Opening the concert, Svetlana Medvedeva stated, “Our festival is being held for the second time, but it has already become an exceptional cultural event in terms of its scale and significance, and a true celebration of high art.”
According to the First Lady, the festival gives its participants – young musicians from various nations – an opportunity to share their musical experience and get to know each other better, which is particularly important for promoting international humanitarian cooperation.
“In today’s world, it is the young people – who are gifted and open to all new experiences – that play the most important role in broadening cultural and educational ties. Face-to-face human interaction allows them to better learn about one another’s cultures and history, as well as the traditions of their neighbours. It also strengthens mutual trust and friendship between our peoples,” Svetlana Medvedeva said.
The Rising Stars At the Kremlin festival is held on the initiative and under the patronage of Russia’s First Lady.
The gala concert participants included young musicians from twelve nations: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Estonia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Russia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Kyrgyzstan, and Latvia. Their performances were accompanied by the Moscow Virtuosos chamber orchestra, led by its founder, Russia’s violin master Vladimir Spivakov.
The gala concert was attended by children from Moscow orphanages, pupils and instructors from Russian musical educational institutions, ambassadors, and culture ministers from CIS member states.