Vlad Plahotniuc, the founder of the Edelweiss Foundation, said he was honored to sponsor and attend this year's “Maria Biesu” Festival. “As other people who work in areas that are not related to culture, we must contribute to the smooth running of this 'temple of culture', as the festival is called. It is said that music is the language of muses and Gods. We come closer to divinity by music,” Vlad Plahotniuc said, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. According to a communique from the Foundation's Public Relations Department, the festival's host Maria Biesu thanked all those who helped organize the event. “We encountered problems, but managed to cope with them. I want to thank the authorities and especially the founder of Edelweiss Vlad Plahotniuc as well as the theater that is hosting the festival. They all made effort to offer us a cultural fest,” she said. Ioan Holender, director of the Metropolitan Opera New York, said he is very glad to be on the same stage with Maria Biesu. “The Moldovan soloists and instrumentalists make Moldova known all over the world. Your country is perceived as a cultural country with traditions that produced valuable artists,” he said. Valeria Sheican, director of the National Opera House, thanked Maria Biesu for contributing to the promotion of Moldova's image abroad by her talent and dedication. The Festival “Maria Biesu Invites”, organized with support from the Edelweiss Foundation, is taking place during September 10-17. Soloists and conductors from eight countries will be performing on the stages of the National Opera House, the National Palace and the Organ Hall. This year's festival is dedicated to the 75th birthday of the Prima Donna of the national opera Maria Biesu. Among the participants in the festival are: Ignasio Encinas (Spain), Olga Perrier (France), Daniela Stigliano (Italy), Emmanuel Siffert (Switzerland), Roman Muravitschi (Russia), Marius Manea (Romania), Felicia Felip (Romania), Alexei Baklan (Ukraine), Tatiana Anisimova (Ukraine), David Gvinianidze (Georgia). The festival’s program includes the operas “Aida”, “Traviata”, “Masked Ball” (G.Verdi), “Madame Butterfly” (G.Puccini), the ballets “Gizelle” (A. Adam) and “The Swan Lake” (P.I. Tchaikovsky). The gala concert will take place at the National Palace on September 17. The Edelweiss Foundation is a nongovernmental, non-profit and apolitical organization established by businessman Vlad Plahotniuc with the aim of creating equal opportunities for the talented people of Moldova. Its mission is to contribute to the development of society by implementing projects in culture, education, social sphere, economy and environment.