I. Metshin: “She has long been a man of the world, but, nevertheless, we believe she is ours”

(KZN.RU, October 24). 85 years anniversary is celebrated today by Sofia Gubaidulina, an honorary citizen of Kazan and composer. A large series of events to mark this important date begins in the capital of Tatarstan.

“We are proud of Sophia Gubaidulina. She has long been a man of the world, but nevertheless we believe she is ours. All activities need to be spent at a high level, with love and respect to this very humble person with great inner world. We are looking forward to her visit at the anniversary events”, said Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, at the today's Business Monday in the Executive Committee.

Azat Abzalov, the head of the Department of Culture, said that the III International Piano Competition named after S. Gubaidulina and the VI International Festival of Contemporary Music “Concordia”, which opens today, will be held in the capital.

“We look forward with great excitement to Sofia Gubaidulina at the celebrations, organized by the City Hall of Kazan”, said A. Abzalov. “It will be the central venue of celebration”.

Press conference with the participation of the composer will be held there on November 2. The creative collective of the Kazan center of Sofia Gubaidulina will present the anniversary book “Under the sign of love. Composer Sofia Gubaidulina” and the documentary “Under the sign of love. Sofia Gubaidulina in Kazan”. The exhibition of paintings by artists of Russia, Germany and France “Artists of Sofia Gubaidulina” and an exhibition of bookplates in the framework of the project “Contemporary Art and Music” will be opened in the exhibition hall of the City Hall.

Anniversary concert “Те salutant, Sofia!” will take place on November 3 at the Kazan City Hall. “Two premieres of Sofia Gubaidulina’s works await guests of the concert. “Fachwerk” for accordion, percussion and string orchestra will be performed by the chamber orchestra “New Music”, directed by Anna Gulishambarova. Soloist - Friedrich Lips, a musician, which Sofia Gubaidulina has devoted a number of works, People's Artist of Russia, and professor”, said the head of the Department of Culture. “The second premiere will be the work “Pilgrims” for violin, piano, bass and drums, created in 2015, which will be performed by the soloists’ ensemble “Studio for new music” of the Moscow Conservatory”.

Azat Abzalov drew attention to the fact that the Kazan children's school of arts to take part in the celebration of the anniversary events. On November 4, young musicians will perform at the concert “A visit to young Sofia” with the participation of distinguished guest at the Children's music school №1 named after P. Tchaikovsky, where Sofia Gubaidulina had studied. Meeting of the composers and artists of the republic with Sofia Gubaidulina will be held the same day at the Center of S. Gubaidulina.

“Commemorative events will last until December. The final chord will be a concert “Musical Offering to Sofia Gubaidulina” at Kazan State Technological University, and then in the Small Hall of the Moscow State Philharmonic. The Moscow ensemble “Studio for new music” and the Kazan chamber orchestra “New Music” will perform works by contemporary composers, dedicated to Sofia Gubaidulina, and the music of the hero of the day”, said A. Abzalov.