CURS address to gifted children: Intel Dinastia Avangard-2010
Very Old New Year Party
CU Russian Society is proud to finally present
VERY OLD NEW YEAR PARTY!
Lets get started in the new Lent term!
1. Amazing drink deals, cheap Russian snacks
2. Russian traditional folk dancing and singing
3. New Year games and entertainment
4. Fantastic mood
NOW YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS, DO YOU???
WHEN: Friday, 29 January, from 7pm till the latest possible time (around midnight)
WHERE: Cambridge Union, 9a Bridge Street Cambridge CB2 1UB
HOW MUCH: only £2 for CURS members and £3 for non-members
Let’s get the party started!
Happy New Year!
Dear our members and friends, Happy New Year!
CURS wishes to all of you much fun, love and happiness in 2010!!
Cambridge, 18 December 2009. Photo by O. Sklyar
C.U.R.S. End of Term Party in Russian Style
Holidays are coming… Let’s meet and start to celebrate it…
Just come along to the CURS very special PARTY by which we celebrate our end of the Term in RUSSIAN STYLE!
WHEN: Thursday, 3 December, from 7.30pm till the latest possible time (around midnight)
WHERE: Pub “The Cricketers”, 18 Melbourne Pl., Cambridge, CB11EQ, near Parker’s Peace map
PRICE: CURS and CamRuss members – free, other guests – 2 pounds
Really good drinks, amazing music, games, girls, dancing, dancing… NOT to be MISSED!
Russian rock and pop music will be on!
Hurry up! Everybody is welcome!
More information is here
Music Censored by Stalin
**one more classical highlight from CURS***
Cambridge University Russian Society is proud to invite you to our concert, on which many obscure compositions of the Soviet composers will be premiered. Our programme embraces works created by composers both faithful to the regime, and persecuted. Young and distinguished musicians will introduce great and unique art of the Soviet Russia, which does not leave anybody indifferent, irrespective of personal political views and musical tastes.
Dedicated to the 800th Anniversary of the University of Cambridge
Graciously supported by the Jewish Music Institute
WHEN: 28 November, 6:30 pm (reception) 7pm (the concert)
WHERE: Queen’s Theatre, Emmanuel College, Cambridge, map
TICKETS: £5 (CURS & TCRS members), £6 students, £7 (CamRuss members), £10 all other guests
Facebook group
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Programme
Jacob Polferov. “Melodeclamations” [in Russian] *UK Premiere* (Vladimir Orlov, reciting; Yulia Vorontsova, pianoforte)
Mieczysław Weinberg. “Trio for violin, cello, and pianoforte” (Eugene Feygelson, violin; Rebecca Herman, cello; Malcolm Miller, pianoforte)
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Vano Muradeli. “Great Friendship” (Fragment from the opera) *UK Premiere* (Julia Traustadottir, soprano; Nicholas Morrell, tenor; Kate Whitley, pianoforte)
Mieczysław Weinberg. “Moldavian Rhapsody” (Eugene Feygelson; Malcolm Miller)
Sergei Prokofiev. “Three Russian Folk Songs” (Svetlana Savenko, soprano)
* * *
The genre of Melodeclamation (reciting of the verses in time of the music playing) is inherited by Soviet composers from pre-Revolutionary Russian musical culture, which highly valued stanza’s beauty and musical intonation of Russian poetry. Brought ‘to the masses’ by Revolutionary culture, melodeclamations were turned into a part of agitculture (‘agitiskusstovo’), performed by artists in workers’ clubs by the unprofessional artists. Melodeclamations by forgotten composer Jacob Polferov (1891 – 1966) dedicated to Lenin’s death genuinely depict the mental “shock of the human masses,” their funeral mood, which is gradually transferred into victorious feeling of ‘bellicose optimism,’ and will to win. (“Lenin is alive! Lenin – is our immortality!”)
Life and oeuvre of Mieczysław Weinberg (1919 – 1996) were not bestowed with the due attention of musicians and researchers both in Russia and all over the world. Artistic distinctions of his music, however, are appreciated by many, – even in comparison with Prokofiev and Shostakovich in the level of dramatic tension, technique, and resourcefulness of musical vocabulary. Weinberg’s Piano trio demonstrates all these characteristics; finished in 1945, it is dedicated to Natalia Vovsi, his wife – who was the daughter of Solomon Mikhoels, an actor, whose murder, organised by NKVD preceded gross anti-Semitic campaign in 1948. Weinberg would also be arrested in 1953, but released due to intercession by Shostakovich.
Paradoxically as it is, Stalin’s Moloch devoured not only its enemies, but the most faithful servants, which is brightly demonstrated by Vano Muradeli’s opera Great Friendship (1947). The most significant composition in the entire oeuvre of an ardent Stalinist (who intentionally changed his name from ‘Muradov’ on ‘Muradeli,’ in order to make it resembling Stalin’s real name ‘Dzhugashvili’) was bestowed with the most savage castigation ever known in the history of the Soviet music. The biggest irony of the event is that there is hardly anything more than a couple of lines said about Muradeli’s opera in the “Party Decree About Muradeli’s Opera Great Friendship” (1948); the highest purpose of the imposed ‘criticism’ was to denounce such composers as Prokofiev, Shostakovich, and others, later known as ‘Soviet classics.’ Muradeli’s opera (which most probably was used as only a ‘pretext’ for an ‘anti-formalist’ incursion) was not considered by the later generations, grossly influenced by anti-Stalinist spirits. We were surprised to discover so many beautiful melodies in the score of the opera, fetched by us from the Russian libraries. The content in the opera to the greatest extent is evolved around love, not policy or the same repulsive; it’s main collision, alike in classic drama, is the confrontation of love and duty: Lezghin Murtaz must carry out an assassination in order to gain hand and heart of his lady-love, who belongs to the enemy clan. But instead of committing a crime, the hero sacrifices himself – leaving his mistress forever alone. Passionate love duo, thirty minutes scene of two main heroes, Galina and Murtaz – outset of the drama – the moment of conception of their mutual love in the atmosphere of hostility surrounding them – will be presented on our concert.
Mentioned Decree of 1948 made an especially severe blow on Prokofiev – who lost his government subsidy, whose life and creative powers was dramatically shortened. Many his compositions, including his Arrangements of Folk Songs (1941) were denounced later as ‘formalist.’ The songs Green Grove and Dream were included by him in the opera Story of a Real Man (1948), brutally castigated and banned by the governments.
CURS AGM and Elections
The time is coming for us to hold the CURS AGM (Annual General Meeting). During this meeting our President will give a shot talk about CURS activity in 2008-2009 year. Moreover, we will hold elections of the new committee to take charge of CURS, commencing with Lent Term.
CURRENT NOMINATIONS CAN BE SEEN HERE
WHEN: 5.30-7.00 PM, Saturday, 21th November (Please be prompt)
WHERE: Latimer Room, Clare College
CURS AGM: Call for Manifestos Deadline
CURS would like to formally open its call for manifestos for the committee positions for the year 2010.
If you are interested in playing an even more active part in our glorious Society then:
YOU NEED TO SEND US YOUR MANIFESTO BY END OF SUNDAY, 8 November!!!
It has to include:
- Your Name/College/Degree
- Position applied for: you can choose the one you like from our website www.russiancambridge.org (feel free to suggest a new position if you wish)
- Summarise your previous experience in positions of responsibility and how you see yourself contributing to the Society. No more than 250 words, in ENGLISH please!!
- Your photo
- Email the above to the current president: ekaterina.shipigina|@|russiancambridge.org, NO LATER than by the end of 8 November.
Recital of Konstantin Lapshin
Recital of KONSTANTIN LAPSHIN (pianoforte)
Associated Scholar of Royal College of Music, Konstantin Lapshin is a prize-winner of more than 10 International competitions, this year he made a debut on Classical Records (the CD will be presented), and alongside his Masters Degree with distinction, he received the highest RCM award The Queen Elizabeth Rose Bawl which includes the opportunity to play for Prince Charles.]
“Konstantin Lapshin’s performance gave me real pleasure. He’s got a special edge in his performance, he makes the whole audience feel the music the way he does, because he has his own attitude to the piece performed. He has a lot to get across to the audience… And this is the main thing” – Mikhail Pletnev, pianist, conductor, composer.
WHEN: 6 November, Friday, 7:30pm-9:30pm
WHERE: Bateman Auditorium, Gonville & Caius College
Map: http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/Colleges/BatemanAuditorium.htm
TICKETS: £6 (CURS and TCRS members), £8 (CamRuss members & students), £9 all other guests
Followed by wine reception.
The Programme:
Bach – Busoni Chaconne in D minor
Brahms Seven Fantasies op.116
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Rachmaninov Sonata no.2 op.36 in B-flat minor
Tchaikovsky-Pletnev The Concert Suite from the Ballet ‘Sleeping Beauty’:
- Prologue
- The Silver Fairy
- Puss in Boots and the White Cat
- Gavotte
- The Singing Canary
- Red Riding Hood and the Wolf
- Adagio
- Finale
Balakirev Islamey
Yulia Vorontsova Recital
Born in 1985 in Moscow, Yulia Vorontsova started playing the piano at the age of five. In 2003 she graduated from the Moscow Gnessin’s Secondary Music School (piano and harpsichord) and entered Moscow State Conservatoire to study with Peoples’ Artist Professor Zinaida Ignatieva. After graduation from the Conservatoire with an Honours Degree in 2008. Yulia won the Gill & Jullian Simmonds’ Scholarship and began her postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music in London. Yulia as a Laureate in many competitions including the Young Pianists Competition (Poland, 2004), Konzerteum Competition (Greece, 1997), Musicalia-2000 (Greece, 2000), and the Classical Heritage Competition (Moscow, 2002). She participated in International musical festivals such as the Festival of Russian Culture (Athens, 1996, 1997), the Festival Kursu Nerija (Lithuania, 2003), the Art Assembly ‘Stars of XXI’ (Novgorod, 2003), the Musical Offering (Moscow, 2004 – 2009). The Renaissance (Moscow, 2007, Audience Choice Diploma) and the Primavera Classica (Moscow, 2004 – 2009; Permanent Participant, Honourary Diploma in 2007, Audience Prize Award in 2008, 2009). Yulia gave concerts in many countries, including the recital in Cadogan Hall (7 July 2009), and the concert on BBC Proms (September, 2009).
WHEN: Friday, 13 November, 7:30pm-9:30pm
WHERE: Bateman Auditorium, Gonville & Caius College
Map: http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/Colleges/BatemanAuditorium.htm
TICKETS: £6 (CURS and TCRS members), £8 (CamRuss members and students), £9 all guests
Followed by the Wine Reception.
The Programme:
W. A. Mozart Sonata B-dur K570
- Allegro
- Adagio
- Allegretto
Robert Schumann Carnaval op.9
- Préambule
- Pierrot
- Arlequin
- Valse noble
- Eusebius
- Florestan
- Coquette
- Réplique (Sphinxes)
- Papillons
- A.S.C.H. – S.C.H.A: Lettres Dansantes
- Chiarina
- Chopin
- Estrella
- Reconnaissance
- Pantalon et Colombine
- Valse Allemande (Intermezzo: Paganini)
- Aveu
- Promenade
- Pause
- Marche des “Davidsbündler” contre les Philistins
CURS squash
CURS would love to invite you to our wonderful annual Squash. This is an informal meeting, during which there will be an opportunity to join our society at reduced rates and also meet existing members. Also the
Executive Committee will introduce themselves, tell you more about the society and answer any of your questions.
WHEN: 6PM, Saturday 17th October 2009
WHERE: Cambridge Union Building, Behind the Round Church
Drinks and Snacks will be served.
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