Putin attended the opening performance of the International Arts Festival in Sochi

The President of the Russian Federation specially focused on the acting of Konstantin Khabensky, who played the main role in the production “Don’t Leave Your Planet”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the show “Don’t Leave Your Planet”, which opened the X Winter International Arts Festival.

An eminent Russian actor Konstantin Khabensky plays the main role in the play based on the fairy tale “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. The performance is conducted by Maestro Yuri Bashmet and directed by Victor Kramer.

Vladimir Putin liked the performance, made specific mention of its atmosphere and musical accompaniment, as well as the acting. After the performance, the President of the Russian Federation briefly spoke with Khabensky and Bashmet.

Khabensky, in turn, noticed that the viewer’s perception of the performance was to some extent a surprise. “It turned out so interesting. And the audience received it well,” the actor said.

Putin also drew attention to the fact that the Winter International Arts Festival led by Bashmet is among the twenty best festivals in the world. “I didn’t even know that the festival was among the twenty best festivals in the world. Great. The festival caught the eye of the foreigners from all over the world. Congratulations,” he said, wishing the organizers success.

“Don’t Forget Your Planet” is presented at the unofficial opening of the festival. The production was staged in cooperation with the “Sovremennik” Theatre, and the premiere took place as part of the IX Winter International Arts Festival in Sochi. The creators of the play define it as a visual and musical fantasy based on a world-famous work.

The festival will open with a gala concert, which will traditionally be devoted to the music of the past. An international “team” of young performers is going to play a little-heard symphony by Mozart for four wind instruments. The main premiere of the festival is “The Barber of Seville” based on the comedy by Beaumarchais and Rossini’s opera – it will take place on 20th of February.

The ballet evening of the festival will be dedicated to two “operatic” themes – Madame Butterfly and Tristan and Isolde. “Classics and modernity” will meet on the stage. A ten-time Grammy winner, a six-time Billboard winner, an Emmy winner and many other prizes, Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval will perform in Sochi for the first time.

The world stars of classical music, soloists of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theaters, stars of Russian theater and cinema are among the festival participants. The Winter International Festival takes place in Sochi from 17 to 26 February.