On 9 December, the international project Russian Seasons ended in Kazakhstan with the gala concert Duet of Two Capitals, staged by the Moscow musical theater Helikon-Opera under the direction of Dmitry Bertman jointly with the team of the Astana Opera State Opera and Ballet Theater.
The closing event of the Russian Seasons in the Republic of Uzbekistan took place on 14 December at the Uzbekistan Palace of International Forums, where the Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra conducted by People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Valery Gergiev gave a concert with participation of the winners of the XVII Tchaikovsky International Competition. The Russian Seasons project in these countries was supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, respectively.
The international project Russian Seasons aims at presenting Russian culture abroad and is held annually. Its mission is to present Russia as a country that carefully preserves and develops its rich cultural heritage and traditions. The themes and formats of the Russian Seasons are broad-ranging: from classical music concerts and theater productions to film festivals, art exhibitions and educational projects. In 2023, the project was first held in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
in the Republic of Kazakhstan Russian Seasons opened in March with Tchaikovsky Gala – the program of the All-Russian Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by People’s Artist of the USSR Yuri Bashmet. During the year, 24 events at various venues in the republic were held, including tours of Eifman Ballet St. Petersburg and Chekhov Moscow Art Theater, exhibition of the Russian National Museum of Music Planet Tchaikovsky, master classes from GITIS training specialists and performance of GITIS graduates, exhibition of the St. Petersburg State Repin Academy of Fine Arts Figurative Art, performances and master classes of the State Academic Dance Ensemble Vainakh and more. In total, 24 events of Russian Seasons in Kazakhstan were attended by 31,150 people.
“During 2023, our Russian colleagues presented a series of cultural events that left an inerasable impression in the hearts of Kazakhstanis,” noted the Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Aida Balaeva. – This is the key to close friendly relations between our countries. Indeed, culture plays a vital role in uniting humanity today. It unites people of different nationalities, religions, languages, allowing them to find common ground and understand each other.”
Russian Seasons project in the Republic of Uzbekistan was launched on stage of the Alisher Navoi State Academic Big Theater in May with the performance 12 – the theater production of Nikita Mikhalkov Center of Theater and Cinema. Subsequently, 38 events were held in different cities of the Republic of Uzbekistan, among them: the exhibition of the Russian National Museum of Music Rachmaninov and Chaliapin. Parallels and Intersections, master classes by teachers from GITIS and VGIK, concert by Honored Artist of Russia, laureate of international competitions Ildar Abdrazakov (bass), tours of the Obraztsov State Academic Central Puppet Theatre and the Russian State Theater Satyricon named after Arkady Raikin, lectures and cartoons screenings by the Soyuzmultfilm Studio, concerts by the People’s Artist of Russia and the Republic of Abkhazia Hibla Gerzmava, the Gnessin Ensemble of Contemporary Choral Music Altro coro, the Moscow Soloists Chamber Ensemble conducted by the People’s Artist of the USSR Yuri Bashmet, performances by the State Academic Honored Dance Ensemble of Dagestan Lezginka and the State Academic Northern Russian Folk Choir. The 38 events in Uzbekistan were attended by a total 8,800 spectators.
“We are interested in strengthening comprehensive cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia and are confident that intercultural dialogue provides our peoples with a broad opportunity for deeper and better understanding of each other. The practice of cooperation between our countries testifies to the great prospects of culture in strengthening bilateral relations. I would like to thank the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation for our intensive joint cooperation. I hope that our friendly relations will continue to develop,” emphasized Murodjon Majidov, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
In both countries during 2023 the Russian Seasons program featured 62 events; the number of the audience and participants of events reached 40 000 people.
We express our gratitude to the general information partners of the project, the international news agencies Sputnik Kazakhstan and Sputnik Uzbekistan! Sputnik – up-to-date information about events in the country and the world. Follow the news on the websites and telegram channels Sputnik Kazakhstan and Sputnik Uzbekistan.
We also thank the official information partner of the Russian Seasons project, the Interstate Television and Radio Company Mir , and the radio partner of the Russian Seasons project, the Federal Radio Station Radio Russia.
