The 9th Musical Festival "To Mstislav Rostropovich" is opening in Samara.

      "This festival is a tribute to the memory of the outstanding cellist and conductor. The invariable participant of the festival - the Mariinsky Theater Symphony Orchestra under conductorship of Valery Gergiev - will perform three concerts, traditionally including a charity one, on the stage of the Samara Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre" - the press service reports.

      The festival is opening with Pyotr Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin in concert version tonight.

      The charity concert will take place on October 4. In the evening of the same date the dramatic symphony Romeo and Juliette by Hector Berlioz will be played.