Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: November 2013

 

International Festival of Modern Choreography in Vitebsk

Slutsk Belts exhibition

Slutsk belts are a Belarusian relic famous all over the world. These belts were created in the 18th-19th centuries at manufactories, the most famous of which was the one located in Slutsk and belonging to the Radziwill family. The belts were made to an intricate technology using silk, gold and silver threads. Back then they were part of a men’s costume being the evidence of power and wealth of their owner. Four belts will be exhibited, all dating to the late 18th to early 19th century and loaned by the Lviv History Museum. Other exhibits worth seeing are portraits of the Belarusian gentry dated by the 18th-19th centuries.

When: 8 May 2013 – 18 April 2014
Where: Minsk, National History Museum
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Australian circus show "Magic Ice" in Minsk

For several months the Belarusian State Circus will host the Australian grand show "Magic Ice". The audience will see the international team of professionals: repeated world figure skating champions from New Zealand, Australia and Canada. The program also includes the most spectacular circus performances: Domina Magic (Italy), a Chinese circus show, contortion (Canada), taming parrots (Russia), and an aerial acrobatics show (Belarus).

Where: Belarusian State Circus, Minsk
When: 7 September  2013 – 12 January 2014

Orthodox World. The Image of Christ in the Iconography of Eastern Europe expo

An international expo celebrates the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia and continues the 2008 anniversary exhibition "Orthodox Icon of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus", which has been a great success in Moscow, Kiev and Minsk. The exposition features over 100 unique icons of the 15th-early 19th centuries from the funds of the leading museums of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and Serbia. Visitors will see masterpieces of Slavic Orthodox iconography which portraits the main events from Christ’s life in various iconographic variants…

When: 17 September – 5 December
Where: Minsk, National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus

39th Belarusian Music Autumn festival

The festival will open with a symphony concert. The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Belarus conducted by People's Artist of Belarus Alexander Anisimov will perform the classics and the new works of Belarusian composers. A Concerto for Clavier and Orchestra by Viktor Kopytko will get its maiden performance. Another premiere will be a performance of Symphony No. 5 by Vyacheslav Kuznetsov.  All in all, the program of the festival features 23 concerts. The audience will hear the concerts in tribute to the 25th anniversary of the Belarusian State Chamber Choir and Ensemble of Soloists led by Igor Ivanov, performances by world famous pianists from Belarus and the Lithuanian ensemble Subtilu-Z…

When: 15 October - 3 November
Where: Belarusian State Philharmonic, Minsk
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Hungarian Rhapsody. Artists of Szolnok exhibition

Minsk and oblast capitals of Belarus will see the works of Hungarian artists from the collection of the Janos Damjanich Museum in Szolnok for the first time. Over 30 works of 24 artists tell about the most interesting development periods of the group of artists of Szolnok, which has been an important center of landscape and genre painting in central Hungary for more than 50 years. The most valuable works include masterpieces of Laszlo Mednyanszky, Ferenc Olgyay, Peter Szule, Vilmos Aba-Novak, Istvan Zador.

When: 23 October – 18 November
Where: Minsk, National Art Museum of Belarus
Oblast capitals: November 2013 – June 2014
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20th Minsk International Film Festival Listapad

Belarus’ biggest cinematography forum, Listapad Film Festival, will gather cinematographers from 36 countries. The festival’s anniversary will coincide with the 85th anniversary of the Belarusfilm Studio and the 40th anniversary of the Belarusian animation. Belarusian actresses will walk the red carpet wearing Haute Couture gowns by designer Denis Durand. The forum will be opened by the biographical drama Parajanov by Serge Avedikian and Olena Fetisova. The film has been nominated for Oscar 2014. The jury of the feature film competition program will be led by Russian film director, producer of Moskva and Mishen films Alexander Zeldovich. Apart from the competition program, the festival will include out-of-competition and retrospective screenings, meetings, master classes, exhibitions and vernissages…

When: 1 – 8 November
Where: Palace of the Republic, cinema houses of Minsk

18th International Festival of Organ Music St. Sophia’s Bells

Belarus’ only festival of organ music will bring together world-renowned musicians and their fans in St. Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk. Alongside the magnificent organ the audience will hear a saxophone, a recorder, the clarinet dating back to 1800, a torch (a wooden wind instrument of the Middle Ages and the Baroque, the forerunner of the clarinet) and a chamber orchestra. This year’s line-up includes the artists already familiar to the Polotsk audience such as Christoph Hauser (Germany) and Hans Christian Hein (Denmark), and also new names: Marek Stefanski, Valeria Balakhovskaya, Elisabeth Zawadke, Florian Hock, Regina Kamenshchikova. Ksenia Pogorelaya’s concert will be dedicated to the 25th anniversary of her creative career in the Concert Hall of St. Sophia Cathedral.

When: 3 November – 8 December
Where: St. Sophia Cathedral, Polotsk
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Music Soirees in Bolshoi

The National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus will present a grand chamber music project starring its best performers. The programs will be mixed and will feature opera pieces, romances, folk songs and music performed by laureates of international contests.
5 November – concert timed to the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer A. Bogatyrev
15 November – themed concert “Songs of the 1930-1940s”
21 November – concert “By the rules of music”

Where: Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus, Alexandrovskaya Chamber Music Hall, Minsk

Minsk Oblast Welcomes Jazz

The big band of the National Concert Orchestra led by Professor Mikhail Finberg will present a fabulous classic jazz program. The audience will hear music pieces written by 21 composers, including the great jazzmen like Duke Ellington and Buddy Rich.

When: 6 November
Where: village of Chist, Molodechno District, Minsk Oblast
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International exhibition of thoroughbred horses Autumn 2013

The exhibition will bring together horse breeders, the leading companies of the equestrian industry from around the world, horse owners, professional and amateur sportsmen. The visitors will see a breathtaking show of thoroughbred horses, a trail, a costumed procession, an haute ecole, and trick riding, a show of Arab horses, performances of re-enactment clubs, and a unique exhibition of equipages…

When: 7-10 November
Where: Sports complex Dinamo, Minsk

Ennio Morricone in Minsk

The winner of Oscar, the Golden Globe Award and Grammy will perform his best music pieces in Belarus. The famous Italian composer, orchestrator and conductor has written more than 400 soundtracks and worked with Quentin Tarantino, Mike Nichols, Oliver Stone, Roman Polanski, John Carpenter, and Pedro Almodovar. He became truly famous after the release of Georges Lautner’s Le Professionnel featuring the score Chi Mai…

When: 8 November
Where:  Minsk Arena, Minsk

Deep Purple in Minsk

“Fathers” of Hard-Rock, iconic rock band Deep Purple celebrate their 45th anniversary this year and will visit Minsk as part of their grand world tour. The Belarusian fans will have an opportunity to hear songs from the new album "Now What?!" According to Ian Gillan, this is the first album recorded over the “seven years of happy tours” and “it does not follow any music rules”. Deep Purple promise powerful energy, new songs, and unchangeable original sound to their fans who will gather at the largest concert venue of Belarus.

When: 10 November
Where: Minsk Arena, Minsk

Glenn Miller Orchestra Europe in Minsk

One of the world’s best swing orchestras unites professional multi-instrumentalists from the whole Western Europe. The calling card of the orchestra – Moonlight Serenade – became a classic of the 20th century. As part of its European tour the famous orchestra directed by Wil Salden will present its new program “Music in the Miller Mood” to the Belarusian audience. The concert will feature compositions by the brilliant maestro and from the repertoire of world-famous stars – Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Ella Fitzgerald.

When: 12 November
Where: Palace of the Republic, Minsk

Second international festival AlfaJAZZinMINSK-2013

For a few days Minsk will turn into the world's capital of jazz. The grandiose project will bring together award-winning Belarusian and foreign performers and musicians. The line-up includes the Harlem jazz legend, the owner of the Bill’s Place Jazz-Club Bill Saxton, Best Jazz Pianist (2010-2013) Aruan Ortiz, the sax legend, soloist of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, two-time Grammy Award winner Mark Gross, and Best of Music award winning artist Kelvin Sholar Trio. Headlining the concert will be TAKE 6, the most award-winning gospel and jazz band from the USA that won 10 Grammy awards and 18 Grammy nominations.

When: 13-17 November
Where: Big Hall of the Palace of the Republic, the Trade Unions Palace, Minsk

Modern Ballet Night in Minsk

Connoisseurs of ballet art will be granted a unique opportunity to see the most prominent works of our time in one evening: one-act ballets Cage for Parrots and Cerberuses. For the first time Belarus’ prime stage will host winners of the prestigious theater award Golden Mask: the Perm-based Yevgeny Panfilov’s Ballet and Fresco Dance Company. Visitors will be able to appreciate the stunning staging of the performances. Thus, the choreographic phantasy Cage for Parrots has implemented the genius of the famous Russian ballet master Yevgeny Panfilov…

When: 17 November
Where: Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, Minsk

Zemfira in Minsk

The famous singer, musician and composer, the embodiment of “women’s rock and roll” Zemfira will present the new album To Live in Your Head in Minsk. It is the first album in six years and the most mysterious one judging by the prehistory of the singer’s art. Music critics have different opinions about the album. According to Zemfira, she was inspired to create this dramatic and very sincere album by her captivation of rhythms. On the Belarusian stage the singer will perform new songs and old hits.

When: 18 November
Where: Minsk Arena, Minsk

Global Entrepreneurship Week in Belarus

As part of the global business initiative the Global Entrepreneurship Week in Belarus will gather over 3,000 participants from 30 countries. Those are experts, major investors, venture funds, top managers, startups, the university community, and talented youth. The business week in Belarus will feature over 70 events in Minsk and oblast capitals: a startup show BEL.BIZ.BATTLE, an international children’s drawing contest “I am a Future Businessman”, presentations, training sessions, master classes, and roundtable sessions. The 3rd International Entrepreneurship Forum that will take place in Minsk on 19-21 November will be the central event of the large-scale project.

When: 18-24 November
Where: Business club IMAGURU, Minsk

26th International Festival of Modern Choreography

Taking part in the 2013 edition of the International Festival of Modern Choreography (IFMC) in Vitebsk, the native city of Marc Chagall, will be choreographic groups from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania and other countries. The Grand Prix of this international contest will be awarded for the most outstanding dance presented for the first time. The Moscow Theater-Studio of Modern Choreography, a guest of honor at the festival, will present its unique performance Eaters by choreographer Yekaterina Kislova which scooped the theatrical award Golden Mask for the best modern dance performance. The performance is devoted to prominent post-impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh.

When: 20-24 November
Where: Vitebsk Concert Hall, Vitebsk

Emma Shapplin in Minsk

One of the world-class performers of the classic crossover, France’s Emma Shapplin has an amazingly beautiful voice. She can combine the 19th-century Italian opera and modern music. Her albums are a unique mixture of opera, soft rock and modern electronic, pop and rock music. Emma Shapplin has already released three solo records and worked with Sting, Peter Gabriel, Jose Carreras and Jose Placido Domingo. During her tour in Minsk Emma Shapplin will perform songs from the 2009 album Macadam Flower.

When: 21 November
Where: Palace of the Republic, Minsk

Lara Fabian in Minsk

Lara Fabian, who boasts a magnificent voice, is one of the most successful singers of modern times. During her long career she has performed on five continents and currently tops the list of best-selling singers with 12 million records. Lara Fabian, famous for her legendary single Adagio, will visit Minsk for the first time to perform songs from the new album Le Secret issued in early 2013.

When: 29 November
Where: Sports Palace, Minsk

Vaya Con Dios in Minsk

The famous blues and rock group Vaya Con Dios became popular after releasing their single Just a Friend of Mine. Up to the present time they have adhered to their unique style. Their songs are a mixture of different music genres such as blues and jazz along with Latin American and gypsy motifs. During their farewell world tour the group would like to express gratitude to their fans and will perform their most popular songs such as Nah Neh Nah, What’s a Woman?, Don’t Cry for Louie, Puerto Rico, Heading for a Fall and Johnny.

When: 30 November
Where: Palace of the Republic, Minsk