A press conference on the 12th All-Russian Marathon Festival Songs of Russia by Nadezhda Babkina was held today in the meeting room of the Congress Hall “Toratau”. The artistic director of the Songs of Russia Marathon festival, People’s Artist of Russia Nadezhda Babkina told about its role, significance and influence on the internal national policy of the Russian Federation in an interview with media representatives; Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus Amina Shafikov, choirmaster of the Russian Song ensemble, Peter Klyuchnikov; the leaders of the festival-marathon "Songs of Russia" Ivan Zamotaev and Anastasia Efremova; the artistic director of the ensemble of the Cossack song "Krinitsa", Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Vladimir Kapaev; artistic director of the folk group "Ailanys" Stepanida Samozhikova; Yekaterina Modina, artistic director of the Merema ethnographic folklore studio; Artistic Director of the Siberian Kaleidoscope Dance Theater, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Viktor Seliverstov; Bayras Ishberdin, director of the folklore ensemble of song and dance "Miras"; sound producer and keyboard player of the Argymak group Alik Garayev.

    “We are very pleased today to take our“ living legend ”as a guest, a woman whom the whole country is proud of, Nadezhda Georgievna Babkina. In the year of the centenary of our republic, the arrival of such a marathon-festival is very important, because it contains the main idea of ​​the unity of the peoples of Russia. We still have 10 days ahead of an explosive, powerful patriotic festival. We will see 10 concerts in the cities of our republic. Along with the collective of the Russian Song Theater, collectives of the Republic of Bashkortostan, amateur groups of the cities where these concerts will take place will take part, ”Amina Ivnievna noted.

The “Songs of Russia” marathon festival opened today with a concert on the square in front of the City Palace of Culture in Blagoveshchensk. Tomorrow the city of Birsk will take over.

    “Our country is unique, it is not similar to any other country in the world, not only by its territorial possibilities, but also by its national color, which has its own historical lands, ancestral traditions, heritage monuments. No wonder Likhachev said that culture makes people from just a population a people and a nation. And in every nationality, every nation, every republic has this affiliation, it must be preserved, respected, valued, moved further, promoted, not shy of this word, because it is good, it carries beautiful information of creation, not destruction, and strengthen the human spirit. And in this situation, of course, it would be good to know about the culture of your neighbor. This is only possible by combining. And each will say his word in his own dialect, in his own language, in his costumes, in his gestures, songs, melodies, instruments. It is so interesting and curious, because we know little about it and understand it. This is the genetic code of our life, it is our ancestors who created history from time immemorial. And our task is to multiply it, it is better to do it, even if you resist and say that it is not fashionable. The task of musicians and managers is to make it acceptable in the 21st century, ”said Nadezhda Georgievna.

The Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus, Amina Shafikova, noted that the directorate of the festival “Songs of Russia” directly worked with the municipalities, who sent video performances of local groups. Among those selected is the famous family from Birsk, which created the folk family folk ensemble “Kalinushka”. The oldest participant, Kulagina, Valentina Petrovna, is 86 years old, and her granddaughter is 6 years old.

    “I really want to meet with this family ensemble, chat. Curiosity tears me apart; I love such directions, when from small to large, there is continuity. We are now going to the regions and gather around amateur groups who are trying to create something on the ground. They need to pay attention, support them, help. Culture is not just entertainment, it is an educational, educational, creative process. This is the guarantor of the security of our country, state, and this should be treated with full responsibility, ”said Nadezhda Babkina.

On June 12, on the Day of Russia, at 14:00 Nadezhda Georgievna will give a master class in the Concert Hall. F. Shalyapin Ufa State Institute of Arts. Z. Ismagilova, and in the evening the groups will perform in the Ufa Amphitheater as part of the International Festival of Arts "The Heart of Eurasia". The master class will also be held in Sterlitamak on June 16 at 14:00 on the basis of the Sterlitamak State Theater and Concert Association. From June 13 to 19 free concert programs will be presented in the cities of Belebey, Salavat, Meleuz, Sterlitamak, Beloretsk, Sibay and Uchaly.

The project was organized by the People’s Singing Culture Charitable Foundation, the United Russia All-Russian Political Party with the organizational and financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.