On May 15, the grand opening of the Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia in Belarus organized by the ANO Russian Seasons with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation 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. To the 500th anniversary of its foundation opened in Minsk. The exposition displays 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, among the participants of which were Oksana Kosareva, Marianna Shchetkina, Elena Kurakina, Nelly Matsaberidze, Yuri Karaev, Dmitry Tokmakov, Natalia Morozova, Denis Morozov and Yuliana Derbina.

“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. First and foremost, we are looking to the future – we want to create something that will allow us to be even stronger. 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.

From 15 to 18 May 2024 a number of events within the program of the Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia in Belarus will take place in Minsk. Masterful Russian choirs will demonstrate their vocal techniques and distinctive views on choral art. The project involves the Gnessin Ensemble of Contemporary Choral Music “Altro coro”, the Moscow Synodal Choir and the Ryazan Folk Choir named after E. Popov. The tour was organized by the ANO “Russian Seasons” with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

The Days of Spiritual Culture of Russia is a multi-genre project of the Russian Ministry of Culture, aimed at demonstrating in foreign countries the richness and diversity of Russian art and the country’s outstanding achievements in the sphere of culture. Since 2008, events  of the project have been held in 43 countries.  

On May 15, the Belarusian State Academy of Music will host the opening ceremony of the Days of Spiritual Culture and the exhibition of the State Historical Museum dedicated to the 500th anniversary since the foundation of the Novodevichy Convent. 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”  will be organized as part of the opening. Among the speakers – outstanding figures in the world of culture and other well-known  personalities.

On the same day, residents and guests of Minsk will enjoy an evening of choral music. The concert program “Russian choral music: from classics to contemporaneity” will be 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.

From May 16 to 18, the exhibition “Novodevichy Convent. To the 500th anniversary of its foundation”, where copies of works of art and photographs from the collection of the State Historical Museum will be 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. Guests of the capital of Belarus will have 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.

Also on May 16 in the Temple, the Moscow Synodal Choir will present its art in a concert program under the direction of the choir’s artistic director, Honored Artist of Russia Alexei Puzakov.

On 18 May the Ryazan State Academic Russian Folk Choir named after Evgeniy Popov will be in the center of two events that will take place at different venues in the city: at the Belarusian State Academy of Music master classes in choreography, orchestral and choral art will be held, and on stage of the Belarusian State Philharmonic the choir will present to Belarusian audience a concert program under the direction of its artistic director – Honored Worker of Culture of Russia Svetlana Sukhova. The unique combination of high professionalism and the characteristic original Ryazan manner of singing makes the choir a gem of Russian folk artistic culture.

Tickets for the concert on sale on the official website of the Philharmonic.

We have started accepting applications for participation in the All-Russian competition dedicated to a memorable event – the 225th anniversary of the birth of the greatest Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.

The competition is held in order to provide support for staging new productions based on the works of A.S. Pushkin to regional and municipal professional theaters, as well as theatrical and entertainment organizations. According to the Regulations on the competition, amateur theater companies, non-state theaters and professional children’s theaters are not admitted to participate in the competition.

Applications are accepted till 25 May 23:00 Moscow time.

The initiative to hold the All-Russian competition, dedicated to the anniversary of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, is an important step towards preserving our cultural heritage, popularizing Russian literature and art among multiple audiences of Russian spectators, and contributes to the development of cultural exchange and mutual understanding between people of different generations.

On June 6, the winners of the competition will be announced, and within the period of 7 June – 1 December 2024 the new plays based on Pushkin’s works will be produced and presented to the audience. Implementation of the project will allow theater companies and directors to demonstrate their own vision of classical works by the great writer, reveal their talent to the maximum and make a personal contribution to the celebration of such an important jubilee.

Please find detailed terms and conditions of participation and the application form on the official website of the competition.

The All-Russian competition is organized by the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization for the Promotion of Concert Activities Russian Seasons with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

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, will organize a festival-competition for performers of the songs by I.D. Kobzon in the Zabaikalye Territory and Novosibirsk.

In the Zabaikalye Territory, the festival will be held from 18 to 20 April, and in Novosibirsk – from 20 to 21 April. On April 20, the qualifying rounds will be held at the State Autonomous Institution of Culture of Novosibirsk Region Club Revolution, and on April 21 there will be a gala concert at the Arnold Katz State Concert Hall.

Musical pieces will be performed by participants aged from 14 to 60 years. According to the terms and conditions of Regulations of the competition, students of educational institutions, professional and amateur creative groups can take part in it. Competition nominations: “Soloists”, “Small forms” (duets, trios), “Vocal ensembles” and “Choirs”. The finalists of the competition will be invited to Moscow to take part in the concluding round of the festival. The winner of the Festival-competition will perform in a concert at the Moscow House of Music, which will take place on September 11 and will be dedicated to the memory of Iosif Davydovich Kobzon.

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 consists of 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, Russian pop singer Yulian, finalists of the fourth season of the grand show “Come on, all together!”, family quartet Teimuraz, Eliza, Niko and Vaso Bojgua, as well as Honored Artist of Russia Olesya Evstigneeva, theater and film actor Evgeny Volkov, performers Irina Ortman and Gleb Matveychuk. The chairman of the jury is photographer, journalist, fashion designer, writer Ekaterina Rozhdestvenskaya. In the Zabaikalye Territory, the singer Yuta will be a special guest at the closing ceremony of the festival.

“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.”

Also, according to good tradition, the Zabaikalsky regional competition-festival of patriotic songs named after Iosif Kobzon Call Signal – Victory! will be held on these days.

 

We are pleased to officially announce the country of the International cultural project “Russian Seasons” in 2024, which will start in June.

This is Brazil!

Cultural links between our countries have a long and rich history. Once upon a time, Brazilians got acquainted with Russian ballet exactly thanks to the Russian Seasons, tours of the unique troupe of Sergei Diaghilev. The project, which brought together famous dancers and choreographers, the best theater artists and musicians of that time, had a serious influence on the development of Brazilian choreographic culture. Then, at the beginning of the 20th century, Russian ballerinas and choreographers did the groundwork for the development of classical ballet in Brazil, created the first professional ballet schools and companies, and formed the repertoire of many major theaters in this country.

We are sure that the Russian Seasons 2024 project in Brazil will open a new page in cultural exchange between our countries. Moreover, this year’s program includes not only dance productions, but also theater performances. And much more – concerts of the Russian opera stars, high-class jazz musicians, and folk groups; exhibitions, lectures, master classes, etc.

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