The concert was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Roman Golovchenko.
Dance and singing groups from Belarus and Russia, as well as leading artists from both countries, performed on the stage of the summer amphitheater.
The concert began with a solemn ceremony of awarding diplomas to cultural figures and heads of cultural institutions for their contribution to the development of relations between Russia and Belarus. Among the recipients was composer Alexander Zatsepin. The award ceremony was conducted by State Secretary of the Union Dmitry Mezentsev.
“The Slavic Bazaar is a celebration that makes us stronger, enriches us and gives us the opportunity to present Slavic tradition to the whole world,” said Dmitry Mezentsev, addressing all the participants and guests of the concert and the festival with a welcoming speech.
“Today we are opening the Days of the State of the Union – it is three days. This concert is a gift for everyone. Tomorrow we want to present a bright, colorful and amazing costumed performance in the format of the “State of the Union for children”. Vitebsk and the children who came to Vitebsk with their parents “The Tale of Tsar Saltan”. The best opera performers of Belarus working at the Bolshoi Theatre and other venues will present an opera performance on Sunday. Today we saw on the open stage “That the Leningrad region has brought ten municipalities, brought love from their hearts, open people who speak the same language as us, confirm that we are together – this is very valuable and very important,” said Dmitry Mezentsev.
The Executive Secretary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia Sergey Strelchenko read out the welcoming speech of the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia Vyacheslav Volodin. Art plays an invariable role in preserving the cultural traditions of our peoples, Vyacheslav Volodin noted.
