Placido Domingo gave a farewell message to the participants of the competition «Young Virtuosos of Kazan»

KAZAN, June 3 Opera singer Placido Domingo bade farewell to the participants of the 1st competition-festival “Young Virtuosos of Kazan-2024”, wishing them to work hard and love music .
The gala concert of the 1st competition-festival «Young Virtuosi of Kazan-2024», organized under the patronage of Honored Artist of Russia Aida Garifullina, will take place in the capital of Tatarstan on June 5. The project, which is planned to be held annually in the future, is aimed at supporting and developing the abilities of creatively gifted children, increasing their performing level and interest in the profession, as well as popularizing academic musical art.
““I am very glad to welcome you today. I sang in Kazan in 2014. Your wonderful city will forever remain in my heart, my hometown, where Fyodor Chaliapin was born,” Domingo said in a video message published by the organizers of the competition.
One of the greatest tenors of our time wished the young participants of the competition all the best for the future. “Continue to work hard and continue to love music. May your passion for music bring you much, much happiness,” he admonished.

Garifullina noted that more than 100 talented children took part in the competition — students of children's music schools and art schools in Kazan in various specialties. She clarified that throughout the year the children and their teachers diligently prepared for the event and carefully selected their repertoire. The winners of the competition are given the opportunity to perform in front of a large audience of listeners together with the orchestra of the Sofia Gubaidulina Center for Contemporary Music.
The contestants will perform masterpieces of world classics — works by Bach and Handel, music by famous Tatar composers Yakhin and Bakirov, as well as the best examples of modern jazz and arrangements of folk songs.
«As a child, I also started by participating in city competitions and I understand well what difficulties children face and what this gives them. Our project helps talented children believe in themselves… gives them the opportunity to reach a new level of understanding of their future profession. To really immerse yourself in music and begin to speak this language fluently, you need ease of handling the instrument,” added Garifullina.