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Gala concert to be held in Red Square marking Slavonic Literature and Culture DayOn May 24, an all-Russian gala concert to mark the Slavonic Literature and Culture Day will traditionally take place in Moscow’s Red Square.

Every year, on May 24, all Slavic countries celebrate the Slavonic Literature and Culture Day. This holiday is inextricably linked with the names of two Christian saints, the Equal-to-the-Apostles brothers Cyril and Methodius, the creators of the Glagolitic alphabet and the Church Slavonic language.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia: “Due to the feat of the Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, who created the Slavonic literature, historical Russia became one of the world centers of culture.”

The Day of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, celebrated by the Orthodox Church on May 24 (Gregorian calendar), has become a public holiday in Russia since 1991. The main idea behind it is the moral integrity of Orthodox peoples.

Minister of Culture of Russia Olga Lyubimova: “Traditionally, solemn events marking the Slavonic Literature and Culture Day are held in all regions of our country; this year, the celebration programs are in the context of the Year of the Cultural Heritage of the Peoples of Russia, announced by the President of Russia. The main theme of the regional celebrations is Slavonic literature as the basis of cultural heritage, uniting multinational peoples living on the territory of the Russian Federation.”

The central event of the all-Russian celebrations will traditionally be a gala concert called “Faith, Hope and Charity” in Red Square at 7 p.m.

The celebration will open with a welcoming speech by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

The concert program will include musical classics mainly related to the historical past of Russia, to the images inspired by the life of the people and epic literature. Famous soloists, the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Large Choir including 365 people will play pieces by outstanding Russian composers: A. Kastalsky, M. Glinka, P. Tchaikovsky, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, S. Rachmaninov, and A. Scriabin.

Among the participants are virtuoso pianist, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Denis Matsuev; soloist of the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Hibla Gerzmava (soprano); Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, People’s Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan, People’s Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan Ildar Abdrazakov (bass); Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, soloist of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia Agunda Kulaeva (mezzo-soprano); winner of the international competition, soloist of the Donetsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre named after A. Solovyanenko Maxim Alekseychuk (bass); winner of all-Russian and international competitions, soloist of Helikon-Opera Igor Morozov (tenor); winner of all-Russian and international competitions Lev Bakirov (piano).

The Large Choir will include: the Moscow Synodal Choir (Artistic Director and Chief Conductor, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Alexey Puzakov), Yurlov Russian State Academic Choir (Artistic Director and Chief Conductor, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Gennady Dmitryak), Sveshnikov State Academic Russian Choir (Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Gennady Dmitryak), the State Symphony Capella of Russia (Artistic Director, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Valery Polyansky), the Grand Choir “Masters of Choral Singing” of Radio Orpheus (Artistic Director, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Lev Kontorovich), the State Academic Choir of Moscow Region named after A. Kozhevnikov (Artistic Director and Conductor Nikolai Azarov), Chamber Choir of Moscow Conservatory (Artistic Director Prof. Alexander Solovyov), Concert Choir of the Schnittke Moscow State Institute of Music (Artistic Director, Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation Dmitry Onegin), Choir of Moscow Conservatory (Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Alexei Rudnevsky).

The Chief Conductor is the Artistic Director and General Director of the Mariinsky Theatre, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Valery Gergiev.

The Chief Choirmaster is the Artistic Director of the Academic Grand Choir of the Russian State Musical TV and Radio Centre, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Lev Kontorovich.

Hosts: Yulian Makarov and Ksenia Alistratova.

The concert will be broadcast live on Russia-K.

The event is organized by the Government of Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Ministry of Culture of Russia, the Government of Moscow, the Federal State Budgetary Institution of Culture ROSCONCERT.