Festival of Music by Russian Composers Opens in Chile - 22 March, 2003

An international festival of music by Russian composers opened Friday in Santiago, Chile.

The festival, held in the University theatre, is a highlight of the current Chilean theatrical season. It has been organized with the help of the Russian Cultural Centre functioning under the Russian Embassy to Chile and is scheduled to run through 26 April.

The event opened with the music by Tchaikovsky, Prokofyev and Musorgsky. The festival's programme also features works by Rakhmaninov, Stravinsky, Glinka, Borodin, Lyadov, Shostakovich and Rimsky-Korsakov.

Prominent Russian musicians, laureates of national and international musical contests, take part in the festival as soloists.

Eduardo Salgado Solovera, director of the Chilean University's centre for theatrical and cultural programmes, said that this year's "international festival is dedicated to Russia as a tribute to the Russian composers' great contribution to the development of the world music culture."