Press releases

MINSK, 22 November (BelTA) – The gala concert of the Minsk International Christmas Opera Forum 2018 will bring together in Minsk opera singers from 14 countries on 21 December, BelTA learned from the press center of the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Baller Theater of Belarus.

The gala concert of international opera stars, which will wrap up the Minsk International Christmas Opera Forum 2018, will feature: Goderdzi Janelidze and Lasha Sesitashvili from Georgia, Tigran Ohanyan and Sargis Bazhbeuk-Melikyan of Armenia, Zarina Abaeva from Russia, Anne-Sophie-Vincent from France, Korea’s Claudia Kang, Domenico Balzani from Italy, Hector Lopez Mendoza of Mexico, Ukrainian Mykhailo, Jelena Koncar from Serbia, Viktorija Miskunaite from Lithuania, Agnieszka Rehlis from Poland, Fidan Haciyeva of Azerbaijan, Claire Rutter from the UK, and Suzanne Taffot from Canada. This great event will also feature the winners of the 5th Minsk International Christmas Singing Competition which will be held on 14-19 December. Opera and classical music aficionados will have a chance to enjoy the popular pieces performed by the international opera stars and winners of the Minsk singing competition. The orchestra will be conducted by People's Artist of Belarus Alexander Anisimov,” the press center noted.

This year the Minsk International Christmas Opera Forum will be held from 13 to 21 December. “During this time the theater will show four operas and two large concerts. This is a dream-come-true program for those who consider the Italian opera the icon of the genre and view the music festival as the main event of the theatrical year. The opera forum will open on 13 December with an amazing youth project of this year - Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti. It is being prepared by a Bolshoi Theater team: conductor Viktor Ploskina, Director Mikhail Pandzhavidze and artist Alexander Kostyuchenko,” the theater said.

Russian opera singer Olga Peretyatko will give a concert on 15 December. The unique compelling voice and stage presence earned Olga ovations in Vienna State Opera and Opera de Paris, Zurich Opera House, Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, Teatro Real in Madrid, the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the world’s other best opera houses. Olga Peretyatko will performed to the Minsk audiences with a solo program. The opera singer will be accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus.

The theater will present Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca on 16 December. This opera in three acts stars winner of international competitions Dragana Radakovic as Tosca and Honored Artist of Russia Akhmed Agadi as Cavaradossi. The opera is conducted by Gianluca Marciano. Dragana Radakovic’s dramatic soprano is dubbed as one of the best in Europe. Akhmed Agadi is the winner of Russia’s prestigious Golden Mask national theater award.

Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Boheme is scheduled for 17 December. This opera in four acts premiered in the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus in April 2018. Stage director is People’s Artist of Russia Alexander Titel. On 20 December Richard Strauss’ Salome will feature Dmitry Pyanov from Russia as Herodes. The opera is conducted by Viktor Ploskina.