Previews

Traveling Russian Painters

State Tretyakov Gallery 10, Lavrushinsky Pereulok Until January 10:00-18:00 Open daily except Mondays

It was during the Age of Enlightenment that interest in scientific research and travelling appeared in Russia. From the end of the 18th century up to the 1840s, every diplomatic or scientific expedition had a painter on board, whose major responsibility was to “record views” in pen, pencil or ink. The painters were provided by the Academy of Fine Arts to complete the “noble illustrating mission”. The current exhibition at the Tretyakov Gallery presents those illustrations as one theme; that of discovery. Drawings, sketches of numerous Russian artists from the Gallery’s stock, make it possible to trace the way the outer world transformed, and how its boundaries grew through learning more about the motherland and foreign countries. Over three hundred works by different authors and in different techniques are on display. The exhibition features water-colors and drawings by Vereschagin, Repin, Shishkin, Roerich, Bryullov, Polenov, Benois and Surikov. A separate block presents drawings in ink by Maxim Vorobyov, who accompanied the State Counsellor Dmitry Dashkov during his diplomatic mission in Asia Minor in 1820-1821.

Art Déco Fashion With Russian Roots

“Art Deco. The Golden 1920s” is an exhibition curated by Alexander Vassiliev, one of the most authoritative ‘history of costume’ experts in Russia. The exhibition is dedicated to Russian Art Déco fashion. Though the 1920s in Russia have been attributed as being Soviet, a strong Russian influence remained in the fashion houses that worked abroad. Take the Ballets Russes for example and their impact on the European fashion of that epoch. Vassiliev collected numerous items of clothes, various accessories and shoes from his own collection and that of Nazim Mustafaev to visually narrate the fashion of the 1920s in drapes, fabrics and beads. The practical and dynamic style that is Art Déco, can be seen to have filtered down from the previous Art Nouveau style with its mysticism and Futurism. It is Paris that became the heart of Art Déco style. Paris was considered home for the last grand style in the European vogue, a symbol of financial wellbeing, prosperity and refinement. The current show has been exhibited in part in Paris, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Santiago, Sydney and Brisbane.

Jazzy Classics From Russia and US: Oleg Kireev and Chris Washburne

What a delight it should be for a jazz musician when his performance is favourably compared to American jazz of the 1920s. This is Oleg Kireev, a famous saxophonist from Moscow who performs “Jazz Standards” and sometimes his own compositions in a classical jazzy manner. Kireev is one of the best instrumentalists in Russia and laureate of many awards at festivals and contests. His musical education began in the same way as millions of other kids in Russia; at a music school, and the curriculum was devoted mainly to classical music. First he started creating his own piano improvisations, and his teachers realized that the young student’s talent were in jazz. Since then Kireev has tried several musical instruments and eventually fell for the saxophone, an instrument that has brought him major success. Chris Washburne, a classically trained jazz trombonist with a fine knowledge of Afro-Latin music, is an ideal companion for Kireev’s varied improvisations. At home Washburne fronts his weekly SYOTOS (See You On The Other Side) Latin jazz band in a club.

Pearls for Soprano

Pearls of the 20th century – this is the name of the musical program presented by the soprano Lyubov Kazarnovskaya who is accompanied by Hermitage – an ensemble of soloists directed by oboist Alexey Utkin. Kazarnovskaya became well-known in the West after singing opera in the Bolshoi Theater and the Kirov Ballet, when she was invited by Herbert von Karajan who named Kazarnovskaya the best soprano at the Salzburg Festival at the end of the 1980s. “A lady of character” as she is described by her colleagues, she has followed quite a career in La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, the Vienna Opera House, and Covent Garden. Critics say that she is the best Salome of our times. The part of Tatyana from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin is a kind of business card for Kazarnovskaya both at home and abroad. Now a professor of music, Kazarnovkaya still gives concerts, this time together with her companion Alexey Utkin, an extremely talented oboist from Vladimir Spivakov’s Virtuosi who fronts his Hermitage ensemble of soloists. On the stage of the Svetlanovsky Hall, which has some of the best acoustics in Moscow – they will together perform compositions by Sergey Rachmaninov, Dmitri Shostakovich, Benjamin Britten, Francis Poulenc and George Gershwin.