Dmitry Hvorostovsky introduces his creative project in Minsk

In good company of muses and friends

The International Hvorostovsky and Friends Festival has been held in Moscow and St. Petersburg since 2005, praised by musical critics worldwide. This year, Minsk has hosted the successful and prestigious project, which unites and promotes various genres of classical art: instrumental music, opera and ballet.

Opera singer and People’s Artist of Russia Dmitry Hvorostovsky during a concert. Photo: BelTA

The Minsk festival programme featured three cultural events. The first was a piano evening with the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society, featuring Boris Berezovsky — one of the most celebrated pianists globally. Aged 40, he has lived in London and Holland for the past 20 years, and now resides in Brussels, although he was born and grew up in Moscow. He received his training at the Moscow Conservatory’s Piano Department, chaired by Eliso Virsaladze. In Minsk, Mr. Berezovsky played compositions from various epochs and in a variety of styles, including works by Strauss, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Grieg.

The Palace of the Republic hosted a concert by People’s Artiste of Russia Dmitry Hvorostovsky, singing, for the first time, alongside young soloists Marina and Miriam Costa-Jackson, from the Metropolitan Opera of New York. The sisters studied under leading American and Italian masters. Critics have said of Miriam, who has been studying since she was 12, that she ‘sings from the heart, and only then with her voice’. Marina has won many musical competitions, and is a member of the American Academy of Vocal Arts.

Young Honoured Artiste of Belarus Oksana Volkova, who is already famous on the world opera stage, joined Dmitry Hvorostovsky in singing an aria from Verdi’s Rigoletto, in the role of Magdalena. Dmitry emphasises, “Recently, it’s been interesting for me to work with young artistes starting out on their career. Eminent singers are booked years ahead, while young artistes are much easier to schedule. Of course, it’s also pleasant to be on stage with talented young people, who can surprise the audience, as well as myself.”

Accompanied by the National Symphonic Orchestra of Belarus, artistes performed compositions by such geniuses as Mozart, Verdi, Gounod, Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. The concert was conducted by Honoured Artiste of Russia Konstantin Orbelyan, who recently worked with Mr. Hvorostovsky on an album of military songs, devoted to the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory. “We recorded songs in some very interesting styles, which I love to listen to over and again,” admits Dmitry. “Usually, I record an album and move on, but these songs continue to inspire me.”

By Eleonora Skuratova
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