CULTURE The Minsk Times Thursday, July 29, 2010 9 BELTA

ARTUR PRUPAS Croatian Damir Kedzo wins Grand Prix Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk is a success in 2010 Nineteen petals of symbolic cornflower International Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk Festival of Arts gathers performers from all over the globe — including Turkey and Cuba ARTUR PRUPAS International song festival gathers crowds to Vitebsk By Viktar Korbut Luchenok recollects how he took (Sorbs). Th ese thirteen republic-sis- accent. Lasha notes that, on choosing before their rehearsal for Vitebsk’s Vladimir to rural villages to show ters have been sending their top per- his song, he listened to Pesnyary’s concert, where they explained the I was standing in a cafe at the him how people sing — ‘not pseudo- formers to the Slavonic Bazaar and repertoire and ‘it seemed to me that secret of their success, saying, “Th e Summer Amphitheatre when I saw folklore music but voices of the land’. Eurovision every year, winning fi rst everything they created was genius’. Romanian language is rooted deeply some familiar faces — the guys from Th e Day of Bela- places (Serbia, Ukraine and Russia). He smiles, “Th e Belarusian language in Latin, much resembling Italian. At MaNga (named best musical group rus, celebrat- Our Slavonic-language music has is very melodious and easy to learn. the same time, it has a charming Bal- of 2009 by the MTV Music Awards). ed at the huge potential. Every Belarusian should be proud of kan note!” Some time later, they festival, In recent years, the festival has having such a language.” Lasha is now Th e Romanians have already were tuning their gui- unexpectedly left its Slavonic frame- considering a joint performance with heard much about Belarusian music tars to play to a crowd work to harmoniously welcome sing- Belarusian Pesnyary. Th e contest’s and are even experts in some de- of many thousands in ers from, for example, Kazakhstan Grand Prix went to Damir Kedzo, tails. “When Rybak won Eurovision Pobedy Square. was or Israel. Th is year, artists from 34 from Balkan Croatia. He won $10,000 and we heard that he is Belarusian, Pop stars from diff erent fully countries participated! Interestingly, and the special ‘Lyre’ prize. this was our fi rst discovery of your continents and of diff erent dedicated Belarusian-language songs are heard Th e leader of Ukrainian Vopli Vi- country. Th is year, we’ve gained generations came to Vitebsk to Vladimir more oft en these days; this year, Toto doplyasova has promised Vitebsk that acquaintance with Th ree Plus Two, — including Cuban Daniuska Mulyavin. Cutugno risked performing a popu- he’ll soon sing in Belarusian. “Th ree who are great.” Pacheco, 18, (who participated Th e 19th lar Belarusian song — I’ll Lie — in the years ago, someone gave me a collec- As is traditional, Latvia was rep- in the young singers’ pop con- International original, at his solo concert. tion of sheet music from the 1940s resented by Raimonds Pauls. He was test) and elderly Toto Cutugno, who Rodion Bass, (published in Canada). I learnt that, imperturbable during his artistic arrived from Sicily to please his faith- the Director of the Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk: before the war, musician Bogdan Ves- evening at the Summer Amphithea- ful fans. Th e Italian has been popular elovsky lived in Western Ukraine. He tre and almost never left his grand As never before, the Festival was rich in world-class celebrities. I can among Belarusians since the 1980s performed top-grade jazz at a Lvov piano. When he stood up, he contin- name a few who are known far and wide: Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Nino Kata- and his songs are still going strong. madze, Th omas Anders and Toto Cutugno. Vitebsk can easily be called a pub and is still remembered. We re- ued playing... accepting fl owers. Young and old alike love his songs, true European city — without any reservations. tain his cultural legacy and I think Mr. Pauls was fi rst called maestro which make them dance. Meanwhile, Belarusians — like all Europeans in the USSR. He lit so many stars in Th omas Anders (a former member of Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk Festival However, a young Georgian sing- — will fi nd his music close to their the pop sky that it’s diffi cult to calcu- Modern Talking) collected the larg- of Arts has created even stronger ties er received the greatest applause and souls,” he said. late them. His music is easily recog- est number of fl owers from fans in between the musical traditions of was placed fi rst in the International Romania has twice brightly nised from the fi rst bars, regardless Vitebsk — more than any other Bela- neighbouring European nations, who Pop Song Performers Contest Vitebsk- showed its talents at the Slavonic of the age of the listener. His artis- rusian or foreign singer. speak kindered languages. “Plunging 2010. Lasha Ramishvili’s performance Bazaar. Th is year, the International tic evening in Vitebsk also featured Before the Slavonic Bazaar in into the atmosphere of the festival, impressed everyone; the host — Bela- Children’s Music Contest was won performances by Ani Lorak, Dima Vitebsk offi cially began, a star hon- it’s clear that Slavonic unity does ex- rusian pop diva Anzhelika Agurbash by Romanian Mario Galatanu. It’s Bilan, Valeria, Piotr Dranga, Zara ouring Vladimir Mulyavin and Pes- ist,” smiled the President of Belarus, — showered compliments on him, unlikely that his victory was due to and the National Concert Orchestra nyary was solemnly unveiled on the Alexander Lukashenko, welcoming saying, “You’ve conquered my heart. the presence of Nicolae Caragia, also conducted by Mikhail Finberg. 2011 laureates’ avenue. Culture Minister audiences and artists onto the festival I’ve never heard a foreigner singing in from Romania, on the contest jury. is a jubilee year for the maestro, who Pavel Latushko compares Vladimir stage. Belarusian so wonderfully!” Not long ago, Romanian duo has promised to return to Vitebsk to Mulyavin with an angel who fl ew Th e map of Europe now has 13 Everyone present was impressed Paula Seling and Ovi Martin took celebrate further. Next year, the Sla- from Russia to Belarus to return our Slavonic states. Moreover, Slavs also with Lasha’s mastery of Belarusian third place at Eurovision-2010, play- vonic Bazaar is to be organised for original songs to us. Composer Igor live and sing in the east of Germany while charming us with his Caucasian ing the glass piano. We met them the 20th time. Young Mario ref lects the mood By Irina Sveridenko fi rst prize ($3,000) went to Belarus. of the contest seemed less Lizi Nikvashvili of Georgia. Popular Belarusian com- signifi cant. I think that this For the second time in Two second awards ($1,000 poser, Oleg Yeliseenkov, who exciting atmosphere is es- a row, a Romanian has each) were shared by Borys was on the jury this year, tells pecially vital for a children’s won the International Bylicki of Poland and Olga us, “I was quite astonished at event, where impressions and Children’s Music Contest Timoshenko of Ukraine. Two the spectacular stage set cho- positive emotions are more Vitebsk-2010. In 2009, third prizes ($500 each) were sen for the junior contest. It important than who wins. I young Maria conquered shared by Zlata Larchenko seemed as if the young per- hope all the entrants had a the Slavonic Bazaar with (Belarus) and the youngest formers, spectators and jury super time, with wonderful her Mother song while, entrant from Kazakhstan — were in a fairytale; the con- emotions to take home from this year, 11 year old 7 year old Aiaru Ormanova. cert stage of Vitebsk Concert Vitebsk.” Mario has taken the titler Belarusian Anya Zaitseva and Hall became a sunny ‘Flower Th e 8th International Mario has been awarded Russian Darya Bashegurova City’ fi lled with cheerful in- Children’s Music Contest the Grand Prix, $5,000, a were awarded special prizes habitants. It was so bright, Vitebsk-2010 brought togeth- laureate diploma and the — digital cameras — from original, powerful and spec- er 22 young talents from 19 BELTA special ‘Lyre’ prize, while the Union State of Russia and tacular that even the results countries. Mario becomes festival’s junior winner