Elton John a Possible Performer at St. Petersburg Tercentenary Concert on Palace Square

At the tercentenary concert on Palace Square in St. Petersburg next year, it's possible that Elton John will be taking part. This was announced on July 2 at a press conference set up for the work of the St. Petersburg Fund by the fund's director, Alexandre Zapesotsky. He said that 'negotiations are currently underway for Elton John's participation at a concert in May 2003. By our calculations, around USD 2.1 million will be needed for this concert. The artist's fee isn't the biggest expense in this - we want to do a grandiose light and music presentation, which we hope will be seen by at least 500,000 people.'

According to Zapesotsky, the idea of holding this concert was partly conceived by Alexander Rosenbaum, and Andron Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky has agreed to direct the event. 'But if Elton John declines to come to St. Petersburg, the concert will probably take place all the same, but with only Russian performers.' Zapesotsky said that plans are being considered for a fireworks display by Gert Hoff, who is known for his staging of the Berlin millennium celebrations, the farewell party marking the end of the Greek national currency on the introduction of the euro, and for a presentation marking the thousandth anniversary of Budapest. 'This show will cost not less that USD 2 million', says Zapesotsky. And at this stage that kind of sum is unrealistic for us. If we manage to find sponsors from abroad, then it's possible that St. Petersburg will get to see this show.'