Publications

Sergey Vinogradov International Puppet Theatre Festival “Ryazanskie Smotriny” (Showing-off in Ryazan), one of the largest and the most reputable festivals in Russia and whole Eastern Europe, will open in Sergei Yesenin’s home land on September 14th. Current “show” marks a milestone, not by its number, but by years: the Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary, and Petrushka, its symbol, shines out of posters like never before. According to the puppet masters, during years of the festival’s existence the genre of puppet show has experienced absolute slump and unbelievable upswing. And it is still on the rise. ...

Svetlana Smetanina Vladimir Menshov, the maker of such iconic movies as Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears and Love and Dove, turns 80 on September 17. His life is an example of a remarkably successful creative and personal destiny. It's no coincidence that this year 900 people attempted to win admission to his workshop at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (aka VGIK), while enrollment is set to 30. Menshov is known as a very principled person; and he teaches his students the same thing - only a powerful person can create a truly serious film. Vladimir Menshov. Photo credit: twimg.com As to Vladimir Menshov, he admits...

Anna Genova Mariposa Folk Festival - Toronto 1970 Nowadays not many people know the name of Alexandre Zelkine (or Alexander Zelkin in Russian version) a singer of Russian, Gypsy, French songs and romances. His noble baritone won listeners in the USA and Canada, France, Israel and many other countries in the 1960-1980s. One of the most famous of his LP records was Russian Folk Songs with interpretations of Bublichki (Bagels), Chubchik Kucheryavy (Curly Forelocky), Song of an Old Cabby, Podmoskovnye Vechera (Moscow Nights) which perhaps can only be compared with the ones of Alexander’s great predecessors, such as Misha...

Sergey Vinogradov The American Sean Quirk, who is one of musicians and the manager of the well-known in Russia and beyond Tuvinian Alash ensemble, speaks four languages. On foreign tours, he announces the songs of the ensemble in English and sings Tuvan folk songs to the public and for himself. He can please the audience with a ditty in Russian when he is asked to. Besides that, Quirk reads books in the language of his ancestors - Old Irish. In the International year of indigenous languages, Milwaukee native Sean Quirk, who is also the head of the Tuvan family and father of many children, tries to draw the attention of Tuvans,...

Sergey Vinogradov Touring schedule of the Alash ensemble from Tuva Republic during the International Indeginious People's Languages Year hasn't change. Seven months a year best throat singing ensemble is touring around Russia and abroad, during the rest of the year they are collecting folklore gems in Tuva and prepare new shows.After booked-out shows in os Angeles and Tokio, the musicians need to rest at home in taiga, alone with nature and herds of horses. Trio participants told Russkiy Mir what are the Tuvian songs about, how Kalinka-Malinka souns to the accompaniment of the Tuvia...

Anna Genova Recently, The Spiritual Path of Tchaikovsky by Galina Sizko was presented to the public in the library of the Russian Center of the Tchaikovsky House in Hamburg. The book was contributed and published by Denis von Meck, a descendant of the families of Tchaikovsky and von Meck, the founder of the NF von Meck Charity Foundation and a collector. The Russkiy Mir asked Denis to share about activities of the foundation established by him, and about his collection. – Denis, what is your relationship to Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck? – I am her great-great-great-grandson on...