Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: December 2015

Multisensory exhibition Van Gogh Alive in Minsk

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
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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

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
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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
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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
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Glenn Miller Orchestra Europe in Minsk

Glenn Miller Orchestra Europe, one of the best swing orchestras in the world, continues the traditions of the legendary jazz band founded by Glenn Miller in 1937. The orchestra became famous after the release of the big-screen musical Sun Valley Serenade by Bruce Humberstone which featured the compositions Moonlight Serenade, In the Mood, Tuxedo Junction, Chattanooga Choo Choo, I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo...  The famous orchestra-successor conducted by Maestro Vila Salden comprises professional multi-instrumentalists from all over Western Europe, each of whom has its own special performing style. The program which the orchestra will play in Minsk will feature the outstanding big-band era composers of the 1930-50s. 

When: 1 December
Where: Palace of the Republic, Minsk

QUATRO group in Minsk

Famous Russian QUATRO group brings together talented soloists, graduates of the Sveshnikov Academy of Choral Art who are called the Golden Voices of Russia for their elegant style and skills. Their timbres, which earned them the four seasons comparison, constitute a complete musical scale, which enables them to perform compositions of any complexity. During their career the artists have released five albums, performed at joint concerts with international stars Placido Domingo, Alessandro Safina, Dmitri Hvorostovsky... In Minsk the vocal group will perform Soviet hits which have acquired new colors thanks to the classical arrangements and professional execution.

When: 2 December
Where: Minsk concert hall, Minsk

Oleg Menshikov’s one-man show "1900" in Minsk

Talented actor and filmmaker, People’s Artist of Russia Oleg Menshikov, famous for his roles in the films The Pokrovsky Gate, Burnt by the Sun, Prisoner of the Mountains, The Barber of Siberia, has just marked his 55th birthday. In the Belarusian capital the art director and leading actor of the Yermolova Moscow Drama Theater will present one of the brightest works in his career – the one-man show "1900", based on Italian playwright Alessandro Baricco’s Novecento. Un monologo. It is a breathtaking story about a brilliant pianist who was born onboard of the transatlantic liner The Virginian and, having neither name nor documents, lived an amazing life full of trips and meetings, with music making an inseparable part of his life. According to the actor, the play "1900" is a beautiful legend about art, friendship and love, which he wanted to tell people.

When: 3 – 4 December
Where: Belarusian State Music Theater, Minsk

Polina Gagarina in Minsk

In May 2015 her touching performance won the hearts of spectators across Europe, bringing her second place in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest final. Her single A Million Voices made it into the top of iTunes charts in many countries. Famous Russian singer and actress, winner of the TV show Factory of Stars 2 and coach of the TV show Golos, Woman of the Year by Glamour magazine Polina Gagarina continues to surprise her fans. The new music show Play, which took more than 10 years and over 100 specialists to develop, is a grandiose spectacle featuring plenty of costumes and decorations, different moods and song genres – from well-liked and folk tunes I am Yours and Polyushka to modern hits I will not Forgive, No and Walk. Spectators are invited to enjoy live sound, an incredible light show, video installations, terrific dance acts and, of course, charming and at the same time bold Polina Gagarina.    

When: 7 December
Where: Palace of the Republic, Minsk

First classic art festival Denis Matsuyev Presents in Minsk

Renowned pianist, People’s Artist of Russia Denis Matsuyev is a solo performer, frequent participant of international forums, and musician performing with the world’s leading symphony orchestras. He is also the president of the New Names Charity Foundation and founder of music festivals for talented youth in different regions of Russia. After last year’s successful tour, the virtuoso pianist decided to bring together young musicians from across the country in the Belarusian capital. The Minsk festival will open with a gala concert. Denis Matsuyev will perform world classics masterpieces accompanied by the State Academic Symphony Orchestra. The program of the festival also includes a concert by grant holders of the New Names Charity Foundation, a workshop for students of the Belarusian State Academy of Music, and a jazz concert by the maestro-pianist.

When: 12 – 14 December
Where: Belarusian State Philharmonic Society, Palace of the Republic, Minsk

Sixth Minsk International Christmas Opera Forum

The largest opera forum in Belarus is expected to become the most memorable event of the theatrical season. It will bring together the world's opera stars on the stage of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus. The program of the forum includes premieres, music evenings, and best productions. The lead roles will be performed by renowned opera soloists from Belarus, Russia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan… The Minsk International Christmas Singing Competition will traditionally be the main event of the forum. Partaking in last year’s edition of the competition were more than 150 young opera singers from 20 countries.

16 December – Premiere of The Tsar’s Bride by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus;
17 December – Opera Eugene Onegin, the Bolshoi Theater of Russia;
18 December – Concert by young singers La canzone italiana.
Soloists: artist of the youth program of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia Alexander Roslavets, winners of international competitions Yuri Gorodetsky, Maria Shabunya, Ilya Silchukov;
19 December – Opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. The orchestra will be conducted by president and art director of the music festival Lyrical Nights in Marmande Philippe Mestres, France;
20 December – Gala concert by world’s opera stars.

When: 16 – 20 December
Where: Bolshoi Theater of Belarus, Minsk
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Fire Queen at Belarusian State Circus

In the run-up to Christmas and New Year the Belarusian State Circus will show the new program for children and adults Fire Queen, or The New Adventures of Kai and Gerda. An original version of the world famous fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen will feature an unusual director’s vision and new characters. This is a story about Kai and Gerda who, together with the Snow Maiden and the Little New Year, decided to send New Year presents to kids. But their plans were disturbed by cunning Fire Queen whose servants kidnapped the Little New Year. Viewers and the main characters will make a fascinating journey to various countries and meet with funny apes, hungry crocodiles, and dangerous lions…

When: 18 December – 10 January
Where: Belarusian State Circus, Minsk

TheatreHD: The Nutcracker at Bolshoi Theater

The unique international project TheatreHD uniting over 35 cities and towns in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and now Belarus will feature real-time HD versions of drama, opera and ballet productions of the world’s biggest theaters. The TheatreHD season in Minsk opened with the Metropolitan Opera production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il trovatore with the participation of Anna Netrebko and Dmitri Hvorostovsky in October. In December Belarusian ballet fans will see The Nutcracker staged at the Bolshoi Theater in 1968. Renowned choreographer Yury Grigorovich filled this story for children with philosophical meditations about the impossibility of ideal happiness and thus included the production in the global legacy of the 20th century.

When: 20 December
Where: Tsentralny Cinema, Minsk

Goya… Picasso Exhibition in Minsk

An exclusive exhibition of original works of the greatest artists of the 20th century Francisco Goya and Pablo Picasso is a joint project of San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Madrid) and the National Art Museum of Belarus. Belarusian museum goers will see about 100 drawings with the total value of €1.4 million for the first time. The exposition of the main representative of Spanish Romanticism, Francisco Goya, will include the most famous drawings from the series Caprichos, The Disasters of War, Tauromaquia, and Disparates. The exposition of Pablo Picasso, the world’s most expensive artist, will feature sketches The Wounded Picador, Three Women and the Toreador, works from the Vollard Suite series, illustrations of Honore de Balzac’s The Unknown Masterpiece created upon the order of one of the biggest art dealers of the time Ambroise Vollard.

When: 21 December 2015 – 21 March 2016
Where: National Art Museum, Minsk

Big Moscow Circus in Minsk. Constructor show by the Zapashny brothers

The Zapashny brothers enjoy well-deserved popularity in Belarus. In the past year alone the stars presented a number of fantastic shows in Minsk such as Emotions…, UFO. Circus From Another Planet, and K.U.K.L.A. The new Lego show Constructor — A Story From the Toy World will take place in Minsk Arena. The colorful show will be focused on exotic numbers featuring cheetahs under the guidance of a representative of an ancient circus family – the tamer Darya Kostyuk and her spouse Vyacheslav Kurkov. The show will also feature acrobats, trapeze artists, equilibrists with unicycles and spheres, ropewalkers, illusionists and clowns. Apart from that, spectators will be able to see the planet’s fastest land predator — the cheetah — as well as Australia’s national mascot — the kangaroo — and a character from Russian fairy-tales — a genuine brown bear.

When: 24-27 December
Where: Minsk Arena

Ilya Averbukh’s ice show Mama in Minsk

The prominent skater, coach, choreographer, stage manager, and producer Ilya Averbukh will present the ice show Mama in Minsk. The show is based on the Mama musical produced in 1976 and based on the fairy-tale Wolf and Seven Goat Kids. Starring in the musical movie were the prominent actors Lyudmila Gurchenko and Mikhail Boyarsky while the music and songs became part of the golden legacy of the Soviet cinema industry. The New Year fairy-tale on ice harmoniously combines the plot and the songs everyone loves as well as aerial acrobatics, circus numbers, modem special effects and 3D technologies, magnificent props and costumes. Performing will be the world-renowned skating stars Tatiana Totyaminina, Maxim Marinin, Yelena Berezhnaya as well as young artists of the children’s ballet Ice Symphony.

When: 27 December
Where: Chizhovka Arena, Minsk