The telegram reads, in part:
“In Russia, this competition has been and remains a key cultural event, attracting widespread public attention. For more than half a century, it has provided young, gifted musicians the opportunity to make themselves and their talents known. Victory in the competition has brought renown to outstanding performers such as Gidon Kremer, Vladimir Spivakov and many others.
This year, for the first time, the competition will be held not just in Moscow, but in St Petersburg as well. This will allow us to significantly expand the audience, resulting in a pleasant surprise for music lovers in St Petersburg.
I hope this competition will continue to promote the preservation of cultural heritage and augment traditions at leading music schools around the world.”
The International Tchaikovsky Competition is held once every four years. The first competition (1958) was held in two disciplines: piano and violin. The cello category was introduced in the second competition (1962), and voice was added in the third competition (1966).
The competition will be held in Moscow and St Petersburg on June 14 through July 2. There are 122 musicians participating.