Video

The 23rd International Festival of Arts Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk solemnly opened in Belarus’ capital of art on the night of 10 July. In line with an established tradition, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko came to Vitebsk to welcome participants and spectators of the international forum and declare the festival open. The Belarusian head of state presented awards to famous cultural figures, including People’s Artist of Russia Nadezhda Babkina whose name graced the celebrity-filled pavement on the Alley of Laureates of the Special Prize of the Belarusian President. The other awardees were People’s Artist of Belarus, sculptor Ivan Misko and Professor of architecture, art expert Inessa Slunkova. The opening gala lasted till late at night and starred Belarusian and international artists, including Anatoly Yarmolenko and the Syabry group, Alyona Lanskaya, Sergei Volchkov, TEO, Alexander Rybak, Filipp Kirkorov, Stas Mikhailov, Nadezhda Babkina and the Russian Song folk group, Pelageya, Nadezhda Kadysheva and the Golden Ring folk group, Turetsky Choir Art Group, Soprano 10, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ricchi e Poveri, Dschinghis Khan, Potap and Nastya… The gala culminated in a grand premiere of the song Slavonic Soul that was composed for the festival by chairman of the jury of the international song contest Vitebsk 2014 Kim Breitburg…