2023 – Русские Сезоны

2023

RUSSIAN SEASONS IN KAZAKHSTAN

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.

2023

RUSSIAN SEASONS IN UZBEKISTAN

The opening ceremony of the Russian Seasons in Uzbekistan took place on May 21 on stage of the Alisher Navoi State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Tashkent.

The ceremony was opened by the First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ulugbek Azamov and State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Nadezhda Prepodobnaya. The masters of the ceremony were an acknowledged director Jahongir Fayziev, a native of Uzbekistan, and actress Svetlana Ivanova.

Nadezhda Prepodobnaya presented her Uzbek colleague Ulugbek Azamov with the changeless symbol of the Russian Seasons project – the Firebird statuette.

On entrance of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after Alisher Navoi, Uzbeck spectators were heartedly welcomed by the State Academic Russian Folk Ensemble Russia named after Lyudmila Zykina.

On May 21, right after the opening ceremony, and on May 22, the Center for Theater and Cinema under the direction of Nikita Mikhalkov presented the play “12” to the Uzbeck audience; starring the People’s Artists of the Russian Federation Nikita Mikhalkov, Nikolai Burlyaev, Sergei Stepanchenko, the Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Vladimir Dolinsky, actors Giya Peradze, Igor Sergeev, Sergey Radchenko, Alexander Vedmensky, Vladimir Kochetkov, Alexander Kizhaev, Anton Romm, Evgeny Dubovsky, Pavel Ilyin, Ramiz Kyalbiev and young performers of the children’s ensemble “AMTSABZ”.

From May 21 to 23, the S. A. Gerasimov All-Russian University of Cinematography (VGIK) Branch in Tashkent hosted master classes in various disciplines, specially prepared for the Russian Seasons project in Uzbekistan by the teaching staff of the University led by the Rector of the university, Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation, Academician of the Russian Academy of Education Vladimir Malyshev. A series of master classes were conducted by: Professor of the Department of Cinematography at VGIK, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, Member of the Board of the Russian Filmmakers’ Union, Member of the European Union of Cinematographers IMAGO (R.G.C.), Member of the Russian Academy of Cinematographic Arts Nika Igor Klebanov; People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, Head of the Department of Feature Films at VGIK, Professor Vladimir Khotinenko; Professor of the Department of Film Studies at VGIK Tatyana Yakovleva; Head of the Department of Distribution and Marketing at VGIK Anton Malyshev; General Director of the KIT film studio (Gazprom Media Holding), General Producer of the Okko streaming service Jahongir Fayziev; theater and film actress Svetlana Ivanova.

On June 21, the world famous bass Ildar Abdrazakov made his first stage appearance in Uzbekistan. The concert took place at Alisher Navoi Big Theater in Tashkent. The concert was accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of the Alisher Navoi Big Theater, conducted by Denis Vlasenko.

On the same date, June 21, the public at the Alisher Navoi Big Theater was invited to visit the exhibition of the Russian National Museum of Music Sergei Rachmaninov – Fyodor Chaliapin: parallels and intersections, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of two famous Russian musicians.

From September 3 to 10, Uzbekistan hosted performances by the State Academic Central Puppet Theater named after. S.V. Obraztsov, which brought five productions to Tashkent. The puppet shows Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Sunbeam were performed for the youngest theatergoers at the Uzbek National Puppet Theater. Turkiston Palace of Arts hosted performances of An Extraordinary Concert, The Old Seignior and…, as well as Turandot.

On September 4 and 5, the oldest Russian animation film studio “Soyuzmultfilm” held animation master classes for young residents of the capital of Uzbekistan, which resulted in creating an original cartoon by the attendees of master classes. In addition, a number of screenings of the animated sitcom Prostokvashino, the animated series The Adventures of Petya and the Wolf and short original animation films were organized. On September 4, Tashkent also hosted a lecture How we help Sharik keep a blog from Prostokvashino delivered by an illustrator and promotion specialist for the Soyuzmultfilm film studio Prokopiy Ulyashov.

From October 1 to October 10, master classes by GITIS acting skills, theater directing, voice, scenic movement and singing teachers were held at the Institute of Arts and Culture of Uzbekistan. Alexander Koruchekov, Mikhail Bekhterev, Irina Avtushenko, Robert Elkibaev and Natalia Privalova shared their secrets of mastery in the profession.

From October 10 to 13, an autumn music marathon took place in Samarkand, which included concerts by the opera diva Hibla Gerzmava and the soloist of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia Igor Golovatenko accompanied by the orchestra of the Alisher Navoi State Opera and Ballet Theater of Uzbekistan, the Moscow Soloists ensemble under the direction of Yuri Bashmet, the Gnessin ensemble Altro Coro under the direction of Alexander Ryzhinsky and the Dance Ensemble of Dagestan “Lezginka”.

On October 14 the Dance Ensemble of Dagestan “Lezginka” continued its performances in Tashkent with The World Through Dance program choreographed by Dzhambulat Magomedov, Artistic director of the company. The program refleсted the diverse culture of Russia, and a combination of Caucasian and Russian choreographic pieces illustrated both affinity and the distinct identity of different national cultures in the Russian Federation.

On November 15 and 16 the company of Satyricon Theatre performed Jokers on stage of the Russian Drama Theater in Tashkent. This production, staged by Evgeniy Marcelli, is based on the play of the same name by A.N. Ostrovsky. On November 17 The Satyricon Theatre presented to the audience a poetic solo performance by the theater’s Artistic director Konstantin Raikin In My Own Voice.

On November 16 and 17, the Northern Russian Folk Choir toured in Tashkent and Almalyk with the program “Song-like Radiance of the White Sea”. The program included authentic folk songs collected in different areas of the Arkhangelsk region. An exhibition dedicated to the history of the choir – from its foundation to the present day – was presented to the audience in both cities.

The closing ceremony of the Russian Seasons in Uzbekistan, which took place on December 14, was marked with the concert of the Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev and the laureates of the XVII Tchaikovsky International Competition.

Participants and guests of the ceremony were greeted by the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Nadezhda Prepodobnaya and the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan Murodjon Majidov. Nadezhda Prepodobnaya handed over Certificates of Acknowledgement from the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova to those, who contributed to preparation and holding the Russian Seasons in Uzbekistan.

A photo exhibition capturing the best moments of the Russian Seasons in the Republic of Uzbekistan was displayed at the Palace of International Forums.