The choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District performed at the opening of the VII International Lenten Choir Festival in Moscow (+VIDEO)

April 1, 2024. Moscow. With the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the VII International Lenten Choral Festival began work in the capital of Russia.

The festival is designed to promote the revival of the long-standing tradition of holding concerts of sacred and classical music during Lent, as well as increasing public interest in the historical continuity of generations and the spiritual enlightenment of society.

The opening of the VII International Lenten Choir Festival took place in the Great Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I. Tchaikovsky.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District took part in the prestigious international music forum under the direction of the Honored Artist of Russia, member of the Patriarchal Church and Public Council for the Development of Church Singing O.N. Ovchinnikova; choirmaster - V. Dudareva, soloists - laureates of international and republican competitions S. Blagodarnaya, R. Bakbergenova, E. Shagarov and M. Ababakriev.

The Metropolitan Choir in the first part of the concert performed chants of modern composers: “The Only Begotten Son” by Yu. Kostyuk, “Glorification” by N. Matveev, “The Prudent Robber” by A. Tretyakov, “The Eternal Council” by P. Chesnokov, “In Thy Kingdom” by Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev), “Thy Chamber” and “It is Worthy to Eat” by Metropolitan Jonathan (Eletsky).

Next, the Academic Big Choir “Masters of Choral Singing” of Radio “Orpheus”, artistic director and conductor - People's Artist of Russia, Professor Lev Kontorovich, performed.

In the second part of the concert, the musical and poetic program of the modern composer Pyotr Koryagin “It Was From Me,” which was based on the text of the spiritual testament of the widely revered elder Reverend Seraphim Vyritsky, was presented. The author and performer of the artistic expression of the creative performance was Honored Artist of Russia Andrei Merzlikin.

The spiritual work was performed accompanied by famous performers: the chamber ensemble “Moscow Soloists”, artistic director and conductor, People’s Artist of the USSR Yuri Bashmet; Academic Big Choir "Masters of Choral Singing" of radio "Orpheus", artistic director and conductor - People's Artist of Russia, Professor Lev Kontorovich; chamber choir of the Moscow Conservatory, artistic director and conductor - Professor Alexander Solovyov; Moscow Synodal Choir, artistic director and conductor - Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Puzakov.

The artistic director of the VII International Lenten Choir Festival is the rector of the Moscow Conservatory, Professor A.S. Sokolov. The initiator of the musical forum is the head of the department of choral conducting of the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I. Tchaikovsky, People's Artist of the Russian Federation, Professor L.Z. Kontorovich. The curator of the festival program is Honored Artist of Russia, artistic director of the Moscow Synodal Choir - A.A. Puzakov.

The musical forum was organized by the ANO PCDMK "Land of Resurrection", the Fund for Promoting the Revival of the Synodal Choir and the Fund for the Development of Creative Initiatives with the support of the Church and Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' for the development of Russian church singing.