The hills are about to be alive with the sound of music in Russia’s 2014 Olympic host Sochi. In the run-up to the Winter Games, the city is making sure its cultural scene is up to scratch as it prepares for a truly mind-blowing Winter Art Festival.

And who better to curate the event than eminent Russian conductor and violist Yury Bashmet. The maestro has got plenty of musical goodies in store for visitors, including world-famous violinist Maksim Vengerov, a concert by Serbian director and musician Emir Kusturica and his folk-rock Non Smoking Orchestra, and, naturally, a performance of his own.

Held for the 5th time, this year the festival is widening its boundaries beyond music, offering also some legendary ballet from the repertoire of Sergey Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, staged by Andris Liepa. In his Saisons Russes project, the renowned director gives the ballets a new lease of life.

Exhibitions and master-classes will also be on the menu, and crowning the festival program will be a performance from soprano Jessye Norman.

The festival will open on February 3 and span two weeks.