Artists, composers, poets and conductors from all over the world have converged on St Petersburg to celebrate the fifth annual festival "From the Avant Garde to Now" until March 23.
One of the highlights will include a performance by Martin Jones, well-known British pianist.
Mr Jones will perform Benjamin Britten's piano concerto at the Great Hall with the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the St Petersburg Philharmonic, conducted by Arnold Katz.
Mr Jones opened the festival with a performance including works by Hoddinott and Stravinsky at the Small Hall at the St Petersburg Philharmonia.
The festival is devoting itself to art from the 20th century, ranging from turn-of-the-century composers to modern poets. Many works of Russian writers are set to music as well, including Nabokov, Akhmatova, Blok and, of course, Pushkin.
Various venues in the city are participating in the festival, including the Mariinsky Theater, Union of Artists, and Philharmonia.
Events for children will also be offered, including riddling verses set to music and fairy tale concerts.
The festival of classical music will also involve 10 days of international exhibition of modern arts at the House of the Union of artists to end on March 17.
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to see paintings, graphics and photographs made by artists from Russia, America, China and South Korea.
The festival will also celebrate Alexander Skriabin, Stravinsky and Hindemith. (SPP)