The V International Professional Music Award ceremony BraVo united more than 10 countries on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater

On April 25, 2023, the stage of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia hosted the brightest cultural event of the spring - the V International Professional Music Award ceremony BraVo. Once again, the BraVo Award presented the public with outstanding performers of classical art and confirmed its international status.

The BraVo Award ceremony at the Bolshoi Theatre turned out to be one of the most long-awaited and iconic events for the audience, participants and organizers alike. The latter managed to do the seemingly impossible: even in an era of sanctions and attempts to abolish Russian culture, the creators of the BraVo Award held the ceremony with the participation of more than 10 countries.

Asia, Middle East, South America, CIS countries - this year the geography of the ceremony only increased in comparison with previous ones. Turkey and China supported the ceremony, whose performers presented the audience with their incredible numbers.

And, of course, the BraVo Award always means the highest level of performance, aesthetics and finesse in every note and detail, because classical art disposes to it so much.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed a welcome address to the guests of the fifth BraVo Award ceremony: "Today the famous Bolshoi Theatre's historic stage is celebrating the brilliant, original and gifted performers. <...> I am very pleased that the BraVo Award celebrates its fifth anniversary with great achievements and expands its geography - this time for the first time representatives from South America are among the laureates. <...> I am sure that your project will continue to make a significant contribution to the promotion of music and dance, the strengthening of humanitarian ties between peoples and bring people together on the basis of creativity, openness and mutual respect.

Elena Sever and Vyacheslav Makarov were this year's hosts of the ceremony. They welcomed guests and laureates of the BraVo Award, introducing the audience to all the important events that have taken place on the classical stage since the last IV Award Ceremony.

The BraVo Award ceremony is not only a reputable music award, but also a brilliant social event. The audience followed the dress code and appeared within the walls of the Bolshoi Theater in luxurious evening gowns.

The purpose of the BraVo Award is to develop classical art, making it closer to a wider audience and, of course, to introduce the audience to the brightest representatives of the classical scene. This year's precious BraVo Award went to:

• "Concert/theater venue of the year" - Dubai Opera
• "Discovery of the Year" - Daria Gorozhanko (Bolshoi Theater of Belarus)
• "Best Classical Male Vocal - Sergei Skorokhodov, soloist at the Mariinsky Theatre
• "Best Classical Female Vocal - Hibla Gerzmava
• "Orchestra of the Year - Tchaikovsky State Academic Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra.
• "Ballet of the Year" - "Dancemania" (Bolshoi Theater)
• "Opera of the Year - Boris Godunov
• "World Star - Svetlana Zakharova
• "Conductor of the Year - Maestro Vladimir Fedoseyev
• "Composer of the Year - Sofia Gubaidullina
• Special nomination "For Support of Classical Art" - PAO Gazprom

Performer of the Year from a partner country:

• Hungary - Antal Zalay (violin)
• Kazakhstan - Azamat Zheltyrguzov (baritone)
• Serbia - Katarina Mrvich (violin).
• Venezuela - Miguel Sanchez, trombone
• Syria - Missak Bahboudaryan (conductor)
• Argentina - Veronica Kangemi (soprano)

Acclaimed artist of the DPR, Donbass Opera soloist Vladislav Lysak received a special award from the Prize's organising committee.

The most famous opera roles and pieces of classical instrumental music were performed at the Bolshoi Theatre. Traditionally, the ceremony was attended by recognized stars of the classical scene. This year, ballet soloists Sergey Polunin, Arseniy Belyakov and Svetlana Zakharova, Ekaterina Krysanova and Semyon Chudin, winner of the BraVo 2022 Award, gave impressive performances at the Bolshoi Theater, soloist of the Izmir State Symphony Orchestra, violinist Shefika Kutluer (Turkey), BraVo 2022 award winner soprano Zhang Lei (PRC), Kenan Andaoui (oud, Syria), BraVo 2019 Award winner Ivan Bessonov (piano), and the P. I. Tchaikovsky BSO Quartet. Tchaikovsky.

"Every year I perform at the BraVo Award, it's a native ceremony for me. And I was pleased to agree to take part this year as well," said Svetlana Zakharova, a famous ballerina. - It's always a great pleasure when you receive an award. It's very nice to hear the unique voices and musicians who perform at the BraVo Award. Colleagues from abroad, no matter what, came to support the ceremony this year as well."

The fifth BraVo International Professional Music Awards has proven that there are no limits to art. Music has a magical power and can unite people from all over the globe at any time.