Europe-Asia international music festival opens in Kazan

A related news conference was on Thursday held at the Tatarstan Culture Ministry. Tatarstan deputy culture minister, Irada Ayupova, said the 2013 festival was dedicated to the upcoming 27th Universiade. Music from 15 countries will be played in the festival’s 8 concerts.

“It is important that composers have a chance to communicate, exchange. Besides, it will allow broadcasting Tatarstan’s art across the world,” she said, stressing that the ministry would continue to support the festival.

Tatarstan Union of Composers chairman, Rashid Kalimullin, said the project had first been organised in the difficult 90es.

“Despite the difficult times, we wanted to move on, wanted a better life, wanted to develop culture. The festival from its very first day aroused quite an interest. In all, over 45 countries have participated in it over this time,” R. Kalimullin said, adding that the event took place in other parts of the republic and in Moscow as well.

Musicians from Sweden, Switzerland, Croatia, Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia will take part in the festival.

The festival will on 5 April open at the Saidashev Concert Hall with a symphonic concert with the participation of Kazan’s chamber orchestra La Primavera, conducted by Rustem Abyazov. Pieces by composers from the US, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and other countries will be played.