A MONUMENT TO F.I. SHALYAPIN IS ERECTED IN KIROV OBLAST, WITH LUKOIL ACTING AS A SPONSOR

Monday, August 25, 2014

OAO LUKOIL sponsored construction of a bronze monument to F.I. Shalyapin, an outstanding figure of Russian culture.

The monument was erected in the park in front of the Kirov Regional Drama Theater. The sculptor of the monument is Viktor Boriskin.

The festive ceremony dedicated to the monument opening was attended by Vladimir Medinsky, RF Minister of Culture, Nikita Belykh, acting Governor of the Kirov Oblast, Vladimir Bykov, Mayor of Kirov, and Igor Beketov, General Director of the LUKOIL Charity Fund.

“I had the impression that the monument is as bright, beautiful, large, and wide, as the soul of our great fellow countryman, Fedor Ivanovich Shalyapin, was. It is symbolic that the monument is situated near the theater, a remarkable point of attraction for all residents of Kirov and its guests,” Medinsky said.

“I would like to express my gratitude to OAO LUKOIL for sponsoring the monument construction and fix-up work. It is not our first joint socially important cultural project; two years ago the Company supported renovation of the Vitberg House,” Belykh commented.

“We are greatly privileged to be art and part in the eternization of the memory of F.I. Shalyapin, a great Russian singer and citizen, since such persons form the basis for the historical memory, love and respect for our country. We hope that the monument will become one of Kirov’s places of interest,” Beketov said.