The soloists of the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, baritone singer Sevastian Martyniuk and tenor Valentin Kolesnikov won the new laureate titles. At the Contest of Vocal Contests of the 36th Sobinov Music Festival that ended on June 3, Sevastian won the first prize, Valentin - the third one. Besides, the Krasnoyarsk baritone singer won the third prize of the Engagement competition.

The Contest of Vocal Contests took place within the Sobinov Music Festival at the Saratov Opera and Ballet Theatre for the 36th time; it is a unique event because vocalists who are already laureates of Russian and international competitions take part in it. Each participant was to present three compositions accompanied by a piano in the first round: a folk song of the contestant's country, a Russian romance song, a Western European song; in the second round - Russian and foreign opera arias.

Sevastian Martyniuk chose to perform the Russian folk song Proshchay Radost Zhizn Moya (Farewell, Joy, My Life), Franz Liszt’s song Lasst Mich Ruhen, Georgy Sviridov’s romance song I am Nailed to the Tavern Counter (the 1st round), Yeletsky’s aria from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades and Rodrigo’s aria from Don Carlos by Giuseppe Verdi (the 2nd round). Valentin Kolesnikov sang the Russian folk song Ah Ty Dushechka (Oh You, Darling), Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s romance song Why, Ernesto de Curtis’s song Tu Ca Nun Chiagne (the 1st round), Rudolf’s aria from La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini and Vladimir’s Cavatina from Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin. The Krasnoyarsk singers also took part in the final gala concert of the competition.

Sevastian Martyniuk also successfully sang at the opera competition Engagement that was held in Moscow and supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. Sevastian won the third prize sharing it with artists from other Russian theatres Stepan Volkov and Diana Nur. Only 12 of 60 participants made it to the third round.

The Engagement competition is a unique opportunity for opera singers to meet potential employers. Among the members of the jury, there are Honoured Artists of Russia, artistic directors of music theatres, production directors, conductors from the leading theatres of the country. Krasnoyarsk was represented at the forum by People's Artist of Russia, artistic director of opera festivals and touring opera projects of the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre Irina Dolzhenko. The Krasnoyarsk Theatre has prepared a special award for the winners - participation in a gala concert and a creative laboratory in Krasnoyarsk. The award was given to the 2nd prize winner Yulia Butyrina (the Voronezh Opera and Ballet Theatre) and diploma winner Olga Dobrydina. They were invited to perform on the stage of the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre.