Dmitry Khvorostovsky has absolute triumph at Vitebsk festival.

VITEBSK, July 11 (Itar-Tass) -- The performance of Russia's Dmitry
Khvorostovsky was absolutely triumphant at the 19th international art
festival Slavyansky Bazar in Vitebsk.
He participated in the Vitebsk contest for the first time and
immediately conquered the 6,500-people summer amphitheatre filled to
capacity.
The world-known singer's concert marked National Day of Russia
traditionally organised at the popular forum.
Day of Russia at the festival always is an exciting event, Russian
Culture Minister Alexander Avdeyev said, addressing the spectators from
the amphitheatre stage. Then, in the programme will be Day of Belarus and
Day of Ukraine. "We have no competition. We only complement each other.
But each national delegation tries to show the highest level of quality
and professional skills. And we have presented the best -- outstanding
Russian singer Dmitri Khvorostovslky," the minister said.
The unique baritone singer, a Siberian exceptional natural talent, who
conquered the world's major stages, represented Russia in the concert. For
the first time in the 20-year Slavyansky Bazar history, the decision was
taken not to have a traditional concert of many performers, but replace it
with the soloist performance of the world opera star. However,
Kvorostovsky did not include opera arias in the concert.
His appearance began with a burst of applause. The Belarussian public
welcomed the singer with an ovation. He sang one romance after another,
and his "velvet" baritone more and more captured the listeners. Then, he
sang the famous "Dark Night", "Roads", "Wait for me" and other war-time
songs that finally deeply moved the audience. People brought more and more
flowers to the stage. The thousands of people in the hall stood up, and
the Belarussian presidential orchestra became silent. In the silence
without music Khvorostovsky sang another romance to conclude his
performance.
National Day of Belarus is in the programme of the festival for this
Sunday. A concert will be given in memory of the founder of the legendary
Pesnyary -- outstanding musician Vladimir Mulyavin.




.Two policemen injured in blast in Makhachkala.




MAKHACHKALA, July 11 (Itar-Tass) -- A VAZ car was blown up near the
main entrance to an Orthodox cemetery in Makhachkala on Sunday morning, a
city police told Itar-Tass.
A driver and a dog training instructor were injured in the blast. The
explosion was so powerful that it almost completely destroyed the car.





.Two policemen injured in car explosion in Makhachkala.
(updates)



MAKHACHKALA, July 11 (Itar-Tass) -- A VAZ car was blown up near the
main entrance to an Orthodox cemetery in Makhachkala on Sunday morning, a
city police source told Itar-Tass.
It occurred at 05:20 Moscow time. The blast went off when an UAZ
vehicle with specialists from a police dog training service was passing
there.
According to the source, the driver and a dog training instructor were
injured in the explosion of the VAZ-2106. The blast was so powerful that
it almost completely destroyed the mined car, throwing its fragments tens
of metres away.
Investigators are working at the site.



.Blast derails freight train in Dagestan.




MAKHACHKALA, July 11 (Itar-Tass) -- Unidentified persons blew up a
freight train on a railroad in Dagestan, derailing 16 cars. Thirteen of
the cars overturned.
The train was on the way to the station of Derbent.
The explosion occurred under the locomotive on the Achi-Izberbash
railroad at 04:15 Moscow time. Nobody was hurt, a Makhachkala transport
police source told Itar-Tass.
Two weeks ago, unidentified attackers blew up a freight train on the
same railroad section, overturning 14 cars.
Sappers are working at the site. After they examine the area,
investigators will begin their work at the site.
-0-pan