Press releases

Photo courtesy of the organizers of the festival

MINSK, 28 August (BelTA) - Vladimir Pozner and Andrei Makarevich will take part in the project of the 13th Yuri Bashmet International Festival, BelTA learned from the arts director of the festival, renowned Belarusian pianist and conductor Rostislav Krimer.

A musical-theatrical production featuring journalist Vladimir Posner, rock musician and poet Andrei Makarevich, world-renowned violinist and conductor Dmitry Sitkovetsky will be shown in the Grand Hall of the Palace of the Republic on 12 October.

The production “Devil, Soldier and Violin” based on The Soldier’s Story and other compositions by Igor Stravinsky has been created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the work (originally premiered in Switzerland on 28 September 1918). It is brilliant music performed by outstanding musicians, fine poetic text by Mikhail Uspensky, animated drawings by Andrei Makarevich, computer animation, video and lighting effects.

According to filmmaker Mikhail Kislyarov, the main intrigue of the production is the participation of three non-actors: Vladimir Posner, Andrei Makarevich, Dmitry Sitkovetsky. Also participating in the production are pianist Polina Osetinskaya, clarinetist Igor Fedorov and choreographic duo of young hip-hop dancers Alexander Tronova and Anna Deltsova.

Vladimir Pozner is fond of Stravinsky’s music. However, he knew nothing about The Soldier's Story before meeting with violinist and conductor Dmitry Sitkovetsky who persuaded him to listen to the music and read the text. “I agreed and got carried away with the idea and communication with the talented people. The Moscow and St. Petersburg audience liked our performance. I think that Minsk will enjoy it as well,” the famous journalist said.

Stravinsky's music takes an important place in Dmitry Sitkovetsky’s repertoire. His first encounter with the music of Stravinsky took place when he was a student of the Juilliard School. “We toured with the suite from The Soldier’s Story. This work became my first acquaintance with Stravinsky’s music. However, even then it seemed to me that both the original text and the music had structural problems. Therefore The Devil, Soldier and Violin products features plays from not only The Soldier’s Story,” the musician said.

The 13th Yuri Bashmet International Festival will take place in Minsk on 7-20 October. Outstanding musicians from different countries will perform in the best halls of the Belarusian capital at the invitation of Art Director of the festival Rostislav Krimer. Apart from concerts of classical music stars and Grammy Award winners, the forum will feature world premieres and unusual projects, including Devil, Soldier and Violin.