Tonight, the second week of Eurovision 2009 kicks off in style with an official opening ceremony and welcoming party. Broadcast live on Channel 1 in Russia, tonight's event precedes the 9 dress rehearsals and 3 pan-European live broadcasts which will take place over the next six days. Follow the action with Oikotimes at http://eurovision.1tv.ru/

Russian pop empresario Filip Kirkorov welcomes Europe to Moscow, with a rendition of Kylie Minogue's 'Your Disco Needs You'. Lip-synching to another pop tune, Kirkorov shows off his 'Just for Men' hair, as black as the leather outfit he's wearing.

Our hosts for next saturday, Andrey and Alsou, have been batheing in creosote; Alsou sports a pair of earrings that generate their own gravitational field. Together they introduce the winner of the inaugural winner from 1956, Switzerland's Lys Assia, with her victorious entry, 'Refrain'. Lys is a long-time professional, and shows better lip-synching skills than Kirkorov!

Inevitably, Alsou now treats us to a performance of her 2nd-placing song 'Solo' from 2000. She's already changed her outfit for a short white dress (and ditched the industrial earrings) but still is considerably more clothed than she was nine years ago.

Next, from 1979, we see the resurrection of Germany's 'Dschinghis Khan'. They're ageing well and loving every minute of this performance. The crowd seem a little slow to warm to it, however... Send for some vodka, ho ho ho ho! We're not getting away without Dschinghis Khan performing their follow-up hit from 1979, 'Moskau'.

It is now time for Carola to be wheeled out. She gives 'Invincible' another run out, wearing a white dress and a spangly black jacket. Credit to her, she's the first act tonight will fully live vocals. Don't fret; the jaw-warbling vibrato and wind machine are present of course. The crowd at the opening ceremony have woken up more now. Back in her blue dress with Pat Butcher earrings (ask your British friends), Alsou introduces Ruslana to the stage.

Looking as trim as ever at the age of 35, Ruslana is wearing red tonight, and not a lot of it. Singing live, she gives a characteristically energetic performance. I wonder whether her dancers are ever allowed to get their hair cut?

Andrey Malakhov excitedly introduces t.A.T.u who reprise their ESC entry, 'Ne Ver Ne Boisya'. Well, the backing track does, but the girls are looking good and enjoying the show. A little hug, but no scandal! The next artist on stage is no stranger to controversy either; Dana International.

Slinking about in a light blue long dress, Dana International lip-synchs to 'Diva'. Some uneven fake tan coverage issues here. No such concerns for Teach-In who perform along to the original version of 'Ding Ding a Dong'. They don't make 'em like they used to!

Does ESC really need a load more songs to be performed this week? O well... Maria Serifovic is up next, they're coming fast and furious here. Credit to her, she's singing live though the performance is not her best. Alone on stage, she's wearing jeans and a white jacket. The crowd are perking up as Dima Bilan performs next.

If I tell you he's all in black apart from white shoes, has a glittery jacket and Rafael Nadal-style pirate pants, you'd imagine he's looking awful, but its not as bad as it seems. 'Never let you go' is performed live, with a conventional backing band; no ballet dancers are emerging from any instruments today. The crowd anticipate his next performance, of 'Believe'. In case we forgot, Alsou reminds us that it is thanks to Dima Bilan that we are all here in Russia in 2009.

After this, Anastasia Prokhodko has an opportunity to promote her entry in next saturday's final. 'Mamo' is performed with the expected sulky and sultry attitude and a few flat notes sprinkled in. Camera shots of the audience are telling; you can see people deliberating whether to go outside for a cigarette during this one.

Alsou claims that Eurovision is more than a song contest, and is "a great way of uniting nations". Good try. Our hosts remind us of the key dates for this week, the semifinals on 12 and 14 May, followed by the final on 16 May. After a rather clunky countdown to the 'official opening' of the Moscow edition of ESC, Russian glam-rock legends Gorky Park close the show with, of course, 'Moscow Calling'. What have we learnt from this evening? Absolutely nothing! But it has built some excitement ahead of this week's events. Join Oikotimes for note-by-note coverage of tomorrow's two dress rehearsals for the first semifinal as the 6-day countdown to the main event begins.