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SPIEF 2019 Festival of Culture Programme Published

SPIEF 2019 Festival of Culture Programme Published

Festival of Culture programme is published on the official website of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Traditionally, during the Forum days St. Petersburg turns into a cultural centre of the country when the city hosts numerous exhibitions, film screenings and charity events.  

“SPIEF Festival of Culture draws art lovers from around the world to St. Petersburg. During these days leading theatres, museums, and exhibition spaces offer unique programming, while the city hosts world-level talent. I’m confident the Forum’s cultural component will greatly compliment the saturated business programme,” said Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation, Executive Secretary of SPIEF Organizing Committee.

On 5 June, Mikhailovsky Castle will host the concert titled ‘The Stradivarius Violin at the Mikhailovsky Castle’. One of the brightest young performers on the world stage, the virtuoso violinist Kevin Zhu (US), will perform at this evening event. He will play a Paganini concerto on a unique Stradivarius vintage violin. Soprano Olga Pudova, Mariinsky Theatre soloist and winner of the Golden Sofit theatre prize, will also perform at the event. The concert will be held in the Georgievsky Hall, one of the largest and most luxurious ceremonial halls in the Mikhailovsky Castle. Lorenzo Tazzieri will be conducting the Taurida Orchestra.

Another significant event guaranteed to be appreciated by the symphony enthusiasts is the ‘Late-night Concert: Denis Matsuev and Valery Gergiev’ on 6 June. Denis Matsuev and the Mariinsky Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev will perform pieces by Sergei Rachmaninov, Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. The event will be held at the Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall.   

The music festival titled ‘From Classics to Rock’ will take place 7–8 June at the Palace Square. During the first day, the classical genre will be presented by Andrea Bocelli and Aida Garifullina of the Vienna State Opera, while on 8 June rock and symphony will come together as one when legendary rock band Bi-2, accompanied by a symphony orchestra conducted by the Honoured Artist of Russia Felix Aranovsky, will play their well-known hits. The festival’s aim is to create a unique brand, a showpiece of contemporary music in St. Petersburg.

A number of St. Petersburg museums will present their special exhibitions and unique tours. Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences will open an exhibition titled ‘Arctic Nomads: The Art of Movement’ that features a variety of multimedia materials collected during research expeditions to Yamal, Chukotka, and the Kola Peninsula. Multimedia elements accompany 95 rare items from the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography’s collection. The exhibition is a vivid depiction of the current nomadic traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic. Andrei Golovnev, MAE Director, will give a tour of the exhibition explaining how the multimedia materials have been collected, why multimedia pairs so well with the museum collection items and how can nomadic traditions be of use to modern people and contemporary business. On 6 June, Natalia Kopaneva, Museum Chief Collection Manager, will give a tour titled ‘Gottorp (Greater Academic) Globe’. 


At the ‘Handwritten Treasures on the Banks of the Neva’ Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences presents outstanding examples of handwritten books of the countries of the East. The Institute’s handwritten collection is one of the largest in the world and in Russia, with more than 115,000 exhibits in 65 dead and living languages. This unique collection is located in the luxurious interiors of the Novo-Mikhailovsky Palace, a vivid example of the 19th century palace architecture. 

The town of Pushkin presents a versatile culture programme. A participant’s badge will provide a possibility to visit Pushkin Memorial Dacha Museum and memorial Lyceum Museum. Additionally, the Festival of Culture will host a number of tours and exhibitions within the town. Finally, on 6 June all literature enthusiasts will have a chance to celebrate 220th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Pushkin. 

SPIEF 2019 Festival of Culture will feature two receptions. The Forum Gala Opening Reception on behalf of the Organizing Committee for preparing and holding the SPIEF 2019 will take place on 5 June. Musical programme will feature Taurida Orchestra with classical music and rock hits medleys, outstanding Russian trumpeter Vadim Eilenkrig, finalists from the Russian version of The Voice, Alla Pugacheva’s ‘Zvezda Ally’ award recipient Yaroslav Dronov, and Brevis Brass Band with their celebrated infectious rhythms. The evening culminates with a performance by Sergei Shnurov and his band Leningrad. On 7 June the Governor of Saint Petersburg will host a reception for the guests and participants of the Forum.

Also, on 6 June Mikhail Skipsky, player of the ‘What? Where? When?’ Club, and actor Andrey Maksimkov will host Non-Trivial Game titled ‘Russia and the World’. Questions in this simultaneous quiz for 15–20 teams will address the past and the present of Russia’s cooperation with the global community in the fields of culture, science and business: great scholars, famous authors, Nobel Prize winners, as well as contemporary events that rank Russia among the most influential powers of the world.

Two charitable events will take place as part of the Festival of Culture. On 5 June, a special gala concert featuring ballet stars will launch the BIOCAD global information campaign in support of the fight against rheumatic diseases. On 7 June, Alexandrinsky Theatre will host a concert featuring celebrated opera and ballet dancers in support of the disabled children and youth. 

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