More than 100 Chinese and Russian musicians will give an open-air concert entitled "Russian Soul" on Saturday evening at Haidian Park in Beijing.

The show, a major programme of the Year of Russia in China, will feature a variety of medleys.

Under the baton of Organ Durjan, the acclaimed "Toscanini of Eastern Europe," and Vladimir Ryzhaev, the conductor of Moscow Youth Symphony Orchestra, the 80-member Moscow Symphony Orchestra will play not only pieces by Tchaikovsky and Khachaturian, but also Russian folk music.

Durjan leads with deep and powerful emotion and a passion. The veteran conductor is expected to captivate audiences with his interpretation and style.

Novosibirsk-born folk singer Pelageya will sing the folk songs. Pelageya, now 20, won the hearts of Russian fans with her crystal voice and lyrical interpretation of popular folk songs when she was only 10 years old. At the age of 14, she and three friends formed a folk band, which is still popular in Russia's clubs.

The concert will also feature bass player Valery Gilmanov from Bolshoi Theatre, Chinese pop singer Zhu Hua and Russia's famous rock band The Flowers, which is celebrating its 37th year.

Aside of their own hits, The Flowers will accompany Zhu while she performs her own songs "Why Am I so Sad" and "Kaa" and the song "Moscow Greets Beijing, Beijing Greets Moscow," which is specially created by the band for the Year of Russia in China.

The general idea for the open air show originated on Moscow Symphony Orchestra's 1991 Great Britain tour "Electric Light Orchestra - Part II," which started at Wembley Stadium in London.

Zhang Yu, managing director of China Arts and Entertainment Group and the presenter of the show, claims that at this year's event, Russia will meet China and classical will be combined with rock'n'roll.

The concert starts at 8 pm on Saturday.

(China Daily June 8, 2006)