The President inspected the new Philharmonic Hall, which had been reconstructed after a fire. The chamber music orchestra conducted by Vladislav Belinsky played a Vivaldi concert in D-minor for Vladimir Putin.
After the concert Mr Putin talked with the conductor and wished him and his musicians success and good work.
The President also visited the display devoted to the preparations for the celebration of the 450th anniversary of Astrakhan.
The affiliate of the Nizhnevolzhskaya Territorial Philharmonic Society was set up in Astrakhan in 1937. Later on, a symphony orchestra was created on its basis. The regional state variety arts organization was transformed into the Astrakhan State Philharmonic Society with the formation of the independent Astrakhan Region in 1944.
The concert hall of the Philharmonic Society was commissioned in 1965 and rated as one of the best in the Volga Region. It played host to the quartets named after Borodin and Chiurlionis, musicians Svyatoslav Richter and Mstislav Rostropovich.