Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: March 2016

Michelangelo. The Creation multimedia exhibition 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

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

Fragrances of Life interactive expo

The new exhibition "Fragrances of Life" in the House of Paintings art gallery invites you to make a journey into the world of perfumery which is thousands of years old. Visitors will see a collection of the best perfumes created over the past 250 years, including 10 fragrances recreated according to the old recipes that were popular with representatives of the Romanov Imperial Family. In addition, the exhibition presents the fragrances created for famous personalities of our time: Vladimir Putin, Mireille Mathieu, Iosif Kobzon, Valery Meladze, Philipp Kirkorov ... The legendary fragrance "Belaya Rus No.5" deserves a special attention. It has been developed by Belarus-born American perfumer Sophia Grojsman who is called the Picasso of Perfumery. She is the author of about 40 best-sellers for the famous brands Kenzo, Lancome, Calvin Klein, Yves Saint Laurent, Estee Lauder.

When: 24 December – 14 March
Where: House of Paintings art gallery, Minsk

The Academy of Clowns at Belarusian State Circus

The Belarusian State Circus invites to see a new entertaining show The Academy of Clowns featuring students-artists and amazing animals: horses, bears, parrots, ferrets, Chaplin the Dog, an elephant-hairdresser… The show is led by rector of this unusual university, Clown Bo, Honored Artist of Russia Boris Oskotsky, an outstanding artist of the Nikulin Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. Russia’s Honored Artist Andrei Averyushkin and his Jolly Ferrets will be one of the main draws of the show. These tiny animals that are almost untamable do incredible things on the stage: rolling back a carpet with the help of their noses, doing exercises on parallel bars, getting on their back feet and even performing a solo.

When: 30 January – 1 May
Where: Belarusian State Circus, Minsk

Leon Bakst’s Time and Art expo in Minsk

Outstanding artist-stage designer, book illustrator, master of easel painting and theater graphics, designer of the Silver Age, a native of Grodno, Leon Bakst won worldwide recognition thanks to his works for legendary Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in Paris. The art project will be running in Minsk from 10 February till 17 April. Dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Leon Bakst’s birth, the exhibition will feature more than 40 works of different genres, from paintings to costume and set designs. One of the most famous exhibits will be the painting “Bathers on the Lido, Venice” bought from an English collector. For the first time visitors will enjoy a large exposition of more than 200 works by Leon Bakst's contemporaries: representatives of the World of Art association: Dobuzhinsky, Vrubel, Zhukovsky, Kustodiev, Levitan, Voloshin, Petrov-Vodkin.

When: 10 February-17 April
Where: National Art Museum, Minsk
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Michelangelo. The Creation multimedia exhibition in Minsk

The multimedia project dedicated to one of the greatest masters of the Italian Renaissance Michelangelo Buonarroti invites you to a virtual tour of the famous Sistine Chapel in the Vatican which tells the biblical story of creation in nine scenes from the Old Testament and has more than 300 figures. The major part of the exhibition is dedicated to the greatest artist of the High Renaissance Michelangelo Buonarroti who was named Il Divino (the divine one) in his lifetime and whose influence on the art is still felt these days.  The visitors to the exhibition will also get familiar with the works of other Renaissance giants such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Giotto, Botticelli, Tiziano and see Michelangelo’s famous sculptures in a 3D format – Pieta, Slaves, David, Moses.

When: 18 February – 17 April
Where: TSEKH Gallery, Minsk
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TheaterHD: World’s Best Premieres

The international project TheaterHD, uniting more than 35 cities of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and now Belarus, will give an opportunity to art lovers to see opera, drama and ballet performances of the world's largest theaters on the big screen in real-time. Spectators will see the best performances from the Metropolitan Opera (New York), Royal National Theatre (London); Globe Shakespeare Theatre (London), the Royal Shakespeare Company (Stratford upon Avon) and Bolshoi (Moscow). One of the most anticipated will be the broadcast of Spartacus created in 1968 thanks to the creative union of composer Aram Khachaturian, choreographer Yuri Grigorovich, and artist Simon Virsaladze. The main parts in the legendary ballet are performed by outstanding dancers of the 20th century: Maris Liepa, Vladimir Vasilev, Nina Timofeyeva and Ekaterina Maximova.

When: 1-29 March
Where: Tsentralny cinema house, Minsk

Dmitry Koldun and His Songs for the Loved Ones in Minsk

Traditionally in the first spring days one of the most romantic singers Dmitry Koldun will present his new concert program Songs for the Loved Ones in Minsk to mark International Women’s Day. The winner of the Russian TV show Star Factory 6 and Belarusian entry of the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest continues to top music charts in Belarus and the CIS countries. The singer released his new album Mannequin in November 2015. The album comprised 11 songs, including the hit Why that won the singer his fourth Golden Gramophone Award. Dmitry Koldun’s tour around Belarus will include his all-liked hits such as Give Me the Strength, Tsarevna, Ships, Clouds-Tramps, Why and also new songs Snowstorms and I Will Love You.

When, where:
1 March – Vitebsk Concert Hall, Vitebsk
2 March – Cultural Center MAZ, Minsk
30 March - Molodecho, City Cultural Center

YUNDI LI in Minsk

Chinese pianist Yundi Li earned worldwide recognition by winning the 14th International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw at the age of 18. He became the youngest winner of the prestigious contest. In 2008 one of the best performers of Chopin works, according to critics, known for his "flawless and boundless energy", became the first Chinese pianist to release his studio album of Prokofiev and Ravel piano recitals with the Berlin Philharmonic Hall and conductor Seiji Ozawa. Following his victory at the competition the pianist has made a number of recordings which included the compositions of Chopin, Liszt, Scarlatti, Mozart and Schumann. The famous pianist also toured Europe, Asia and America performing alongside with the orchestras of London, Berlin, Vienna, Zurich, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Toronto…

When: 3 March
Where: Belarusian State Philharmonic Hall, Minsk

Lyubov Kazarnovskaya in Minsk

World opera star, People’s Artist of Russia Lyubov Kazarnovskaya often referred to as “the hottest soprano of Russia” has performed more than 50 arias in opera houses around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, La Scala, and the Vienna State Opera. The opera diva has also gained popularity as a member of the jury in the Russian TV shows Odin v Odin! and Toch-v-Toch. Lyubov Kazarnovskaya will come to Minsk to present her new concert program Gods and Goddesses of Stage with famous opera songs that became well-known thanks to their unique interpretation by legendary performers, from Feodor Chaliapin to Charles Aznavour, and from Maria Callas to Liza Minnelli.  

When: 5 March
Where: Minsk Concert Hall, Minsk

Hurts in Minsk

British pop duo Hurts became famous in 2009 after they recorded an amateur music video for a song “Wonderful Life” that has had millions of views on YouTube. They play the 1980s-inspired electro-pop music, although the musicians themselves call their style “Noir'n'b and doom pop”. The Manchester-based duo consists of Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson. Their first two albums, Happiness and Exile, both reached the top ten in Europe. Elton John took part in recording a track of the duo. Kylie Minogue also recorded a verse and backing vocals for one of their songs. Hurts will perform in Minsk as part of their world tour to present the third album Surrender released in October 2015 that features such singles as “Some Kind of Heaven” and “Lights”.

When: 12 March
Where: Palace of Sports, Minsk

Zemfira in Minsk

Popular singer, musician, and composer, one of the most famous female rock stars in Russia Zemfira arrives in Minsk as part of her tour Little Man throughout Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Her previous concert To Live in Your Head held in the biggest concert hall of Belarus in Autumn 2013 was a full house and had a special atmosphere. The singer has recently announced her decision to stop tours. However, she said that she might continue producing new tracks and partaking in concerts. The ‘Russian rock queen’ will sing her best songs and new tracks from the album Little Man in Minsk.

When: 15 March
Where: Minsk Arena

11th International Youth Theater Forum M@rt.contact

This year the international theater forum will keep reasonable balance between classics and experiment. Within a week the residents and guests of Mogilev will see 20 productions in various genres, including musical, mono-performance, and even modern ballet. The most anticipated productions are Master and Margarita of the Malabar Hotel Theater (Warsaw) and Dreams of Love, or The Marriage of Balzaminov of the St. Petersburg theater Masterskaya. As part of the forum the Mogilev Oblast Drama Theater will feature the premiere In the Small Estate based on Ignacy Witkiewicz’ play. The forum will also include a press conference and a meeting with famous critics, an exhibition of young Russian scene designers and the Workshop of Young Directors.

When: 21-27 March
Where: Mogilev Puppet Theater, Mogilev Oblast Drama Theater, Mogilev Concert Hall

Boris Eifman's Red Giselle ballet in Minsk

The famous Russian and Soviet choreographer, a ballet master, People’s Artist of Russia Boris Eifman explores the inner world of the human being by creating a psychological theater in ballet through the language of choreography. In Belarus the Boris Eifman Academic Theater of Saint Petersburg will present Red Giselle which is dedicated to the tragic fate of Olga Spesivtseva, one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century. She was an internationally recognized star but after a series of personal dramas and shocks she was totally forgotten and spent 20 years in a New York asylum for mental patients. The ballet was staged by Boris Eifman 18 years ago using music by Chaikovsky, Schnittke, and Bizet. The performance was a long-lasting success on top stages in America, Europe, and Asia. The new revision of one of the most momentous performances reflects the tragic fate of many talented artists, boasts improved choreography and scenography: the magnificent decorations and costumes have been made by the well-known theater artist Vyacheslav Okunev.

When: 25 March
Where: Palace of the Republic, Minsk

Eros Ramazzotti in Minsk

A world star, a king of romantic ballads, the Italian singer and composer Eros Ramazzotti has been an idol of millions for decades as well as one of the most popular pop singers in English and Spanish-speaking countries. In more than 30 years of his career he has created 13 albums and has sold over 100 million discs. He has also sung in duets together with Cher, Luciano Pavarotti, Tina Turner, Adriano Celentano, Joe Cocker, Andrea Bocelli… As part of the world tour in support of the new album Perfetto 2016 one of the most romantic Italian pop singers will stage a faery show in Minsk. Fans will enjoy live sound, fresh tracks in original adaptations, light and laser effects, impressive choreography, and, of course, the mellow voice of Eros Ramazzotti.

When: 26 March
Where: Minsk Arena