ST, NILETTO, Bianca, and others: the "Voice of the Poet" project final to be held at the National Centre RUSSIA

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On November 12, the final of the first all-Russian project "Voice of the Poet" will take place at the National Centre RUSSIA. Russian hip-hop stars and young artists from across the country will perform famous poems by Russian poets with their own musical arrangements, blending Russian poetic classics with modern music.

The stage will feature NILETTO, Zvonkiy, Bianca, Mary Gu, HammAli, and other stars. They will perform their own music tracks set to the poetry of Alexander Pushkin, Mikhail Lermontov, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Sergei Yesenin, Marina Tsvetaeva, Robert Rozhdestvensky, and others. Additionally, "Voice of the Poet" provides a unique opportunity for thousands of young people to showcase their talents through the lens of Russian poetry. Several participants were chosen from thousands of applicants in the selection round by the jury.

The final will be held as a theatrical musical show. The variety of genres will allow listeners to hear the verses of great poets in a fresh interpretation: Sergei Yesenin’s poems will be performed by an ethnic choir, and the rebellious spirit and charisma of Vladimir Mayakovsky will be highlighted through contemporary ballet.

"Many talented and well-known artists were enthusiastic about our invitation to participate in the project. This shows that young people love and remember Russian literature, that it resonates with them and their creativity. The reimagined verses of the classics will become real hits," said the project's general producer, TEFI award winner Lina Arifullina ("Star Factory," "STS Ignites the Superstar," "Dancing with the Stars").

Spectacle, experimentation, hip-hop rhythms, and a love of poetry make "Voice of the Poet" a unique and large-scale project. Being part of it means touching the legacy of the classics under modern beats.

"For me, it’s a great honor to work on this project with Lina Arifullina. As an artist, I have a vision of what suits the performer and a strong desire to reveal their creative potential," shared the project’s artistic director, Alexander Stepanov, better known as rapper ST, creator of the hits Louis Louis and Going Under. "I love that 'Voice of the Poet' works with young people, giving them a unique opportunity to take the stage with famous performers. I get a lot of pleasure from creating cool musical solutions. It’s interesting that everyone initially wants to perform to Yesenin's poetry, but I really enjoy introducing artists to new poets."

ST will also perform in the concert as an artist: for his new track, he chose Vladimir Orlov's poem "Native".

Rapper ZVONKIY discovered Zinaida Gippius’s poem "Orange Blossoms": "I’m well-acquainted with Gippius’s work; she is a symbolist with strong and precise imagery, and this poem is also very musical. Its meaning resonates deeply with me: in life, it’s crucial not to miss your happiness, as it’s as fleeting and light as orange blossoms."

"Voice of the Poet" will be one of the first major events held on the stage of the new National Centre RUSSIA, created by order of the President of the Russian Federation.

"We were thrilled to accept the offer to host a gala evening where the most famous works of Russian poets from the Golden and Silver Ages will be presented in a unique modern interpretation by popular young artists. Lina Arifullina and our colleagues from the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives are our good friends; together, we organized landmark events at the RUSSIA EXPO that always delighted our guests," said Anastasia Zvyagina, Deputy General Director of the National Centre RUSSIA.

The organizer of the "Voice of the Poet" project is the Reflection Culture Development Fund. CDF projects include the rap spectacle "Flowers Under Hail" and the International Television Music Contest "In Full Voice." The project is implemented with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.

The National Centre RUSSIA was established by order of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and to showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens on a permanent basis. Federal government bodies, state companies, corporations, and regions take part in the Centre’s work.

The first event at the National Centre RUSSIA was the International Symposium "Inventing the Future," which welcomed more than 6,000 guests from 101 countries.