Press releases

BREST, 12 January (BelTA) – The best opera singers of Italy and Russia took to the stage at the closing ceremony of the 28^th edition of the January Music Nights in Brest on 12 January, BelTA informs.

The final evening of the festival at the Brest Academic Drama Theater was opened by a trio of Italian tenors. Winners of international singing competitions Domenico Stasi, Francesco Tuppo and Roberto Cresca performed arias from popular operas and operettas, romances and Neapolitan songs. The Italian singers were followed by soloist of the Mariinski Opera Theater, host of the TV show Romance Romantics Maria Maksakova (mezzo-soprano). The opera singer has paid her first visit to Belarus. The singers were accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of the Brest Academic Theater led by Alexander Sosnovsky.

Closing the music forum Brest Mayor Alexander Rogachuk thanked everyone for the participation. In his words, the high creative level has been kept straight since the day it was set. “I am proud that a visit to Brest in January is considered a good style for many world level singers,” said Alexander Rogachuk. He expressed confidence that this festival tradition would be continued. “The oblast and city authorities are well aware of the fact that economizing on culture means economizing on the soul. Therefore, regardless of the economic situation we have always helped and will continue helping the organizing committee in hosting such an important event,” the mayor assured. He also took note of a big personal contribution of art director of the festival, winner of the President’s special award and Honorary Citizen of Brest Lilia Batyreva.

The 28^th edition of the January Music Nights took place in Brest on 9-12 January. Partaking in the forum were more than 300 musicians from 16 countries. Apart from four big gala nights at the Brest Academic Drama Theater, the festival included concerts in the Brest Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Cultural Center of the agro-town of Ostromechevo. The organizers of the music forum are the Culture Ministry, Brest oblast and city executive committees, Brest Regional Musical Society.