The performance was the culmination of the opening week of events to mark the musical stage of the Sochi 2014 Cultural Olympiad at the Bolshoi venue set for completion in just over a year's time.

The 12,000 capacity ice hockey arena will be used as a multisport and entertainment venue after the Winter Olympics in February 2014.

It is located in the coastal cluster on Sochi's beach and will be covered with a dome when complete, comprising an area larger than 12 hockey fields.

As part of the Year of Music nearly 1,000 events will take place across Russia, reflecting a range of musical genres.

Bashmet is also running a contest for classical musicians, in which finalists will be given the chance to join the symphony orchestra due to perform during Sochi 2014.

The Cultural Olympiad of the Sochi Games will see thousands of events take place across the country.

The first year of the programme, 2010, was dedicated to cinema and 2011 was the Year of Theatre, while 2013 will be the Year of Museums.

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