The XIII Moscow Easter Festival
The XIII Moscow Easter Festival — a peak event in the cultural life of Russia and one of the grandest musical events of the year — will take place from April 20th through May 9th 2014 with the support of the Moscow City Government, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. The official opening of the Festival will be in Moscow. However, that will be preceded by a series of pre-Festival concerts beginning on April 15th in Russia’s regions.
During this Year of Culture, the XIII Moscow Easter Festival will beat its own record for territory covered. For the very first time the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Valery Gergiev will travel clear across the country, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I, the Festival will also include the leading ensembles from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in its programmes.
The choral programme of the Festival will offer choirs from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Lithuania, Finland, the Czech Republic, and Greece. Children’s choral accomplishments will occupy a special place in the 2014 programme with a great many performances set to include children’s groups. A substantial number of the choral music concerts will be held in churches in Moscow and its environs where all who wish may enjoy the finest examples of choral liturgical musical and afterwards hear chiming of church bells by masters of that technique. The chamber programme will present artists from the Academy of Young Singers of the Mariinsky Theatre and will include, as always, master classes and an opportunity to meet the performers.
The Moscow Easter Festival has over the years become not merely an outstanding cultural phenomenon, but also a response to all the misfortunes that have afflicted Russia and the world. For this reason in 2014 Festival concerts will be heard in Russia’s Far Eastern cities that were flooded and in Volgograd which was victimized by terrorism. In addition, participants in the Moscow Easter Festival will visit orphanages, convalescent homes, and facilities for veterans. Another indispensable feature of the Festival is the open public concert in honour of World War II veterans held at Poklonnaya Gora on May 9th, which every year attracts an audience of tens of thousands.
During its twelve previous years, the Festival has become a prominent, eagerly anticipated event in the cultural life of the country that incorporates several of the musical arts—from symphony concerts and sacred music to chamber concerts and bell ringing. However, its charitable and educational elements have made this musical gathering a truly unique global phenomenon.
When: April 20th - May 9th
Where: Multiple locations
For additional information please visit the official website.