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The Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia will be held in South Africa from 5 to 8 September 2024. This is a unique multi-genre project of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, aimed at demonstrating the richness and diversity of the country’s spiritual culture in foreign countries. The tour is organized by the ANO Russian Seasons with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russiaт Federation. Since 2008, the Days of Spiritual Culture events have been held in 44 countries around the world.

The Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia will open in Johannesburg on 5 September with a concert by the world-famous Soloists of Moscow Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Yuri Bashmet – famous violist, conductor, People’s Artist of the Soviet Union. The event will take place in the Linder Auditorium, which is located on the territory of the University of the Witwatersrand and is known for its exceptional acoustics.

The playbill will include three important names for Russian music of different epochs: Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Dmitry Shostakovich, Kuzma Bodrov.

The concert program will feature: Chamber Symphony in C minor by Dmitry Shostakovich, Serenade in C major for string orchestra op. 48 by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, and Reflections of the theme of Paganini’s 24th Caprice by Kuzma Bodrov.  Soloists: Yuri Bashmet (viola), Andrey Poskrobko, Arina Shevlyakova, Olga Kolgatina, Kirill Kravtsov, Mikhail Ashurov (violin). The concert will commence at 7.30 PM.

On the same day, the exhibition Novodevichy Convent. Towards the 500th Anniversary of its Foundation will open in the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Johannesburg. The exhibition is dedicated to the anniversary of one of the oldest monasteries and the amazingly beautiful architectural ensemble in Moscow, and its display will feature reproductions of works of art and photographs of the Novodevichy Convent from the collection of the State Historical Museum. The choice of the exhibition location is deeply symbolic. The Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh is the main Orthodox church in South Africa and the only one located south of the Sahara Desert. It is an important spiritual and cultural center in the region.

On 6 September at 2:00 pm in Pretoria, the University of South Africa will host a round table entitled United in Spirit: Cultural Heritage and Traditional Values ​​as the Basis for Humanitarian Cooperation and Mutual Understanding between Russia and South Africa. The main themes for discussion will be:

• spiritual and cultural diversity that ensures national identity; Russia and South Africa: history, culture, biographies of outstanding personalities (Alexander Pushkin, Nelson Mandela)
• the role of libraries and museums as flagships for the preservation and development of spiritual and cultural heritage
• cooperation to strengthen and popularize the values ​​and contents in the national traditions and literature of both countries
• mission of the Russian Orthodox Church in the life of South Africa and strengthening Russian-South African relations

The Russian side will be represented by:

• Miguel Palacio – Doctor of Theology (ThD), Deputy Director General of the M.I. Rudomino All-Russian State Library of Foreign Literature for interregional and international cooperation, member of the Board of the Russian Library Association
• Dmitry Bak – PhD, Director of the V.I. Dahl State Museum of the History of Russian Literature, Co-Chairman of the Association of Literary Museums of Russia
• Natalia Grigorieva – First Deputy Director of the Sergiev Posad State Historical and Art Museum-Reserve
• Hieromonk Kirill (Peregudin) – representative of the Department of the Church External Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate

Participation of representatives of the University of South Africa, the National Library of South Africa, the Apartheid Museum, and renowned Russiologists is expected from the South African side.

On 6 September, at 7.00 PM, on the stage of the Playhouse Company in Durban, the Soloists of Moscow Chamber Orchestra conducted by Yuri Bashmet will give another concert within the Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in South Africa.

On 7 September, in Johannesburg, within the walls of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh, workshops and cartoons screenings by Soyuzmultfilm – a famous animation studio in Russia, – will be held. The company has a long 88-year history and today is one of the leaders in animation production in the country. The program will last from 1 PM till 5 PM.

On September 8 at 1 PM in the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Johannesburg, the concert of the Moscow Synodal Choir will conclude the program of the Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in South Africa.

The concert program of one of the oldest Russian professional choirs will include clerical works by Russian composers of the past and present times, including: Come, Let Us Worship by Sergei Rachmaninoff, The Only Begotten Son by Nikolai Diletsky, Holy Love by Georgy Sviridov, It is Truly Meet by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Arise, O God by Pavel Chesnokov, The Virgin Mary by Alfred Schnittke, The Beatitudes by Vladimir Martynov.

In April of this year, the call for applications for participation in the All-Russian competition for the support of new theater productions was announced. The competition is dedicated to the 225th anniversary of the birth of the greatest Russian poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin and is an important step towards preserving the cultural heritage and popularization of Russian literature among a wide audience in our country.

Regional and municipal theaters of Russia took part in the All-Russian competition. By decision of the Expert Commission, 14 theaters will receive support for creating new productions based on the works of A.S. Pushkin. This list includes:

1. Astrakhan State Opera and Ballet Theater;
2. Saratov Academic Opera and Ballet Theater;
3. State Academic Russian Drama Theater of the Republic of Bashkortostan;
4. Sevastopol Academic Russian Drama Theater named after Anatoly Vasilyevich Lunacharsky;
5. Nizhny Tagil Drama Theater named after D.N. Mamin-Sibiryak;
6. State Opera and Ballet Theater of the Republic of Mordovia named after I.M. Yaushev;
7. Lugansk Academic Music and Drama Theater named after M. Golubovich;
8. Orenburg State Tatar Drama Theater named after M. Faizi;
9. State Russian Drama Theater of the Republic of Udmurtia;
10. Perm State, of the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after P.I. Tchaikovsky;
11. Irkutsk Academic Drama Theater named after N.P. Okhlopkov;
12. State Russian Drama Theater of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) named after A.S. Pushkin;
13. State, of the Order of Badge of Honor, Russian Drama Theater of the Chuvash Republic under the under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Nationalities and Archival Affairs of the Chuvash Republic;
14. State Russian Drama Theater of the Republic of Buryatia named after N.A. Bestuzhev.

The new plays will be produced and presented to the audience by 1st December 2024.

On behalf of all the organizers and experts of the competition, we congratulate the winners and thank the participants for their activity! Please follow the official website of the competition for further up-to-date information.

Organizer – Autonomous non-profit organization for the promotion of concert activities Russian Seasons with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

From 1 to 4 August 2024, a series of performances by the Igor Moiseev State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble, widely known throughout the world as the Igor Moiseev Ballet, will take place in the city of Sevastopol. As part of the 8th Chersonese International Opera and Ballet Festival, the dancers of the ensemble will present a unique program Classics of Igor Moiseev.

The Chersonese International Opera and Ballet Festival is a landmark event in Russian culture and ranks high among classical art festivals. Every year leading Russian theater companies and performers become its participants. The festival events attract the audience with their unique content, great musical and dance works performed by Russian and world stars, as well as an extraordinary combination of classical art genres.

The art of dance is a Russian national endow, part of the cultural code, a language of communication understood by everyone. At the same time, it unites peoples and promotes intercultural dialogue.

This year the festival will be held in Sevastopol on the stage of the Fishermen’s Palace of Culture, where the Igor Moiseev State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble, founded far back in 1937, will present its art, combining classical ballet and folk dance, in the program Classics of Igor Moiseev.

The festival program starts on 29 July 2024 with the premiere performance of the Sevastopol Opera and Ballet Theater – the ballet Wuthering Heights based on the novel by Emily Brontë. An interpretation of this exciting story by choreographer Jonah Cook and musical director Artem Abashev will be presented for two evenings in a row, on 29 and 30 July. The leading parts will be performed by the famous dancer Sergei Polunin and the ballerina from K.S. Stanislavsky and Vl.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theater Ksenia Ryzhkova.

Also as part of the festival, on 8 and 9 August, the Oleg Tabakov Theater will present the dramatic piece Matrosskaya Tishina. The play by Alexander Galich, revealing the story of a family from a Jewish shtetl, was staged by the founder of the theater Oleg Tabakov in 1990 and revived in 2019.

The organizers of the 8th  Chersonese International Opera and Ballet Festival are the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization Russian Seasons and LLC Vision Media Center in collaboration with the The State Museum-Preserve Tauric Chersonese. The event is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Government of the city of Sevastopol.

Please find the program of the 8th Chersonese International Opera and Ballet Festival on the official website.

Contacts for media:

pressa-chersonesos@mail.ru, press service of the The State Museum-Preserve Tauric Chersonese.

Tickets are available on Kassa24 website. Spectators aged 14 to 22 years can purchase tickets using the Pushkin Card.

#Chersonese Opera and Ballet Festival

#Chersonese

The State Academic Central Puppet Theater named after Sergei Obraztsov finished its tour to Brazil which was part of the International cultural project of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture of Russia Russian Seasons, aiming at presenting Russian culture abroad. The world’s largest puppet theater, despite its rich touring history, visited distant exotic Brazil for the first time.

The performances held from 2 to 14 July in Sao Paulo at the Sobrevento Theater and the Itau Cultural Center, as well as in many other cities in the state of Sao Paulo: Santo André, Mairiporã, Diadema, São Bernardo do Campo, were, without exaggeration, a huge success.

The program included two solo puppet shows for the chamber stage, created by laureates of the Golden Mask National Theater Award. Circus on Strings staged by the theater’s chief designer, Viktor Antonov, is a flamboyant display of virtuoso tricks and unique puppets created by the show’s author and performer. A romantic, heart-warming, and touching show, filled with warmth, wisdom and light of the most important human experiences – a production by the theater’s principal director Boris Konstantinov based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Snowman and performed by one puppeteer. The performances of The Snowman featured the two casts: with Honored Artists of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernov and Andrei Nechaev.

All shows were played to full houses. The artists of the legendary Sergei Obraztsov Puppet Theater managed not only to surprise the audience with their skills, but also to truly make both young and older spectators fall in love with their art. The response of the audience was incredibly warm and will be retained in the artists’ memory for a long time.

The shows were held on a charitable basis – admission was free for everyone. Several shows were organized specifically for children from socially disadvantaged families.

The tour program also included master classes and meet-the-artist sessions with spectators, which were also a great success.

The first tour of the Obraztsov Theater to Brazil became a vibrant cultural event for this country. The presented program introduced to Russian culture not only adults, but also very young Brazilian theatergoers. In total, more than 3,500 spectators attended the shows during the tour.

The Obraztsov Puppet Theater is making its first ever tour to Brazil as part of the International Cultural Project of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation Russian Seasons.The project’s main goal is to present Russian culture abroad.

The first performances will take place in São Paulo at the Obrevento Theatre. On 2 July, the company will present a puppet show The Snowman staged by the principal director of the Sergei Obraztsov Theater Boris Konstantinov. The production is the winner of the Golden Mask Russian National Theater Award.

On 3 July, the Brazilian audience will see Circus on Strings, an original puppet and circus show for children and adults staged by the chief designer of the Sergei Obraztsov Theater Viktor Antonov. Afterwards, the tour will continue in different cities of the country – Santo André, Mairiporã, Diadema, São Bernardo do Campo. In addition to performances, the tour program includes master classes and meetings of puppeteers and the theater’s principal director Boris Konstantinov with the audience.

The history of cooperation between the Obraztsov theater and Brazilian colleagues began in 2019, when several performances from Brazil were presented at the 10th S.Obraztsov International Puppet Theater Festival – Obraztsovfest. These were: Treasure Island by the company from São Paulo “What Would That Mean?” and The Rock On Which We Split  by the “Sense of Touch” Theater from the city of Curitiba.

Elena Bulukova, Director of the Obraztsov Puppet Theater:

“On our first tour, we would like to surprise the audience in hot Brazil with the extraordinary puppet “Russian Seasons”. And with the heritage and traditions of the world-famous puppeteer Sergei Obraztsov. We would like to reveal to Brazilians the world of romantic experiences of “The Snowman” and take them to the arena of the puppet “Circus on Strings”. We will present the masterpieces with virtuoso tricks and a touching love story. We will present two solo performances for the chamber stage, created by the Golden Mask Award winners. The puppet show “Circus on Strings” staged by the theater’s chief designer, Viktor Antonov, is a flamboyant display of virtuoso tricks and unique puppets created by the show’s author and performer. And a romantic, heart-warming, and touching show, filled with warmth, wisdom and light of the most important human experiences – a production by the theater’s principal director Boris Konstantinov based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Snowman” and performed by one puppeteer. The performances of “Snowman” will feature the two casts: with Honored Artists of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernov and Andrei Nechaev. No doubt, these puppet shows, meetings with puppeteers and authors, conversations of Boris Konstantinov with spectators and professionals will become unforgettable experiences, will reveal the beauty and depth of modern Russian theatrical art. Those impressions will be remembered for a long time by Brazilians of all ages and will mark a new stage in the history of dialogue between the cultures of our countries. Thanks to our tour program, the 21st century “Russian Seasons” will touch the strings of the Brazilian audience’s hearts and become a vibrant cultural event, as it used to be in the era of “Russian Season’s” dawn.”

Following Rio de Janeiro, where the Russian Seasons in Brazil triumphantly started on 17 June, theater venues of Sao Paulo opened their doors inviting the audience to the project’s events.

In Rio, a number of events were held: concerts by the world famous bass Ildar Abdrazakov and laureates of the Tchaikovsky competition – mezzo-soprano Zinaida Tsarenko, pianist Sergei Davydchenko, violinist Daniil Kogan, the Ensemble named after Lyudmila Zykina, as well as the exhibitions Art Masquerade of Russian Seasons; Novodevichy Convent. Towards the 500th Anniversary of the Foundation; the exhibition of arts and crafts; lectures and master classes.

In Sao Paulo, for two consecutive evenings – 24 and 25 June, on stage of Theatro São Pedro – one of the oldest and most beautiful theaters in the city, the Brazilian audience applauded the students of the Vaganova Ballet Academy.

Before the evening commenced, the Rector of the Vaganova Ballet Academy, People’s Artist of Russia Nikolai Tsiskaridze and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Federative Republic of Brazil Alexey Labetsky appeared on stage to say welcoming words.

Nikolai Tsiskaridze:

“Today the citizens of Sao Paulo are meeting the oldest Ballet School in the world. And everything that is known in the world as “classical ballet” was, in one way or another, choreographed by those people who either worked or studied at this school. All this was done in Russia – just in this very educational institution, which today reached Brazil to present its art. Obviously, we brought the classical program – those pieces that, I believe, are known in different parts of the world thanks to the video footage. But I don’t think that the Brazilian audience have ever watched them in the form and with the cast they see them today.” .

Alexey Labetsky:

“Russian Seasons” in Brazil – a country that is our strategic partner – is a symbol of developing our relations not only in the economic and political spheres, but also in the field of culture, links between public organizations, and our peoples as a whole. Therefore we are proud to welcome here the best of our country’s cultural achievements. And above all – Russian ballet, which is highly valued in Brazil. First and foremost, the School from St. Petersburg and Nikolai Maksimovich Tsiskaridze, who brought his students here… This was Diaghilev who for the first time brought the ballet classics to Rio de Janeiro a century ago. And now we are bringing the heirs of Russian classical ballet, who have raised this art to unfancied heights.”

Vaganova Ballet Academy is one of the oldest and most reputable ballet schools in the world, the first Russian professional dance school, founded in 1738. This year the Academy celebrates 286 years of its foundation. This is the first time when its students crossed the ocean to reach Brazil.

The gala concert program featured the masterpieces of the classical repertoire – ballets of the late 19th – early 20th centuries, the creators of which were in this or that way linked with the Vaganova Academy. The eye-catching fragments of famous ballets presented in the program demonstrated the wide range of the Academy students’ technical and artistic skills. In total, about 50 students of different ages took to the stage of Theatro São Pedro.

The first part included vivid fragments of this year’s Academy graduation concert. It included: Pas d’action from the ballet The Naiad and the Fisherman, the Blue Bird and Princess Florine Pas de deux, Pas de quatre Rosary from the ballet The Awakening of Flora, fragments from the ballet The Sleeping Beauty: Puss in Boots and White Cat, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf.

The second part featured an incredibly colorful Suite from the ballet The Fairy Doll to the music of Josef Bayer, Riccardo Drigo, Cesar Pugni. The Fairy Doll is a restored version of the ballet by brothers Nikolai and Sergei Legat, staged in St. Petersburg in 1903. The author of the renewal and edition of the ballet is the rector of the Vaganova Academy, People’s Artist of Russia, Nikolai Tsiskaridze. Costumes by Dmitry Paradizov were made according to sketches by Leon Bakst.

The Brazilian public reacted temperamentally, meeting every piece of the program with a storm of applause.  At the end, the young ballet dancers received a long standing ovation.

On 25 June, a master class by teachers of the Vaganova Academy was held for students of Escola de Dança Sao Paulo. And on 26 June, in Rio de Janeiro, Nikolai Tsiskaridze conducted a master class for the ballet troupe of the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro. This is noteworthy, because classical dance in Brazil is based on Russian traditions. The founder of the first professional ballet school at the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro was the Russian ballerina Maria Oleneva.

Nikolai Tsiskaridze:

“Latin America has changed in appearance a lot over the past 30 years, really very much. There appeared a huge number of gifted children, who, unfortunately, for some reason, for the last 15 years have not reached our country to study… As a school director, when I see the children who meet our criteria, I always have a desire to invite them to our school – Russia invests large funds in gifted people, and we have a special program which allows us to teach talented children from different countries for free. I will be happy to invite you, and I know that our Ministry of Foreign Affairs will do its best to give these children the opportunity to study in Russia at the most important School in the field of ballet.”

Russian Seasons in Brazil will continue until the end of the year. Very soon, at the beginning of July, a new round of tours will start – one of the most famous puppet theaters in the world , Sergei Obraztsov Puppet Theater, will present two productions: The Snowman – a beautiful and romantic story about unusual love, and flamboyant unique puppet performances Circus on Strings by Viktor Antonov. Thus, the Russian Seasons program in Brazil attracts not only adults, but also very young audiences into the orbit of interest in Russian culture. Performances will take place in Sao Paulo and other cities of the country.

In October, the local public will be introduced to Anna Karenina, a dance production of the famous Eifman Ballet. In November, master classes and lectures by leading teachers of the Russian Institute of Theater Arts – GITIS – will be held for the professional community. In December, Sao Paulo will welcome one of the best Russian jazz bands – the Moscow Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Igor Butman, the concerts of which will become the finale of the Russian Seasons in Brazil.

On 24 and 25 June in Sao Paulo, as part of the Russian Seasons project, students of the Vaganova Ballet Academy performed on stage of Theatro São Pedro – one of the oldest and most beautiful theater venues in the city.

Before the evening commenced, the Rector of the Vaganova Ballet Academy, People’s Artist of Russia Nikolai Tsiskaridze and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Federative Republic of Brazil Alexey Labetsky appeared on stage to say welcoming words.

Nikolai Tsiskaridze:

“Today the citizens of Sao Paulo are meeting the oldest Ballet School in the world. And everything that is known in the world as “classical ballet” was, in one way or another, choreographed by those people who either worked or studied at this school. All this was done in Russia – just in this very educational institution, which today reached Brazil to present its art. Obviously, we brought the classical program – those pieces that, I believe, are known in different parts of the world thanks to the video footage. But I don’t think that the Brazilian audience have ever watched them in the form and with the cast they see them today.” .

Alexey Labetsky:

“Russian Seasons” in Brazil – a country that is our strategic partner – is a symbol of developing our relations not only in the economic and political spheres, but also in the field of culture, links between public organizations, and our peoples as a whole. Therefore we are proud to welcome here the best of our country’s cultural achievements. And above all – Russian ballet, which is highly valued in Brazil. First and foremost, the School from St. Petersburg and Nikolai Maksimovich Tsiskaridze, who brought his students here… This was Diaghilev who for the first time brought the ballet classics to Rio de Janeiro a century ago. And now we are bringing the heirs of Russian classical ballet, who have raised this art to unfancied heights.”

Vaganova Ballet Academy is one of the oldest and most reputable ballet schools in the world, the first Russian professional dance school, founded in 1738. This year the Academy celebrates 286 years of its foundation. This is the first time when its students crossed the ocean to reach Brazil.

The gala concert program featured the masterpieces of the classical repertoire – ballets of the late 19th – early 20th centuries, the creators of which were in this or that way linked with the Vaganova Academy. The eye-catching fragments of famous ballets presented in the program demonstrated the wide range of the Academy students’ technical and artistic skills. In total, about 50 students of different ages took to the stage of Theatro São Pedro.

The first part included vivid fragments of this year’s Academy graduation concert. It included: Pas d’action from the ballet The Naiad and the Fisherman, the Blue Bird and Princess Florine Pas de deux, Pas de quatre Rosary from the ballet The Awakening of Flora, fragments from the ballet The Sleeping Beauty: Puss in Boots and White Cat, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf.

The second part featured an incredibly colorful Suite from the ballet The Fairy Doll to the music of Josef Bayer, Riccardo Drigo, Cesar Pugni. The Fairy Doll is a restored version of the ballet by brothers Nikolai and Sergei Legat, staged in St. Petersburg in 1903. The author of the renewal and edition of the ballet is the rector of the Vaganova Academy, People’s Artist of Russia, Nikolai Tsiskaridze. Costumes by Dmitry Paradizov were made according to sketches by Leon Bakst.

The Brazilian public reacted temperamentally, meeting every piece of the program with a storm of applause.  At the end, the young ballet dancers received a long standing ovation.

On 26 June, the rector of the Vaganova Academy, People’s Artist of Russia Nikolai Tsiskaridze and teachers of the Academy will give a master class for the ballet troupe of the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro.

The last time Nikolai Tsiskaridze performed in Brazil as part of the Bolshoi Theater troupe. It was 25 years ago, in 1999, and now he is back to this country in a new capacity.

On 17 June, the Grand opening of the International project of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation Russian Seasons in the Federative Republic of Brazil took place on stage of the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro (Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro).

The international cultural project Russian Seasons is carried out at a high state level. The Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova and the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Brazil Márcio Tavares dos Santos delivered welcoming speeches at the opening ceremony.

Olga Lyubimova noted: “Russian Seasons” of modern times, taking a historical idea as a basis, were able to significantly expand the general principle of the project: now in the countries that are key partners of Russia, large-scale events of world-famous musical and theater companies, thematic exhibitions, film premieres, as well as master-classes by outstanding cultural figures are held. Brazil is the first Latin American country to be visited by “Russian Seasons”. This is happening in a year when our countries simultaneously chair the largest international economic associations – BRICS and the G20. This is the evidence of the level of mutual understanding and respect between Russia and Brazil that has formed over more than two centuries of history, and, I am convinced, will become an important milestone in the development of relations between the two countries.”

Márcio Tavares dos Santos passed greetings from the Minister of Culture of Brazil, Margaret Menezes, to all participants in the Russian Seasons project. He also emphasized: “Russian Seasons” in Brazil is a unique opportunity for our audience to get acquainted with the culture of a country that is geographically distant, but is known for its very rich culture. “…” The Ministry of Culture of Brazil supports the “Russian Seasons” project. We believe that culture can change the world. It promotes new ideas and friendships and inspires people.”

The world famous Russian opera singer, Honored Artist of Russia, Ildar Abdrazakov (bass) performed for a Brazilian audience. Together with him, the laureates of the International Tchaikovsky Competition entered the stage – mezzo-soprano Zinaida Tsarenko, pianist Sergei Davydchenko, violinist Daniil Kogan. The Symphony Orchestra of the city of Barra Mansa (ORQUESTRA SINFÔNICA DE BARRA MANSA) under the direction of Russian conductor Denis Vlasenko took part in creating the musical atmosphere of this ceremonial event.

The orchestra performed M. Glinka’s Overture to the opera Ruslan and Lyudmila, Ildar Abdrazakov – Gremin’s Aria from Eugene Onegin by P. Tchaikovsky and Mephistopheles’ couplets from Faust by C. Gounod. Daniil Kogan – Waltz-Scherzo and 3rd movement from Violin Concerto by ⁠P. Tchaikovsky. Zinaida Tsarenko – the Lel’s Third Song from the opera The Snow Maiden and Aria of Lyubasha from the opera The Tsar’s Bride by N. Rimsky-Korsakov, as well as the Delilah’s Third Aria (Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix) from Samson and Delilah by  ⁠C. Saint-Saens. Sergey Davydchenko played the 3rd movement of Piano Concerto No. 2 by S. Rachmaninov and the composition Cordoba from the cyclus Chants d’Espagne by I. Albeniz.

At the finale of the concert, Ildar Abdrazakov sang the famous Russian romance Black Eyes and, in a duet with Zinaida Tsarenko, the world-famous lyrical song Moscow Nights.

On the same day, the exhibition Art Masquerade of the “Russian Seasons” by the famous Russian theater artist Nika Velegzhaninova opened in the foyer of the theater. The exhibition displayed theatrical costumes by the most famous artists of the early 20th century: Leon Bakst, Alexander Golovin, Mikhail Larionov and Sergei Sudeikin for the theater productions of Orpheus, Masquerade, Midnight Sun, The Venetian Madcaps, Sleeping Beauty – a visible embodiment of their creative fantasies.

Not all of the costumes designed by these artists were made and used in theater at the beginning of the twentieth century; the implementation of such luxurious artistic ideas was too expensive. So many costumes found their physical embodiment only nowadays. In 2020 Velegzhaninova and the artists of her theater workshop Nika and Partners recreated 12 amazing costumes according to the surviving detailed descriptions. The costumes were made of velvet, satin, methanin and repp, using historical techniques and modern equipment.

At the same time, two more art exhibitions opened in Rio de Janeiro as part of the Russian Seasons project (official opening on June 18). They are displayed in the Casa de Cultura Laura Alvim residence, for many years a meeting point for creative people in Rio de Janeiro, located on the famous Ipanema beach.

The exhibition Novodevichy Convent. Towards the 500th Anniversary of its Foundation presents replicas of ancient icons painted by famous masters of the Armory for the altar screens of the the Novodevichy Convent temples, images of unique frescoes of the 16th century, objects related to the life of famous nuns of the convent, for example, the first abbess of the monastery, schema nun Elena, Princess Sofia Alekseevna, who contributed greatly to the prosperity of the convent, as well as photographs of temples and tombstones from the necropolis of the convent. All exhibits are from the collection of the State Historical Museum.

The exhibition of arts and crafts introduces the Brazilian public to amazing traditional Russian handicrafts – ancient Skopinskaya Pottery, joyful Filimonovskaya Toy, the finest technique of the Orenburg Downy Shawls, traditional blue and white Gzhel ceramics, unusual Mikhailovsky lace, fabulous Palekh miniatures, dazzling Zhostovo and Khokhloma paintings.

Russian Seasons in Brazil will continue throughout the year.

Follow the information on our official website and social networks:

VK — https://vk.com/russianseasons_project

Telegram — https://t.me/s/russianseasons_project

On 17 June, the Grand opening ceremony of the International project of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation Russian Seasons in the Federative Republic of Brazil will take place on stage of the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro (Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro).

The world famous Russian opera singer, Honored Artist of Russia, Ildar Abdrazakov (bass) will perform for Brazilian audience. Together with him, the laureates of the International Tchaikovsky Competition will enter the stage – mezzo-soprano Zinaida Tsarenko, pianist Sergei Davydchenko, violinist Daniil Kogan. The Symphony Orchestra of the Brazilian city of Barra Mansa (ORQUESTRA SINFÔNICA DE BARRA MANSA) under the direction of Russian conductor Denis Vlasenko will take part in creating the musical component of this ceremonial event.

The program of the opening event includes instrumental music and arias from operas by P. Tchaikovsky, M. Glinka, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, S. Rachmaninov, Ch. Gounod, C. Saint-Saens. Tickets for the concert are available on the theater’s official website.

On the same day, the exhibition Art Masquerade of the Russian Seasons by the famous Russian theater artist Nika Velegzhaninova will open in the foyer of the theater. The exhibits will include costumes created according to sketches by Lev Bakst, Alexander Golovin, Mikhail Larionov and Sergei Sudeikin – artists who at the beginning of the twentieth century made a great contribution to the formation of a new view on scenography. Before being embodied in this vibrant exhibition, for more than a hundred years some of the costumes existed only on paper.

Russian Seasons events in Brazil will last until the end of 2024. Having started with a large-scale gala concert, the summer block of the program will continue with a recital by Ildar Abdrazakov, a concert program by soloists of the State Academic Russian Folk Ensemble Russia named after Lyudmila Zykina, dance performances by students of the Vaganova Ballet Academy, a tour of the world famous S.V. Obraztsov State Academic Central Puppet Theater.

Lectures, exhibitions and master classes by Russian artists, including a master-class by the Rector of the Vaganova Academy, People’s Artist of Russia Nikolai Tsiskaridze, will form an important part of the program of presenting Russian culture abroad.

In the autumn, the Brazilian audience will be invited to performances of the world-famous State Academic Eifman Ballet from St. Petersburg, lectures and master classes for students from leading masters of the Russian Institute of Theater Arts – GITIS.

A concert tour of the Moscow Jazz Orchestra conducted by Igor Butman in the end of December is expected to be the final event of the Russian Seasons program in Brazil.

The creative groups from the Zabaikalye Territory and the Novosibirsk Region demonstrated their talents at the venues of the Festival-competition of I.D. Kobzon’s songs.

According to the terms and conditions of the competition, students of educational institutions, professional and amateur creative groups took part in nominations: “Soloists”, “Small forms” (duets, trios), “Vocal ensembles” and “Choirs” aged from 14 to 60. 2024 has been declared the Year of the Family in our country, so the festival this time is dedicated to the theme of family, continuity of generations and family values.

The jury of the competition included cultural figures from the Zabaikalye Territory and the Novosibirsk Region, as well as Russian artists – famous performers of folk songs, Honored Artists of Russia Vladimir and Marina Devyatov, Yekaterina Ryabova, Olesya Evstigneeva, Russian pop singer Yulian, director of the Kobzon cultural foundation Anton Sobyanin, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, soloist of the Novosibirsk Musical Theater Alexander Vyskribentsev, Russian pop singer Inna Rudnik, finalists of the fourth season of the grand show Come on, all together!  family quartet Teimuraz, Eliza, Niko and Vaso Bojgua, as well as performers Irina Ortman, Gleb Matveychuk, theater and film artist Evgeny Volkov. The chairman of the jury is photographer, journalist, fashion designer, writer, daughter of the poet Robert Rozhdestvensky Ekaterina Rozhdestvenskaya. It is remarkable that the daughter of Iosif Davydovich, Natalia Kobzon, was among the members of the jury as an honorary guest.

“Despite the busy touring schedule of Iosif Davydovich, family values for him came first, — says his wife Nelly Kobzon, who created a cozy family world which Kobzon relished so much. — In deed, not in words, did he promote family values throughout his life. A strong family, beloved children whom he was able to raise as worthy people, adored grandchildren. He worshiped his mother until her last minute.”

From 18 to 20 April Festival-competition of I.D. Kobzon’s songs performers took place in Chita, where more than 60 performances were presented by about 300 artists from all over the region. The winner of the competition among solo performers was Elena Pevneva from the town of Shilki, and a special prize from the Kobzon Cultural Foundation went to Natalya Verkhushina from the village of Livnevo-Ozero, Khiloksky district. At the gala concert, The participants of the festival performed the songs You survived, soldier, People remember and Mother Earth, etc. The award ceremony was conducted by the Minister of Culture of the Zabaikalye Territory Irina Levkovich, the chairman of the jury Ekaterina Rozhdestvenskaya, musician Gleb Matveychuk and director of the Kobzon Cultural Foundation Anton Sobyanin.

On 20 April, an audition of performers from Novosibirsk took place in the concert hall of the Revolution Club. 77 applications were submitted to the competition, of which 54 participants were admitted to perform on stage. Novosibirsk residents performed songs from the war time, contemporary songs and original compositions. Competitions between the contestants were held in the categories “Professionals” and “Amateurs”, in such nominations as Gunpowder Smelling Songs (composed and performed before 2014) and Songs from Fire (composed and performed after 2014).

On 21 April, on the stage of the State Concert Hall named after Arnold Mikhailovich Katz, the Festival-Competition of I.D. Kobzon’s Songs Performers concluded with a gorgeous gala concert. The best 12 participants from Novosibirsk, Bagan, Kolyvan and Cherepanovo were selected for participation in the concert by the jury. In addition to the contestants, members of the jury also performed on stage – their performances created a truly festive atmosphere and emotionalized the audience. The finale of the gala concert an award ceremony took place, at which the winners of the festival were awarded diplomas and souvenirs.

By decision of the jury, Esfir Alekseeva, a student of the Novosibirsk M.I. Glinka State Conservatory,  and Kristina Tomina from the Russian Song Ensemble “Razdolie” (House of Culture Youth in the Kolyvan District) received  the 1st Place Diplomas. The Grand Prix and the right to participate in the final stage of the festival went to Anastasia Dementyeva from the House of National Cultures named after G.D. Zavolokin. Moreover, the jury decided to award a special prize to Elizaveta Pochtar and invite her to participate in the final stage.

The finalists of the competition will take part in the concluding round of the festival in Moscow. The winner of the Festival-competition will perform in a concert at the Moscow House of Music, which will take place on 11 September and will be dedicated to the memory of Iosif Davydovich Kobzon.

The event  was organized by the Kobzon Cultural Foundation and the Autonomous non-profit organization for promoting concert activities Russian Seasons with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Government of Novosibirsk Region, the Ministry of Culture Zabaikalye Territory and the Ministry of Culture of Novosibirsk Region.