On December 19 in the hall of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel a solemn ceremony of awarding young vocalists and veterans of the opera stage with the Elena Obraztsova Foundation Awards of the Charitable Foundation for Support of Musical Art took place.
The Elena Obraztsova Foundation, a charitable foundation for the support of musical art, was established in December 2011 on the initiative of the great opera singer, People's Artist of the USSR Elena Obraztsova. One of the main activities of the Elena Obraztsova Foundation is to support veterans of opera and young talented vocalists. This task is served by the Elena Obraztsova International Vocal Competitions, concerts with the participation of laureates of Elena Obraztsova competitions, awarding annual Special Prizes of the Foundation. The social significance of the project is determined by its role in preserving cultural heritage and ensuring continuity in the development of culture. The annual Prizes of the Elena Obraztsova Foundation were established in 2012 on Elena Obraztsova's initiative: the Hope Prize is awarded to gifted young vocalists, the Prize For a Bright Beginning in Art is awarded to young singers who have brightly shown themselves in their first works on the opera stage. The prizes "For Long Service to the Vocal Art" are awarded to veterans of the opera stage, renowned musicians whose names are the pride of Russian musical culture, and vocal teachers who have devoted their creative lives to the education of opera artists.
The following were invited to present the awards: Alexander Zhuravsky, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Bryzgalov, Director of the Glinka WMO Musical Culture Center. Mikhail Bryzgalov, Director of the Glinka WMO of Musical Culture, Yulia Lezhneva, world opera star, Dmitry Bertman, Artistic Director of the Moscow Musical Theatre "Helikon-Opera", People's Artist of Russia, Professor of the Russian Academy of Music named after Gnessin, Honored Artist of Russia Ruzanna Lisitsian, Artistic Director of the Youth Opera Program of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, Honored Artist of Russia, Professor Dmitry Vdovin. The ceremony will be attended by laureates of the Elena Obraztsova Foundation Awards and Elena Obraztsova International Vocal Competitions of different years.