“Hibla Gerzmava Invites…” — 20th Anniversary Festival

People’s Artist of Russia Hibla Gerzmava, celebrated for her unique voice and extraordinary dramatic talent, founded her own festival in 2001. Since then, it has become one of Russia’s most highly anticipated musical events.

Together with the opera star, her friends and renowned vocalists took part in the programme: Veronica Dzhioeva (soprano), Dmitry Korchak (tenor), and Vasily Ladyuk (baritone). The acclaimed performers presented classical music lovers with an exquisite programme featuring masterpieces of the world opera and vocal repertoire.

The concert was accompanied by the Orchestra of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre, conducted by People’s Artist of Russia, Maestro Felix Korobov.

The event brought to a close a series of concerts celebrating the anniversary festival, which had opened in Sukhum and Pitsunda.

The “Hibla Gerzmava Invites…” Festival was founded by the opera diva in 2001 and was originally held annually in Abkhazia. Since 2014, the festival has expanded beyond its original borders, taking place at venues across Russia and internationally.

Each year, world-renowned opera star Hibla Gerzmava invites leading figures from the world of classical music to join her festival. Over the past 20 years, its participants have included such outstanding musicians and artists as Vladimir Spivakov and the Virtuosi of Moscow, Elena Obraztsova, Sviatoslav Belza, Denis Matsuev, Ildar Abdrazakov, José Cura, Daniele Callegari, Elīna Garanča, Alexander Sladkovsky and the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Tatarstan, Alexander Rudin, Deborah Brown, Yusif Eyvazov, Felix Korobov and the Orchestra of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre, Teodor Ilincăi, Sergey Zhilin, and many others.