Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Mosfilm Film Concern – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
March 6, 2026
News editorial office
49
On March 5 and 6, the New Russia State Symphony Orchestra held rehearsals and recording sessions for the large-scale gala concert "The Century of Zatsepin" at Mosfilm's First Music Studio. A television version of this spectacular evening, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the legendary composer Alexander Zatsepin, will air on the Rossiya TV channel. Daria Zlatopolskaya and Andrey Malakhov will host the event.
Alexander Sergeyevich will celebrate his anniversary on March 10th on the Historical Stage of the Bolshoi Theatre. That evening, the maestro will personally appear on stage to receive congratulations from prominent figures in Russian culture and art.
The music of Alexander Zatsepin is an integral part of the cultural code of several generations. His melodies, which have graced dozens of feature and animated films, have long since acquired a life of their own. Phrases from films such as "Operation Y and Shurik's Other Adventures," "The Diamond Arm," "Kidnapping, Caucasian Style," "The Twelve Chairs," "The Woman Who Sings," "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession," and "It Can't Be!" have become popular quotations, and songs have become folk songs.
The grand gala concert will feature A-list stars. Guests include Ildar Abdrazakov, Hibla Gerzmava, Nikolai Baskov, Natalya Varley, Yevgeny Mironov, Sergey Shakurov, Yulia Peresild, Fyodor Bondarchuk, Dima Bilan, Igor Butman, Anton Belyaev, Elizaveta Bazykina, and Maria Mironova. A special guest of the evening will be People's Artist of the USSR Alexandra Pakhmutova.
Preparing for such an event requires perfect sound, so the organizers chose Mosfilm. For two days, the legendary First Music Studio was in full swing. The organizers couldn't hide their admiration for the venue's technical equipment: "This is the best recording studio in Moscow. Everything related to recording is top-notch here. We rehearsed here last year and two years ago. We've tried many other places, but we always come back to you," the show's creators and participants share their impressions.
The two-day program was intense and diverse, encompassing every facet of the anniversary's career. The focus was on timeless hits, which will be presented in concert versions. Among them are "Song about Bears," the medley "Film-Film-Film," "A World Without a Beloved," "Island of Bad Luck," "Looking for You," and "Somewhere Among the Pampas." Under the baton of maestro Yuri Bashmet, the orchestra accompanied Nikolai Baskov and Dmitry Bilan. The Bolshoi Theater Children's Choir also participated in the rehearsal, and will be performing one of the compositions on the anniversary program.
To perform the title theme from the cult animated film "The Mystery of the Third Planet," it was decided to use unique instruments. Pyotr Theremin played the theremin, one of the world's first electronic musical instruments, invented by his great-grandfather, Leon Theremin. He was joined by Ilya Simphocat on a synthesizer to recreate that same "cosmic" sound familiar to everyone from childhood.
People's Artist of Russia Sergei Shakurov also worked in the studio. The actor, known for his dramatic roles, brilliantly performed the vocals for the songs "If I Were a Sultan" (from the film "Kidnapping, Caucasian Style") and "Long Ago There Was a War."
Arrangements of the legendary compositions "There Is Only a Moment" and "Conversation with Happiness" have been prepared for opera star Ildar Abdrazakov. These will be performed at the Bolshoi Theater with the New Russia Symphony Orchestra. Gennady Papin served as sound engineer for the Mosfilm sessions.
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