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Archive for April, 2007

CamRuSS Anna Akhmatova, 30 April

A talk by Glenn Richer in English (with poetry readings in both languages), followed by juice, wine and nibbles.

Anna Akhmatova is a famous poet in both Russia and the English-speaking world. In Britain at least, this fame has emphasised the traumas of her life, her status as femme fatal, and the restrictions placed on her writing activities during the Soviet period.

In this talk, Glenn Richer aims to reinforce the reputation of Akhmatova as poet, concentrating on the analysis of examples of her work, and hopefully drawing out the main qualities of her writing for an audience less familiar with the original Russian texts.

CURS Trip to Oxford, 28/29 April

A weekend trip to Oxford is a wonderful opportunity to visit… the Dark Side :) . Experience strolling around Oxford colleges, punting on the river Cherwell, and a dreamy night under the starry skies in the company of our friends from the Oxford University Russian Society!

We are doing all our best to make this journey really unforgettable and lovely for you. Our friends, the Oxford University Russian Society, are welcoming us and working hard in order to provide the excellent conditions. You will experience:

OVERNIGHT CONDITIONS: We suggest the overnight sleep in sleeping bags (this is the most preferable, according to our survey); and our Oxford friends will provide the housing for us for free. We shall try to provide the sleeping bags for those who will request it long in advance. Alternatively we are ready to help you in arranging the quest house by your own expenses for those who prefer it (something about 20 pounds for one night).

Chekhov’s Three Sisters, 24-28 April

Following their triumphant UK Tour of Twelfth Night, Cheek by Jowl’s stellar Russian ensemble returns with Chekhov’s sweeping love story, Three Sisters, in what promises to be one of the highlights of the season.

Arguably the greatest play of the 20th Century, Three Sisters tells the tale of Olga, Irina and Masha, whose lives are turned upside down by the arrival of glamorous officer Veshinin to their remote town. Their eternal struggle to live and to love is charted with Chekhov’s sharp eye and unfailing humanity.

CamRuSS Film, Андрей Рублёв, 22 April

The renowned “Andrey Rublyov” (USSR, 1969) by Andrey Tarkovsky (in Russian, with English subtitles)

Starring: Anatoli Solonitsyn, Ivan Lapikov, Nikolai Sergeyev, Nikolai Burlyayev, Rolan Bykov

CamRuSS “Chagall’s illustrations to Gogol’s Dead Souls”, 4 April

A talk “The Grotesque Imagination, or Mr Chichikov in a Land of Monsters”, with many beautiful slides, by Stanley Mitchell (in English).

The talk will be about the black humour that Chagall and Gogol both share, how important Gogol was for Chagall; about the diabolical and grotesque in a world where the dead could be bought and sold for profit…

Chagall did these graphics on the rebound from the First World War and the Russian Revolution which had turned everything upside down and released infernal (as well as heroic) forces.

About the speaker: Stanley Mitchell, Emeritus Professor of Aesthetics, Derby University, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University College, London. Has recently completed a new translation of Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin for Penguin Classics, translated Benjamin and Lukacs and published essays on them, published essays and papers on Pushkin, Mayakovsky, Russian Formalism, Mikhail Lifshits, and a playlet on Chagall and Bakhtin. For many years, Professor Mitchell has taught modern Russian literature and art.

CURS Voskresnik, 1 April

As you know, today is the legendary Fool’s Day, 1 April. Do not trust anybody, beware of crazy jokes that could make you a fool for ever! We officially declare that CURS is a serious organisation and we never allow any silly merry-making. Therefore, please receive our urgent announcement with maximum attention and responsibility.

In accordance with the well-known Soviet tradition of “subbotnik”, we are organising a “voskresnik” this Sunday, 1 April. After a long discussion (which lasted for approximately 30 hours with a short break), we decided to create a monument of the renowned Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov, who studied in Cambridge in the 1920s. We agreed that we could rely on you, our friends, to construct the monument efficiently and qualitatively, so we only had to arrange a place and building materials.

Fortunately, the City Council has authorised the demolition of an obsolete and useless building for this cause. (Although it is quite possible that they may change their mind and recall the permission, hence we need to be quick!) The building in question is the (in)famous School of Pythagoras, the oldest building in the University of Cambridge. We are confident that after its decaying for more than 800 years, it should be very easy to dismantle it (a gentle push might suffice). Not to mention, that we, Russians, are quite keen and experienced in wrecking old historical buildings (and practice our skills every so often).

CURS Committee, however, does not want to win all the laurels by doing all the hard work on its own. That is why we strongly encourage all of you to come and bring the implements and tools such as shovels, mattocks, baskets, working gloves (although only alcoholic drinks and snacks are indispensable).

The demolition will be followed by a lively disco on the ruins of the School of Pythagoras. The entrance fee will be waived for the volunteers (but we will have to charge for entry those who do not show up).

We rely on your consciousness and look forward to seeing you today! Please feel free to bring your friends and relatives (including spouses) to participate in this exciting undertaking!

Take care and prepare for working under our wise direction, comrades!