Organized under the auspices of the Fund Forum and Russia’s Ministry of Culture, the live concert by the artists of two of the world’s cultural jewels has become a dream come true for hundreds of local opera enthusiasts, including many young people who were provided with free concert tickets by the Fund Forum.

The first part of the gala concert presented Russian opera masterpieces such as Lensky’s aria from Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin, arias from Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera Snegurochka (The Snow Maiden) as well as a duet from Borodin’s opera Knight Igor. The beautiful voice of the soloists of the Bolshoi and the Mariinsky – Anna Aglatova, Yekaterina Sergeyeva, Dmitry Voropayev and Edem Umerov – accompanied by the Symphonic Orchestra of the Music and Theater Studio at the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan playing under the baton of Russian conductor Sergei Polyanichko made for a stunning combination of classical music and Russian literary heritage.

In the second part of the concert the soloists performed well-known arias from operas by European classical composers Bizet, Offenbach, Verdi and Puccini. The quaint milieu of the Old World was successfully conveyed through famous characters: young Margarita and charming Carmen, energetic Rigoletto and doleful Nemorino played by Anna Aglatova, Yekaterina Sergeyevea, Edem Umerov and Dmitry Voropayev had the audience captivated.

Each piece that was sung at the gala was more than just singing; rather it was a whole story with deep feelings and emotions, with utmost mastery and dedication lent by the singers and rapt attention from the spellbound audience. In what was a recognition of the soloists’ great talent and virtuosity, the audience clamored for an encore and the four singers performed an aria from Verdi’s La Traviata. The concert, which was an opportunity for many Tashkent opera fans to get a taste of classical music art offered by two of Russia’s prominent opera houses, is certain to have made lasting impressions on the audience, particularly on the many young talented students and artists who were provided with free tickets to the concert.