Grand Concert at the Bolshoi Theatre Celebrating Republic Day

For the fifth consecutive year, on July 3rd, the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus hosted a grand celebratory concert dedicated to the Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus. The scale of the celebration is awe-inspiring, evoking overwhelming emotions and filling the hearts of both the audience and the thousands of participants with pride and joy.

The Tradition of Excellence

The Republic Day concert has become a tradition, yet each year, the creators strive to surprise the audience with something new and impressive. This year’s slogan, “Time of Our Victories – Time of New Hopes,” beautifully encapsulates the fusion of past, present, and future. The creative team behind the concert successfully brought this idea to life by inviting not only renowned masters of the arts but also talented young individuals of various ages.

A Celebration of Generations

“This event is primarily dedicated to the continuity of our creative generations,” says Anna Motorna, the chief director and scriptwriter of the concert. “On the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre, we have five generations of theater soloists, folk and honored artists, five generations of the ballet troupe, and musicians. In this concert, we present not only the theater but also provide an opportunity for the creative younger generation to appear on this legendary stage. Alongside outstanding musicians and honored collectives, those who are just beginning their creative journey perform.”

In the opening number of the concert, renowned opera soloists took the stage, holding the hands of the youngest participants, to perform the song “Beautiful as Youth, Country” by Aleksandra Pakhmutova and Nikolai Dobronravov. This intergenerational collaboration continued throughout the concert, symbolizing the passing of the torch from one generation to the next.

Showcasing Talent

The performance of “Venetian Carnival,” written in the 19th century by J.B. Arban, was transformed into a virtuoso and humorous “pro-battle.” Musicians from the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, the Presidential Orchestra, students from the Academy of Music, the M.I. Glinka Music College, the Gymnasium-College at the Belarusian Academy of Music, and music schools from Fanipol and Minsk showcased their mastery of their instruments.

Among the musicians was 13-year-old Sofia Shkulepa, a violinist and student at the Gymnasium-College at the Belarusian Academy of Music. Sofia is a laureate of international competitions and a recipient of the special fund of the President of the Republic of Belarus for supporting talented youth. This was not Sofia’s first time performing on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre; she previously showcased her virtuosity in the premiere performances of the ballet “Dances.”

Honoring the Past

A special segment of the concert was dedicated to commemorating the events of the Great Patriotic War, particularly poignant in the year marking the 80th anniversary of Victory. “The very essence of July 3rd determined what would happen on stage. It is a unique combination of the military theme and the life of our country as an independent republic. They are united as one here. This is the true historical truth!” says Ekaterina Dulova, the general director of the Bolshoi Theatre.

The episode from the Bolshoi Theatre’s creative project “Pathetic Diary of Memory” left the audience breathless. The stage depicted the barbed wire of a concentration camp, its suffering prisoners, mothers with empty cradles, and children desperately searching for their parents lost in the whirlwind of war. The performance felt like a terrifyingly real movie, striking the heart with its authenticity. As the first notes of the Soviet anti-fascist song “Buhenwald Alarm” performed by Stanislav Trifonov resonated, the entire audience stood and listened until the last word was sung.

Celebrating Traditions

The concert program also featured traditional elements, including a folklore segment with Belarusian songs and dances, the sounds of folk instruments, and choral traditions. The National Academic Folk Choir named after G.I. Tsitovich performed “A ŭ nas sionnia talaka,” a true hit that had the entire audience singing and dancing along.

The concert concluded with a grand finale featuring a combined choir of over 20 choirs, including the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus Choir and exemplary choirs from children’s music schools. Together with the soloists of the Bolshoi Theatre Opera, they performed “Dedication to Belarus.”

“Youth, happiness, celebration, and great love for our country are what drive us all!” confessed Anna Motorna, the director of the concert. These feelings and emotions undoubtedly resonated deeply with the audience, making the grand celebratory concert at the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus a memorable event for Republic Day.

Text: Anastasia Kostyukovich

Photo: Tatiana Berzina (provided by the press service of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus)

For more information, visit the official website.