Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: November 2015

International Festival of Modern Choreography in Vitebsk

Belarus in the UNESCO World Heritage List

The project, which was launched in the Chelyuskintsev Park in Minsk, allows getting acquainted with Belarus’ outstanding landmarks which are known all over the world. The large-scale open-air exhibition is a continuation of the Heritage of Belarus project and is dedicated to the jubilee events of 2015: the 70th anniversary of the UNESCO, the 60th anniversary of Belarus’s membership in the UNESCO, and 10 years since the Nesvizh Palace and Park was awarded the status of a UNESCO site. The exposition, which was on display on the fence of the park for a year, includes more than 60 photographs and shows four Belarusian sites on the list of the world cultural and natural heritage: Belovezhskaya Pushcha; Mir Castle; The Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh; Struve Geodetic Arc.

When: from 22 May
Where: Chelyuskintsev Park, Minsk

Africa!?! Show at Belarusian State Circus

The circus show Africa!?! will feature the mysterious world of the “dark continent” populated with dark-skinned aborigines and exotic animals. Visitors will take a fascinating journey through endless deserts and meet with trapeze artists, pole climbers, jugglers, equestrian vaulters, animal trainers with fierce crocodiles and lions, snakes, funny apes, donkeys and dogs. The show will feature the world’s only chorus of giant crocodiles in Alexander Orlov’s Egyptian Gambit act, the breathtaking act In the Constellation of the Lion of Olga Borisova, the representative of one of the oldest lion tamer dynasties, the funny act An Eccentric and a Monkey of Aidyn Israfilov, the winner of the Silver Clown Award and two special prizes of the 1997 International Youth Circus Festival in Monte Carlo…

When: 25 September – 16 December
Where: Belarusian State Circus, Minsk

Masterpieces from Tretyakov Gallery in Minsk

The National Art Museum of Belarus and the State Tretyakov Gallery, one of the largest museums in the world, will present the unique project "From Realism to Impressionism". This time the exhibition will showcase over 70 works by famous Russian artists of the 19th-20th centuries including Alexei Savrasov, Isaac Levitan, Ivan Shishkin, Vasily Polenov, Ilya Repin, Konstantin Korovin… Of particular interest will be the works of famous natives of Belarus who received international acclaim. Among them is Stanislav Zhukovsky, a celebrated landscapist associated with the Impressionist movement, and Ferdynand Ruszczyc, a student of Ivan Shishkin and Arkhip Kuindzhi.

When: 5 September – 11 December
Where: National Art Museum of Belarus
More

Italian mosaic exhibition in Minsk

The exclusive project Retrospective 1965-2014 will present a large-scale exhibition of modern mosaic art in Minsk. The exposition will include about 100 works of Italian masters, graduates from the famous Mosaic Art School in Ravenna. In the 1980s Marco de Luca, Marco Bravura and Verdiano Marzi started experimenting in the area of mosaic to make a real revolution. Guests of the exhibition will see a 30-year retrospective of their creativity: monumental sculptural groups, graceful miniatures, colorful pictures and collages.

When: 18 September – 15 November
Where: National History Museum, Minsk

Great Classics of the 20th Century Exhibition in Minsk

The new House of Paintings Gallery  that was opened not long ago in Minsk downtown invites world art connoisseurs to see the exhibition which has traveled tens of cities. The exposition includes the works of the world-renowned artists who made an art revolution in the 20th century: Salvador Dali, Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse. The international project demonstrates the art fashion of the brightest representatives of the main modernism trends through their graphic works. It is for the first time that the Belarusian audience will see such a big collection of artworks from foreign private collections – 229 works of calligraphic etching and lithography, created in the 1910s-1970s.

When: 1 October – 31 December
Where: House of Paintings Gallery, Minsk

Masterpieces from Belgazprombank’s collection on display in Minsk

This exclusive project recreates the atmosphere of Parisian salons in Minsk and shows the finest examples of the modern Belarusian art. The exposition displays both the paintings of the artists of the famous Paris school-natives of Belarus such as Marc Chagall, Chaim Soutine and Michel Kikoine, and also 90 works of young talented artists, nominees for the Art-Belarus Prize. The works are in different artistic techniques: fine art, graphics, photography, installation, sculpture, plastic from glass... The exposition features Belgazprombank’s newest acquisitions: Sleepwalker by Marc Chagall, St. John’s Night by Dmitry Stelletsky, Urban Landscape by Ossip Lubitch, Eugene Zak’s drawings, sculptures by Polina Chentova and Leon Indenbaum.

When: 8 October - 8 November
Where: Palace of Arts, Minsk

Life in Korea exposition at the National Art Museum

The Life of Korea is a joint project of the Museum of the Dongguk University and the National Art Museum of Belarus. The unique collection covers the time period from the State of Goryeo (10th-14th centuries) to modern times and shows culture, traditions, customs and the everyday lives of Korean people. The exhibition presents the masterpieces of traditional secular and religious painting, works of decorative and applied art, sculpture, and also clothing, household items, furniture and interiors of modern Korean homes. The exhibition is divided into thematic blocks dedicated to different stages of Korean life and associated rituals, among which is the birth of a child, a wedding, celebrations of important dates: 70, 77, 80, 88, 90 and 99-year jubilees.

When: 14 October – 6 December
Where: National Art Museum, Minsk
More

The 20th International Festival of Organ Music St. Sophia’s Bells

The international festival in the ancient Polotsk will bring together outstanding performers and musicians from Belarus, Russia, Austria, Germany, Italy and Denmark. A concert by the Danish duo of Hans Christian Hein and Peter Dahm-Hein who will perform pieces by Bach, Tchaikovsky, Buxtehude, Gade and Vierne will become an overture to the festival. The concerts in St. Sophia Cathedral will feature the world masterpieces of the Baroque period, German and French romanticism, and the pieces by contemporary composers. Connoisseurs of the eternal classics will have the opportunity to listen to Pierre Zevort (France), Eugenio Maria Fagiani (Italy), Ksenia Pogorelaya (Belarus) and the duo of Evgenia and Ksenia Avramenko (Russia).

When: 18 October – 22 November
Where: St. Sophia’s Cathedral, Polotsk
More 

41st Belarusian Music Autumn International Art Festival

The international forum invites all who love world music classics for symphonic and chamber concerts, evenings of piano and organ music, and performances by virtuoso musicians. Partaking in the festival will be such renowned music personalities as Georgian pianist, UNESCO Artist for Peace Elisso Bolkvadze, Italian organist Eugenio Maria Fagiani, remarkable pianist, People’s Artist of Belarus Igor Olovnikov, and renowned cellist, Honored Artist of Russia Kirill Rodin. Among other events, the program of the international festival features the jubilee concert by conductor Alexander Sosnovsky, the concert to celebrate the 330th anniversary of the birth of great German composer George Handel, and concerts by the Belarusian folk dance company Khoroshki, one of the oldest Russian chamber groups Moscow Trio, Minsk String Quartet…

When: 1 – 29 November
Where: Belarusian State Philharmonic Society, Minsk
More

Dmitri Hvorostovsky in Minsk

The “golden baritone”, People’s Artist of Russia Dmitri Hvorostovsky became world famous in 1989 after his victorious performance at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. He conquered the world not only with his magnificent voice and charisma but also with his unbelievable fortitude. In late September, after undergoing treatment for a brain tumor, Dmitri Hvorostovsky sang Count di Luna in Giuseppe Verdi's “Il Trovatore” in a duet with Anna Netrebko at the Metropolitan Opera's 2015-2016 season opening. In Minsk, the singer will present his new program dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory. Dmitri Hvorostovsky will perform popular wartime songs accompanied by the State Academic Symphony Orchestra and the State Chamber Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus.

When: 5 November
Where: Palace of the Republic, Minsk  

22nd Minsk International Film Festival Listapad

The 22nd edition of the film festival will be held under the slogan Eye of Pleasure. It will gather remarkable directors, actors, film critics, and cinema lovers. This year’s program of the festival includes 184 films from 60 countries: word premieres, documentaries and fiction films, and works by Belarusian filmmakers. The international jury will evaluate twelve debut films from different countries. The jury of the Feature Films Competition will be chaired by director, People’s Artist of Russia Vadim Abdrashitov whose film “A Play for a Passenger” won a Listapad prize in 1995. “Valley of Love” by French director Guillaume Nicloux starring Isabelle Huppert and Gerard Depardieu will open the festival program. The film was shot to celebrate the 120th anniversary of cinematograph.

When: 6 – 13 November
Where: Cinema houses of Minsk
More

Half a Hundred show by the Meladze brothers in Minsk

The magnificent show to be held in Minsk has been timed to several dates — the 50th birthday of Valery Meladze, the 30th anniversary of his artistic career together with his brother Konstantin Meladze, and the 20th anniversary of the debut album that secured their overwhelming success. At present the tandem is one of the Russian show business industry’s most reliable and successful ones. Valery Meladze boasts an imitable voice of a wide range and a rare timbre while his elder brother is a talented composer, producer of popular artists and bands. Their jubilee concert will feature golden hits and musical compositions from the movies their fans love.

When: 7 November
Where: Minsk Arena

Tokio Hotel in Minsk

The German synthpop and rock pop music band Tokio Hotel was founded in Magdeburg in 2001. Their fame was secured by the debut album Devilish. The band has sold over 7 million disks and has won 160 gold and platinum awards. Their concert near the Eiffel Tower was a remarkable event that gathered 500,000 people. After a hiatus that lasted for years the artists came back onto the stage with their fourth album called Kings of Suburbia. It was released in 2014. As part of their Feel It All tour the twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz will perform their best songs for the first time ever on a Belarusian stage. The concert will also feature fresh tracks from a new studio album.

When: 8 November
Where: Prime Hall, Minsk

Multisensory exhibition Van Gogh Alive in Minsk

The unusual multimedia exhibition is dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the demise of one of the world’s most popular and expensive artists — Vincent van Gogh. His legacy comprises over 2,000 pieces of art, including 930 paintings and 1,100 drawings and sketches. The exhibition’s visitors will be able to learn about the tragic life and art of the post-impressionist artist in addition to studying his artistic style in detail by getting inside his pictures. About 400 works will be available on big screens in the exhibition area that occupies over 1,500m2. The process will be accompanied by classic music. Exhibition visitors will also be able to get a cup of coffee in the Cafe Terrace at Night, take a picture of themselves inside the Bedroom in Arles, and paint their own Starry Night during a painting master class.

When: 13 November – 13 December
Where: The exhibition space Tsekh, Minsk
More

Dmitry Bozin’s play Turtle in Minsk

The leading actor of Roman Viktyuk’s theater, an honored artist of Russia Dmitry Bozin is known to Belarusian fans as the leading actor in the legendary performances — The Maids, Salome, Nezdeshny Sad, Korol-Arlekin, Maskarad markiza de sada, Peter Quilter’s Glorious!... This time the artist, whose fame owes a lot to the special plasticity and outstanding acting skills, will present a musical one-man show Turtle in Minsk. The performance will tell a story of a man and a woman with mystic and real events entangled in surprising ways. Dmitry Bozin will recite poetry by Iosif Brodsky, Marina Tsvetayeva, Juan Ramon Jimenez accompanied by the pianist Anastasia Zhivotovskaya.

When: 14 November
Where: The small hall of the concert hall Minsk in Minsk

International Festival of Modern Choreography in Vitebsk

The International Festival of Modern Choreography in Vitebsk will feature the leading dance companies from Belarus, Russia, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the United States and Mexico. The festival will open with an evening to commemorate famous Russian choreographer Evgeny Panfilov. The Evgeny Panfilov Ballet Theater will present one-act ballets such as River, Genesis, Waltzes for the Dim-Witted, and Women. Year 1945 that received the Golden Mask Award in 2001. The main draw of the festival will be the national competitions in modern choreography. Partaking in them will be over 20 dance companies from different regions of the country. Apart from plays, the program of the festival will include photo exhibitions, video lectures, open meetings of the international jury, master classes for dancers and choreographers…

When: 19 – 22 November
Where: Vitebsk Concert Hall, Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theater, Vitebsk

Golden Gramophone 2015 in Minsk

The prestigious music award Golden Gramophone will gather Russian showbiz celebrities and their fans at Belarus’ biggest concert hall Minsk Arena, to mark its 20th anniversary. The official award ceremony will be held in two capitals, Moscow and Minsk, for the first time. The concert will feature singers of the most popular songs in 2015 selected by the Russian Radio listeners. The program will include Filipp Kirkorov, Anita Tsoi, Grigory Leps, Ani Lorak, Valery Meladze, Nikolai Baskov and Sofi, Sergei Lazarev, Byanka, Dmitry Koldun, VIA GRA, Vintazh, M-Band, IOWA… The audience will enjoy a spectacular show full of laser and special effects, good jokes, and quality music.

When: 23 November
Where: Minsk Arena

International Festival of Student Theaters Teatralny Kufar

Over its history, Belarus’ only international festival of student theaters, which is one of the most prestigious festivals in Eastern Europe, has gathered a record high number of participants, 250 creative companies from 60 countries. The youth forum that will be held under the motto Traditions. Search. Experiment this year will present the best productions of Belarusian and foreign student theaters as well as debut projects of young playwrights from around the world. By tradition, the main prize of the forum, Big Kufar, will go to the best play following the public vote. The program will also include creative meetings, discussions, master-classes in acting and directing, presentation of experimental plays of the KufarDramaLab.

When: 29 November – 6 December
Where: Belarusian State University, Minsk
More