This year, 'Russian Seasons' celebrate New Year and Christmas with a series of unique webcasts that can bring a festive mood to every home. The eventful New Year's program includes a jazz concert by Igor Butman, the musical play 'The Little Prince' by Yuri Bashmet and Konstantin Khabensky, as well as the illustrious romantic operetta by Imre Kalman 'Silva'. The holiday week will be concluded with a live broadcast from the Christmas mass in Moscow.
For the first time, the audiences of 'Russian Seasons' will be able to watch one of the most incredible concerts of the Russian Culture Fund. On New Year's Eve, on Wednesday, December 30 , a jazz concert of the Quintet of the People's Artist of Russia, saxophonist Igor Butman will be held on the 'Russian Seasons' online platform. The concert is a gift to all lovers of jazz music from the Russian Culture Fund. For more than 20 years, the maestro's band has been the most celebrated representative of Russian jazz on the world stage. During the period of its existence, the Quintet has conquered plenty of countries, it was warmly welcomed in Germany, France, Italy, USA, Canada, Israel, India and many other lands. The Quintet includes the best musicians of Russia, including the winners of the most prestigious contests in the world and participants in famous jazz festivals.
The festive program will feature the pieces of jazz music penned by Igor Butman, Yevgeny Pobozhiy, as well as known jazz standards. Along with the Igor Butman's band, Fantine will appear on the stage this night - an unparalleled singer fluent in Russian, Spanish, English and French. She is well known and loved in Australia, the USA and Russia, the countries of Europe and Asia. Fantine has worked with global music industry giants such as Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Erykah Badu, ARIA award-winning producer Lee Groves, Wyclef Gene (The Fugees) and many others.
'Dear friends! We are glad to present you a New Year's concert from the Russian Culture Fund in the mansion on Gogolevsky Boulevard, the spirit of which is imbued with the traditions of upholding and augmenting Russian culture. Our musical ensemble and the Russian Culture Fund wish you a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas! I wish you all the best and the finest, successful projects, new accomplishments! And most importantly, health and high spirits! Happy New Year! Please come!» said the People's Artist of Russia Igor Butman .
On New Year's Eve, on Thursday, December 31, 'Stay Home with Russian Seasons' will present the audience with the play 'Don't Leave Your Planet' (12+). Konstantin Khabensky, Yuri Bashmet and the 'Moscow Soloists' Chamber Orchestra. The musical play has already won hundreds of hearts. This is not an adaptation or translation into the language of the stage of the story about a little boy with golden hair, known to everyone since childhood, but a virtual and musical free fantasy of its creators that makes everyone think about the meaning of life. The play 'Don't Leave Your Planet' combined in itself a talented dramatic acting, and virtuoso performance of classical musicians, a unique stage design, elements of kinetic and video art. Stage director - Viktor Kramer. Composer - Kuzma Bodrov. The production features both Bodrov's own pieces of music and fragments of compositions by Johannes Brahms and Gustav Mahler. All roles are played by People's Artist of Russia Konstantin Khabensky. Along with him, the 'Moscow Soloists' Chamber Orchestra conducted by Yuri Bashmet performs on the stage of the Sovremennik Theatre. The webcast is also translated into French.
Alexey Lebedev , Director of 'Russian Seasons', congratulated the audiences of 'Stay Home with Russian Seasons' on the upcoming holidays: 'Dear friends! On behalf of the international cultural project 'Russian Seasons' and on a personal note, I wish you a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas! The role of art in society can hardly be overestimated. This form of culture has long been the force that brought peoples together, rallied around common goals, ideas or experiences. Music, painting, poetry supported people, helped them find a common language in cases when other ways of communication were inaccessible. Thank you, dear participants and partners of 'Russian Seasons', for your support and genuine interest, for your help and assistance in the development of new online projects, as well as for your contribution to strengthening international cultural cooperation! I also extend my thanks to our dedicated online viewers. I wish you love, fortitude, a good, safe and healthy 2021. Take care of yourself, your loved ones and Stay Home with 'Russian Seasons'!'
The first week of the new year 'Russian Seasons' will open with the famous Imre Kalman's operetta 'Silva' staged by the Saint Petersburg Opera and will broadcast the Christmas mass from the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God, Joy of All Who Sorrow.
On Tuesday, January 5 , all fans of the opera will receive the first gift from 'Stay Home with Russian Seasons' in the new year - the broadcast of the operetta 'Silva' staged by the Artistic Director of the St. Petersburg Opera, People's Artist of Russia Yuri Alexandrov. The famous work by the Hungarian composer Imre Kalman that unfolds the story of love between an aristocrat and a variety show artist conquered the whole world.
'Silva' is an operetta about such components of love as fidelity, devotion, and care. Alexander Goikhman took over the conductor's podium, and the People's Artist of Russia Vyacheslav Okunev was in charge of the luxurious costumes and light effects. 'Silva' premiered in Russia 100 years ago, but today Kalman's operetta is still very topical and full of charm. The popular tunes of 'Silva' will conquer new generations of spectators.
On the night from Wednesday to Thursday, January 6, 'Russian Seasons' will show a live broadcast of the Christmas mass from the Moscow Church of the Icon of the Mother of God 'Joy of All Who Sorrow' which is located at 20 Bolshaya Ordynka Street. The service will be carried out by the rector of the church, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk. The festive Christmas carols will be performed by the Moscow Synodal Choir under the baton of the Honored Artist of Russia Alexei Puzakov.
In April this year, an Easter webcast was presented in the Stay Home with Russian Seasons format that received more than 90,000 views. At that time, Metropolitan Hilarion addressed those who, observing all the restrictions of the lockdown, watched the broadcast at home instead of going to church. He stressed that a person feels the presence of God even apart from the temple, and in difficult times everyone needs to remember about spiritual unity and care for each other.