On November 9, 2006, in the Great Hall of People in Beijing, a festive closing ceremony of the Year of Russia in China was held with participation of the Head of Russian Government Mikhail Fradkov and the Prime Minister of the State Council of PRC Wen Jiabao. At the end of the official closing ceremony of the Year of Russia in China, there was held a Gala Concert of The Tchaikovsky Big Symphonic Orchestra. The orchestra was led by its main conductor and art director Vladimir Fedoseev and the Chinese conductor Shao En. The concert program included the overture to M.I. Glinka’s opera "Ruslan and Ludmila", the 3rd song of Lel from N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera "The Snow Maiden", Polonais from P.I. Tchaikovsky’s opera "Eugene Onegin", Spanish dance from P.I. Tchaikovsky’s ballet "Swan lake", Pas d’action from P.I. Tchaikovsky’s ballet "The Sleeping beauty" and other fragments from the best operas by Russian composers. With the same concert program the Tchaikovsky Big Symphonic Orchestra performed in Tianjin on November, 7.
The Festival of Russian Culture in China was opened on March 21, 2006, in the Great Hall of People in Beijing, by a Gala-concert featuring opera and ballet stars and the orchestra of the State Academic Bolshoy Theater of Russia, Russia’s leading theater. Soloists from the Bolshoi theater performed the coronation scene from M. Musorgskiy’s opera "Boris Godunov", Polonaise and Aria of Gremin from P. Tchaikovsky’s opera "Eugeny Onegin", Adagio of Crassus and Aegina from A. Khachaturian’s ballet "Spartacus" and other pieces from the best operas and ballets staged by the Bolshoi Theater. The same concert program was repeated by the Bolshoy theater on March, 22, for Chinese general public.
On March, 24-25, actors of the oldest Russian theater - the State Academic Malyi Theater – stepped on the stage of the Poly Theater in Beijing with the production of the play by the great dramatist A.N. Ostrovsky "Enough Stupidity In Every Wise Man".
On May, 9-10, in Tianqiao Theatre in Beijing, the Anton Chekhov Moscow Academic Art Theater presented to the Chinese audience the production of M. Gorky’s play "The Petty Bourgeois".
On July, 4-5, in Capital Theater in Beijing, actors of the Moscow theater "Petr Fomenko’s Workshop" showed in their original way the characters of A.N. Ostrovsky’s play "Wolves and Sheep". Tun Daomin, a theatrical critic specializing in Russian art, noted that "the production of "Wolves and Sheep" is worth rapt attention, and the acting of each artist is worth admiration".
In September, in the framework of the Festival, the Moscow music theater "Helikon-opera" brought to China one of its best performances - N. Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera "The Tsar’s Bride". Spectators in Ningbo, Suzhou and Beijing warmly greeted the artists of the theater.
In the last decade of October, on theatrical stages of Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai, Sergey Obraztsov’s Moscow State Central Puppet Theater presented its satirical puppet revue "Uncommon concert" in the framework of the International Shanghai Arts Festival. Wild applause was the best sign of gratitude for the artists.
The Moscow Theater "Shadow" with its performance-concert "Metamorphosises" closed the theatrical program of the Festival of Russian Culture. Spectators from Beijing, Xi’an, Lanzhou, Chengdu and Shanghai witnessed the whole process of drawing accompanied by wonderful music.
The music program of the Festival of Russian Culture in China was also multiform.
Thus, concerts of the famous Moscow Rakhmaninov Trio in March-April, 2006, and of the Moscow Symphonic Orchestra led by V. Ryzhaev in June, 2006, amazed the Chinese audience by their masterly performance of classical music pieces. The concert program of the Moscow Symphonic Orchestra presented the "Bumble-bee flight" from N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera "The Tale About Tsar Saltan", fragment from A.P. Borodin’s opera "Prince Igor" – "Polovets Dance", "Waltz", "Lezghin Dance" and "Dance With Swords" from A. Khachaturian’s ballet "Gayane" and other popular pieces. Playing the Chinese march "Good news from Beijing" was a real gift for the spectators. The concerts took place in Tianjin and Wuhuan with houses full and spectators’ reaction warm and hearty.
Concerts of Russian opera stars on August, 30, and September, 1, in Beijing and Shanghai with the program "Old Russian Romance" accompanied by the "Hermitage" sextet became a noticeable event in the cultural life of the great oriental country. The stars of the Russian opera stage performed romances by M. Glinka, A. Dargomyzhsky, P. Tchaikovsky, S. Rakhmaninov, A. Rubinshtein and other celebrated composers with lyrics by Russian poets and writers famous all over the world: A. Pushkin, A. Koltsov, A. Tolstoy, A. Plescheev.
Performances of the "Moscow Virtuosi" chamber orchestra directed by Vladimir Spivakov took place in September with completely full houses in Beijing, Qingdao and Shanghai. The orchestra played I.S. Bach’s Concert for violin and oboe, W.A. Mozart’s Symphony ¹ 29, P.I. Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for string orchestra. In order to surprise the Chinese audience, the musicians played Chinese music as well. At the press-conference which took place on the 3rd of September in the Russian Information Center in Beijing, Vladimir Spivakov said that this was his first visit to Beijing although he had been in Hong Kong before where he played and led the orchestra. According to him, Chinese performers "play with soul". Vladimir Theodorovich also expressed his hope that, in the future, children and youth musical collectives from China would be able to participate in the International Moscow Children Festival "Moscow meets friends", one of the organizers of which is Vladimir Spivakov’s International Charity Fund.
The State Academic Symphonic Choir of Russia (art director and main conductor Valery Poliansky) performed on September, 21-24, in Beijing, Tianjin and Yantai at the festival of symphonic music dedicated to the first centennial since the birth of the great Russian composer D. D. Shostakovich. The Choir performed well-known music by Shostakovich such as Concert for piano with orchestra ¹ 2, Suite from "New Babilon" film music, Symphony ¹ 9.
A legendary group "Flowers" which had made a revolution in rock-music of Russia, presented its hits to the Chinese people: "Too early to say good bye", "Summer evening", "Tell me "Yes". Tour performances of this group took place on May, 3-20. A special success among the spectators in Lianyun gang, Suzhou, Yantai, Zhaoyuan, Huhehaote and Hangzhou was the performance of the song "We Wish You Happiness" in the Chinese language.
The light-and-music show "Russian Soul" dedicated to the celebration of the Day of Russia in China, took place in Haidian Park in Beijing on June, 10. The Moscow Symphony Orchestra led by V. Ryzhaev performed the overture to M. Glinka’s opera "Ruslan and Ludmila", Symphony No.4 (Finale) by P.I. Tchaikovsky, "Dance with Swords" from A. Khachaturian’s ballet "Gayane". The soloist of the State Academic Bolshoy Theater of Russia Valery Gilmanov performed, to the accompaniment of the orchestra, an old Russian romance "Shine, Shine, My Star" and a Russian folk song "Along Piterskaya". Pelageya with her instrumental band performed Russian folk songs "Valenki" and "Porushka". There were also improvisations on Russian themes (solo on balalaika) performed by the soloist of ensemble "Russia", laureate of international contests, balalaika virtuoso A. Arkhipovsky.
Music pieces were accompanied by light and pyrotechnical special effects. Young violinists Elena Prosolupova and Yue Guangnan performed at the laser show, symbolizing Russian-Chinese friendship. They played the Interlude to the third act of A. Glazunov’s ballet "Raimonda". As contribution to the development of each nation’s culture and, at the same time, of Russian-Chinese friendship, a popular Chinese singer Zhu Hua, together with group "Flowers", performed famous hits "Why am I so sad?" and "Moscow Greets Beijing". At the end of the concert all participants sang "We wish You Happiness!" in Russian and Chinese. As noted by General Director of the International Cultural Contacts Corporation Mr. Zhang Yu, this activity, by its form and scale, surpassed all previous open-air shows in China.
At the beginning of November, young musicians from the "New Names" Fund presented to the Chinese audience Rhapsody ¹10 by F. Liszt, Introduction and rondo-capriccioso by C. Saint-Saens, Scherzo ¹3 by F. Chopin and other popular classical pieces. Spectators in Beijing and Tianjin listened to the young Russian musicians with great interest, each of them had participated in international contests before. Young Russian talents made a strong impression not only by the versatility of their program but also by high level of their mastership.
In the middle of July, musicians from the Sacred Music Ensemble "Sirin" presented to the Chinese audience their unique repertory consisting of spiritual verses and motets collected and arranged personally by the musicians. The concert program included Verses to the Mother of God, Verses for the Descent of Holy Ghost, Verses For St. Prophet Eliah, "You alone are immortal" (monastic singing) and other pieces. By its performances in Qindao and Beijing, this ensemble showed all the centuries-old depth and indescribable beauty of Russian traditions and attracted the attention of Chinese spectators to the Festival "City of Craftsmen" which took place in October, 2006.
Festival of Russian national arts "City of Craftsmen" took place in Ditan Park in Beijing on October, 1-3. Craftsmen from Arkhangelsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Murmansk, Kemerovo, Kaliningrad, Skopin, Ivanovo, Moscow and Moscow region presented their art of carving, wood painting, embroidery, milling felt, patchwork mosaic, weaving, pottery, basketry and impression on birch bark, making nesting (Matreshka) dolls and toys out of wood, clay or fabric. A wide concert program on the stage and in the square featured the Choreographic ensemble "Volga" (Ulianovsk), Orchestra of folk instruments "Jolly Tune" and Alexey Arkhipovsky, Laureate of All-Russian contest with his balalaika solo (Moscow), folklore ensemble "Veretentse"(Moscow), youth circus team "Super Jump" (Cherepovets), music group "Va-Ta-Ga" (Petrozavodsk).
As noted by Yan Wenqing, Vice President of the company organizing the Festival - "Arts and Entertainment Group" - this three-days-long activity is an essential part of the program of the Year of Russia in China because "open-air activities" give more possibilities of close contact between Russian artists and ordinary Chinese people”.
Performances of the State Academic Choreographic Ensemble "Berezka" named after N.S. Nadezhdina in May-June, 2006, became an important part of the activities held in the framework of the Festival of Russian Culture in China. The world-famous ensemble participated in the 6th International Arts Festival "Meeting in Beijing" showing its best dances: Russian female roundelays "Berezka", "Chain", Quadrille "Chohloma bench" and other choreographic compositions. In the framework of the 2nd Arts Festival of countries – SOC members, the ensemble "Berezka" and the soloist of K.S. Stanislavsky and V.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko’s Academic Music theater Hibla Gerzmava (soprano) performed for the heads and representatives of the countries-SOC members in a gala-concert dedicated to the 5th anniversary of SOC creation. The outstanding mastership of Russian performers won the hearts of Chinese spectators not only in Shanghai but also in Beijing, Harbin, Huhehate, Lianyungang and Ningbo.
Leading soloists of Russian ballet troupes presented, in the framework of their autumn tour, a vast and varied program "Russian Ballet Stars". The program consisted of fragments from the best ballets by the world’s leading choreographers: L.M. Gottshalk, "Tarantella" (choreography by D. Balanchin); S. Rakhmaninov, Adagio from "Madam Bovari" ballet (choreography by M. Shannon); D. Shostakovich, Tango from "Golden Age" ballet (choreography by Y. Grigorovich). Spectators in Beijing, Wuhan, Guangzhou and Shanghai expressed their admiration towards Russian ballet stars by ovations.
On November, 8, a performance of students from The Bolshoi Ballet Academy with the program "Big Gala of the Big Ballet Academy" took place in Century theater in Beijing. Chinese public watched the concert program consisting of classical and contemporary pieces such as Pas De Trois from "Paquita" ballet, "Hungarian Dance" (Tchardash) from "Coppelia" ballet, "Little Swans Dance" from "Swan Lake" ballet, and also evaluated the mastership and professionalism of young ballet artists and discovered new names among the youth.
During the whole year, master-classes of the leading teachers in different fields were held as part of cultural activities. Thus, actors from the Malyi theater gave a master-class in Beijing during their tour; the leader of the sacred music ensemble "Sirin" Andrey Kotov demonstrated his vocal mastership during his tour performances in Qindao; Vladimir Spivakov showed to Chinese musicians new capabilities of his orchestra; Mikhail Aronovich Gottsdiner, David Oistrakh’s student, laureate of numerous International contests, Honoured Artist of Russia, professor of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory and the Gnesins Russian Music Academy, held violin master-classes for the students of the School at the Central Conservatory of Beijing.
The film program of the Festival was opened by a retrospective presentation of the best Soviet and Russian films from May, 29 up to June, 4. Chinese spectators watched 16 feature films in the Chinese methodical film center in Beijing. These films of different genres introduced the peculiarities of Soviet and Russian cinematography to the Chinese audience. A well-known film director Vadim Abdrashitov and an actor Alexander Pankratov-Cherniy met with the Chinese admirers of Russian films.
Participants of the film project "But the Dawns Are Quiet Here. 32 Years Later", at the invitation of the Chinese side, visited Beijing and Harbin from the 14th up to the 20th if June. Russian actors had meetings and business negotiations concerning cooperation with Chinese representatives of cinematography and television.
On June, 20-22, in the framework of the 6th International Film Festival in Shanghai, there was held a presentation of Russian films. Russian film directors showed their best works: "The Vesiegon Bitch Wolf" (Director: Nikolay Solovtsov), "About Love In Any Weather" (Director: Ala Surikova), "The First After God" (Director: Vasily Chiginsky) and others.
A presentation of Russian films also took place in August in the framework of the VIIIth Changchun International Film Festival.
At the beginning of September, the Week of Russian Cinematography was held in Beijing, Chengdu and Shenzhen. Admirers of Russian cinematography in China watched the films shot by young film directors in the past 5 years: "Time to Collect the Stones" (director - Alexey Karelin), "Escape" (director - Egor Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky), "Fight With A Shadow" (director –Alexey Sidorov) and others.
The Fourth Open Russian Film Forum "Amur Autumn" that had been opened on September, 14, in Blagoveshchensk, was then continued in China. As part of the delegation, famous Russian film stars came to Harbin. The participants of the festival visited the museum, the Orthodox cemetery in Harbin, met with Chinese people of art and culture. On September 26, the film forum "Amur Autumn" was finished by a Russian Ball in the Russian Embassy in China.
The program of the film festival aroused big interest among Chinese social people and cinematographers.
In the framework of the Festival of Russian culture in China, a vast exhibition program was organized. The exhibition "Three centuries of Russian art. Masterpieces of the State Tretyakov Gallery collection" was opened on March, 22, in the Museum of Fine Arts in China. Best paintings from the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery were presented at the exhibition. At the opening ceremony in the exhibition halls of the museum were present Vice Chairman of All-China Committee of National Political Consultative Council of China and Chairman of Chinese-Russian Committee for friendship, peace and development on Chinese part Li Guixian, Minister of Culture and mass communication media of Russia Alexander Sokolov, Head of the Russian department of the above mentioned Committee Leonid Drachevsky and Head of Russian Federal Agency for culture and cinematography Mikhail Shvydkoy. The Executive Secretary of SOC Zhang Deguang and the former Ambassador of Russia to China Igor Rogachev also took part in the opening ceremony. Warm greeting speeches were pronounced by the Vice Minister of Culture of PRC Meng Xiaosi and the Minister of Culture and mass communication media of Russia Alexander Sokolov.
On June 15, in the Art Museum named after Liu Haisu in Shanghai, was opened an exhibition of a famous painter, honored artist of Russia S.N. Andriyaki. The exposition included the works of the famous Russian aquarellist and his students.
A wide-scale exhibition "People’s Parade" is successfully held in the Museum of World Culture (Millenium) in Beijing. This project is sort of a presentation of traditional culture of people of Russia and bordering states making up the Russian Empire in the past. At the end of the XIXth century, the population of the country encountered over 150 ethnoses speaking numerous languages, having different anthropological aspects and belonging to different religions. The exhibition is made in the genre of “Ethnographic studies” where each nation is represented by subjects most peculiar to its culture.
The exhibition "The City of the Sun. Triumph of the Socialist Realism" was held in three stages in Shanghai, Beijing and Chongqing. The exposition was based on themes peculiar to 1930s-1950s. It included 245 works of art, sculpture, graphics, decorative applied arts and crafts from the collections of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Perm and Volgograd museums. Masterpieces by many renowned artists were on display: Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, Arkady Plastov, Alexander Deineka, Alexander Gerasimov, Vera Mukhina and others.
For the first time the exposition of the exhibition "Russian realistic painting of the second part of the XIX century." combined native works of art from over 19 museums of Russia. Portraits, landscapes, genre and historical paintings by Ilya Repin, Vasily Perov, Ivan Kramskoy, Vactor Vasnetsov, Ivan Shishkin, Alexey Savrasov and other masters that have never been put together before, now come to new dialogues, uncover unexpected verges. Inhabitants and visitors of three Chinese cities – Guangzhou, Wuhan and Beijing - have a chance to visit this outstanding exhibition.
Regardless of the official closing of all cultural activities of the Festival, the organizers made a decision to prolong the work of the exhibitions "People’s Parade" and "Russian realistic painting of the second part of the XIX century." up to January, 2007.
Russian and Chinese organizers and participants of the Festival of Russian Culture in China highly evaluated its level and meaning. Beside Beijing and Shanghai, Russian culture was represented in Nanjing, Ningbo, Lianyungang, Suzhou, Zhaoyuan, Huhehate, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and many other Chinese cities where Russian art was presented for the first time.
The Festival of Russian Culture in China has appeared to be a grand wide-scale project that presented to general Chinese and Russian public all the diversity of Russian culture, strengthened the basis of Russian-Chinese friendship, created a new foundation for mutual cooperation and for more consistent development of bilateral relations.
[Retern to Festival Program]
