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The grand opening of the Russian Seasons with the participation of the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova and the Minister of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan Askhat Oralov took place on March 2, in Astana, on stage of the Astana Opera. During the opening ceremony, according to established tradition, the symbol of the Russian Seasons project – the Firebird – was handed over to the host party.
Among the participants of the opening concert “Tchaikovsky Gala” were: the All-Russian Youth Symphony Orchestra under the direction of People’s Artist of the USSR, Ambassador of the Russian Seasons Yuri Bashmet and soloists – winners of international competitions Valeria Abramova (violin), Vasily Stepanov (cello), Philip Kopachevsky (piano) and soloist of the Astana Opera Artur Gabdiev (tenor).
On the same day, the exhibition “Planet Tchaikovsky”, prepared by the Russian National Museum of Music, was presented in the foyer of the Astana Opera Theatre.
A series of events “Daysof GITIS in Kazakhstan” was held from May 8 to 16 in Almaty, at Temirbek Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts. The premiere of a student performance Childhood based on the same-name short novel by L.N. Tolstoy was presented to the attention of the Kazakh audience. Before the show commenced, the Vice-Rector for Scientific Work of Temirbek Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Kabyl Khalykov and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Professor of the Directing Faculty of GITIS, Artistic Director of the Pyotr Fomenko Workshop Theater Evgeny Kamenkovich made welcoming speeches. Apart from that, lecturers, teachers and voice specialists from GITIS conducted voice master classes, classes on scenic movement, directing and acting skills.
From September 15 to 20, the Days of Yakut Cinema were held in Almaty. Ten films of different genres were presented to the audience: from auteur cinema and crime comedy to sports drama and mystical horror. The films were demonstrated in the Yakut language with Russian subtitles.
From September 14 to 17 the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater made a tour to Baikonur. In a special programme of music and poetry Look at the sky and see – Star, directed by Marina Brusnikina, People’s artists of the Russian Federation Konstantin Khabensky, Mikhail Porechenkov and Nikolai Chindyaykin, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Marina Brusnikina, artists Kristina Babushkina, Olga Litvinova, Alena Khovanskaya, Pavel Vashchilin, Alexey Varushchenko and Yulia Chebakova were starring.
As part of the tour to Almaty, the company of the Chekhov Art Theater performed a play “Duel” directed by Anton Yakovlev and based on the same-name story by Anton Chekhov.
From September 28 to November 28 the main building of the Abilkhan Kasteev State Museum of Arts hosted the exhibition St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. Figurative art. Over a hundred works by teachers and graduates of the St. Petersburg academic school, which trained many wonderful artists, including Kazakh artists and art critics, were presented to the public.
On September 28, the Chechen dance ensemble “Vainakh” presented a choreographic program of national dances of the Caucasus on stage of the State Concert Organization Qazaq Concert named after Rosa Baglanova. The artists demonstrated honed performing skills and the splendor of national costumes. The next day, September 29, the leading choreographers of the company conducted master classes on couple and solo dances.
The final event of the Russian Seasons in Kazakhstan took place on December 9. This was the gala concert Duet of Two Capitals, prepared by the Helikon Opera Theater under the direction of Dmitry Bertman jointly with the team of the Astana Opera and Ballet Theater, which hosted the gala.
Astana received Helikon stars – laureates of international competitions Yulia Shcherbakova, Valentina Gofer, Shota Chibirov, Maxim Perebeinos. They performed together with the soloists of the Astana Opera, among whom were Honored Workers of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zhupar Gabdullina, Saltanat Akhmetova, Azamat Zheltyrguzov, Medet Chotabaev.
The closing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aida Balaeva and the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Andrei Malyshev, who welcomed the guests of the gala evening.
An exclusive exhibition of theatrical costumes Art Masquerade was displayed the foyer of the Astana Opera, and the spectators were offered an excursion around the exhibition. The project was developed by an artist from St. Petersburg Nika Velegzhaninova. The display included theatrical costumes created according to sketches by Alexander Golovin, Lev Bakst, Mikhail Larionov and Sergei Sudeikin.
