A few days ago I arrived in Bakhshisaray, known for having been the capital of the Crimean Khanate. Here you can find the Hansaray, the remains of a palace of the Crimean Khans. The place wasn't as impressive as I had imagined during the hours cycling it took me to get there, but what was very impressive was the song festival organised at night. Mehmet, my 17-year old host, and I had to climb the wall of the Hansaray to get in, as we where not on the guest list, but once inside security was very low-key. I made video's of some of the contestants, and as this is a song contest like no other, I am curious how many points you give for the songs, singing and overall performance.
So let's hear it for:
From Moscow, Russia: Vitaliy Filattov!
From Bakhshisaray, Ukraine: the Belbek quintet!
From Minsk, Belarus: Tatyana Kremis!
From the city of Abakan, Khakasiya: German!
From Riga, Latvia: Laura Rayla!
From Tashkent, Uzbekistan: Atazhanov Zhakhonyin (for the Dutch, this guy has probably never heard of Hans Teeuwen, but otherwise it would have been a great source of inspiration for him; especially the jitters at the start and the buzzing insects around his head are nice details)!
From Suoyarvi, in the Republic of Karelia (ever heard of?): Irina Komyakovich!
From Erevan, Armenia: Anait Avahimyan!
From Astana, Kazakhstan: Turlybekov Nurgali (great theatre!)!
That I remember their names and places of residence, is due to the fact that I told the organisation that I am a journalist from the Netherlands, who just so happen to be there and who would like to write about this great spectacle. What newspaper I am writing for? Well, the Dutch People's Newspaper (which I am not, but I could have if I would be just as productive in writing for their Dutch travel blog as I am for my personal English one.. So half a lie). I actually regret not having said that it was the 'Goirle's Belang', which is the local newspaper of my parents' village, to make the whole situation even more absurd. "Hmm", the organiser said in doubt. "Ok, you get a copy, but it's in Russian." "No problem", I replied, thinking that it was a big problem, and she gave me a program. But not before she had exchanged her spare mint copy, for a fumbled and dog-eared one of one of her colleagues. And that was the one she gave me, I mean, what a way to treat a dishonest tourist from the Netherlands!
For the OST, I include German from Abakan, one of my personal favorites! : )
Hoi Koen, weer wat te luisteren vandaag. Merci kus Ivonne
ReplyDeleteHé Koen, wat een heerlijke filmpjes! Als je terug bent moet je het boek 'De Welwillenden' zeker lezen. Het speelt in de Tweede Wereldoorlog, maar het geeft een zeer gedetailleerde beschrijving van het gebied waar je nu bent en straks heen zult gaan.
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