Russian Minister of Culture, Alexander Avdeev, announced that he is going to leave his office this March after presidential elections and take up another job – he didn’t specify what job did he have in mind. In mid-January Mr Avdeev summed up Russia’s achievements in the field of culture in 2011 and told the journalists about the events planned for 2012.
On December, 26 the government made a decision about 25 awards in the sphere of culture that will be awarded in the beginning of 2012. 15 of these awards are general awards for arts and culture, 5 awards are given to children and young people and 5 awards specifically for the achievements in literature and poetry. They were introduced last year after the meeting of Vladimir Putin with writers and on their request. The Minister mentioned that in his opinion the laureates of previous years were not sufficiently advertised by the Ministry, so now he would correct this mistake.
For example, Ivan Lubennikov, Professor of Surikov Institute, is one of the main monumental artists of Russia. Another laureate, Shavkat Abdusalamov, is not only an artist, but also an artist in the theatres and cinema. Together with Elem Klimov he made the film “Agonia”, he made “Stalker” together with Tarkovsky, “Triptych” and “Body-guard” together with Khamrayev. Shavkat Abdusalamov also made decorations for the famous performance “Ascent of Fujiyama” in the theatre “Sovremennik”. As a writer he wrote a very interesting book “Unicorn” and illustrated it himself. It was nominated for a Booker prize but, unfortunately, did not get it. His painting combines elements of cinema, animation and painting including influence of both Islamic and Christian culture. His pictures are in the best museums of the world, including our Tretyakov gallery.
The award was also given to the State Cossack Ensemble. Mr Avdeev stressed that even though this is a relatively new group it is brilliant with exceptional level of dancing and singing.
The award was also given to Galina Vishnevskaya for the creation of the unique opera center that teaches the young performers. Her graduates now - and her studio has several graduations already - work in the best theaters of Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Iosif Kobzon also received the governmental award for the concert program "Letters from the front line". It is not just a collection of songs from the traditional repertory but it is a concert program that made a historical view of the Soviet songs based on the real study of the war letters and the songs mentioned there. It is also a monument to the singing art of the war and after-war years and in a way an artistic monument to the victory.
The Minister also mentioned the state folklore group Nachkho for its concert program "The sound of spring" and its author Kharis Murzakaev. “He is my colleague, he is the Minister of Culture of Chechnya, and parallel he created and lead this group, that promotes the dancing and artistic traditions of the Chechen people,” – Avdeev said.
The separate award went to Mark Zakharov, Oleg Luzhkov, Alexandra Zakharova, Sergey Stepanchenko and Anton Shagin for the performance "Peer Gynt" in Lenkom theater. It is made in the best Lenkom traditions of the last 30 years.
Another award went to Alexei Borodin, the artistic director of the Russian Academic Youth Theater for his performance "The coast of utopia". It is a unique performance about the political and ethical, moral atmosphere of the XIX century.
For the first time award goes to those who devote all their lives to the books, publishing, history and art of books and publishing. This is the group of authors including Alexei Vengerov, Sergei Vengerov, Alexei Nevsky and Vera Nevskaya. The created the collection of essays on Russian history of the 19th and 20th century and bibliochronicle.
Mr Avdeev attributed special attention to the award given to Boris Eifman for his three brilliant performances. These are the three ballets "Anna Karenina", "Seagull" and "Onegin". The award is also shared by Maria Abashova, Oleg Gabyshev, Anastasia Sitnikova and Dmitry Fisher, ballet artists.
Another award went to Udmurtia to Vladimir Valdykin, Vladimir Kashaev, Margarita Ivanova, Ravkhat Karimov and Nelly Sabina for creating the weaving school in Udmurtia.
The Minister mentioned a very interesting cultural institution that go the governmental award - the forum "Dialogues of Culture" in Dagestan. The award goes to Magometsalam Magomedov, Gamzat Gamzatov, Amrei Shakhisaidov, Khizri Shakhisaidova, Salam Khavchaev. Dagestan is a republic with more than 40 nationalities and it does not have any ethnic conflicts. That is a wonderful example not only for our multi-ethnic Russia but for the whole world. According to Mr Avdeev, this unique experience of Dagestan should be studied, propagated and transferred to the other regions. This forum "Dialogues of cultures" is meant to promote this wonderful experience of multinational fraternity through the annual discussions, exhibitions and projects.
The award was given to Anatoly Kargin for the Russian congress of the folklorist. The actualization of folklore, traditional crafts, popular rituals in the beginning of 21st century is on demand, because we need to intensify the research and the preservation and popularization of the non-material heritage.
“With the particular pride I would like to add that the state award was given to Valentina Kholopova for innovation academic works about Russian musical rhythmic,”- Avdeev added. Another laureate is the All-Russian literary project "Sholokhov's spring". In this project the award went to Alexander Larionov, Alexander Sholokhov. This projects is hosted by the Sholokhov memorial museum.
Literary award went to the collection of poetry "The Pole of Severeness". This sit eh anthology of the works written by the prisoners of the Stalin's camps in Kalyma. Avdeev also introduced the novel of Vladimir Lichutin "The Break" that he thinks to be a unique event in our literature.
Another litterary award was given to Igor Volgin. Those, who have read his last books on the biography of Dostoevsky would agree that the award is absolutely deserved.
Another award was given to Fazil Iskander’s last collection of selected works, that includes the stories of different years.
As for projects for children and young people, Yunna Moritz was awarded the prize for her book "The roof was going home" that included her best poetry. This is perhaps one of the best books for children of the last 10 years.
Valery Voskoboinikov received the award for his book "The life of outstanding children". In his book he tells the childhood stories of famous writers, artists explorers, scientists with the pedagogical tact.
The award was given to the creators of the children's ballet "Vain precaution". This children ballet was devised in Bolshoy Theater by Yuri Grigorovich, Andrei Melanin, Igor Dronov and Marina Leonova. The ballet is directed for children, children are dancing. It is shown on the stage of Bolshoy Theater.
Another award was given to the composer Efrem Podgaitz for a cycle of children operas "The Prince and the Pauper" and "The Dwarf Nose". He has 12 operas.
“I would like to specially congratulate the head of the Osipov ensemble of folk instruments Vladimir Andropov and Pavel Lyubimtsev, because they have made a cycle of the literary-musical concerts for children "Funny professor". This is some new dimension of the literary, musical and education work when talented actors with good commentary show and explain the orchestral masterpieces of Russian composers,” – the Minister said.
The Minister also addressed the cultural anniversaries that we will celebrate this year: 200 years since the birth of Alexander Goncharov; 1000 years since the unification of Mordva with the peoples of the Russian state; 1050 years since the foundation of Belozersk in Vologda region; 1150 years since the foundation of Izborsk, a special event. The central event will 200 years since the victory over Napoleon in 1812. According to Mr Avdeev, Russia will mark this date together with our French colleagues. “Neither us, nor them have any desire of historical self-determination through the war confrontation of 1812. And I would like to thank the French partners for participating in our projects,” – the Minister stressed. The big projects include creating a separate department in the State Historical Museum about the war of 1812. Also, the Minister mentioned the recreation of the palace and the park and the construction of the fund storage in Borodino, renovation of the certain monuments in Kaluga, Smolensk and Moscow regions, museum development on the Borodino field. We also finance a film “Vasilisa Kozhina” and the artillery exposition of the cannons of the 17thand 18th century from the Kremlin collection. In addition, some conferences, performances, parades, etc are planned.
Mr Avdeev also chose to separately mention the date of 1150 years of the Russian state. Ministry of Culture elaborated a special plan on this occasion on the basis of local proposals and the proposals from the government and the Academy of sciences. Vologda, St. Petersburg, Kostroma, Novgorod, Pskov and Yaroslavl regions are active participants. Several monuments in these regions will be renovated in connection to this anniversary, new museums created, conferences organized. Several interesting publications are on the way.
There will be a very interesting exhibition “Bronze age of Europe without borders”. It is organized by the State Historical Museum, the Hermitage, Pushkin Fine Arts Museum and Berlin Ancient History Museum. From May to August this exhibition will be in the Hermitage, from September till December in the State historical Museum.
In 2012 Mosow will also celebrate 100 years of Pushkin Fine Arts Museum. On May, 31, there will be a special meeting in the Bolshoy Theater. There will be an exhibition “Imaginable museum” with more than 40 masterpieces from different museums of the world. There will be also cycle of exhibitions of works from the CIS and Baltic countries.
“We are now in the process of negotiations with Uzbekistan Museum. There will be an exhibition of Western-European painting from the collections of Ukrainian Museums. On Putin’s request in 2012 will be launched and exhibition “National Portrait Gallery”. You wrote about it. From the collections of the State Historical Museum, Tretyakov Gallery and the Russian Museum. It will be hosted by the State Historical Museum”, the Minister added.
By VK
