Days of Russian Culture opened in TashkentOn May 29, the Days of Russian Culture in Uzbekistan started with a concert of leading Russian pop singers.

Among the guests of honor at the opening concert in the Palace of International Forums Uzbekistan were the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova and the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ozodbek Nazarbekov.

In her welcoming speech, Olga Lyubimova emphasized that the development of Russian-Uzbek cooperation in the sphere of culture and cinematography is of priority importance in strengthening the comprehensive partnership of our countries, and noted: “The achieved level of cooperation, the historical friendship of peoples, as well as the close interaction of cultural authorities allow us to successfully implement vibrant bilateral projects, including traditional exchange Days of Culture and film festivals.”

That evening, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Pelageya performed the Russian folk song Oh, It’s Not Evening Yet and Esaul by A. Rosenbaum for the Uzbek audience. Honored Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan and finalist of the Voice show Elmira Kalimullina presented such hits as Those Were the Days by B. Fomin, I Am Looking For You  by A. Zatsepin and Lullabye  by P. Gagarina. The Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Sergey Volchkov, the winner of the third season of the Voice TV show Alexandra Vorobyova, the winner of the gold medal of the Delphic Games all-Russian and international rounds in the “Folk Vocal” category Sofia Onopchenko, the participant of the the Bolshoi Theater Youth Opera Program Nikolay Zemlyanskikh (baritone), the laureate of the Prize of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in the field of culture and art Alexander Elovskikh performed famous songs of Russian composers: Moscow Windows by T. Khrennikov, Promise Me Love by E. Krylatov, Looking into the Blue Lakes by L. Afanasyev and others. In the finale, all the participants of the concert sang Wishes to My Land by Y. Saulsky. The Phonograph Symphony-Jazz Orchestra conducted by People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Sergey Zhilin accompanied the performers at the concert.

Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Pelageya said that she had long dreamed of performing in Uzbekistan, sharing her art, and it was a special for her: “A wonderful reception, the audience is very warm. Now I will dream of a solo concert and I really hope it will happen. Cultural ties are very important. Russia is a multinational country, and it is very important for us to be friends, and culture is such a wonderful mediator between nations and means of expression of the soul of the people. Multinational, multicultural, multipolar history gives us the opportunity not just to get to know each other, but to become true friends and realize that we are all different, but in this difference we are all absolutely equally talented.”

The second concert will be held on 30 May in the “Eternal City” in Samarkand on the territory of the Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Complex. Both concert venues will also feature a photo exhibition Russia: Harmony of Nature, Architecture and People.

In addition, on 29 May, the Russian Film Festival organized jointly with ROSKINO opened in the Alisher Navoi Cinema Palace in Tashkent as part of the Days of Culture. The Ministers of Culture of both countries delivered welcoming speeches at the ceremony. Over the next three days, the screenings of six films by Russian directors will be shown. Films dedicated to the Great Patriotic War occupied a special place in the program. The first film of the festival was the war drama Blood Type by director Maxim Brius, dedicated to the heroism of orphans – victims of Nazi concentration camps.

The events are held with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Organizer – Federal State Budgetary Institution of Culture ROSCONCERT.