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The opening of the 2025 International Project “Russian Seasons” of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation in the Kingdom of Bahrain took place in Manama, the capital of Bahrain.
Prior to the ceremony, a press scrum was held in the foyer of the Bahrain National Theatre. The event was attended by Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Bahrain Alexey Skosyrev, Head of the Bahraini Authority for Culture and Antiquities His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Information of the Kingdom of Bahrain His Excellency Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Noaimi, and Artistic Director and General Director of the Mariinsky Theatre, and General Director of the Bolshoi Theatre Valery Gergiev.
Olga Lyubimova and His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa addressed the guests of the opening ceremony with welcoming speeches.
The events were attended by officials from the Kingdom of Bahrain, representatives of the cultural and diplomatic communities, including ambassadors of Algeria, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Serbia, Thailand, and Turkey.
On the opening day of the “Russian Seasons,” the Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra performed at the Bahrain National Theatre under the baton of the People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, Maestro Valery Gergiev.
The program with a symbolic title “Golden Classics,” featured works by great Russian and foreign composers: M. Glinka, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, P. Tchaikovsky, M. Mussorgsky, I. Stravinsky, G. Puccini, and F. Cilea.
19-20 February
Manama
Bahrain National Museum
“SOYUZMULTFILM – LET’S DO IT TOGETHER!”
Program of educational events by “Soyuzmultfilm” Studio
“ANIMATION TECHNIQUES – Stop Motion, 2D, 3D, and More”
LECTURE for the professional community of animators
Lecturer: Head of the Digital Promotion and Advertising Department, “Soyuzmultfilm” Studio Prokopy Ulyashov
MASTER CLASSES AND SCREENINGS OF ANIMATED FILMS for children
Two animation master classes on “Bogatyri of the Russian Land” (for children aged 8 to 11; for teenagers aged 12 to 15)
Two animation master classes on “The Nutcracker” (for children aged 8 to 11; for teenagers aged 12 to 15)
Two screenings of the studio’s cartoons for audiences aged 8 to 15 (“Oomka – a Greedy Meadow”, “Orange Cow – a Big Trip”, “Mr. Theo, Cat and Dog – a Ball for Sharik, Secrets of the Honey Hills”, “Krutiksy – Supercadet” and “Monsiki – Blum the Superhero”)
The final event was attended by Haya Ahmed Al-Sada, Director of the Bahrain National Museum. Over the course of two days, more than 70 children and adults from two Bahraini schools—Ibn Khuldoon National School and Bayan Bahrain School—participated in the “Russian Seasons” educational program.
24 February
Manama
Bahrain National Theatre
“THE WORLD THROUGH DANCE”
Concert by the State Academic Honored Dance Ensemble of Dagestan “Lezginka”
Artistic Director and General Director
Honored Worker of Art of the Russian Federation
Dzhambulat Magomedov
Master of ceremonies
Alexander Khananin
The State Academic Honored Dance Ensemble of Dagestan “Lezginka” presented a vibrant program, “The World Through Dance,” to the Bahraini audience. It included signature choreographic compositions reflecting the diversity and uniqueness of the multinational culture of the peoples of the North Caucasus – “Welcoming Lezginka”, male highland dance “My Heart is in the Mountains”, “Holiday in a Mountain Village”, “Daggers”, and others.
12-13 November
Manama
Bahrain National Theatre
GALA CONCERTS by Vaganova Ballet Academy
Rector of the Academy
People’s Artist of the Russian Federation
Nikolai Tsiskaridze
First Vice-Rector and Artistic Director of the Academy
People’s Artist of the Russian Federation
Zhanna Ayupova
Performers
Students of the Vaganova Ballet Academy
A highlight of the “Russian Seasons” program in the Kingdom of Bahrain was the gala concerts of students from the legendary Vaganova Ballet Academy at the Bahrain National Theater.
The Academy is one of the oldest and most prestigious ballet schools in the world that made an invaluable contribution to choreographic education worldwide, preserving and developing the traditions accumulated by generations of dancers and teachers, and winning the recognition of millions of ballet fans.
The audience was captivated by the magical music of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the fabulous multimedia effects, and the artistry of the young dancers. The atmosphere of Christmas miracle came to Bahrain ahead of schedule thanks to the magical performance of “The Nutcracker.”
The audience also enjoyed the colorful Suite from the ballet “The Fairy Doll” – a restored version of the ballet by brothers Nikolai and Sergei Legat, staged in 1903. The author of the revival is the Academy’s rector, Nikolai Tsiskaridze. The costumes are based on sketches by Léon Bakst.
Prior to the Academy’s gala concert on 12 November, a press briefing was held with the participation of Alexei Skosyrev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Farah Mohamad Matar, Director General of Culture and Museums at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, and Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Rector of the Vaganova Ballet Academy.
The events were attended by officials from the Kingdom of Bahrain, representatives of the cultural and diplomatic communities, including the ambassadors of Algeria, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Serbia, Thailand, and Turkey.
Guests of the events included officials from the Kingdom of Bahrain, representatives of the cultural community, and the diplomatic corps.
Bahraini audiences were thrilled by the performance of rising stars of Russian ballet. The Academy’s students presented a pas de deux of the main characters and a divertissement of dances from the second act of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker.” This magical story of love, courage, and the forces of good and evil has become something of a signature of the Academy: each year, the ballet is staged with a new cast of students.
14 November
Manama
Bahrain National Theater
CONCERT by Ossipov National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Russia
Closing of the International Project “Russian Seasons” in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Artistic Director and Chief Conductor
People’s Artist of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Andropov
Invited soloists:
Sofia Onopchenko (vocals)
Honored Artist of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
Albina Degtyareva (jaw harp)
Arslan Umurzakov (kuray)
Master of ceremonies
Alexander Khananin
The closing concert of the International project “Russian Seasons” in the Kingdom of Bahrain took place at the Bahrain National Theatre. The performance by the Ossipov National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Russia, conducted by People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Vladimir Andropov, provided a powerful finale to the project. Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Zhanna Alekseeva delivered an address to the audience.
The Ossipov Orchestra, one of the oldest in Russia, celebrated its 105th anniversary last year. The highest level of professionalism, the unique speech of its folk instruments, and superb sound culture allow the orchestra to occupy a place of honor among the unique phenomena of Russian musical culture.
A surprise for the audience was the orchestra’s performance of the composition “Since the Creation of the World, We Are the People of Bahrain” and the famous Russian folk song “The Moon Shines,” together with Bahraini musicians from the Ismaeel Dawas Band and Mohammed Asiri. Russian gusli, balalaikas, domras, and traditional Bahraini instruments, the qanun and oud, shared the stage.
A press scrum dedicated to the conclusion of the International Project “Russian Seasons” in the Kingdom of Bahrain was held in the foyer of the Bahrain National Theatre. The event was attended by State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Zhanna Alekseyeva; Director General of Culture and Museums of the Authority for Culture and Antiquities of the Kingdom of Bahrain Farah Mohammed Matar; Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Bahrain Alexey Skosyrev; and People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Ossipov Orchestra Vladimir Andropov.
15 November
Manama
House of Culture
MASTER CLASS by musicians from the Ossipov National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Russia for students of Manama music schools
Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the orchestra
People’s Artist of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Andropov
Master class presenters soloists of the Ossipov National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Russia:
Alena Tropoleva (domra)
Victoria Yakusheva (domra)
Lyubov Muravyova (ringing gusli, keyboard gusli)
Igor Senin (balalaika)
Daniil Stadnyuk (accordion)
Guest soloist
Arslan Umurzakov (kurai)
During the master classes, the musicians discussed the history and development of Russian folk instruments, their varieties, construction, tuning, playing position, hand position, and basic sound production techniques. In their discussions with the audience, the presenters also touched on contemporary forms of music-making (solo, ensemble, orchestral), contemporary repertoire, and the role of each instrument in an orchestra.
The young musicians participating in the master classes had the opportunity to become familiar with the instruments not only in theory but also in practice: under the careful guidance of the orchestra’s musicians, they mastered a number of playing techniques.
Right before the beginning of the master-class, the Ossipov National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Russia prepared a surprise for the Bahraini public and performed A. Arensky’s “Fantasy on the Themes of Ryabinin” together with Rancheng Xue (piano), a student of the local music school “Life in | Music”.
