Vitebsk is waiting for friends

The 33rd Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk International Festival of Arts is going to host more than five thousand accredited guests and participants from about 35 countries. What surprises does it have in store for the viewers?

Less than a month is left before the fanfare of the 33rd Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk International Festival of Arts, which will be held from July 9th to July 15th. This year, the festival will impress with unbelievably beautiful setting — after all, before the festive event, the city over the Dvina River also hosts the 11th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, and celebrates its 1050th anniversary. Therefore, the city has been thoroughly prepared for the landmark events so that both residents and guests of the regional centre will surely appreciate the positive transformations that will delight for years to come. The extensive programme of the ‘cornflower’ festival traditionally features plenty of pleasant surprises and novelties.

City is all glammed up

The city centre looked like one large construction site not long ago. Many Vitebsk’s sights, which are perfectly familiar to tourists, have now acquired a sleek appearance. The transformation has also affected the main sites of the Slavianski Bazaar — the Summer Amphitheatre, the Dukhovskoy Kruglik Exhibition Hall, the Laureates’ Square, the Vitebsk Concert Hall. During the reconstruction, they tried not only to bring in new things, but also to preserve the unique and appropriate old ones, such as a shell stone that was once used in construction.
The Vitebsk Concert Hall can now boast a modern look, with a lot of glass, porcelain stoneware, and more than a kilometre of LED strip. The round hall, where the international press centre will be located during the festival, has become cosier and lighter. A new choreographic hall has appeared, as well as a spacious sewing workshop with a professional conveyor, LED and video projection equipment, and an acoustic system. Other innovations include three lifts installed, renovated cafées, a buffet, stunning chandeliers in the lobby, while a pattern in the form of a Belarusian ornament has become the highlight of the parquet floor. The area around has also become prettier — a new square has been laid out, and a wide staircase leads to an additional parking lot. 
“The Concert Hall in its previous form served for 35 years. Therefore, we set the task for the builders to make sure that it lasts for at least as much after the reconstruction. More than Br40 million has been invested in the reconstruction over two and a half years,” noted Gleb Lapitsky, General Director of the Vitebsk Cultural Centre and Head of the International Festival of Arts. Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Aleksandr Subbotin pointed out that all facilities had acquired a little more gloss and interesting features, “The stage in the amphitheatre has been renewed, new lighting has been made. The construction of illuminated plane fountains has been completed on the Victory Square. One hundred and eighteen water jets will shoot straight out of the ground. That is how many residents of Vitebsk came out to meet the liberators of the city 80 years ago.” 
It is hardly possible to recognise the Vitebsk Hotel, either. Its interior has been completely refurbished. Among the novelties are a conference hall and a sports hall, a billiards room, and a hairdressing salon in the lobby. The restaurant has been expanded to 118 seats. French windows in the elevator halls open up a magnificent view of the Western Dvina River. The multi-level multi-coloured illumination of the building will complement the festive decor of the city.

Vitebsk is getting ready to welcome participants and guests      Anton Stepanishchev

From rock to TikTok

The creative component of the 33rd Slavianski Bazaar is impressive as always. The number 33 means infinity, Gleb Lapitsky joked, “Our festival is also infinitely in love with creativity, and glad to welcome friends from all countries who share our motto and idea: ‘Through art to peace and mutual understanding’. The detailed programme of the holiday has already been published. Nine gala concerts, two vocal contests with the participation of two professional orchestras and the experienced jury will be held on the stage of the Summer Amphitheatre. The forum’s contests are our cultural diplomacy, an opportunity to discover talents. It is no secret that the Slavianski Bazaar has lit up many future world stars. Thus, famous singer Taisia Povaliy always speaks warmly about the festival, and she is the first Grand Prix winner of the Pop Song Performers’ Contest at the Slavianski Bazaar.”
Let us remind that starting from this year, every child participating in the song contest will be able to fulfil their dream by getting on the stage of the Summer Amphitheatre. The debut project Guests from the Future involves more than three thousand children from different countries — kids and youth, fashion bloggers, TikTokers. In addition, starting from this year Rock Panorama returns to the amphitheatre. Guests will enjoy great rock hits performed by the Gorshenev project, the SKYNET band and others, accompanied by the Belteleradiocompany Symphony Orchestra.
According to Gleb Lapitsky, the programme on the Union State Day will be special.

“This year marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State, the 1050th anniversary of Vitebsk, the 80th anniversary of Belarus’ liberation from Nazi invaders, the 30th anniversary of the Constitution and the institution of presidency in our country. All of this will be reflected in the creative projects of the festival. The joint concert programme of Belarus’ and Russia’s performers has received a self-explanatory name Fraternity of Peoples is More Precious than Wealth,” Head of the International Festival of Arts revealed the details.    

Awards to be presented to Slavianski Bazaar laureates      Yelena Alimova

Another novelty event of the ‘cornflower’ forum is also filled with allied motives. This year is the 225th anniversary of Alexander Pushkin’s birth. An exhibition of illustrations of a large cartoon series shot for the anniversary of the ‘Sun of Russian Poetry’ will open in Vitebsk. The team of the Pushkin Museum-Reserve will also hold interactive events. People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Aleksandr Zatsepin, who composed modern music for the musical The Tale of Tsar Saltan, will bring his theatre Zatsepin’s Planet to the festival. A lesson in historical writing will be held at the local Pushkin library — it will not do without a masterclass with goose quills and ink.
The Slavianski Bazaar always hears its audience. This is confirmed by the project Dance Floor with Dushevnoye Radio, which starts immediately after the concert opening the forum. By the way, those who come to the dance until the morning will meet Igor Talkov Jr. [Russian musician, son of a famous Soviet rock singer] for the first time in Vitebsk.
The educational vector of the festival has also been expanded. In addition to the theatre and vocal laboratories, an instrumental one will appear. It is being implemented in liaison with the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music. The laboratory will be based on two national folk instruments — the Russian balalaika and the Belarusian domra. That is not all, though. The world famous pianist, Pilar Leyva (Colombia — USA), will come to the festival in Vitebsk not only as a member of the jury. She will give a piano virtuoso masterclass according to her unique author’s technique on how to relieve numbness in fingers.
Rich theatrical and exhibition programmes, lively street concerts, performances — the ‘cornflower’ festival will feature all of this and much more to ensure unforgettable vibrant atmosphere. For the tenth time, the Seven Winds street art fest will be held at the Slavianski Bazaar. 
What is an anniversary celebration without gifts? There is an idea to repeat the first mass procession on the festival, with the participation of stilt walkers, mimes, living sculptures... Pushkin Bridge, which turns into a Bridge of Performances during the holiday, will also be involved in engaging activities. Another pleasant piece of news is for fans of samba and groovy music — during the Seven Winds fest, a spectacular carnival show will take place for the first time.
The organisers promise: it is going to be interesting, bright and hot!

By Anna Naumova, Yelena Alimova