

The main events of the 35th International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk will take place on 16–19 July, with the first concerts already scheduled for 14 July.