XXXIX "Vitebsk Listapad" united poets from Belarus and Russia
On October 25, the Vitebsk Concert Hall and the Vitebsk Regional Branch of the NGO "Union of Writers of Belarus" warmly welcomed poets from all corners of Belarus, as well as from Russia. On this day, Vitebsk became a true epicenter of inspiration, hosting participants of the XXXIX Open Festival of Author's Song, Poetry, and Visual Arts "Vitebsky Listopad".
The main event of the day was the competition in the "Poetry. Author's Work" nomination, which, according to the organizers and spectators, turned into a grand poetic contest. Masters of the word gathered for the event from Minsk, Vitebsk, all regions of Belarus, as well as from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Smolensk, and many other cities, which gave the competition a truly international status and scale.
63 finalists, selected from 88 participants in the festival's poetry nomination, demonstrated their skill and talent. A special atmosphere reigned on the stage of the Vitebsk Concert Hall on this day: poetry united both recognized masters of the word, who already had several published poetry collections to their name, and very young authors who nervously read their first, yet already very sincere and profound lines. This diversity of generations and experience underscored the continuity and vibrant energy of contemporary poetic art.
The format of the final stage of the competition – public readings of author's works – was chosen not by chance and proved to be extremely successful. When a poem is read by its author, it gains a special power and depth. Each work turned into a unique story about a person's life and destiny, becoming a fairy tale that came to life in the listeners' imagination and transported them to another world. Every sound, every intonation, every line – all were filled with the magic emanating from the author's heart, making the audience feel, experience, and empathize with them.
The organizers and participants express their hope that this competition will become a new, important step on the path to professional growth for each of the participants. Warm meetings, exchange of experience, and new acquaintances will undoubtedly inspire poets to create new creative ideas and works, enriching the world of modern poetry and bringing fresh voices and meanings into it.