Nadezhda Babkina receives Russia's Ludwig Nobel Prize

Singer Nadezhda Babkina received Russia's Ludwig Nobel Prize at her Russkaya Pesnya theatre in Moscow on October 15, RIA Novosti reported from the ceremony.

The award was presented by Ludwig Nobel Foundation President Anna Yakovleva and honorary council members Irina Viner, choreographer Vladimir Vasilyev and four-time Olympic champion Alexander Tikhonov.

Viner said Babkina had devoted her career to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Russia's peoples. She praised the theatre's combination of folklore and dramatic art. Vasilyev highlighted Babkina's artistic talent and ability to bring people together through the arts.

Babkina is the theatre's artistic director and director and holds the title People's Artist of Russia.

The Russian award is named after industrialist and philanthropist Ludwig Nobel. Previous recipients include Vladimir Putin, Sergey Lavrov, Sergey Stepashin, Yevgeny Primakov, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, choreographer Yuri Grigorovich and filmmaker Stanislav Govorukhin.

The prize was established in St. Petersburg in 1888 and revived there in 2005.