The White Lilac International Festival is dedicated to Sergei Raсhmaninoff. The composer visited Kazan two times (in 1910 and 1916), when inspecting musical institutions. He was in friendly terms with the famous Russian bass - Fyodor Shalyapin. Besides, another theory is that the Rachmaninoffs had some Tatar roots. Thus, there are three reasons why this Festival is founded in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan.
Owing to recommendation from Denis Matsuev, the White Lilac Festival was visited by Alexander Rachmaninoff Conus (1933 - 2012), President of the Rachmaninoff Foundation and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s grandson. He was the Honoured President of the Festival and took an active part in shaping its repertoire.
The White Lilac Festival is usually held every year in May in Kazan.
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