On April 2nd the charity concert “Expression of Love”, organized in favor of veterans, artists in a difficult situation, and disabled children-orphans, will take place in the Moscow international House of Music.
Yevgeny Mironov, People’s Artist of Russia
The charity fund Artist and the international charity fund of Vladimir Spivakov are organizing the concert. The official partner of the concert is Bridge Company. The producer company Wonderloft helps the organization. We are holding this concert for the third time, and for the second time we are doing it together with Vladimir Spivakov. The initial aim of our fund was to support elderly performers, veterans of cinema and theatre. It is an expression of love for the generation in which many of us grew up, not only we as artistes, but also the audience. And we should be grateful. An injustice is happening. People are abandoned, nobody needs them. They had to play in terrible plays and so on. We want to support them, and be with them on that evening.
Vladimir Spivakov, art director of the state chamber orchestra 'Moscow Virtuozi'
The human mission is the basis for everything. I mean not a mission to be an artist, or a football player and so on. I mean a spiritual mission. The human spiritual mission as responsibility to people. You cannot say better than it is written in the Gospel: everyone should bring the best from his treasury. And I think everyone who participates in this concert brings their best.
Maria Mironiva, Honored Artist of Russia
Our fund was founded three years ago. Based on the experience of these three years, we established three main programs. But they are not simple programs, they are needed by our veterans, our people. We thought about the things which people do need. At first we had nothing, no organization or anything else. We had only our initiative and understanding that we cannot forget about our people. They are our closest circle, our union. Everyone has family and close friends. When they suffer, we help them. Our union is bigger than a family, but it is still our big family. Considering what they need, several programs of our fund were established. And we search for money and provide our people with attention. Everything is simple, attention means that people care for each other. The first program is giving gift certificates for free medicines. They can call on the phone, being in any condition, order the necessary medicines and the medicines would be brought home for free. The second program is very important. We call it “mutual aid office.” Telephone calls. We understood that people needed a telephone number they could call. They wouldn’t be shy to call, they would understand that this number and this organization were established for settling their problems. And the third program turned out to be the most popular. Not only popular, but necessary. A few days ago several old artistes called me and thanked me for the program. I was confused, as I thought they needed money, medicines, practical help. The third program is congratulations and courtesies during the year.
Leonid Yarmolnik, artiste
When we talk about artistes, we forget that in our country an artiste is able to feed himself only if he is working. If he is sick for two months, he has no money to survive. I have faced it several times. A man, who was an idol for us, couldn’t buy medicines when he got sick. Shy people die with empty pockets. If an American performer dies, they hold a public sale and sell his property. After our artistes die, only debts are left. It is a very sad and shameful story.
Igor Vernik, Honoured Artist of Russia
We know that loneliness is the worst thing in our life, four walls, a silent phone. I wish you never have such moments. But when old age comes and a phone is silent forever, it is terrible. It is terrible when nobody calls you. These people are worthy. They spent their lives in glory, attention and love. They were self-fulfilled. At some moment everything is gone. And we try to give our veterans an opportunity for self-realization.
Natalya Shaginyan-Nidaem, producer
People often ask how we managed to unite such different programs – the old and disabled children. We united them according to a simple principle – these are the two most needy armies in our country. Some of them became orphans in childhood, others – in old age. The elderly and disabled children need the closest attention. It is true we cannot help everyone. But we can play the role of a megaphone. The fund can speak about the problem and urge through various means. Recently we held an exhibition 'Life of Movements', and showed disabled children and what they can do despite all the difficulties. We speak about the most terrible thing for children and the elderly – social isolation. If children who are shut up in orphanages could go outside it would be a different life for them. And we try to open the door, so they can take a step outside an orphanage. We named the program 'I Want To Go'. It is wider than helping a child without legs to buy artificial legs. We destroy stereotypes, open the door so these children can step into our lives.
