Press releases

VITEBSK, 18 July (BelTA) –Belarus presidential orchestra will take part in the concert of world opera stars at the New Wave music festival, Honored Artist of Belarus, art director and chief conductor of the orchestra Viktor Babarikin said at the press center of the Slavonic Bazaar festival, BelTA has learned.

Speaking about his cooperation with Igor Krutoy, Viktor Babarikin said that they have recently discussed a joint concert in Sochi in September. “The presidential orchestra will take part in the New Wave festival. There will be seven performances, including at a big concert featuring such singers as Anna Netrebko and Dmitri Hvorostovsky,” Viktor Babarikin said.

He added that Belarusian singers and musicians are admired abroad. Belarus is called a singing nation. However, speaking about the 2009 TV show New Voices of Belarus, Viktor Babarikin said that it had revealed certain negative sides: “Television helps some people and does harm to others. We found talented people, but had to fire them in two years because they did not want to work well. We were looking for songs, taught them to sing, and promoted them. But they were not prepared for rehearsals.” “We decided to be open to all singers, there are no solo singers in our team. Otherwise, the orchestra begins to adjust to a concrete singer, and there is no development,” Viktor Babarikin said.

He also said that he wanted to introduce some novelties in the Slavonic Bazaar festival. For example, there can be different orchestras at different concerts. “There are wonderful orchestras in Russia and Ukraine. There are several orchestras in Belarus. We need a contest or a tender. A special commission will decide which orchestra will perform at a certain concert. New sounding and diversity are needed,” the conductor said.