Greetings to the 25th Stars of the White Nights International Music Festival 2017-05-26 18:15:00 Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to the participants and guests of the 25th Stars of the White Nights International Music Festival that is taking place in St Petersburg. The message reads, in part: “This wonderful, creative forum is always a spectacular and impressive event, a real festival of music and excellent performing arts. Thanks to the amazing energy of its creator – Maestro Valery Gergiev – it stands out for its special, spiritual atmosphere, high-profile premieres and superstar performances. I am confident that this festival, which is devoted to two occasions –135 years since Igor Stravinsky’s birth and Rodion Shchedrin’s 85th birthday – will fully measure up to the expectations of the most demanding audiences and will give them a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the world’s best classical works as well as contemporary opera and ballet productions. I wish the participants of the Stars of the White Nights Festival success and inspiration and its guests, the joy of performances by outstanding Russian and foreign musicians.”