XXX International F.I. Shalyapin opera festival commenced

XXX International F.I. Shalyapin opera festival has commenced. It lasts from 1 -17 February, 2012, on the stage of M. Jalil Tatar academic state theatre of opera and ballet.
The Shalyapin’s forum is the oldest among existing ones on post –soviet space. There is no opera festival with more long timeline in Russia. The festival has been founded in 1982 on the motherland of outstanding bass singer Fyodor Ivanovich Shalyapin, in Kazan. The initiator of forum’s creation came out director of Tatar opera theatre Raufal Mukhametzyanovв. In 1985 the festival received a status of all-Russian, in 1991 it transcended to the international level.
The stars of Russian and world opera stage performed different times in performances and concerts of the Shalyapin’s festival. Among them: Irina Arkhipova, Bulat Minzhilkiev, Alexandr Vedernikov, Maria Bieshu, Irina Bogacheva, Dmitri Khvorostovsky, Olga Borodina, Sergei Leiferkus, ПPaat Burchuladze; outstanding musicians – Nikolai Petrov, Daniil Kramer, Vadim Rudenko; well-known conductors – Fuat Mansurov, Igor Golvchin, Evgeni Brazhnik, Gintaras Rinkyavichus, Marco Boemi and many others.
Kazan opera forum is one of the most largest in Russia and enjoys great reputation at international arena.
XXX Shalyapin’s festival is to become the most lasting for all the history of its existence: it is due to last for 17 days. The repertoire of a jubilee forum consists of 12 opera performances and 2 gala concerts. Over 60 splendid singers representing best theatres of Russia, CIS, Europe and USA will perform in Kazan festival.
The festival is opened by premier of the opera by P.I. Tchaikovsky «Evgeni Onegin» staged by director Mikhail Pandzhavidze. Musical director of the performance will be a conductor whose name enjoys world popularity, – founder and art director of Russian national orchestra Mikhail Pletnev.