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Santa Fe Embraces the Art and Culture of RussiaRussian Summer 2004.The Pushkin Group, purveyor of Russian art and culture in the United States, in cooperation with the New Mexico Museum of Fine Arts, celebrates the historic blend of artistic cultures in Russia and America. An extensive calendar of Russian performing and visual arts commences May 29th and continues through Labor Day weekend. The Pushkin Group opens Santa Fe’s Russian Summer 2004 with “Bering Strait”. Six high-spirited Russians sing a blend of country-western, rock and bluegrass sounds for two evening concerts at the historic Lensic Performing Arts Center, May 29th & 30th. These classically trained musicians are the subject of a feature length documentary, “The Ballad of Bering Strait” and were featured recently on “60 Minutes,” relating the story of how their love and appreciation of American Bluegrass led them to Nashville and the American dream. Their struggles, determination and resounding triumphs were met with immediate popularity and a Grammy nomination bringing them newfound fame to match their dreams.
The Pushkin Group concludes Russian Summer2004 with the American Premiere of the ballet, “Oněgin”. Based on the A.S. Pushkin classic prose-poem, “Eugene Oněgin,” this ballet was choreographed in 1999 by Vasily Medvedev and debuted to audience and critical acclaim at the Czech National Theater in Prague, Czech Republic. While previous ballets based on “Oněgin” exist, the 1965 (revised in 1967) version by John Cranko of the Stuttgart Ballet had been the standard of international performance. Medvedev’s fresh, new and original choreography represents a milestone in classical dance.
Kenneth A. Pushkin of the Pushkin Group, a descendant of the family of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, owns the Pushkin Gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe and divides his time between New Mexico and his office in St. Petersburg, Russia. Mr. Pushkin founded the Associated Pushkin Charity Fund, the first bilateral charitable organization to be formed between the United States and Russia. Kenneth Pushkin takes great pride in introducing the best of Russian art and performing arts to the international market and especially to Santa Fe. The Pushkin Group Calendar: May 28 May 29 May 29 & 30 June 25 July 2 July 16,17,18 August 14 August 27 September 3 September 3 & 4 Edited by Dave Shultz |
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The international exhibit, “Nicholas & Alexandra: At
Home With the Last Tsar and His Family,” hosted by the New Mexico Museum of
Fine Arts creates a rare and unique glimpse of the Imperial Court of Russia.
Five Russian Museums and numerous private collectors have contributed more
than 200 priceless art objects representing personal family treasures from
Tsarskoe Selo, the royal family’s personal residence, and the Alexander
Palace. The exhibit organized through the American-Russian Cultural
Cooperation Foundation in Washington, D.C. premieres in Santa Fe May 29
through September 5.
Throughout Russian Summer2004, The Pushkin Gallery will
present lifetime collections of noted Russian artists whose private
collections are still in tact and as yet, unrevealed. These artists held
their personal collections closely, as they did their “official art” in
another style or medium. The great works of Nikolai Timkov, Boris Chetkov,
and Leah Ostrova will be the subjects of scheduled festive gallery
openings. A highlight for July will be “The Art of Painting Russian Lacquer
Boxes” demonstrated by Master Artist, Kseniya Grishina. Ms. Grishina will
also be selling selections from her private collection.
The convergence of so many strong cultural influences
in the production of this American Premiere is a unique crescendo of talent,
beauty and venue. “Eugene Oněgin,” is a love story dear to the heart of the
Russian people. For a total of seven years (1823-1830) Alexander Sergeevich
Pushkin, the father of Russian literature, poured over this epic poem. The
music is based on the symphonies and chamber music of Tchaikovsky who
genuinely adored Pushkin’s verse. The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra of
approximately 50 pieces will accompany the ballet. The corps de ballet of
28 is from the Czech State Theater, and principal dancers are from Russia’s
famed Mariinsky Theater. Pushkin, with his professional knowledge of ballet
and staging and Tchaikovsky, with his extreme lyrical sensitivity to the
verse of “Eugene Oněgin” would pay great tribute to this starlit
performance at the Santa Fe Opera.