From 15 to 18 May 2024 a number of events of the Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia in Belarus took place in Minsk, within the program of which the distinguished Russian choirs demonstrated their vocal techniques and distinctive views on choral art. The tour was organized by the ANO Russian Seasons with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
On May 15, the grand opening of the Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia in Belarus took place at the Belarusian State Academy of Music. The ceremony was opened by the Director of the Department of State Support of Art and Folk Art of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation Oksana Kosareva. She read out welcoming speeches from the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova and the Head of the Representative Office of the Permanent Committee of the Union State in Minsk Marianna Shchetkina. The rectors of two academies: Alexander Ryzhinsky, the rector of the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music, and Elena Kurakina, the rector of the Belarusian State Academy of Music, also delivered their welcoming addresses.
As part of the Days of Spiritual Culture, an exhibition of the State Historical Museum Novodevichy Convent. Towards the 500th anniversary of its founding. The exposition displayed reproductions of works of art and photographs from the museum’s collection. The representative of the State Historical Museum Anastasia Belyakova gave a tour around the exhibition. Also, a round table devoted to the topic “The system of musical training in Russia and Belarus as the basis for preserving the spiritual culture of the Union State” was held. The rector of the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music Alexander Ryzhinsky moderated the discussion.
“The round table is dedicated to the issues of music education as an important component of the spiritual education of the younger generation, as well as prospecting a common vector of development and improvement of educational systems and creation of a common educational space for our Union State. Music education in Russia and Belarus are very related phenomena that grew from the same root; they are connected both with general methodological guidelines and with the backgrounds of our culture. First of all, of course, we are looking to the future – we want to create something that will allow us to be even stronger. Perhaps there is no other country other than Belarus that would be so close to Russia from the point of view of the background of culture – these are our common origins in faith, and the very mode of life. Therefore, such meetings are our mutual enrichment. And I am very proud that we have long-standing creative, educational and scientific ties,” said the rector of the academy.
On the same day, residents and guests of Minsk enjoyed an evening of choral music. The concert program Russian choral music: from classics to contemporaneity was presented by the Ensemble of Contemporary Choral Music Altro coro of the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music; conductor and artistic director – rector of the Academy Alexander Ryzhinsky. At the official part, the audience was greeted by the First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus Valery Gromada and the Director of the Department of State Support of Art and Folk Art of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation Oksana Kosareva, who read out an address from the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova: “Today, more than ever, we feel the affinity of the peoples of Russia and Belarus, we feel our common desire to preserve cultural wealth, historical memory, and traditional spiritual values. This is a solid foundation for strong friendly relations between our countries.”
On 16 May, the Temple-Monument in honor of All Saints and in memory of the victims who served for the salvation of our Fatherland the Moscow Synodal Choir presented its art in a concert program under the direction of the conductor Mikhail Kotelnikov. The Head of the National Memorial Complex, Archpriest Fyodor Povny, was present at the concert and gave a speech: “This is a truly important event not only for our Church, but also for the whole country. If we foster the ties that unite us in tradition, in spirit, in culture – we will be together, we will be glad to see each other, and we will be waiting for each other to visit.” Fyodor Petrovich emphasized: “In my opinion, Belarusians feel themselves Belarusians as long as they realize common roots with the great Russian people, as long as they are nourished by the great Russian culture, as long as they see your horizons. We thank you for your initiative and creativity and through you we thank the Russian people for defending our world and the values you sing about. May the Lord protect us all – all those who are near and far. Let our prayers reach the Lord. God is with us! Christ is Risen!”
On May 18, the Ryazan State Academic Russian Folk Choir named after Evgeniy Popov presented two events at different venues in the city. A series of master classes in choreography, orchestral and choral art were held at the Belarusian State Academy of Music and the Minsk State College of Arts. The Chief conductor, Honorary worker of culture and art of the Ryazan region Alexander Oreshkin conducted a master class “Distinctive features of the repertoire of the Ryazan choir orchestra, its particular characteristics and capabilities”; Artistic director, Honored worker of culture of the Russian Federation Svetlana Sukhova – a master class “Song tradition of the Ryazan region”, Chief choreographer, Honored worker of culture of the Russian Federation Nikolai Shichkin – a master class on folk stage dance “Regional features of the choreographic repertoire of the Ryazan choir”.
In the evening the Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia in the Republic of Belarus ended with an exuberant performance of the Ryazan Choir named after. E. Popov at the Belarusian State Philharmonic. At the closing ceremony, General director of the Philharmonic Alexander Ivanovich Nikita and Artistic director of the Ryazan choir, Honored worker of culture of Russia Svetlana Sukhova in their speeches expressed gratitude to the participants and organizers of the project.
“I believe the choir that performs on our stage today will stick in the memory and hearts of our Belarusian spectators. We are looking forward to today’s concert and subsequent visits of Russian creative companies,” said Alexander Ivanovich Nikita.
“We are happy and proud to present the art of the legendary Russian land – Ryazan region, on the stage of the Belarusian Philharmonic. It’s gratifying that so many spectators came at the call of their hearts, at the call of their souls, to watch the performance of their brothers and sisters from the glorious ancient city of Ryazan,” Svetlana Sukhova shared her opinion.
From May 16 to 18, the exhibition of the State Historical Museum Novodevichy Convent. Towards the 500th anniversary of its foundation was displayed in the Temple-Monument in honor of All Saints and in memory of the victims who served for the salvation of our Fatherland. The exhibition is dedicated to the historical jubilee of one of the oldest convents and the amazingly beautiful architectural ensemble in Moscow – the Novodevichy Convent. The visitors had an opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of icon painting watching copies and prints of ancient icons from the icon screens of churches painted by famous masters of the Armory, images of unique frescoes of the 16th century, objects related to the life of famous nuns of the convent, as well as photographs of temples and other buildings on the territory of the convent and tombstones from its necropolis.
Let us remind you that the Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia is a multi-genre project of the Russian Ministry of Culture, aimed at spiritual enlightenment and moral education through the popularization of the richness of Russian art and moral values in foreign countries. Since 2008, events have been held in 43 countries.
