Moscow, November 9, 2024.
On November 9, 2024, the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow hosted a gala creative evening of composer Alexandra Nikolaevna Pakhmutova, dedicated to the 95th anniversary of her birth.
At the beginning of the gala evening, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia ascended to the historic stage of the Bolshoi Theater and presented Alexandra Nikolayevna with the Order of Glory and Honor of the Russian Orthodox Church, First Class, according to Patriarchy.ru.
By His Holiness' decree, the legendary composer, People's Artist of the Soviet Union, honorary member of the Patriarchal Council for Culture A.N. Pakhmutova was honored with this award for her outstanding contribution to the preservation of traditional values in society and in connection with the significant date of her birth.
Before the awarding of the order The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church cordially congratulated A.N. Pakhmutova:
"Dear and deeply respected Alexandra Nikolayevna!
You are an amazing person. You have been serving the Motherland for a long, long time, and the title of folk is not just an honorary title, it accurately reflects the essence of your service to the Motherland. You have really become folk: your songs are known by the people, they are sung at home, in companies and maybe even in private. You are really present in the life of the people, the most different people - highly educated and simple, living in villages and in cities, and the uniqueness of your service creates a very special attitude to you.
I know what I am saying. In my ministry, I have the opportunity to communicate with people on a level that secular people most often do not - when they open their hearts to you, when they talk about something very important. And how pleasant it is when in such conversations we talk about art, culture and suddenly your name comes up! This means that you are not just known and loved, but you are a truly popular, wonderful person, who has devoted his life to our people in such a noble and great field as culture.
I wish you many years of life, God's help, strength, so that you continue to please all of us with your talent and your works for a long time to come. God bless you!"
Accepting the award, A.N. Pakhmutova warmly thanked His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.
During the festive evening the premiere of the waltz "Towards Spring", written by Alexandra Nikolaevna this fall, took place. The composer's works were performed by the All-Russian Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Yuri Bashmet. The children's and adult chorus of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia and soloists of the Youth Opera Program take part in the anniversary evening.
Songs to Pakhmutova's music were performed by People's Artists of Russia Lev Leshchenko, Stanislav Lyubshin, Hibla Gerzmava, Sergey Bezrukov, Honored Artists of Russia Ildar Abdrazakov, Pelageya, Dima Bilan, Ivan Bessonov and others.
The festive concert at the Bolshoi Theater was attended by representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, in particular: Metropolitan Theognost of Kashir, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism; Chairman of the Patriarchal Council on Culture Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea; Bishop Alexis of Ramenskoye, personal secretary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.
On this day the President of Russia V.V. Putin awarded Alexandra Nikolaevna the title of Hero of Labor for her special services in the development of national musical art, multifaceted public activity and many years of creative work.
