Past Events
« Previous EntriesCURS Garden Party
Our CURS team is happy to offer you the most awesome garden party to be held in Darwin College Gardens on a (hopefully) sunny day of 10th June.
To do the following:
1. Warm up and get prepared for the May week!
2. Chat with all your friends before departing for the summer holiday!
3. Try our famous “shashlyk” BBQ as well as Russian snacks and summer drinks!
4. Enjoy your life for a bit…
WHEN: 6pm-8pm, Thursday, 10 June
WHERE: Darwin College Island, Silver Street, CB3 9EU
Our entrance fee is actually very low considering the amount of food and drinks to be provided:
CURS and CamRusS members – £5
non-members – £6
Valery Gergiev ‘The State of Culture and the Culture of a State’
The world’s busiest conductor, Artistic and General Director of the St Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre (formerly Kirov), Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Guest conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, is at the Union on the 20th of May (3-4pm).
Union Society and CURS members: free
Guest tickets cost £5. These can be bought from the Union office Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, or on the door of the event.
Valery Gergiev is also founder and Artistic Director of the Stars the White Nights Festival and New Horizons Festival in St Petersburg, the Moscow Easter Festival, the Gergiev Rotterdam Festival, the Mikkeli International Festival, and the Red Sea Festival in Eilat, Israel. He succeeded Sir
Georg Solti as conductor of the World Orchestra for Peace in 1998.
He has recorded exclusively for Decca (Universal Classics), but appears also on the LSO Live, Philips and Deutsche Grammophon labels. His vast discography includes Russian operas, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky and Mahler symphonies among many others.
Gergiev is not only a famous conductor but a prominent public figure. Being an Ossetin he made an appeal on television after the 2004 Beslan school massacre, against any revenge. In 2008 he came to Tskhinvali and conducted a concert near the ruined building of the South Ossetian Parliament as tribute to the victims of the war. Gergiev has worked in fund-raising for such projects as the recently
built Mariinsky Concert Hall, and intends to achieve to build a new Mariinsky Opera House as well as complete renovations of the Mariinsky Theatre historical building.
Gergiev is known as a charismatic and inspirational speaker. At the Union he will talk about music, culture and politics in Russia and the world. His great experience and high flier career promise a fascinating perspective. There will be an opportunity to ask questions.
Directions to the Cambridge Union Society Building
This is a past event now. Listen to the recording if you are interested.
Chto? Gde? Kogda?
“Chto? Gde? Kogda?” is a team erudition competition taking its roots from the homonymous Soviet TV programme which later developed into an international intellectual sport enjoyed in many parts of the world with Russian-speaking diasporas: the countries of the former USSR, Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, United Kingdom, United States etc.
CU Russian Society and Trinity College Russian Society are delighted to add Cambridge to the global geography of “Chto? Gde? Kogda?”. The game is played in Russian language.
This Sunday’s tour is called the “Jerusalem Cup”.
WHEN: 2.30pm until approximately 5.30-6pm, Sunday, 16 May
WHERE: Junior Parlour, Trinity College
ROUTE DIRECTION : http://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/index.php?pageid=290&subid=6
LANGUAGE: RUSSIAN
Refreshments will be provided.
The rules of the game:
The players will group into teams of 6. The game consists of 45 questions. After each question is posed, teams will have 1 minute to discuss and then come up with an answer. Each team will nominate a captain who makes the final decision on the answer for each question. Team that answered the most of questions correctly, wins.
More info:
wikipedia
Film Nights for the Victory Day
These days we would like to draw your attention to the Victory Day of the 9th, May and devote most of our activities to this celebration!
This week has been declared a film week where we are eager to show you both documentary and fiction films about this legendary epoch.
*** 1 *** FILM NIGHT – Destiny of a man (Судьба человека) – 3 MAY
Movie Based on Story by Mikhail Sholokov
Russian filmmaker Sergei Bondarchuk is both director and star of this melancholy wartime fable. Bondarchuk portrays Andrey Sokolov, a World War II-era Soviet citizen who is captured by Nazis. He goes through hell, but is sustained by the possibility that someday he’ll be reunited with his loved ones. Upon his release, Sokolov discovers that his whole family has died during the war. Originally titled Sudba Cheloveka, Destiny of a Man represented Sergei Bondarchuk’s directorial debut. Its international release in 1961 (two years after it was made) was a genuine eye-opener to film-critic curmudgeons who believed that Russian filmmakers, while brilliant in assembling propaganda pieces, were lacking in humanity and emotionalism. An enormous worldwide success, Destiny of a Man fully proved that it was not true…
WHEN: 5PM, Wednesday, 3 MAY
WHERE: TV room, Darwin College
GENRE: a staging drama about the War
PRICES: CURS members free, £1 others
*** 2 *** FILM NIGHT – They Fought for Their Motherland (Они сражались за Родину) – 4MAY
It is a screen adaptation of Nobel Prize winning author Mikhail Sholokhov’s novel. This is a war film from a Russian point of view.
* Prize of the Union of the Anti-Fascist Fighters of Czechoslovakia at the 20th IFF in Karlovy Vary, 1976
* Award for Best Director to S. Bondarchuk and Award for Best Performance of 27 male roles of soldiers at the 14th IFF in Panama, 1976
* The Vassiliev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR to director S. Bondarchuk and cinematographer V. Yusov, 1977
* Leninist Komsomol Prize to composer V. Ovchinnikov, 1977
“…the film concentrates on the remnants of one shattered regiment and its individual soldiers’ thoughts and fears in the face of impending annihilation, not only of themselves but Mother Russia too.”
WHEN: 8.30PM, TUESDAY 4th May
WHERE: Winstanley Lecture Theatre, Trinity College
GENRE: war drama
LANGUAGE: in Russian with English subtitles
PRICES: Trinitarians and CURS members free, Ј1 others
*** 3 *** FILM NIGHT – Ordinary Fascism (Обыкновенный фашизм) – 5 MAY
A fascinating documentary on Nazism by Soviet film maker Mikhail Romm. Made in 1961, it is remarkable both for its portrayal of that weird brand of fascism and for the way it does so.
This 1965 documentary by Mikhail Romm is an excellent example of the special position of film directors in the former Soviet Union, who didn’t have to succumb to the economic hardships typically imposed on art by Western market economies. However, the film implicitly reveals the political interventions under which all art suffered under the Soviet system.
WHEN: 8PM, Wednesday, 5 MAY
WHERE: TV room, Darwin College
GENRE: documentary
PRICES: CURS members free, £1 others
*** 4 *** FILM NIGHT – Ivan’s childhood (Иваново детство) – 6 MAY
Directed by Andrey Tarkovsky
The film is based on the 1957 short story Ivan (Russian: Иван) by Vladimir Bogomolov, with the screenplay written by Mikhail Papava and an uncredited Andrei Tarkovsky. The film tells the story of orphan boy Ivan and his experiences during World War II. Ivan’s Childhood was one of several Soviet films of the late 1950s, such as The Cranes Are Flying and Ballad of a Soldier, that looked at the human cost of war.
WHEN: 7PM, Thursday, 6th May
WHERE: TV Room, Darwin College
GENRE: war drama
PRICES: Trinitarians and CURS members free, £1 others
*** 5*** FILM NIGHT – Hurricanes over Russia – 7 MAY
Directed by Roy Perkins
Sixty two years ago the might of Hitler’s Army’s invaded Russia and took on the might of Stalin’s army. Within a matter of hours hundreds of Russian aircraft were destroyed on the ground, and the Wehrmacht were heading East in another phase of their Blitzkrieg. By the first of September, the front was 400 miles East, and the Wehrmacht were already at the doors of Leningrad.
WHEN: 8PM, Friday 7 MAY
WHERE: TV room, Darwin College
GENRE: documentary
PRICES: CURS members free, £1 others
*** 6*** FILM NIGHT – Could Stalin stop Hitler? (Мог бы Сталин остановить Гитлера?) – 8MAY
WHEN: 8PM, Thursday, 8th May
WHERE: TV Room, Darwin College
GENRE: documentary in Russian
PRICES: Trinitarians and CURS members free, £1 others
*** 7*** FILM NIGHT – Battle for Moscow (Битва за Москву) – 9MAY
Directed by Yuri Ozerov
A magnificent film about the War and its heroes. It is like the final accord for the Victory Day!
Join us and you will never forget it!
WHEN: 8PM, Friday 9 MAY
WHERE: TV room, Darwin College
GENRE: war drama (with English subtitles)
PRICES: CURS members free, £1 others
Sourozh Musical Evening
Talented Russian Children in Cambridge
Extraordinary gifted young musicians present music by Tartini, Wieniawski, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, and Piazzolla and other composers.
Despite young age, distinctions of our young guests include numerous awards and concert tours in Russia, Italy, and the United Kingdom (see their full bios [Anastasia Maksuta], [Sergei Tugarinov]).
Famous for its musical distinctions, Russia is especially well-known for the musically gifted children (the only thing Russian master well is children, as a Japanese observer once have said about us). Both young artists have played for the world famous New Names International Summer Course (Suzdal).
The programme
Tartini Sonata G minor “Didone abbandonata”
op.1 № 10, 2nd and 3rd movement
Sergei Tugarinov, violin
Anastasia Maksuta, piano
Beethoven Sonata No 6 F major, 1st movement
Chopin Trois Ecossaises, op. 72, No 3
Grieg Wedding day at Troldhaugen, op. 65, No 6
Rachmaninov Prelude C♯ Minor, op. 3. No 2
Anastasia Maksuta, piano
J.S. Bach Sarabande and Gigue from Partita № 2 in D minor
Sergei Tugarinov, violin
Schubert Sonatina in A minor
Tchaikovsky Melody
Wieniawsky Tarantella
Piazzolla Adios Nonino
Sergei Tugarinov, violin
Anastasia Maksuta, piano
WHEN: 8 March, 7:30pm
WHERE: Bateman Auditorium, Gonville and Caius College, Trinity Street, CB2 1TA
Entrance Fee: £5 CURS members, £6 Camruss, concessions, £9 all guests.
Followed by Wine and Refreshments
BALTIC SEA VODKA PARTY 2010
Get excited! It is now a matter of days before we kick off with our biggest event of the year. Believe us the chaos of preparation will deliver some glorious results. We know people who plan to travel all the way from London (and further) to make their appearance at the annual Baltic Sea Vodka Party. We certainly intend impress everyone and are trying to think all the details through. It is the one occasion we do all the work and you – our guests have all the fun and enjoyment.
The famous VODKA PARTY which has been so popular among Cambridge residents for several years now is back!
We invite you to come and try our exclusive delicious vodkas from around the world at bargain prices. There will also be a chance to try some authentic food, dance, sing karaoke, play auction of promises and do many other things.
Bring all your friends!
WHERE – Centre at St Paul’s, Intersection of Hills Rd. and St Paul’s Rd.
WHEN – 7-12 pm, Saturday, 6th March
Entry fees: £5 for members of CURS and other participating societies. £6 for everyone else (you get around 4 shots of vodka included and you can buy extra when you feel you need more.)
Maslenitsa 2010!
Do you know the most authentic Russian tradition to say “Good Bye” to the winter and
welcome the coming spring? We are very glad to invite you to the celebration of
the last days of this cold winter. We offer the best sweet tea,
hot pancakes with various fillings and a friendly and warm atmosphere of some charming Russian people! Come along and bring your friends!
WHEN: we start at 1pm on Saturday, 13th February
WHERE: Small hall, Clare College, Old Court Trinity Lane, Cambridge CB2 1TL
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!
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
******************************************************************
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)
–
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