Within the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Gyumri Renaissance Contest Festival in Gyumri, The Slavic Soul Gala concerts in Gyumri and Yerevan were presented with the Gyumri State Symphonic Orchestra to a enthusiastic audience. Both Manca Izmajlova and Benjamin Izmajlov were also invited as jury members of the Renaissance Competition. They also gave master classes in Gyumri (The Conservatory) and Yerevan (Special Music School, named after P. I. Tchaikovsky) to some very talented young musicians…

The Slavic Soul was presented for the first time in the Arab world. The venue was the most prestigious hall of the Middle East - The Cairo Opera House. Benjamin Izmajlov orchestrated new songs for this occasion and conducted the Cairo Symphony Orchestra. The reaction of the audience was amazing and the final encore (Manca Izmajlova sang the song Alf leila wa leila by the legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum) brought the hall to a standing ovation. It was truly a great evening, full of emotion and great…