Russian Federation Ministry for Culture
Italian Ministry for Culture
Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Centre

Festival of Italian Culture in Russia

Moscow – St. Petersburg
October-November, 2003

There has always existed a dialogue between the two cultures - Italian and Russian. Italy has remained a Mecca for Russian artists whatever genre they work for. Masterpieces created in Russia inspired by the images of Italy are impossible to calculate. Nevertheless there has never been a festival dedicated to the Italian culture in the course of the modern history of Russia.

The first festival of Italian Culture in Russia takes place before Russian President V. Putin’s official visit to Italy. Thus the festival acquires a special significance, favouring not only cultural relations between the two countries, but contributing to socio-political relations as well.

Most famous musical and ballet groups vividly reflecting modern trends in the Italian arts participate in the festival. The scope of the festival is so wide that the two cultural capitals - Moscow and St Petersburg are to host it. Concerts of the Maggio Fiorentino Musicale Orchestra conducted by glorious Zubin Mehta will be the central event of the festival.

The concerts will take place in Moscow on October 31 and November 1 (Big Hall of the Conservatoire, on programme list: compositions by N. Rimsky-Korsakov, I. Stravinsky, L. Beethoven, I. Brahms) and in St. Petersburg on November 2 (Big Philharmonic Hall, on the programme list: compositions by L. Beethoven, I. Brahms).

Two chamber ensembles - “Polimnia” and “Brass Quintet” - will also represent the musical genre.

Two Italian choreographic companies are participants of the Festival. Mauro Bigonzetti's “Aterballetto” is to present choreographical productions “Les Noches”, “Cantata” and “Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Mischa van Hoecke’s Theatre of Modern Dance is to show the “Maria Callas” ballet production, the premiere of which took place at the Ravenna festival in 2003.

During the festival the Moscow State Photography Museum will host an exhibition called “A Flash of Art” presenting a rare collection of 400 photographs from the archives of Italian photographers of “La Dolce Vita” years (1953-1973).