The gala concert closing the International Winter Art Festival in Sochi brought the audience to its feet with a powerful blend of classical mastery and adventurous programming. Led by People’s Artist of the USSR Yuri Bashmet, the ensemble offered not only renowned masterpieces but also three world premieres that broadened the festival’s musical landscape. The concert showcased a symphony orchestra performing pieces crafted for a diverse set of Russian and Arab folk instruments, creating a lush, boundary-crossing soundscape that resonated with listeners and critics alike. This memorable finale was reported by TASS at the time of the event.
The festival grounds, which opened on February 14, unfolded into a week rich with concerts, masterclasses, and collaborations. The gala performance drew a constellation of illustrious artists, including Vadim Repin, the celebrated recipient of the Victoires de la Musique award, and Olga Peretyatko, a principal soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre. Peretyatko also returned to participate in the festival, delivering a recital that highlighted her refined range and expressive depth, much to the audience’s delight. The evening underscored the event’s aim to fuse international talent with homegrown virtuosity, inviting listeners to experience a cross-pollination of styles within the winter venue’s intimate acoustics. The report on these appearances reflects the festival’s standing as a pivotal cultural milestone in the region.
Among the festival’s guests was Egyptian musician Hassan Moatats El Molla, who took the stage with a solo performance on the traditional Arabic rebab. He spoke about the instrument’s distinctive timbres and playing techniques, then shared the world premiere of a collaborative work titled Night Visions of the Alhambra for rebaba and orchestra. The premiere offered a vivid dialogue between ancient modal color and modern orchestral textures, illustrating how regional instruments can illuminate contemporary composition. The audience responded with attentive listening and admiration, recognizing the piece as a bridge between centuries of musical heritage. This premiere was noted in festival coverage as a highlight that broadened the Aegean-like reach of the event. The festival documented the moment as a testament to cross-cultural exchange, a hallmark of the season’s programming.
Also featured during the festival was the contemporary work Dreams by Denis Khorov, the winner of the X. Composition Competition held in Sochi. Performed for domra, balalaika, button accordion, and symphony orchestra, the piece marked a historic first on the Winter Theater stage, bringing together regional instruments with a large-scale orchestral framework. The premiere demonstrated the organizers’ commitment to nurturing new voices and expanding the sonic vocabulary available to audiences in the region. Critics noted the piece’s playful rhythms and bright textures, which balanced the concert’s more solemn and virtuosic moments, leaving many listeners with a memorable sense of discovery. The performance received enthusiastic responses from attendees and press alike, solidifying its place in the festival’s evolving narrative.
In a return to the big stage, Philip Kirkorov resumed his recent appearances, contributing his characteristic stage presence and broad popular appeal to the festival’s closing festivities. His involvement complemented the evening’s diverse programming, helping to create a shared sense of occasion among attendees while showcasing the event’s ability to fuse different musical worlds into a cohesive, celebratory experience. The closing chapters of the festival thus featured not only high artistry but also a spirit of generosity and communal joy that has become a signature of the Sochi edition. The coverage surrounding these performances highlighted the festival’s role as a proving ground for collaboration between traditional forms and contemporary spectacle, a key factor in its ongoing resonance with audiences across Canada, the United States, and beyond.