St. Petersburg celebrated City Day with the annual “Classics on Palace Square” concert, a blend of opera and popular music. The event, held on Palace Square, featured world-renowned opera stars performing a diverse repertoire.

The concert was divided into two parts, beginning with classical arias and transitioning to 20th-century pop music in the second half. The initial segment showcased works by Verdi, Donizetti, Bellini, Rossini, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Leoncavallo, and Offenbach.

The program included both familiar classics and rarely performed pieces. A highlight was the quartet from Puccini’s “La Rondine,” and Marcel’s aria from Leoncavallo’s “La Boheme.”

Opera singers demonstrated not only vocal talent but also their acting abilities. Vladislav Sulimsky’s portrayal of Tomsky’s ballad from “The Queen of Spades” and Andrey Danilov’s interpretation of Klein Zaches from “Hoffmann’s Tales” were particularly praised.

Ballet dancers added energy to the show during Offenbach’s “Parisian Life,” accompanied by visuals. A trio of tenors representing Balkan, African, and Kazakh backgrounds performed Leoncavallo’s “Mattinata” and De Curtis’ “Come Back to Sorrento.”

The second half of the concert shifted to popular music, with performers adding their unique flair to various genres. Rame Lahaj presented an Albanian folk song, while Olga Pudova delivered an Italian street song. Victoria Karkacheva transformed into an Argentine tango performer.

Andrey Danilov, known for his operatic roles, showcased his passion for rock music by performing covers of pop and rock hits. He sang Africa Simone’s “Hafanana” and the Scorpions’ “Still Loving You,” accompanied by electric guitar.

The concert concluded with a performance of the pop hit “Sarà perché ti amo,” made famous by Ricchi e Poveri. Following the Palace Square event, attendees had the opportunity to attend “Music of the Palace Bridge,” a concert featuring Fabio Mastrangelo with the Northern Symphony Orchestra and soloists of the Fedor Shalyapin Musical Theater near the Palace Bridge.