Zhenisbek Piyazov (bass baritone) from Uzbekistan became the Grand Prix winner of the II Muslim Magomaev International Vocalists Contest

Vocalists of the II Muslim Magomaev Vocalists Contest were very strong. According to the competent jury, chaired by People’s Artist of the USSR, the soloist of the Bolshoi Theater, Professor Tamara Sinyavskaya, it was very hard to choose the best. The international jury this year included the People's Artist of the USSR Elena Obraztsova, Latvian and Russian singer Laima Vaikule, People's Artist of the USSR and Azerbaijan, the rector of Baku Music Academy Farhad Shamsi oglu Badalbeyli, People's Artist of Russia, artistic director of the theater "Helikon-Opera" Professor Dmitry Bertman, the artistic director of the Accademia d’Arte Lirica in Osimo, Italy Vincenzo De Vivo. The programme of the contest involved songs of various genres, including those from Magomaev’s repertoire. One of the main tasks of the contest was to find and support young vocalists, capable of performing in different musical genres. Demands and expectations of the contest were very high because the great singer and composer of a multi-faceted talent was able to perform opera, ballads, jazz and modern pop equally virtuosic.

The contest-concert was accompanied by Yu.Silantiev Academic Grand Concert Orchestra, Russian State Musical TV and Radio Center. Artistic director and Principal Conductor was Honored Artist of Russia, composer A. Klevitsky. Guest conductor was an Honored Artist of Russia A.Polyanichko. Vyacheslav Belza was, by tradition, the host of this unique contest. 

Young artists from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and the United States performed on the Crocus City Hall stage in the first round. Strict jury voted that only ten contestants were to perform in the second round. At the end, despite the high level of performance of all contestants, jury decision was unanimous. Zhenisbek Piyazov from Uzbekistan scored the most points and won the Grand Prix of the contest.

"This absolutely stunning skinny guy from Uzbekistan with a very powerful voice impressed us the most on listening - admitted Elena Obraztsova who is always very exacting. - He has an amazing musical talent, and I think he has the subconscious and natural feeling of the scene. He is not like anyone else and he does not want to copy anyone. This is very rare and our opinion was unanimous! "

The first place was awarded to Sergei Plyusnina from Russia, baritone from Byelorussia Anatoly Sivko got the second place, and the third place was divided between soprano Irina Kostina from Russia and baritone Vladimir Boldt from Germany.

The total prize fund of the contest amounted to $ 65,000: the grand-prix award - $ 25,000, 1st place - $ 20,000, 2nd place - $ 10,000, 3rd place - $ 5,000.

A special prize "People’s Choice", established by the company «Ingosstrakh» went to Vladimir Tselebrovskiy, also a special prize of radio station "Orpheus" was awarded to a charming Irina Kostina. The Diploma winners of the II Muslim Magomaev International Vocalist Contest became Damir Zakirov, Vladimir Tselebrovsky and Yulia Mazurova from Russia, Sandro Ostrovsky from Georgia and Alexander Kireev out of Ukraine.

"Thank you all very much that you came here, and gave a piece of you to Muslim and this wonderful and talented guys today-, the chairman of the jury Tamara Sinyavskaya  addressed the audience at the end of the ceremony. - We were present at the birth of new talent, and soon, I'm sure they will shine even brighter. That is our goal. It was hard to choose, I listened very hard and judged in two hearts, but I know that Muslim would be pleased with our choice. "

The special guest of the closing ceremony of the competition was the famous singer and composer EMIN, who called the creative inheritor of Muslim Magomaev. EMIN closed the evening with a song «My way», which he once had a chance to perform a duet with his great mentor and countryman.