Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: October 2017

Autumn in Belarus 

Artist and City project in Minsk

The project Artist and City featuring the copies of the best paintings of famous artists will open a new season in Minsk. It has something new in store for us this time! In previous years, visitors of the open-air gallery saw one-artist expositions dedicated to world-famous Marc Chagall, Kazimir Malevich, Nikolai Seleshchuk, Valentin Gubarev. The Artist and City 2017 project will feature a constellation of talented artists. The exposition named The Golden Collection of the Belarusian Fine Art which will traditionally adorn the Yakub Kolas Square in Minsk for four months will showcase the best works of 35 renowned artists representing various generations and artistic genres. These include Ruslan Vashkevich, Leonid Khobotov, Vladimir Savich, Zoya Litvinova, Anatoly Baranovsky… Besides, in 2017 the Artist and City project will become one of the largest triennial projects of the Belarusian art. It may become a major event in the cultural life of Belarus and will be dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the birth of Marc Chagall.

When: starting from 27 April
Where: Yakub Kolas Square, Minsk

Heritage of Belarus. Celebrating the 950th Anniversary of Minsk

Heritage of Belarus, a unique fence art project that has been running for several years already, turns urban space into a museum and introduces fans of photography to the famous sights of Belarus. In the run-up to Minsk’s 950th anniversary, the authors of the project, well-known photographers, journalists, and winners of the award for spiritual revival (2005) Alexander Alekseyev and Oleg Lukashevich, invite Minskers to make a fascinating journey to the historical places of the Belarusian capital. The art gallery on the fence of Chelyuskintsev Park, features 40 reproductions depicting the architectural landmarks, including town halls, Orthodox and Catholic churches, manor houses with luxury interiors, items of decorative and applied arts, mural paintings.

When: 15 June 2017 – June 2018
Where: Chelyuskintsev Park, Minsk

Japanese Autumn 2017 festival in Belarus

The fifth traditional festival Japanese Autumn is dedicated to the 25th anniversary since Belarus-Japan relations were established. In September fans of authentic and modern culture of the Land of the Rising Sun were able to attend lectures on the post-modern theater, study the art of flower arrangement, practice self-defense tricks during aikido master classes, and even see an Instagram broadcast of a show inspired by Yukia Mishima’s play Madame de Sade. The October playbill features a week of Japanese movies, a festival of Eastern Asia youth culture Higan, a chess game, the international karate tournament Sanker Cup 2017, master classes on ink drawing, calligraphy, and origami. Visitors will be able to learn about Japanese aesthetics in everyday life and art of Haruki Murakami. They will be able to attend a seminar on the oriental art of complex development of the body and mind Bujinkan.

When: 8 September – 29 November
Where: Molodechno, Minsk, the Japanese culture center Hagakure

Alexandre Vassiliev’s Age of Fashion exhibition in Minsk

Fashion historian, art critic and collector Alexandre Vassiliev has won the hearts of Belarusian fashionmongers and art connoisseurs. The well-known TV host has given lectures and organized exhibitions in different cities of the country. He has designed costumes for the Laurencia ballet in the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus. His new project Age of Fashion will feature a collection of more than 1000 clothing items, accessories, and jewelry that recreates the atmosphere of the last century. The exposition displays evening, ball and ceremonial dresses, costumes of famous theater and cinema artists, world-renowned fashion icons of the 20th century, among whom is Yves Saint Laurent, Coco Chanel, Paul Poiret, and Mariano Fortuny…

When: 15 September 2017 – 10 January 2018
Where: National History Museum of Belarus, Minsk
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7th TEART International Theater Forum

One of the most spectacular and anticipated theater projects of the autumn, TEART 2017 is going to present 19 productions from 8 countries: Belarus, Russia, Latvia, Slovenia, Kyrgyzstan, France, Germany, and Italy. The festival will have three sections: International Program, Belarus Open, and The School of TEART with lectures, meetings with directors, workshops, and other educational events. The festival will open with a wordless production of Nikolai Gogol’s Marriage staged by Russian director Sergei Zemlyansky. The audience will be treated to the production Ivanov by Moscow-based Theater of Nations, directed by Timofei Kulyabin. The show starring Chulpan Khamatova, Viktor Verzhbitsky, Yelizaveta Boyarskaya, Igor Gordin, and People’s Artist of Russia Yevgeny Mironov is expected to become the highlight of the festival. Wrapping up the festival this year will be wordless comedy Pension Belvedere staged by Matteo Spiazzi (Italy).

When: 27 September – 16 October
Where: Minsk

12th Yuri Bashmet International Music Festival in Minsk

The Yuri Bashmet International Festival once again opens the musical season in the Belarusian capital, inviting fans to appreciate world classics as performed by the best vocalists and musicians of today. The festival will open with a concert by the state symphony orchestra Novaya Rossiya conducted by the maestro himself — the People’s Artist of the USSR and Russia Yuri Bashmet. The entire list of participants is a secret for now, yet we know that a concert from The Legends of the Stradivari Violin series involving the East-West Chamber Orchestra conducted by Rostislav Krimer will be the final chord. By the way, last year the legendary team already gathered a full house. According to the Mastatstva magazine and fans, it was one of the brightest pages of last year’s program.

When: 28 September – 8 October
Where: Belarusian State Philharmonic, Minsk

Varekai show of the Cirque du Soleil circus in Minsk

The internationally recognized circus Cirque du Soleil, which first came to Minsk in 2013 and redesigned the definition of circus art for many people, will bring to the Belarusian capital a new show Varekai, which has already been seen by over 10 million spectators in 130 cities across the globe. Belarus’ largest stage will host a magnificent performance staged by the playwright, script writer, and stage producer Dominic Champagne. The plot is based on a captivating story of a lonely young man, who overcomes fears and comes to know his soul by going through trials in the mysterious forest of Varekai, which is home to enigmatic spirits and characters. Live music is an excellent addition to the production: the composer Violaine Corradi combines songs of French troubadours of the 11th century, traditional gospel music, Armenian melodies, and rhythms of Hawaiian rites in one show.

When: 28 September – 1 October
Where: Minsk Arena

Burning Stars show in Belarusian State Circus

The Belarusian State Circus will open a new season with a fantastic show Burning Stars with the participation of the winners and laureates of the 1st Minsk International Festival which brought together over 100 artists from 16 countries. The show will present a kaleidoscope of the best performances of contemporary circus artists from Europe, the Middle East, Eastern Asia, and Africa who received the highest scores from the jury. The show will feature the Russian Swing act of the gold medal winners from North Korea, Ukrainian acrobats on a mast, Duo Samara from Ethiopia, Russian trapeze artist Alyona Pavlova… The show will be crowed by the Nubian Lions and Bengal Tigers act of Egyptian tamer Hamada Kouta, the winner of the people’s choice award.

When: 30 September – 15 December
Where: Belarusian State Circus, Minsk

Autumn Salon with Gazprombank in Minsk

At the beginning of October Minsk will for the first time host the biggest fine art exhibition in Belarus. It was created by analogy with the legendary Paris Salons featuring talented artists in Champs-Elysees every year. The large-scale art project of Gazprombank has already become a platform for the presentation of modern trends in Belarusian art. Thanks to a comprehensive educational program with lectures, creative meetings, workshops, interactive excursions, classes for children this forum has developed a reputation. In 2016, the exhibition at the Palace of Art was visited by about 12,000 people. It is expected that this year the exclusive project will feature the works of 141 young artists, 14 state-owned and private galleries of Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, and Gomel will also present the works of 37 artists.

When: 6 October – 5 November
Where: Art Belarus Gallery, Minsk

DEF EYE exhibition project in Minsk

The DEF EYE project at the National Center of Modern Arts will for the first time display artwork based on augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies. The exhibition will feature such modern genres as abstract expressionism, hyperrealism, post pop, and will give a chance to dive into the worlds of three masters, namely Zakhar Kudin, Yevgeny Galuzo, and Anton Snt (Anton Slyunchenko) using special devices. The main accent will be made on multimedia technologies. Visitors of the exhibition will be able to download a special application and watch a film about the exhibits. At the opening of the exhibition they will be even able to wear VR gear and see the gallery augmented with Zakhar Kudin’s abstract sculptures.

When: 7-28 October
Where: National Center of Modern Arts, Minsk

Treasures of Ancient Egypt exhibition in the National Art Museum

Since its creation in 2011 the exhibition Treasures of Ancient Egypt has attracted thousands of ancient history fans in Chile, Brazil, Peru, and other Latin America countries. Minsk is the first European stop in the itinerary of the travelling exhibition. It is no accident because ancestors of Alejandra Torres, the supervisor of the exhibition, came from Belarus. It took ten years to create the exhibition with assistance of archeologists and historians from Germany, the UK, and the USA. Today it features about 300 famous artifacts and replicas, which reflect the most vivid fragments of the Egyptian culture and history. the most interesting exhibits include a funeral mask of the pharaoh Tutankhamun, a mysterious sphinx, statues of gods, mummies and sarcophaguses, jewelry, amulets and ancient papyruses, which have been recreated using ancient technologies…

When: 9 September – 10 December
Where: The National Art Museum of Belarus, Minsk
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Sting in Minsk

After a successful tour in North and South Americas and Europe the legendary singer Sting is back in Minsk with a new program to back the 57th & 9th album, which was released on 11 November 2016. Over the course of the 40-year career the famous Brit has scored an impressive number of awards: 16 Grammies, 25 American Music Awards, MTV Music Awards, a Golden Globe Award for the soundtrack for the Kate & Leopold movie, three Oscar nominations for Best Original Song, a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This time the rock star will perform in the country’s largest venue  –  Minsk Arena – together with a unique collection of musicians: the guitarists Dominic Miller and Rufus Miller, the accordionist Percy Cardon, the drummer Josh Freese, and a special guest – Joe Sumner. Belarusian music fans will be able to listen to compositions like 50,000 and I Can’t Stop Thinking About You in addition to the already popular hits.

When: 8 October
Where: Minsk Arena

Artisans fair Mlyn in Minsk

The 2017 autumn season will open with the artisans fair Mlyn near the Sports Palace in Minsk. The biggest handicraft exposition will bring together artisans, designers, and craftsmen from various regions of Belarus (there are about 23,500 craftsmen in Belarus). The artisans fair will include lectures, presentations and workshops. Visitors will be also able to buy various handmade goods (embroidery, macrame, batik, lace, etc.). Exclusive home decorations, goods for hobby and creativity, designer jewelry, original presents and souvenirs are traditionally popular.

When: 14 – 15 October
Where: Sports Palace, Minsk

Mint Lion 2017

Mint Lion, Belarus’ only exhibition on advertising, design and printing industry, will become one of the major events as part of this year’s Days of Marketing, Advertising and Branding, alongside with the advertising festival LAMA (Local Аdvertising & Marketing Аwards) and the 2017 Brand Day conference. The exposition will display products from well-known Belarusian and foreign companies: equipment and consumables, digital systems and visual technologies for promotion, novelties in the printing industry and packaging, materials and souvenirs… The business program will feature themed seminars and penal discussions, where leading experts will discuss the novelties and major trends on the global advertising market, as well as new efficient instruments to develop the advertising business in Belarus.

When: 17 – 19 October
Where: Orchid conference hall, Beijing Hotel, Minsk

Zolotoi Shlyager 2017 in Mogilev

The international music festival Zolotoi Shlyager (golden chartbuster) has welcomed numerous outstanding singers from more than 25 countries since its foundation in November 1995. In 2017 the music forum will kick off with a concert of Chingiz Ayusheev, a soloist of the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre, and Elena Ayusheva, a soloist of the Royal Opera House of Italy and the Teatro Massimo Bellini, to the accompaniment of the well-known folk instruments orchestra named after People’s Artist of Belarus Leonid Ivanov. It is expected that this year Mogilev will welcome People’s Artist of Russia Alexander Malinin, the pop group Sinyaya Ptitsa (blue bird), an orchestra of accordionists under the baton of People’s Artist of Russia Yuri Smirnov... A jazz concert will feature Olga Pirags (Latvia), Quentin Moore (USA), the vocal quartet Minsk Voices and Premier Orchestra (Belarus).

When: 22 – 29 October
Where: Mogilev Oblast Philharmonics, Mogilev
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Patricia Kaas in Minsk

Famous French singer and actress Patricia Kaas after a long break is coming back to Minsk as part of the world tour to promote her new, tenth, album entitled Patricia Kaas. The “mademoiselle that sings blues” last visited the Belarusian capital in 2013. One of the compositions in her new album titled Le jour et l'heure (The Day and the Hour) is dedicated to the tragic events of 13 November 2015, when 130 people were killed by terrorists in the center of Paris. Following 13 years dedicated to the classical repertoire of the 1930s and the fantastic music play Kaas Singing Piaf, the French singer will perform fresh compositions together with well-known world hits. Fans are again looking forward to the unique atmosphere of the concert, as Patricia Kaas, who turned 50 in 2016, remains to be an embodiment of the French style both in music and life.

When: 23 October
Where: Big Hall, Palace of Republic, Minsk

Belarus Fashion Week SS'2018

Belarus Fashion Week, the biggest fashion event in Belarus, opens its 15th season with a presentation of Spring-Summer 2018 collections. It will feature such Belarusian brands as Lakbi, Alena Goretskaya, Svetlana Todorskaya, Historia Naturalis, T.Efremova, Yunona, Vesnaletto, Natalia Korzh, Boitsik, Davidova, Condra Deluxe, S.Veles, Devita, Candy Lady, TON-IN-TON, EMSE, NELVA, NIV NIV… As part of the international project Moda Italia, there will be fashion shows of such foreign brands as Longshaw Ward (the United Kingdom), Totti Swimwear and Twins Florence (Italy) and a designer from Germany. The program will also include presentations of young fashion designers Off Schedule BFW and the participants of the contest New Names BFW by Mark Formelle, Kids’ Fashion Days BFW, and, of course, a traditional training program with lectures and master classes of renowned experts, designers and stylists from various countries.

When: 24 – 29 October
Where: Belarus Fashion Week pavilion, national exposition center BelExpo, Minsk

Jazz Bridge project: VEIN in Minsk

Founded in 2006, the Swiss jazz band VEIN having a classical set of instruments (piano, bass, and drums) is working in modern genres such as contemporary jazz and post bop. This jazz band began its music career from a tour around Switzerland and Germany. Since then a small chamber orchestra has done a great job to reject a stereotype that every band needs a leading performer. The band is a welcome guest in Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, India, Bolivia… As part of the Jazz Bridge project, famous European musicians – Michael Arbenz (piano), Thomas Lahns (bass), and Florian Arbenz (drums) – will for the first time perform in Minsk together with Belarusian sax player Vitaly Yamuteyev. They will present The Chamber Music Effect album which was created at the crossroads of jazz and classical music.

When: 26 October
Where: Upper City concert hall, Minsk

Keiko Matsui in Minsk

The famous Japanese pianist and composer Keiko Matsui is coming back to Minsk! This time the big-name instrumental musician will be accompanied by the symphony orchestra Lords of the Sound which won the hearts and minds of the Minsk audience in 2016. Formed in 2014, the legendary team has its own calling card: a live performance of world hits, soundtracks from iconic domestic and foreign movies, and also works by contemporary composers. This unique bright tandem has not appeared by chance: Matsui received the Oasis Smooth Jazz Award for Best Female Jazz Artist in 1999 and 2000. In 2001, Matsui's first album with Narada, Deep Blue, took her to the number one spot on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. The concert program is kept secret but, according to the organizers, the fans are going to enjoy a fascinating mixture of classical, jazz, and new-age music.

When: 27 October
Where: Minsk concert hall, Minsk

Valentin Yelizaryev’s anniversary at Belarus’ Bolshoi Theater

The prominent ballet master, People's Artist of the USSR and Belarus Valentin Yelizaryev has headed the ballet company of the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus for 35 years. He has staged over 15 shows on Belarus’ main stage, including the wonderful Carmen Suite, La Creation du Monde, The Rite of Spring, Romeo and Juliette, and Passions (Rogneda). An exhibition of the young photographer Nikita Fedosik dedicated to Valentin Yelizaryev’s 70th anniversary opened at the art gallery University of Culture back in spring. The anniversary year will continue with the premiere of the new version of Spartacus. Another highlight will be the concert World and Belarusian Ballet Stars featuring prominent artists of the Bolshoi, Mariinsky, and Mikhailovsky theaters, Kiev Modern Ballet, and also students of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography and the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet (St Petersburg).

31 October – new version of Spartacus (staged and choreographed by Valentin Yelizaryev) at the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus.

2 November – anniversary evening featuring the world's and Belarus' ballet stars.
 
Guests: Yuri Grigorovich, ballet master, People’s Artist of the USSR; Xiao Suhua, choreographer, teacher, professor of the Beijing Dance Academy, and executive vice director of the Ballet Committee of the Chinese Dancers Association; Nikolai Tsiskaridze, People’s Artist of Russia, rector of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet; Radu Poklitaru, People’s Artist of Moldova, art director of Kiev Modern Ballet.

Guest soloists: People’s Artist of Russia Svetlana Zakharova; People’s Artist of Russia Ivan Vasilyev; soloists of Boris Eifman Ballet Oleg Gabyshev and Lyubov Andreyeva; winners of international contests Anastasiya Matviyenko, Ernest Latypov, Maria Vinogradova, Wei Chao, and others…