Successful 31st April Spring Friendship Art Festival
Amidst profound expectation and interest of all people of culture and art throughout the world the 31st April Spring Friendship Art Festival was held in a great success in Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in April 2018.
Present at the 31st ASFAF were 628 famous artistes, acrobats and other people of culture and art of 45 prestigious foreign art troupes, overseas Korean art troupes and cultural delegations from 19 countries, including the art troupe of over 240 renowned artistes from the Central Ballet of China, Central Opera Theatre and Central Drama Theatre, M. E. Pyatnitsky National Academic Folk Chorus of Russia, Classical Ballet of National Academic Theatre of Belarus, String Quartet of Alberic Magnard Chamber Orchestra, international prize winners (vocal and instrumental soloists) from Bulgaria, Poland, Germany and Cuba, acrobatic troupes from Russia and Belorus, and magic groups and magicians from Thailand and Singapore.
The 31st ASFAF was a special event to be recorded in golden letters in the festival history as its performance was staged in the presence of the respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un for the first time in its history.
Performances of the 31st ASFAF
The performances of the 31st ASFAF were staged in group and exclusive forms from April 11 to 17, 2018 in Mansudae Art Theatre, Pyongyang Grand Theatre, East Pyongyang Grand Theatre, Moranbong Theatre, Pyongyang Acrobatic Theatre and other well-known theatres in Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
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The Central Ballet of China staged its performance in East Pyongyang Grand Theatre and Mansudae Art Theatre.
The respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un personally enjoyed the ballet opera “Red Women’s Company” presented by the Central Ballet of China in East Pyongyang Grand Theatre and congratulated them on their success.
Pyongyang Grand Theatre provided the stage to 6 groups, including Classical Ballet of National Academic Theatre of Belarus, Mongolian Military Song and Dance Academic Ensemble and Flamenco Folk Band of Spain.
In Moranbong Theatre the String Quartet of Alberic Magnard Chamber Orchestra of France and the famouns vocalists and instrumentalists from Russia, Mongolia and Cuba, performed together with the DPRK State Symphony Orchestra.
5 groups, including the 1st Class opera singers from Bulgaria and Poland and a pianist from Germany, showed their performance in the Music Hall of Kim Won Gyun University of Music.
6 groups, including the Circus of State Acrobatic Company of Russia, Belorussian National Circus and Magicians of Thailand, staged their performance in Pyongyang Acrobatic Theatre.
Ponghwa Art Theatre hosted the performance of 5 groups, including M. E. Pyatnitsky National Academic Folk Chorus of Russia and the soloists of Japan-Korea Music and Art Exchange Association.
Festival Prize Awarding Ceremony
ASFAF Organizing Committee awarded diploma, cup and premium to the art troupes and individual artistes who distinguished themselves in the festival performances.
Special Prize was awarded to Central Ballet of China. Prize for Best Group was awarded to the best art troupes, including M. E. Pyatnitsky National Academic Folk Chorus of Russia and the Classical Ballet of National Academic Theatre of Belarus.
29 best items were awarded with Prize for Best Ensemble (Gold and Silver), and 29 best performers were awarded with Prize for Best Artiste (Gold and Silver) for their high artistic skills.
In addition, Prize for Special Merit and Prize for Creation were awarded to 27 figures of culture and art for their contribution to the success of the festival.
Board Meeting of ASFAF Fund
A meeting of the Board of Directors of ASFAF Fund was held within the framework of the 31st April Spring Friendship Art Festival.
The meeting conferred ASFAF Fund Certificate to 5 directors of the Board for their positive contribution to the improvement of material conditions for organization and management of the festival, including invitation, acoustics, lighting and stage decoration, and to wider publicity given to the festival through different mass media.
