Birthday greetings to Yury Bashmet

The message reads, in part:

"In the world of music, you are known as one of the most outstanding viola players and conductors of our time, a remarkable and passionate creative person. Of course, I must praise your genuinely unique teaching and management talent, your proactive contribution to popular and relevant educational and charity projects, and to the professional development of gifted youth."

Yury Bashmet is a Soviet and Russian viola player, conductor, teacher, and public activist. He is a Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation, People's Artist of the USSR, USSR State Award winner, winner of four State Awards of the Russian Federation and a Grammy award.