The ensemble performed concerts at the XXVII All-Russian Folk Art Festival dedicated to the composer Alexander Averkin

In early July 2024, the XXVII All-Russian Folk Art Festival dedicated to the Honored Artist of Russia, composer Alexander Averkin was held in the city of Sasovo in the Ryazan region.

Since 1997, the All-Russian Folk Art Festival dedicated to the honorary citizen of the city of Sasovo, Honored Artist of Russia, composer Alexander Petrovich Averkin has been held on Sasovo land with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Ryazan Region, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Ryazan Region, the Ryazan Regional Scientific and Methodological Center for Folk Art, and the administration of the city of Sasovo. People's Artist of the USSR Lyudmila Georgievna Zykina was at the origins of the Averkin Festival. This year, the All-Russian Festival of Folk Art dedicated to the composer A.P. Averkin turns 27.

Among the guests of the festival were: Ryazan State Academic Russian Folk Choir named after E.G. Popov, State Academic Song and Dance Ensemble "Donbass", Ensemble of Russian Cossacks, laureate of All-Russian and international competitions vocal trio "Lada", Russian Folk Choir named after M.N. Mordasova, Ensemble of Russian Song "Zabava", Children's Folklore Ensemble "Zlatitsa", People's Collective of the Ryazan Region vocal ensemble "Zvonnitsa", People's Collective  the Russian song ensemble "Sudarushka", People's Artist of Russia Anna Litvinenko, Honored Artist of Russia Vera Kayatskaya, popular performer Alexey Goman and other creative groups and artists.     

As part of the XXVII All-Russian Festival of Folk Art dedicated to the composer A.P. Averkin, on July 5, 2024, a concert of the Academic Order "For Merit in Culture and Art" song and dance ensemble of the troops of the National Guard of the Russian Federation was held in the Municipal Cultural Center of the city of Sasovo under the direction of artistic director and chief conductor, People's Artist of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev. 

 The famous creative team of the Russian National Guard also took part in the gala concert of masters of arts on July 6, 2024 in the city park of Sasovo, presenting a large concert program to the audience. 

The concert opened with the vocal and choreographic composition "Valor and Honor" (music and lyrics by A. Zaitsev, production by Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania Ivan Zhelnov, soloist - Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev).

The concert featured songs from the Great Patriotic War, "March of the Artillerymen" (T. Khrennikov, V. Gusev), "Song of War Correspondents" (M. Blanter, K. Simonov, soloist - Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko).

The ensemble's ballet group performed the dance "Home with Victory" (staged by Honored Artist of Russia A. Safronov, arranged by A. Zarkov). A potpourri of soldier's songs, "Soldier's Suite" (composition by A. Kukharenko), was performed by the choir (soloists - Honored Artist of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic Alexander Kokhov, Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Igor Safonov, Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Evgeny Yakhin, artists of the Ensemble: Ruslan Abdrafikov, Aleksey Bosykh, Mikhail Mamonov and Viktor Lezhnin).

The audience received the heartfelt performance of the songs by composer Alexander Averkin with deep feeling: "A young sailor is going on leave" (lyrics by Viktor Bokov) and "I want to please you, my dear" (lyrics by Alexander Averkin). These popular songs, performed by People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva, were warmly welcomed by the audience with prolonged applause.

The vocal and choreographic composition "Gypsy Fantasy" (composition and arrangement by I. Golubev and I. Kadomtsev, choreography by Artur Bogdanov) accompanied by a ballet group was performed by soloists - People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva, Honored Artist of Russia Alexei Dmitriev, Evgeniy Nasonov.

The legendary "Smuglyanka" (A. Novikov - Ya. Shvedov) was performed by the soloist of the Ensemble - Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev.

The concert featured the following songs: the romance "Not for me" (N. Devitte - A. Molchanov, soloist - Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Igor Safonov), the Russian folk song "The Cossack was galloping" (soloist - Dmitry Dolgy), "Free Russia" (A. Novikov - S. Alymov, soloist - Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Volzhanin), "Ballad of the Mother" (E. Martynov - A. Dementyev, soloist - Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania Pavel Pushkin).

The popular song by Oleg Gazmanov "I was born in the Soviet Union" was performed by soloists - Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Igor Safonov Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev and Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko.

The audience was in a cheerful mood thanks to the humorous songs: “I’ll take you to the tundra” (M. Fradkin – M. Plyatskovsky, soloists – Honored Artists of the Republic of Buryatia Ruslan Samozhapov and Norpol Tsydenov) and “The lads went on a spree” (S. Pavliashvili – A. Shakhunts; soloists – Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev and Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko).

No one was left indifferent by the performance of the vocal octet of the Ensemble (directed by Honored Artist of Russia Sergey Bazylko), who performed the songs "Argo" (A. Basilia - D. Bagashvili) from the musical "The Argonauts" and "I'll go out into the field with a horse at night" (I. Matvienko - A. Shaganov).

The balalaika quartet under the direction of Ivan Stepanov presented the audience with the fiery composition "Ural Dance".

The festive concert traditionally ended with the march "Farewell of Slavyanka" (V. Agapkin, V. Lazarev). The grateful spectators did not let go of their favorite artists for a long time, giving them a long applause.

"This festival annually attracts a large number of participants and guests. This confirms the huge interest in Russian song and the work of Alexander Averkin, which touches the most delicate strings of the soul. This is not the first time that our ensemble has taken part in the festival, having celebrated its 51st anniversary this year. Its repertoire includes many works by Alexander Petrovich. Thanks to them, we once again turn to our roots. "This is especially important today," said the Deputy Director of the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation - Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation, Colonel General Yuri Kotov in his address to the participants and guests of the festival.

The Head of the Municipal Formation of the City of Sasovo, Evgeniya Rubtsova, expressed words of sincere gratitude to the artists of the Academic Order "For Merit in Culture and Art" of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation and its artistic director and chief conductor, People's Artist of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev.

The festival always becomes a real celebration of art, both for the composer's fellow countrymen and for his guests. Every year, the festival becomes more significant, not only for residents of the Ryazan Region, but for all of Russia.