Sergei Rachmaninov international festival opens in Veliky Novgorod

The Sergei Rachmaninov international festival opens today in Veliky Novgorod, an ancient city in Russia's North-west. It is dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian composer and pianist Sergei Rachmaninov /1873-1943/ who was born in this city.

World famous musicians from Russia and abroad and participants in the Rachmaninov international contest of young pianists will give concerts during this week.

The festival's programme also includes an exhibition of copies of rare photographs of the beginning of the 20th century from the archives of the Moscow Museum of Musical Culture and family archives of Novgorod residents.

The festival is organised by the Russian Culture Ministry and the administration of the Novgorod region.