2013 SU Update: Sport and Music embrace Each Other

KAZAN – A true extravaganza show mixing innovative technologies and classic music took place at the Saidashev State Big Concert Hall on April 11th. A video presentation on Kazan’s preparations for the 2013 Summer Universiade was demonstrated to the audience to the accompaniment of the State Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Tatarstan.

In the second half, after a magic performance of Dvorak’s Cello Concert and Brahms Symphony No. 4, all the 98 musicians tied Kazan 2013 logoed scarfes and Music Director of the State Symphony Orchestra and Honored Artist of Russia Alexander Sladkovsky put on a t-shirt with the KAZAN 2013 signature printed on it. The silence fell, the spectators were puzzled and there was a curiosity hanging in the air. With the first chords of Polovetsky Dances the audience saw a video presentation on Kazan’s preparations for the 2013 Summer Universiade projected on the walls of the concert hall. The performance delivered by the musicians proved once again that even the most outstanding representatives of the Republic and Russia were ready to contribute to promotion of the 2013 Summer Universiade.

The music was floating and views of the 2013 SU venues changed into image sequences of faces of athletes enlightened with joy and happiness at the moments of victory. The audience in the hall got wrapped up in the atmosphere of grand sports festival that Kazan is soon to host. After the concert most spectators confessed that the culmination of the concert was unexpected, bright and memorable.

The concert was attended by the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate representatives among which there were Deputy Director General Igor Sivov and Advisor to the Director General and Chief of Staff Larisa Sulima. Larisa Sulima shared her impression of the concert: ‘After seeing the presentation I was filled with a patriotic feeling in expectation of the forthcoming event. I’m positive that each person in the concert hall could feel that the Universiade is the event that demonstrates: sports and culture are inseparable.’

It stands to note that the event was held in the framework of the cooperation agreement signed between the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate and State Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Tatarstan. The agreement is designed to promote ideas of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan among Tatarstan and Russian citizens and to develop a pool of talented youth for the Cultural Universiade, Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Games. By the terms of the agreement, the parties are obliged to take an active part in implementing joint projects.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)

 Alexander Sladkovsky