The first operetta soloists festival dedicated to the memory of Georg Ots opened in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG. This year marks 160 years since the appearance on the Russian stage of such a popular musical genre as operetta. In honor of the anniversary in St. Petersburg from October 24, the festival is held for the first time, the participants of which were the operetta soloists. The opening of the festival, named after Georg Ots, People’s Artist of the USSR, took place in the Oktyabrsky Hall, where everyone was invited.

Georg Ots was a wonderful opera and pop singer, but appearing on stage as the mysterious Mr. X, for most of the public, the artist became the personification of the operetta. His amazing artistic gift, complemented by a magnificent voice, gave the audience a whole gallery of diverse images. For the role of Onegin, Georg Ots was awarded the USSR State Prize.

The competition program of the St. Petersburg Festival, in which 48 applications were submitted, will be held until October 27. The right to go on October 28 to the stage of the Oktyabrsky Hall in the final concert will be given to the 15 best soloists. The winners of the festival-contest will be determined by a competent jury represented by such professionals as Irina Bogacheva, People’s Artist of the USSR and Arne Mikka, artistic director of the National Opera "Estonia".

The director and chief director of the festival, Mikhail Slavsky, speaking at a press conference held before the festival, emphasized that the festival was conceived primarily as a competition that brings together the most talented artists performing in the operetta genre.

As in every competition, awards await the winners. Soloists who won the first three places will be awarded with cash prizes. The festival organizers also prepared a special award - the Golden Ots figurine. This will be the main prize of the 1st St. Petersburg operetta festival.

Ludmila Trautmane © Gallerix.ru