(Source: http://kazan24.ru)

Chaliapin Festival is the oldest opera festival in Russia. The festival was founded in 1982 on the initiative of the theater director, Raufal Mukhametzyanov. In a short time the festival acquired the status of all-Russian (1985) and International (1991) one.

Despite the political and economic cataclysms, change of political system and financial collapses of the last decades, the festival has not just "survived", but has gained immense popularity, becoming a real cultural brand of the Republic of Tatarstan. Today, the leading soloists of largest Russian theaters, well-known foreign singers and conductors are proud of taking part in the forum.

At different times, almost all stars of Russian opera have performed at festival’s shows and concerts: Irina Arkhipova, Bulat Minzhilkiev, Maria Bieshu, Irina Bogachyova, Lyubov Kazarnovskaya, Anatoly Kocherga, Sergei Leiferkus Nikolai Putilin, Paata Burchuladze, Olga Borodina, Ildar Abdrazakov, Hibla Gerzmava, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Mikhail Kazakov, Albina Shagimuratova, famous foreign singers and conductors – René Pape, Mikhail Pletnev, Valery Gergiev, Gintaras Rinkevičius, Marco Boemi and others.

32nd International Opera Festival named after F. I. Chaliapin will be held on the stage of M. Jalil Opera and Ballet Tatar State Academic Theatre from February 2 to 18, 2014. The festival is dedicated to 140th anniversary of the Kazan Opera. The festival program will consist of 10 performances and two gala concerts, featuring guest artists from 10 countries.

The maximum ticket price is 2,000 rubles for the premiere performances and 1500 rubles for the rest of operas; the cheapest ticket costs 250 rubles. Gala concert tickets will cost from 300 to 3000 rubles. Starting December 20, 2013 the tickets can be purchased at box-offices and authorized distributors.

Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin was born on 13 February 1873 in Kazan on Rybnoryadskoaya Street (now Pushkin Street). With a voice of commanding power, range and technique which were unconventional but remarkably secure, Chaliapin achieved a highly personal balance between the demands of declamation and musical line. Even in his vocal declining years, he was an actor of immense energy and perfect attention to detail, whose presence held all eyes glued to him whenever he was on the stage. His vocal technique was superb. The voice was even throughout its range, allowing him to tackle selected baritone roles as successfully as his customary bass roles. It was sharply focused, free of vibrato and could be fined down to the merest thread of sound when the music (or rather Chaliapin's knowledge of music) demanded it. The way he used to stand, the way he moved, what he wore and the rhythm of his speech translated to music were nothing short of revolutionary in opera. Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin died in Paris in 1938.