International Music Day — a celebration of the art that brings people together

Music is a special form of art that needs no annotations, explanations or translation. This is felt particularly vividly at the National Centre RUSSIA, where music has become a powerful unifying force for different peoples, generations and cultures. Classical music and folk melodies, opera hits and original songs coexist harmoniously here, while performers from different regions and countries share the same stage. 1 October is a perfect occasion to remember this, as International Music Day is celebrated annually on this date.

The holiday was established at the initiative of the International Music Council under UNESCO. One of the main advocates for its creation was Russian composer Dmitry Shostakovich: he proposed establishing a day that would help bring cultures closer together and encourage the exchange of experience between peoples. Large-scale celebrations of International Music Day have been held in Russia for 20 years, beginning in 1996, when the country marked the 90th anniversary of Shostakovich's birth.

Today, International Music Day is celebrated with concerts and festivals, creative meetings with composers and performers, expositions and educational events. Music can be heard in a wide variety of venues, and one of them is the National Centre RUSSIA, where musical events have become an integral part of the Centre's cultural life.

Among the National Centre RUSSIA's original projects, a special place is occupied by the musical and choreographic parable "Khorovod" — a large-scale production created especially for the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. Through dance and music, it reveals the country's cultural diversity.

Music at the National Centre RUSSIA not only brings peoples closer together, but also unites different styles and technologies. The multi-genre musical evening "New Year's Shop Windows", dedicated to Old New Year, introduced audiences to the traditions of folk festivities and New Year balls, while also bringing back favourite songs from Soviet cinema. Classical music, folk melodies, opera hits and even beatboxing shared the same stage in harmony. The pre-New Year ballet "The Nutcracker" transported audiences into a magical world where the traditions of Russian ballet came to life through modern multimedia screens.

As part of the All-Russian Classical Music Marathon "Cantata. Russia", the National Centre RUSSIA hosted the multi-genre gala concert "Ahead of Time", while the original production "Diaghilev Forever" paid tribute to the creative legacy of the great impresario, featuring excerpts from the legendary "Ballets Russes", multimedia scenery and performances by opera and ballet stars.

At the National Centre RUSSIA, music reflects traditional spiritual and moral values and serves as a reminder that culture knows no borders. The Centre hosts major cultural and patriotic events, including the gala concert of the All-Russian "Katyusha" Festival of Original Songs for Girls, supported by the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives. The Russian stage of the international "Melody of BRICS" project, which brought together musicians from Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, the UAE, Egypt, Iran and Indonesia, concluded with a large-scale gala concert on the Centre's main stage. The culmination of the event at the National Centre RUSSIA was a joint performance of the original composition "Melody of BRICS" — a symbol of cultural dialogue and mutual respect.

Happy International Music Day! May new and beautiful melodies that bring people closer together be created around the world every day.