7th corporate Fakel Festival for amateur ensembles and performers concludes in Sochi
RELEASE
Release
The 7th corporate Fakel Festival concluded with its final round in Krasnaya Polyana, Sochi.
Performers from different ensembles singing final song ‘Closing the Circle’
The final round involved delegations of Gazprom’s 40 subsidiaries from Russia, Armenia, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as a team of China’s CNPC. The Festival was attended by Gazprom’s foreign partners representing Bolivia, France, Germany, Slovenia, and Vietnam.
“The Fakel Festival is not only a creative outlet for contestants, but also a chance to hone their talents by learning from the country’s best artists. For the whole system to work, one has to pay particular attention to management. Our hosts – Gazprom Transgaz Krasnodar – have set the bar extremely high,” said Alexander Bespalov, Head of Gazprom Department, Head of the Festival’s Organizing Committee.
The jury and the public were treated to 126 performances in such categories as “Vocals,” “Choreography,” “Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles,” “Circus and Performance Art,” and “Folk Music.” In addition, the Young Painter contest was held at the Festival. The laureates and winners of the Festival were announced on May 18 and May 19, respectively.
Festival’s top prize winners Anna Peresvetova (Solo Vocals) from Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan (center), Vyacheslav Zmeu (Instrumental Music) from Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk (left), and Anastasia Nizharadze (Young Painter contest) from Gazprom Dobycha Noyabrsk (right)
The top prizes of the Festival were awarded to singer Anna Peresvetova (Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan), instrumentalist Vyacheslav Zmeu (Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk), Rashtav folk band (Gazprom Transgaz Nizhny Novgorod), and painter Anastasia Nizharadze (Gazprom Dobycha Noyabrsk).
Alexander Bespalov handing top prize for Folk Music Ensemble to Rashtav folk band from Gazprom Transgaz Nizhny Novgorod
A special prize from Verbundnetz Gas was awarded to Young Painter contestant Anna Fyodorova (Gazprom UGS): a trip to Dresden with a visit to the world-famous picture gallery. Engie awarded a trip to France, including a visit to the Paris Opera, to singers Asiyat Saigidova (Gazprom Transgaz Saratov) and Darya Troyan (Gazprom Dobycha Urengoy).
Young Painter contestant Anna Fyodorova from Gazprom UGS, winner of special prize from Verbundnetz Gas (trip to Dresden, including visit to world-famous picture gallery)
Singers Asiyat Saigidova from Gazprom Transgaz Saratov and Darya Troyan from Gazprom Dobycha Urengoy receive special prize from Engie (trip to France, including visit to Paris Opera)
“I had the privilege of being at the origins of the Fakel Festival. Over these years, the Festival has grown into a federal event. I am confident that this Festival will enter the annals of Russia’s culture,” said jury chairwoman Alexandra Permyakova, People’s Artist of Russia.
Background
The biennial Festival has a tripartite structure. During the first round, Gazprom’s subsidiaries select their best performers, who then take part in the zonal rounds. The zonal rounds (for the southern and northern zones) are held at the second stage. The winners then perform in the third and final round.
The first corporate Fakel Festival was conducted in 2004–2005. The host cities of the zonal rounds included Astrakhan, Belgorod, Kazan, Khanty-Mansiysk, Nizhny Novgorod, Orenburg (twice), Surgut, Tomsk, Yekaterinburg, and Yugorsk. The final rounds of the Festival were held in Gelendzhik (2006–2012), Vitebsk (Belarus, 2013), and Sochi (2015).
Full coverage of the Festival is available at its official website www.gazpromfakel.ru (in Russian).