Moscow Easter festival opens.

MOSCOW, April 5 (Itar-Tass) -- Great Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov'
s overture "Holy Holiday" opened the 9th Moscow Easter festival. Famous
Russian musicians participated in the first festival concert - pianist
Denis Matsuyev, the Symphony Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre conducted
by Valery Gergiev, who is the permanent art director of the Moscow Easter
festival.
Russian Culture Minister Alexander Avdeyev noted that "this grandiose
festival is one of the best in Russia. According to him, the musical
holiday "is a very favourite, long-awaited and spiritual event." He
emphasized that the festival is dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the
Great Victory this year. German Ambassador to Russia Walter Jurgen Schmid
attended the concert.
Metropolitan Illarion (Alfeyev), who is known as a composer, read out
a message of greetings from Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill.
The first concert of the Easter festival was sold out. There were not
seats even in the corridors. Some 1,000 musicians from 12 countries will
participate in the concerts. On the agenda of the festival are musical
pieces of Russian and foreign composers. Almost all Shostakovich's
symphonies will highlight the festival. This is Shostakovich who reflected
deeply the tragedy of the war in the music, Valery Gergiev believes.
The chorus program of the festival will open at the Hall of Church
Assemblies below the Christ the Savior Cathedral on April 5. Patriarch
Kirill will attend a festive ceremony.
Over 20 charitable actions will be held during the festival. Musicians
will perform at major stages, as well as in orphanages, asylums for
children and disabled people. Concerts of choruses and bell tolls will be
given at 46 Moscow churches and in St. Petersburg. So, the 9th Easter
festival will be the longest one for all its history due to the early
Easter this year.

.76th Polar Olympics ends in Murmansk.

MURMANSK, April 5 (Itar-Tass) -- Sparkling fireworks and a gala
concert of music companies from the Polar Kola Peninsula climaxed a great
sport Holiday of the North in Murmansk on Sunday.
These popular international competitions, which the athletes call the
Polar Olympics was held for 76th time. The Polar Olympics was not
cancelled even in the war years, when Murmansk was situated on the
frontline and was exposed to daily bombings of Hitler's aviation. Then
only local athletes participated in the competitions. Now the Holiday of
the North has the international status. Athletes from six countries -
Belarus, Norway, Russia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Switzerland
participated in the Polar Olympics.
The Olympic highlight was a 50-km marathon ski race, at which 1,007
skiers started. Alexei Ivanov and Yekaterina Rudakova from Belarus won the
race. The main prizes of 150,000 roubles for each winner were presented to
them.
Though the holiday of winter sports is over, the strongest Russian
skiers will stay in the Polar Region at least for a week. The Russian
championship for 70-km ski races will be held in Murmansk next weekend.
-0-baz


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