Birthday greetings to violist and conductor Yury Bashmet 2018-01-24 09:20:00 Vladimir Putin sent greetings to Yury Bashmet, prominent violist, artistic director and chief conductor of the Novaya Rossiya State Symphony Orchestra, on his 65th birthday. The message reads, in part: “You are known as an outstanding performer and conductor, a brilliant, extraordinary and dedicated person. Your diverse talent has unfolded in many important endeavours. You are greatly involved in support of gifted youth; bring about highly popular creative and educational initiatives. You are sincerely concerned with preserving the long-standing traditions of Russian arts.”