Festival "Rosa Khutor. Classics"

From August 12 to 18, the Rosa Khutor mountain resort will once again become the epicenter of the international festival "Rosa Khutor. Classics". This significant event in the architecture of Sochi's music scene this year is dedicated to two important anniversaries – the 180th birthday of N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov and the 225th birthday of A.S. Pushkin. These great representatives of Russian culture drew inspiration from national roots and folk traditions in their works, expressing true love for their people and homeland.

The embodiment of the Russian national idea in music will be the main theme of the "Rosa Khutor. Classics" festival, which has received support from the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives following its victory in the Second Grant Competition this year. The festival is organized and creatively inspired by the Alexey Aslanov Charitable Foundation.

The grand program of the festival will be held at two concert venues at the Rosa Khutor resort. Renowned opera and ballet stars, international artists, and the legendary Saint Petersburg State Academic Symphony Orchestra will participate in the concerts and performances.

This year, in addition to symphonic concerts and other open events, the mountain festival will feature a luxurious opera-ballet benefit by Gleb Peraziev and Maria Bulanova, an evening of romances based on A.S. Pushkin’s poems, a musical representation of Armenian children's fairy tales, a concert by the SIONI choreographic ensemble, and a semi-staged performance of S.V. Rachmaninoff’s one-act opera "Aleko," with a libretto by V.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko. The highly anticipated "The Tsar's Bride," the ninth and most mysterious opera by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, will be premiered on the open stage of the Laizo Park at Rosa Khutor during the festival's concluding days. Soloists from the Mariinsky Theatre with international acclaim will perform the leading roles: Lyubasha – Yulia Matochkina, Grigory Gryaznoy – Vladislav Kupriyanov, Ivan Lykov – Sergey Skorokhodov, Marfa – Anna Denisova, Vasily Sobakin – Yuri Vorobyov, and Maluta Skuratov – Mikhail Petrenko.

The chief director of the festival and the premiere of "The Tsar's Bride" is choreographer and director Ilya Ustyantsev from the Mariinsky Theatre.

"We are very pleased that the classical music festival at the Rosa Khutor mountain resort has become an annual tradition and a significant event in the summer season of the South of Russia. This year, we decided to focus on the theme of the Russian national idea in music, while appropriately celebrating the anniversaries of great figures in our culture. Concerts featuring outstanding musicians will take place right in the main square of the resort. The highlight of the festival will be the premiere of the opera 'The Tsar's Bride' at an altitude of 1,050 meters above sea level against the backdrop of stunning mountain scenery. I am absolutely convinced that audiences of all ages, whether connoisseurs or casual listeners, attending any event at the festival will receive a burst of inspiration and unforgettable impressions," – Alexey Aslanov, artistic director and chief conductor of the "Rosa Khutor. Classics" festival.

As in previous years, an important part of the festival will be its educational component – the All-Russian casting of young opera singers, which provides lucky finalists with a real opportunity to perform in concerts and, most valuably, participate in the opera premiere alongside recognized masters. A significant role in this endeavor belongs to the partner and co-founder of the festival, the F.E.S. (Forma. Energia. Scæna.) Foundation for the Support of Classical Music. Interest in the casting is enormous, as winning it almost guarantees a career boost and a place in leading theaters across the country.

"Successfully resolving typical tasks for such a large-scale project, we simultaneously strive to focus on two crucial aspects. First, the fate of young talented singers for whom the 'Rosa Khutor. Classics' festival becomes a rare springboard to universal recognition and, consequently, a coveted start to a stage career with tremendous potential. Second, in its second year of existence, the festival has gained international status. This classical music project has transformed into one of the most prestigious creative platforms in the country, significantly enhancing cultural exchange in the context of international relations," – comments Dmitry Dedukh, director of the F.E.S. Foundation and general producer of the "Rosa Khutor. Classics" festival.

Changes to the festival program are possible. For more detailed information about the "Rosa Khutor. Classics" festival and the casting of young opera singers, visit the official website at https://fest1.ru/.