Press releases

Belarus Events Calendar: November 2017

Autumn in Belarus 

Heritage of Belarus. Celebrating the 950th Anniversary of Minsk

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

 

Japanese Autumn 2017 festival in Belarus

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

 

Alexandre Vassiliev’s Age of Fashion exhibition in Minsk

When: 15 September 2017 – 10 January 2018
Where: National History Museum of Belarus, Minsk
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Burning Stars show in Belarusian State Circus

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

 

Autumn Salon with Gazprombank in Minsk

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

 

Treasures of Ancient Egypt exhibition in the National Art Museum

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

International Organ Music Festival Sofia’s Bells

The 22nd edition of the international festival will gather in Polotsk the outstanding organists of Belarus, Russia Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. This season residents and guests of Polotsk will get the chance to enjoy the masterpieces of the world classics of the 18th-19th centuries and the compositions of contemporary composers in one of Europe’s best concert halls. The program of the forum, according to the organizers, will open new names and offer meetings with the best contemporary musicians. St Sophia Cathedral will host six concerts: by People’s Artist of Abkhazia Marina Shamba with the participation of Russian singer Tatyana Suchkova-Gavriivola, and also organists Albert Wisgerhof (Netherlands) and Jorgen Lindstrom (Sweden). The festival will be wrapped up with a concert of Polish musician Mateusz Rzewuski, who will perform together with the well-known Belarusian music capella Sonorus.

When: 29 October – 3 December
Where: St Sophia Cathedral, Polotsk
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Minsk International Film Festival Listapad

One of the biggest European film forums – the 24th edition of the Minsk International Film Festival Listapad – will unite producers, actors, critics, and cinema art amateurs under the motto Truth, Love and Beauty. The audience will see 164 films from 55 countries, including 13 films, which have been selected for the Oscar long list of contenders. By tradition, the main draw of the festival will be the Listapad competition program featuring 12 films. The international jury of the fiction film competition will be headed by Hungarian film producer Benedek Fliegauf, who won the Golden Listapad for his film Lily Lane last year. The festival will kick off with one of this year’s most expected premieres, Boris Khlebnikov’s Arrhythmia, which won the Grand Prix and the People’s Choice Award at the Russian film festival Kinotavr in Sochi. The program of the Minsk International Film Festival 2017 will be wrapped up with Danilo Beckovic’s The Samurai in Autumn.

When: 3 – 10 November
Where: Minsk cinema houses, Minsk
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Pyotr Dranga in Belarus

Famous accordionist Pyotr Dranga started his career with the participation in contests. In 1996, he was a prizewinner of the 6th Moscow Open Competition of Accordionists, and then won the international festival in Italy’s Castelfidardo. In 2008, the musician released his debut album 23, which comprised popular compositions, including the genres of Latin dances, tango, rock and even French chanson. Since 2009 the accordionist has been performing at the world’s best stages. He is currently one of the most popular artists following his bright performance at the Russian TV show Toch-v-Toch.

When, where:
4 November – Minsk Concert Hall, Minsk
5 November – Public and Cultural Center, Gomel

Great Gatsby ballet in Minsk

One of the most ambitious blockbusters in the history of dancing – the Great Gatsby ballet – is coming to Minsk again: Minsk residents and visitors will be able to see an exclusive show, which organically combines classic ballet, modern dancing, and cinematography. The ballet inspired by the novel by Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald has been staged by, according to The New York Times, the most popular choreograph of the modern world Dwight Rhoden, who has worked with such stars as Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Nina Simone, U2. Starring in the performance will be leading soloists of the Odessa and Kiev operas as well as artists of the American troupe Complexions Contemporary Ballet. The role of Jay Gatsby, a decadent and bootlegger, will be performed by the world ballet star, the leading actor of the Mariinsky Theater Denis Matviyenko. The special atmosphere of  “the roaring 1920s” will be recreated by the magnificent music of the famous Russian composer Konstantin Meladze.

When: 5 November
Where: Palace of the Republic, Minsk

Lyaisan Utyasheva in Minsk with the dancing show Bolero

A Russian and world gymnastics stars, multiple-time champion of the world and Europe in rhythmic gymnastics, a well-off business lady, a fashion model and a popular TV host Lyaisan Utyasheva proves that even after the sport career is over, one can stay on top by combining creative projects and the family. In 2016 she and her husband – the actor and showman Pavel Volya – launched the sport project Sila Voli (will power). The world tour of the theater and dancing show Bolero began in spring. It embodies grace, beauty, and daring. The unique performance in the vogue style harmonically combines a fashion demonstration and modern choreography. Thanks to original costumes and digital graphics the stage tells the story of a strong and overbearing woman. It also tells about the power of love, which can turn over the world and dismantle all the obstacles in one’s way…

When: 5 November
Where: Prime Hall, Minsk

Valery Meladze in Minsk

One of the most successful and lyrical singers in Russia, the voice with a broad range and rare tones, the Honored Artist of Russia Valery Meladze is about to celebrate 25 years of his creative career. The singer has scored a number of prestigious musical awards in the course of his life. His songs still continue topping the charts. In autumn 2015 the singer and his elder brother – a talented composer and a producer of popular singers and projects Konstantin Meladze – presented the joint show Polsta (Half a hundred) in Minsk. This autumn Valery Meladze is coming back to Minsk with the jubilee program: on the country’s largest stage fans will be able to see a vivid modern performance with colorful decorations and lights as well as favorite hits in a non-stop mode.

When: 6 November
Where: Minsk Arena

Reenactment of World War One events in the museum village Zabrodye

On the day when World War One ended, the famous museum village Zabrodye – a place in Belarus where the frontline once was during one of the largest conflicts in human history – will host an event dedicated to the World War One Heroes and Victims Remembrance Day (Armistice Day) and the 100th anniversary since the armistice was signed in Soly, Minsk Province (the village of Soly, Smorgon District, Grodno Oblast now). The event is traditionally held by the World War One charity and cultural and historical memory foundation Kroki and the Zabrodye museum with assistance of the Stalin’s Line historical and cultural complex, the Vileika local lore museum, and military history clubs from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. The reenactment will begin with a cavalry march of 12 horsemen dressed up as Russian Imperial Army cavalry along the former front line from the village of Starinki to the village of Zabrodye. After that visitors will be able to see a ceremony of remembrance in honor of fallen soldiers at the Boris and Gleb Chapel, the reenactment of a battle as part of the Vilnius operation of 1915, a concert program featuring World War One songs, themed photo sessions, and other interesting activities.

When: 12:00 on 11 November
Where: The museum village Zabrodye, Vileika District, Minsk Oblast

Hurts concert in Minsk

The British pop band Hurts came into the spotlight in 2009 after it released an amateur video for the single Wonderful Life which won the hearts and minds of millions across the globe. Since then, the band’s calling card has been an original mixture of various music genres, from synth-pop and new wave to disco and the 1980s electropop. The musicians, however, say they play "noir’n’b and doom pop". Happiness and Success, the first two albums of the Manchester duo (singer Theo Hutchcraft and synth player Adam Anderson), were a huge success and made it to the top 10 across Europe.  Now the band is back to Minsk to give a concert as part of their world tour in support of the fourth studio album called DESIRE which came out in September. The program will feature brand new tunes, including the much-talked-about Beautiful Ones, and such hits as Rolling Stone, Wish, Lights, Stay…

When: 12 November
Where: Sports Palace, Minsk

30th International Festival of Modern Choreography in Vitebsk (IFMC 2017)

The international choreography forum in Vitebsk is set to offer a large-scale program to mark its 30th anniversary. The program will feature the leading artists and dance companies from throughout the world. This year, for the first time in the festival’s history, a domestic choreographer or dancer will be awarded a special prize for remarkable contribution to modern choreography and dedication to art. The IFMC 2017 will kick off with a screening of the movie After You’re Gone to be introduced by the director Anna Matison, People’s Artist of Russia Sergei Bezrukov, and the Ukrainian choreographer Radu Poklitaru. Another draw of the festival will be a performance by the Spanish National Dance Company, the winner of the Prix Benois de la Danse. The audience will see the best performances in the IMFC history along with the Museum-Archive exhibition, Anna Moyseyuk’s photography project IFMC on Mark Chagall street (Belarus), and Alexander Salivonchik’s art project (Belarus-Germany).

When: 15-19 November
Where: Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theater, Vitebsk Concert Hall, Vitebsk
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Russian Drama Theater of Lithuania in Minsk

The Russian Drama Theater of Lithuania will return to Minsk with its best productions. By the way, the only state-run Russian-language theater in the neighboring country regularly takes part in the biggest festivals in Minsk, Brest, Grodno, Mogilev. Over a few years Belarusian theater goers watched a production based on Pavel Sanaev's Bury Me Behind the Baseboard, Ivan Vyrypayev’s psychological drama Dreamworks, the production for children The Cat’s House. There will be a true theater weekend in November 2017 featuring the French comedy of Francis Veber Dinner of Fools, the production for children and their parents The Tale of Tsar Saltan based on Alexander Pushkin’s fairy-tale in verse. The program of the tour will be crowned by Agnius Jankevicius’ Gronholm Method based on based on Jordi Galceran’s play under the same name.

When: 25-26 November
Where: Belarusian State Academic Music Theater, Minsk
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Andris Liepa’s Diaghilev Gala

Great ballet dancer, director and producer, People’s Artist of Russia Andris Liepa will present three one-act ballets Firebird, Scheherazade, and The Spirit of the Rose from the legendary collection of Sergei Diaghilev’s Russian Seasons on the main opera and ballet stage in Belarus. Michel Fokine’s ballet Firebird (music by Igor Stravinsky) premiered in Minsk in 2014. The Diaghilev Gala will feature three legendary productions with unique stage decorations and beautiful costumes restored by artist Anatoly Nezhny from the sketches of renowned stage designer of the Silver Age with Belarusian roots Leon Bakst.

Among the guests of the Diaghilev Gala will be People’s Artist of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic and Russia Nina Ananiashvili, dancer of the Russian Bolshoi Theater Jacopo Tissi, dancer of the Mariinsky Theater Alisa Sodoleva.

When: 26 November
Where: Bolshoi Theater of Belarus, Minsk

Leonid Yacobson Ballet Theater in Minsk

The Saint Petersburg Academic Ballet Theater, a legendary dance company and a winner of the Golden Mask and Golden Soffit awards, was founded by outstanding choreographer of the 20th century Leonid Yacobson. As a follower of famous choreographer and reformer Michel Fokine, Leonid Yacobson has made a big contribution to the genre and style diversity in ballet. Today the dance company shows classical and original ballet miniatures all over the world in the best traditions of Russian ballet. In the run-up to the winter season the dance company will bring Sleeping Beauty and Giselle, very romantic and beautiful productions from their repertoire which have been included in the golden collection of world classics, to Minsk.

Sleeping Beauty: 30 November, Palace of the Republic, Minsk

Giselle: 1 December, Palace of the Republic, Minsk