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The awards ceremony was attended by Montblanc International’s Vice-President Sönke Tornieporth, Montblanc Russia’s Director Anton Kouzin and maestro Valery Gergiev. In addition to the prize’s honorary medal, soprano Yastrebova and bass-baritone Andrei Serov both received a monetary award of ten thousand Euros, a tuning fork and a limited edition pen.
Sönke Tornieporth welcomed guests and journalists at the press-conference at the Mariinsky Theatre, underlining the fact that “during these summer days that seem to last forever there are many business meetings at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum at which, among other things, culture is one of the focal points. (...) St Petersburg and Hamburg have much in common – both their proximity to water and numerous cultural links,” while Montblanc and the Mariinsky Theatre are also united by “a shared philosophy to support beauty and tradition.”
Valery Gergiev arrived at the theatre straight from the economic forum at which he took part in a round table discussion on the theme “The Change in Attitudes to Charity in Russia.” The maestro noted that one of the most striking “examples of supporting the arts was that of German company Montblanc” with which the Mariinsky Theatre has collaborated over many years; he also stated that the choice of the prize-winners had been “tried and tested well.” “With many years of experience of working with young singers I always take time to come to a decision, taking into account various factors: it’s not just vocal skills and artistry, it’s also precision, understanding the character and, most importantly, brains. A singer must have this full range of qualities. And, moreover, at the first stage – when a performer is just starting out on his or her career – he or she needs serious training to learn properly, because the first impression is very important, it is basically impossible to ‘creep’ to glory at the Mariinsky Theatre.”
The maestro triumphantly declared that “two new stars have been born.” He congratulated Viktoria Yastrebova, who had to perform twice the same evening – first at the Mariinsky Theatre in the company’s latest premiere of Daniele Finzi Pasca’s production of Verdi’s Requiem and later at a gala at the Concert Hall. Gergiev commented on the signer’s excellent vocal qualities and wished her to take “great care of her voice, the most precious of all musical instruments.” Andrei Serov “received the award thanks to his diligent work – the thing that impressed me most of all in him,” Gergiev noted, commenting in particular on Serov’s performance as Sancho Panza in Massenet’s opera Don Quichotte alongside Ferruccio Furlanetto, “one of the finest singers of our time.” According to the maestro, “such trials can prove incredibly significant for a young soloist.” Congratulating the singer, Gergiev voiced his hopes that “he will not rest on his laurels and will continue to grow as an artist.”
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