Festivals

International culture festivals

Being the center of culture of the Republic of Tatarstan annually Kazan hosts numerous culture and arts festivals of the international level.

International festival of modern music “Europe-Asia”
The main purpose of the festival is to perform the most modern and new music. Originating in 1992 as the festival of Japanese and Tatar music, in a year it became international one, performing the composers from Germany, France, Sweden, Mongolia, Luxemburg, USA, Norway, Turkey, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and many other countries. Famous native and foreign musicians, performing the music known only for the limited circles of specialists, come to Tatarstan. The festival is organized annually by the Composers’ Union of the Republic of Tatarstan.


International festival “Jazz crossroad”
Prestige jazz forum is held in Kazan since 1984. Musicians from Germany, Scandinavia, Australia and USA participated in it various years. Six festivals, held in 80-90-s brought Kazan the image of the jazz city. Famous Russian jazz musicians such as David Goloshekin, Arkady Shilkloper, Mikhail Alperin, Leonid Chizhik, Daniil Kramer, Vladimir Chekasin and many others came to Kazan. After the 7 year pause the festival revived in 2001 and now it is held annually with the active support of the municipal and republican authorities.

International opera festival named after Fedor Shalyapin
Opera festival is one of the main trademarks of the musical and theatre Kazan. It I named after the great singer Fedor Shalyapin, who was born in Kazan. The festival is being held annually in the opera and ballet theatre for eighteen years already. It is the oldest and the most unique opera festival in Russia and the unique event in the history of the modern Russian musical theatre. Numerous participants come to the festival every year.

International ballet festival named after Rudolf Nuriev
The festival is held every year in commemoration of the great dancer Rudolf Nuriev, who began his career in Kazan opera and ballet theatre.
In 1992 in “The Nutcracker” Rudolf Nuriev acted as the ballet conductor. Having completed the career of the dancer, he became the conductor of “The Nutcracker”. Nuriev agreed to give his name to the festival of the classical ballet held in Kazan.

International piano music festival “Pianoforum”
Kazan State Conservatoire is the festival organizer. According to tradition each year “Pianoforum” is named after one of the greatest musicians or pianists. All the concerts are held in the Concert Hall named after Salikh Saydashev.

International music and literature festival “Aksenov-fest”P
Festival, dedicated to the dissident writer Vassily Aksenov is held in Kazan since 2007 on the mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin initiative. First festival was dedicated to the writer’s 75-year anniversary. Writers Vassily Aksenov, Mikhail Veller, poet Bella Akmadullina, musician Andrey Makarevich became the guests of the festival.