The 48th International Music Festival “Martsishor”, which was held in Chisinau and other settlements on March 1-10, brought together 31,500 spectators. The festival included 49 performances of music of different genres, IPN reports.

“We hope that the spectators liked the festival as we consider it a success. We achieved our goals. The festival involved celebrities from Moldova and abroad,” Minister of Culture Monica Babuc said in a news conference.

The performances at the National Palace “Nicolae Sulac” involved Valentina Nafornita, Ilian Garnet, the Folk Dances Group “Joc”, the Orchestra of the Advahov Brothers and, for the first time, the famous Chinese group of dancers with disabilities that consists of over 100 artists.

At the National Opera House “Maria Biesu”, the Kiev Ballet headed by Radu Poclitaru, who is from Moldova, presented ‘Swan Lake’. Soloist Tatiana Samoila gave a symphonic concert centering on the music of P. Tchaikovsky.

“The festival was an authentic one, with classical and symphonic music, ballet and dance,” said the minister, adding that the performers included the Romanian band “Holograf” and the Georgian National Ballet “Sukhishvili”.

The festival’s budget this year was about 1.6 million lei. Monica Babuc said that next year they aim to attract young directors for designing original conceptions. The Ministry of Couture will hold a contest in this respect.