The choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District performed at the opening of the III Patriarchal International Festival of Sacred Music “Light of Christ” in the city of Tver

March 31, 2024. City of Tver, Russia. With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District under the direction of the Honored Artist of Russia, member of the Patriarchal Church and Public Council for the Development of Church Singing O.N. Ovchinnikov takes part in the III Patriarchal International Festival of Sacred Music “Light of Christ”. Honored figures and cultural workers of Kazakhstan work as part of the metropolitan choir. Most of the singers are graduates of the Kazakh National Conservatory, teachers of music disciplines in higher and secondary specialized educational institutions and secondary schools of the southern capital.

The main Orthodox singing group of Kazakhstan arrived in Tver to open the program of the prestigious international music forum at the invitation of the chairman of the Church and Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' for the development of Russian church singing, Metropolitan Ambrose of Tver and Kashin.

Together with the metropolitan choir, a well-known group, the Governor’s Chamber Choir “Russian Partes”, conducted by laureate of international competitions Maxim Peradze, performed at the city’s leading music venue.

The choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District performed before the audience works included in the world treasury of classical and sacred music: “I will exalt Thee, my God” by composer D. Bortnyansky, “Praise God in His Saints” by V. Lirin, “The Only Begotten Son” by Yu. Kostyuk, “ Greatness" by N. Matveev, "The Prudent Robber" by A. Tretyakov, "God the Lord" by an unknown author, "The Eternal Council" by P. Chesnokov, "We Sing to You" by the composer Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev), "Thy Chamber" by Metropolitan Jonathan (Eletsky).

Listeners got acquainted with the work of Kazakh composers - M. Mangytaev and L. Khamidi: the song “Kyrmandagy aitys” from the suite “Chants of Karatau” and the folk song “Zhaidarman”.

The Governor's chamber choir "Russian Partes" performed works by contemporary composers: "Praise the name of the Lord" by A. Alexandrov, "The soul called out" by V. Kalistratov, "When I descended" by N. Golovanov, "May my prayer be corrected" by P. Chesnokov, "Repentance" R. Shchedrin, “We Sing to You” by S. Rachmaninov, “The Prudent Robber” by G. Peletsis and spiritual concerts by A. Schnittke.

The audience received the performances of the Kazakh group, which visited the capital of the Upper Volga region for the first time, with delight and applause.

Choir director Oleg Nikolaevich Ovchinnikov answered questions from regional media journalists.

At the end of the concert, Metropolitan Ambrose addressed those present in the hall. The archpastor conveyed the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the guests and participants of the music forum and cordially thanked the performing groups and their leaders.

The choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District performed at the opening of the III Patriarchal International Festival of Sacred Music “Light of Christ” in the city of Tver O.N. Ovchinnikov and M.V. Peradze, the chairman of the Patriarchal Church and Public Council for the Development of Church Singing, presented certificates of gratitude for his participation in the opening of the III International Festival “Light of Christ”.

The host of the festival concert program was, with the blessing of the Acting Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan. Acting rector of the Alma-Ata Orthodox Theological Seminary, Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov. According to the tradition that has developed during concert performances of the metropolitan choir, the pastor pronounced words of greeting and farewell to the audience in Kazakh and Russian.