The formal opening of the Sixth international competition of young singers of popular music took place in the \"Dzintari\" concert hall late on July,25.
Stars came in exotic cars before the beginning of the concert program. The audience of the concert hall greeted their idols. Alla Pugacheva, Igor Krutoy, Raymond Pauls, Christina Orbakaite, Valery Leontiev, Philip Kirkorov, Vladimir Presnyakov, Polina Gagarina, \"Diskoteka Avaria\", Vladimir Vinokur, Laima Vaikule, Valery Meladze, Konstantin Meladze and many others were among the guests. After all the stars had gone along the red carpet, the audience could watch the opening ceremony. \"I proclaim the \"New Wave\" competition opened!\" - the Muse of the contest Alla Pugacheva said. The audience welcomed the co-members of the jury Raymond Pauls and Igor Krutoy with a standing ovation.
Lera, Ksenia Sobchak, Sergey Lazarev and Pavel Volya conducted the concert program. Such celebrities as Alla Pugacheva, Michael Bolton, Valery Leontiev, Sofia Rotaru, Filip Kirkorov, Valeria, \"Diskoteka Avaria\", Sergey Lazarev, Vladimir Vinokur and sisters Tolmachevs, Dima Bilan, Nikolay Baskov performed before the audience. Not only did the masters of the ceremony invite the stars to sing, but they also asked them to define the serial number of contestants\' performances on the first day of the competition. The casting of lots on the first day of the \"New Wave\" contest has become traditional. This time a ship with red canvas was the key object of the procedure. The celebrities took a number from the vessel and announced the number of a contestsnt\'s performance. When it turned out that Nastya Kochetkova was the 13-th to perform, Alla Pugacheva said: \"Good luck, Nastya!\"
The order of the finalists\' performances on the first day of the competition (from 1 to 18):
Chioma (USA)
\"Barselona\" (Ukraine)
Issa Samer (Czech Republic)
Alessandro (Italy)
Marina (Poland)
Natalia Vinokurova (Russia)
Mihai (Rumania)
Polina Smolova (Belarus)
Masha Novikova (Russia)
Francisca (Germany)
Natalia Gordienko (Moldova)
\"Rin`Go\" (Kazakhstan)
Anastasia Kochetkova (Russia)
Vasily Lazarovich (Украина)
Eleonora (Georgia)
Kostas Martakis (Greece)
Kate (Czech Republic)
Erglis (Latvia)
The opening ceremony was finished with a traditional presentation of the contestants: they went on stage carrying the flags of the countries they represented.