Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: February 2017

International exhibition From Lisbon through Minsk to Vladivostok

Heritage of Belarus: Restored Architectural Values art project

For several years, Minsk residents and guests have had a chance to learn more about Belarus’ outstanding landmarks, the uniqueness of which is recognized throughout the world. This year, the open-air gallery has brought together over 100 reproductions depicting the architectural heritage, among which are towns halls, manors, palaces and parks, Orthodox and Catholic churches which have been restored over the past decade in different regions of the country. The authors of the art project are well-known photographers, journalists, winners of the Spiritual Revival Award (2005) Alexander Alekseev and Oleg Lukashevich, who released the album "Heritage of Belarus" in 2004. The album sold over 42 million copies from 2004 to 2014 and became a real sales hit in the history of the national book publishing.

When: from 21 May 2016
Where: Chelyuskintsev Park, Minsk

The Time of Wonders. Winter Festivities and Amusements exhibition

The interactive exhibition Time of Wonders. Winter Festivities and Amusements in the National History Museum of Belarus invites visitors to travel in space and time in anticipation of New Year. Visitors will be able to welcome the arrival of winter, take part in Christmas carols, Christmas fortunetelling, and participate in the most flamboyant celebration in the calendar of ancient Slavs Shrovetide. As part of the tour visitors will be able to see a peasant house, an urban house of the late 19th – early 20th centuries as well as a Soviet-era apartment with the traditional collection of New Year attributes such as champagne, the Grandfather Frost doll under the New Year tree, and the New Year TV show Goluboi Ogonyok. Apart from that, visitors will be able to try working as a puppet master and get familiar with ancient recipes of Belarusian cuisine in addition to taking a memorable photo in a sleigh and inside a New Year decoration ball.

When: 11 November 2016 – 28 February 2017
Where: National History Museum of Belarus, Minsk

International exhibition From Lisbon through Minsk to Vladivostok

At the end of the Year of Culture, the international art project, which is traditionally held under the aegis of UNESCO, displays the best works of 30 modern artists from 28 European countries – from Lisbon to Vladivostok – and showcases the best traditions of Eurasian fine art. The large-scale exposition includes about 80 paintings featuring various styles, themes, and even the time of creation. It is symbolic that the exhibition of European paintings takes place in the capital of Belarus which has been considered the center of dialogue between various nations and cultures since ancient times. The main objective is to highlight the uniting power of art in spite of political and social contradictions in the modern world.

When: 21 December 2016 – 5 February 2017
Where: Mikhail Savitsky Art Gallery, Minsk
More

Premiere of Kim Breitburg’s musical Jane Eyre

After the success of theater projects Blue Cameo and Dubrovsky in the Belarusian State Academic Music Theater and the musical Casanova, the renowned composer, Honored Figure of Arts of Russia Kim Breitburg will present the premiere of the musical Jane Eyre based on the world-famous novel by English writer Charlotte Bronte in Minsk. Karen Kavaleryan’s libretto will tell the story of a young orphan who had to cope with many difficulties and who found love and happiness with Sir Edward Rochester. The spectacular and dynamic musical with the romantic plot, wonderful music and dances was staged by choreographer and Kim Breitburg’s wife Valeria Breitburg.

When: 3, 10, 22 February
Where: Belarusian State Academic Music Theater, Minsk

New show at Belarusian circus

The new program “Show of Giant Fountains. Amazing City” will give a start to a new circus season 2017 wil feature over 600 colorful fountains and a laser installation rising from the heart of the arena to a height of 18m, and spectacular acts by the world stars. The world's only touring circus with singing fountains debuted in Minsk in 2015. Its performance won the hearts of even the most discerning viewers. The current program will feature wirewalkers, trampoline gymnasts, jugglers, and also performing bears, monkeys, cats and, of course, the duet of clowns Dolly & Domino performed by honored artists of Russia Lada and Alexander Sarnatskys.

When: 4 February – 31 March
Where: Belarusian circus, Minsk

International Orthodox Music Festival Kalozha Blagovest in Grodno

The largest Orthodox Music Festival Kalozha Blagovest in Grodno, which celebrated the 15th anniversary last year, will bring together church and secular choirs from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Moldova, and Romania… The festival will be preceded by auditions for parish choirs from different regions of the country: the best will advance to the final round of the festival. In addition to the signing competition the program will include the art exhibition “The Beauty of God's World”, the thematic exposition in the Grodno Museum of History of Religion, concerts of choirs, evenings of poetry and music by amateur composers, and also screenings and discussions of Christianity-themed films in Grodno cinemas.

When: 6 – 11 February
Where: Holy Intercession Cathedral, Grodno Regional Drama Theater, Grodno

Jazz legend Mike Russell in Minsk

Jazz and rhythm and blues legend, Grammy nominee, American singer and guitar player Mike Russell will come to Minsk for the first time to present his new program Blues Meets Jazz – Jazz Meets Blues, together with Russia’s Moscow Jazz Trio led by famous saxophone player Daniil Nikitin. The signature style of Mike Russell, one of the best followers of George Benson and B.B. King, are strong vocals, virtuoso guitar playing skills, a distinctive performance style, and also a highly energetic mixture of several styles of modern jazz: from swing to jazz rock and smooth jazz, from funk to rhythm and blues… The American singer and guitar player is currently touring the United States and Europe. His new project, Black Heritage band, makes the top ten European charts. The Belarusian audience will be treated to a night of the world’s best jazz showpieces.

When, where:

7 February – Palace of Trade Unions, Minsk
8 February – Yevgeny Vladimirov Jazz Club, Palace of Republic, Minsk

Minsk International Book Fair

The biggest book forum of Belarus and the CIS will gather in Minsk the leading publishers, printers and distributors of literary works from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Poland, Lithuania, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, Sweden, Iran, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Finland, China, the United States, Korea, Ecuador, and Cuba. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be the Guest of Honor at the book forum 2017. Greece will bring its exposition to Minsk for the first time. The forum will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Belarusian book printing and the anniversaries of Belarusian outstanding writers Yakub Kolas and Yanka Kupala. The program will include the 3rd International Literary Symposium entitled Writer and Time, a seminar of young writers, and the first awards ceremony for young writers Pershatsvet.  

When: 8 – 12 February
Where: 14 Pobeditelei Avenue, Minsk
More

28th Minsk Jazz Music Project

The popular music project authored by People’s Artist of Belarus Mikhail Finberg, art director and chief conductor of the National Academic Concert Orchestra of Belarus, is the main jazz event of the year in Belarus. Every year, it gathers renowned musicians from different parts of the world in the Belarusian capital. The unique big band that the maestro founded in the 1990s has already presented over 80 programs with music pieces by world-famous composers working in this music genre. Enthusiasts of jazz classics will be treated to the concert programs Great Jazz, Popular Singers Who Loved Jazz, and We Are From Jazz featuring the band of People’s Artist of Russia Anatoly Kroll, a legendary conductor, composer, and pianist.

When: 9 – 11 February
Where: Dzerzhinsky Club, Minsk

ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating in Minsk

Minsk will play host to the final sixth ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series 2016/17. Minsk Arena, one of the largest sports venues in Europe, will host the event. The tournament will gather world’s best speed skaters who have successfully qualified for the next round during the previous events in Salt Lake City, Shanghai, Gangneung and Dresden. Among the favorites are the teams of Russia, South Korea, Canada, China and the Netherlands. The tournament in Minsk will be the first opportunity to win a berth for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Belarusian athletes are expected to clinch two to four Olympic berths. Visitors to the fan zone will be offered a wide choice of entertainments, such as skating workshops, a parade of mascots, an ice labyrinth, games and competitions.

When: 10 – 12 February
Where: Minsk Arena, Speed Skating Stadium
More

An Evening with Alexander Filippenko in Minsk

People’s Artist of Russia Alexander Filippenko famous for his roles as Azazello in Vladimir Bortko’s film adaptation of The Master and Margarita and Korovyev in Yuri Kara’s film under the same name will present a solo performance Demarche of Enthusiasts. The title was inspired by the famous song March of Enthusiasts about “the land of heroes, dreamers, and scientists” sung by Lyubov Orlova in the film Bright Way. In Minsk, Alexander Filippenko who calls himself “a translator from the author’s language into the viewer’s language” will create the atmosphere of the Sixtiers’ era – a complicated and controversial period full of hopes and disappointments. Alexander Filippenko will read out the lines from works of Russian authors of the 20th century: Burn by Vasily Aksyonov, Pushkin Hills, The Zone, The Suitcase by Sergei Dovlatov, poems by Joseph Brodsky, Yuri Levitansky, Vladimir Vysotsky, and Bulat Okudzhava.

When: 17 February
Where: Minsk Concert Hall, Minsk

Music from Forgotten Films. Minsk-Classic Band

The chamber band Minsk-Classic under the baton of Maksim Rassokha, the winner of numerous international contests, scholarship holder of the Belarus President’s fund for the support of talented youth, will present an evening of the music from the films of 1960-70s produced at legendary Belarusfilm. The list of films includes Last Year’s Quadrille, King Stakh's Wild Hunt, After the Fair, Three Cheerful Scenes, The Last Summer of Childhood, Sasha-Sashenka, The Trojan Horse, etc. The concert will feature the pieces of music that have already become the national legacy written by renowned composer of the 20th century, People’s Artist of the USSR Yevgeny Glebov. He was famous for creating wonderful images, the scenes of love and grief, unveiling the philosophical ideas of characters.

When: 18 February
Where: Upper Town Concert Hall, Minsk

4th Forum of Experimental Plastic Theaters PlaStforma Minsk 2016

PlaStforma, the one and only Belarusian forum of experimental plastic theaters, was first held in 2013. The event becomes more and more popular outside Belarus and expands the geographic diversity of its participants. Last year the forum welcomed performers, stage directors, dancers and choreographers from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and Denmark. The audience will see modern choreography and wordless productions performed by the best Belarusian and foreign dance companies in the genres of plastic, dance, mimic, object, and visual theater. The program of the festival will also feature lectures, discussions, meetings with artists, and workshops by famous choreographers, dancers and theater critics.

When: 18 – 19 February
Where: National Center for Contemporary Arts, Palace of Culture of Railway Workers, Minsk
More

Denis Matsuev’s concert of classic and jazz music in Minsk

People’s Artist of Russia Denis Matsuev is a virtuoso pianist and a true phenomenon in the world of modern classic music: he is a solo performer, who plays piano on the world’s top stages, a participant of international festivals, a partner of the leading symphony orchestras, a public figure, the president of the charity foundation New Names, the creator and supervisor of festivals for talented young people. By the way, one of the festivals took place in Minsk in 2015. As part of the new program featuring classic and jazz music the critically acclaimed pianist will perform works by Piotr Tchaikovsky and George Gershwin in Minsk. He will be accompanied by the State Academic Symphonic Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus conducted by Yuri Tkachenko.

When: 19 February
Where: Palace of the Republic, Minsk

Europa Plus TV. HOT & TOP concert

The large-scale show by one of the leading music channels for young people — Europa Plus TV – will feature popular Belarusian and foreign performers, who topped the charts of Belarusian TV and radio stations in 2016. Minsk Arena will be the place where modern DJs and pop stars will present their smashing hits. Among them will be Polina Gagarina, Alina Artts, Yulianna Karaulova, MBAND, MOT, PIZZA, Eric Saade, Alekseev, Carla’s Dreams, Burak Yeter, The Parakit, Artik and Asti, Monatik, and Willy William… The list goes on and on. The organizers intend to add new names and fresh songs as well as an abundance of pleasant surprises and gifts in the near future…

When: 20 February
Where: Minsk Arena, Minsk