The VII International Festival named after S. Rachmaninov “White Lilac” ended in Kazan

(KZN.RU, June 7, Mikhail Chentsov). The VII International Festival named after S. Rachmaninov “White Lilac” was held in the capital of Tatarstan, in which four concerts with brilliant musicians and young talents took place in Kazan. The final concert of one of the main musical events of the city was visited by the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin and his wife.

Traditionally, the main characters of the festival were the State Symphony Orchestra of the RT under the conduction of Alexander Sladkovsky, an Honored Artist of Russia, and Denis Matsuev, the pianist-virtuoso, a People's Artist of Russia. At the concluding concert, A. Sladkovsky and his orchestra appeared on the stage of the Great State Concert Hall named after S. Saidashev first. Musicians performed the solemn overture “1812” by Pyotr Tchaikovsky under the expressive waving of the conductor's baton. A special feature in the performance of this work was the ringing of bells, which were specially cast for the festival by the order of the maestro. Heroic and lofty music literally carried the whole audience to 205 years ago, presenting the tragic events of the Patriotic War of 1812 to the imagination of listeners.

After deafening ovations to the first performers, Denis Matsuev appeared on the stage. The pianist with a truly world name has proved that his glory is not accidental. The virtuoso of his work performed the Concerto №2 by Sergei Rachmaninov to the accompaniment of the State Symphony Orchestra of the RT, conducted by A. Sladkovsky. The applause was loud and did not cease for a long time.

At the end of the evening, the Kazan audience was presented with a symphony by S. Rachmaninov “The Bells” for soloists, chorus, and orchestra. The Mystery of the four passages carried the listeners into a dizzying story, in which every guest of the festival found something close in spirit, inexpressible in words, but understandable by feelings. The choir on the stage of the Great State Concert Hall was presented by students of the Kazan State Conservatoire named after N. Zhiganov under the leadership of V. Lukyanov. After the last played note, the auditorium did not let the musicians go for a long time, lavishing them in a sincere ovation.

The International Festival named after Sergei Rachmaninov “White Lilac” is held in the capital of Tatarstan since 2011. One of the main goals of the music event is the popularization of the famous composer’s work, who twice visited Kazan with the inspection of musical institutions (in 1910 and 1916), and was also friendly terms with Fyodor Shalyapin, the famous opera singer and the native of the city.