May 31, 2021 | Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory
21th Edition of the Cherry Forest Open Art Festival
Oleg Yankovsky “Creative Discovery” Award
Soloists: Aida Garifullina, soprano
Dmitry Korchak, tenor
Placido Domingo, tenor/baritone
Vasily Ladyuk, baritone
Ildar Abdrazakov, bass
Denis Matsuev, piano
Conductors – Vladimir Spivakov, Placido Domingo
Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Dvořák, Gounod, Bizet, Massenet, Donizetti, Puccini, Rossini and others

On May 31, the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory will host one of the main events of the 21^th Edition of the Cherry Forest Open Art Festival, that is the presentation of the Oleg Yankovsky “Creative Discovery” Award. The ceremony will take place within a large musical program where the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia directed by Vladimir Spivakov will perform with world music stars Placido Domingo (both as singer and conductor), Aida Garifullina, Dmitry Korchak, Vasily Ladyuk, Ildar Abdrazakov and Denis Matzuev.

The Cherry Forest Open Art Festival, founded by the Bosco di Ciliegi Group and held first in 2001, unites very different art forms from theater, classical music and painting to modern original art projects. In 2010 the Festival established the Oleg Yankovsky Award to the memory of the artist who had headed the Festival Board of Trustees up to his decease in 2009. The award is given for the most revelatory artistic accomplishments of the year. The awardees are defined by the Festival Board of Trustees. Vladimir Spivakov, who has been invariably a member of the Board, got the Oleg Yankovsky Award in 2013.

The award emblem is a glass cherry berry, specially made for the award ceremony in the Murano glass factory of Venetian glassmaker Silvano Signoretto. Oleg Yankovsky's autograph and drawing are cut on the cherry together with the date May 32. The date is also marked in the diplomas of the award-winners for it was the day scheduled for Munchausen-Yankovsky's flight on a cannonball.

“This festival is imbued with kindness and love. It joins us in our hope to improve human relations, to make better our cities, country, people themselves, - says Vladimir Spivakov. - This is the festival of people who are not indifferent, and I am happy that I belong to this family. As for the award I myself was on very good terms with Oleg Ivanovich Yankovsky who had a passion for music, and whenever there was an opportunity, came to concerts. The Oleg Yankovsky Award is about our 'remembrance or love', it keeps our memory awaken and draws in new people. Memory is a great thing. We must not forget anything, especially those people who have lit up the way for others and made a very big impact on an entire generation.”