Farid Mukhametshin: “The Opera and Ballet Theater is a visiting card of the musical culture of Tatarstan”

On the stage of the Tatar Academic State Opera and Ballet Theater named after   M. Jalil the opening of the XXXVIII International Opera Festival named after F.I. Shaliapin took place. The event began with a solemn part on the occasion of the 145th anniversary of the Kazan Opera and the 80th anniversary of the Tatar Opera House. The collective and the audience with significant events were congratulated by  Chairman of the State Council Farid Mukhametshin.

The Chairman of the State Council, accompanied by  director of the theater, Raufal Mukhametzyanov, did an  exhibition dedicated to the opera festival. In a warm and relaxed atmosphere, a meeting was held with representatives of the creative team and theater veterans. Old-timers thanked the leadership of the republic for creating  conditions thanks to which the theater reached its present heights. The head of parliament noted that each performance of the opera house is sold out, which indicates the demand for this type of art and the maturity of the Tatarstan audience.

Speaking at the opening of the festival, the Chairman of the State Council noted that the Opera and Ballet Theater is the hallmark of  musical culture of Tatarstan, a major public, educational center of the country, made a huge contribution to preserving the rich historical, spiritual heritage of the multinational people of the republic.

“In the year of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the TASSR, we are particularly proud to recall the names of prominent artists who were associated with our favorite theater - Nazib Zhiganov, Farid Yarullin, Dzhaudat Fayzi, Niyaz Dautov, Batu Muliukov, Haydar Bigichev, Yuri Borisenko and many others, - said Farid Mukhametshin. - Today, continuing the traditions of world, Russian and Tatar national culture, the theater rightfully occupies a worthy place among  leading stage groups of the country, whose tours in regions and abroad take place with full houses. “Talented artists, directors, and artists are working enthusiastically within the walls of the opera, delighting their audience with a rich and varied repertoire.”

Farid Mukhametshin drew attention to the fact that the theater participates in large-scale festivals, creative projects, many of which were loved by the audience and gained fame all over the world. In this, the head of parliament emphasized, the great merit of the director of the theater, Raufal Mukhametzyanov, who has been leading this illustrious collective for almost four decades.

Such projects of the opera house as the Shaliapin Opera Festival, the Nureyev Classical Ballet Festival, the Tatar song festival «Uzgәresh Zhile, fell in love with the audience and gained worldwide fame.

Then Farid Mukhametshin presented state awards of the republic. The medal "100 years of the founding of the TASSR" was awarded to  conductor of the theater, Honored Artist of the RSFSR Vladimir Vasiliev. The holder of the honorary title “Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan”   became   deputy director of the theater Eduard Bagautdinov, and the title “Honored Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan” - the vocalists of the theater Venera Protasova and Arthur Islamov. Gratitude of the President of RT was awarded to  Director General of the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia Vladimir Urin and the collective  of the Opera and Ballet Theater named after Musa Jalil, who was also awarded a certificate for the purchase of musical instruments on behalf of Rustam Minnikhanov.

According to Vladimir Urin, Director General of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia, the Shaliapin International Opera Festival is the country's oldest music festival.

The current Shaliapin festival opened with the premiere of the opera The Tsar’s Bride.