In Irkutsk, the 9th Stars on Baikal international music festival will begin, running from September 9 to 16 and opening with a gala concert by the Irkutsk Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. The program includes performances by Denis Matsuev, Vladimir Spivakov, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra led by Zubin Mehta, and young prize winners of international competitions. Besides concerts, guests will have master classes, the New Names contest, and the Note Do charity auction, whose proceeds will go to buy musical instruments for gifted children.
Today in Irkutsk, the IX International Music Festival “Stars on Baikal” will take place. The festival will run from September 9 to 16, and it will open with a gala concert featuring the Irkutsk Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. People’s Artist of Russia and pianist Denis Matsuev will present a galaxy of outstanding musicians of different genres and generations, and Vladimir Spivakov will also perform during the festival.- “The festival will also feature the specially invited Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, consisting of 123 musicians under the direction of the legendary musician and ‘the last of the Mohicans’ of conducting, Indian conductor Zubin Mehta; international competition laureate Alexey Volodin will also perform. On September 13, we have scheduled the traditional charity auction ‘Note Do,’ of the Yuri Ten Foundation. The funds raised by the foundation will go toward purchasing musical instruments for gifted children.” – Vitaly Baryshnikov said.
The soloists will be two of the youngest yet highly gifted artists, winners of the second International Astana Piano Passion Competition for Young Pianists: Shio Okui (piano) from Japan - 1st place, younger group, and Kadmiel Botac (piano) from Romania - 1st place, older group. The concerts will take place at the Irkutsk Regional Philharmonic and the N.M. Zagursky Musical Theater. According to tradition, the festival’s program will continue with the “New Names” competition for young musicians; the musicians will perform solo and chamber concerts at the Irkutsk Musical Theater and the Irkutsk Philharmonic. In addition to creative meetings and the concert program, participants will attend master classes by renowned musicians and composers. The IX International Music Festival “Stars on Baikal” will be dedicated to Svyatoslav Belza, an outstanding Russian musicologist, literary scholar, publicist, television host, music and literary critic, music presenter on the “Kultura” TV channel, and the longtime host of all “Stars on Baikal” festivals and many musical projects, who passed away on June 4, 2014. This time, Igor Belza, Svyatoslav’s son, will have the honor of opening the festival itself. 2.5 million rubles were allocated for the festival from the federal budget, and the amount from the regional budget was about 8 million rubles.