The Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus is preparing a pleasant surprise for the New Year holidays. For those yet to plan their December entertainments, we advise perusal of the 5th Minsk International Christmas Opera Forum programme.
This year, the musical holiday has jubilee status and an exclusive event: the Minsk International Christmas Vocal Contest. On December 17th, 280 people from 24 countries will gather on the Bolshoi Theatre stage. Its Director General, Vladimir Gridyushko, is far from surprised at the number of applications, saying, “Why should we be shocked? We’ve invited the heads of Europe’s largest theatres onto the jury, so that young talents can hope for contracts and proposals. Our competition is a wonderful opportunity for them to be seen and heard. It may be their only chance to blow their own trumpet.”
Only ten entrants will go through to the final — out of almost 300 applicants — while the trio of winners will take part in a gala-concert of world opera stars, on December 18th, concluding the programme.
The event is being launched on December 13th, with a premiere by the theatre’s chief director Mikhail Pandzhavidze: Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci. The part of Canio will be performed by a favourite with Belarusian audiences, People’s Artist of Georgia Teimuraz Gugushvili. On December 14th, legendary singer Yelena Obraztsova will appear on stage, singing the role of the Countess from Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades — accompanied by Belarusian Eduard Martynyuk and Anastasia Moskvina.
