How the “Italian Seasons” the cultural project appeared, its plans, the participants and prospects the author of Ïtalian Seasons” Alla Demina tells Elena Buldakova, the editor of the site www.planet360.info.
Elena Bulgakova.: Elena Buldakova.: How did the idea of the project come about? After much thoughts or unexpectedly? What became the “starting point”? And why with Italy?
Alla Demina.: Everything is very simple. A few years ago, I organized some exhibitions of Russian artists in Italy myself. Now the situation has changed, of course, but my agency represents the Italian magazine published in Russian “Lake Como” in Russia (after the rebranding it became known as “The Place to Be”). For 10 years the magazine has been talking about lifestyle on its pages, it is published four times a year and is distributed worldwide. Anniversary! It was in connection with the tenth anniversary of the publication that the idea appeared to create an international cultural project as a kind of “bridge” between our countries as a kind of panorama of a wide variety of genres – art exhibitions, concerts of symphonic and chamber music, vocal workshops, lectures…
E.B.: And when was the first event within the the project?
A.D.: It was last summer. It was unforgettable and very romantic event. “Italian Reviera” a personal exhibition of watercolors by a People’s Artist of the USSR, a legend of world ballet, an artist, Commander of the Order of the Star of Italy Vladimir Vasiliev was held in Uglich, an ancient Russian city. The local citizens received a real cultural shock: after all, the maestro told so many interesting things during the opening. He told how he’d met many famous people: the world–famous composer Nino Rota, the prima ballerina of the Rome Opera Carla Fracci, the famous Italian director and producer Franco Zeffirelli, the director Beppe Menegatti. By the way, a creative meeting with Vladimir Vasiliev is also scheduled in Moscow in November at the Russian National Museum of Music.
E.B.: What can you say about those who help you? Who provides patronage? Tell us in short about your partners and have you encountered any difficulties in organizing events?
A.D.: The “Italian Seasons” project is being held under the patronage of the GIM-Unimpresa Association of Italian Entrepreneurs in Russia. So, the president of the Association, Vittorio Torrembini, supports us very much in organizing concerts with the participation of the musical group of the Italian comprehensive school named after Italo Calvino at the Consulate General of Italy in Moscow. At this school, the children get international education in Italian, and at their musical lessons under the guidance of the ensemble artistic director Antonio Gramsci, the children learn to sing and play such rare instruments as ukulele and kalimba, as well as flute and drums. In autumn their concert will be held at Russian State Children Library. Anita Mengon, CEO of the GIM-Unimpresa Association, helps in all our endeavors and initiatives, she is the co-host of the celebrations of the “Italian Seasons”. Her help is invaluable.
In general, everything we create is done with love and enthusiasm, and I can’t say that we are experiencing difficulties. We are very pleased to cooperate with such institutions as the Russian State Library (Leninka), the Pashkov House, the Russian State Children’s Library, the Museum of the Russian Icon, the Russian National Museum of Music, the A.A.Bakhrushin Theater Museum, etc. And our favorite information partner is the Orpheus radio station.
E.B: Yes, in such a short time really the such wonderful partners appeared, and it pleases. What events within the “Italian Seasons” would you determine as the most significant?
A.D: This year has been declared the year of the family. For those who are interested in the history of Moscow and architecture, as part of our project, a family lecture “Soviet Architecture and Design 1930-1950” family lecture from the “Italian Walks in Moscow” cycle with the participation of Matteo Commonara, a member of the Club of Young Art Critics at the Pushkin State Museum and Alexandra Sankova, director of the Moscow Design Museum.
E.B.: It’s very interesting – Moscow – through the eyes of an Italian!
A.D.: There will be two meetings. In the first lecture, “Architecture and the history of the Moscow metro,” Matteo will tell how on Christmas Eve 1933, the whole of Moscow got stuck in a huge traffic jam. After all, then it was decided to build a subway on the Berlin model. Then it was made the metro plan Sokolniki to Gorky Park of Culture and Recreation and with a branch to Smolenskaya. And in November, the second lecture “Interior design, decoration of the Moscow metro, lecture halls of the Moscow State University, some Moscow hotels, dormitories, etc.” will be held, where it will be told that the architectural heritage of the USSR is an integral part of our history. The Stalinist Empire style in residential and public architecture is an urgent topic until the remaining buildings collapse.
E.B.: Are there any plots of your project outside the sphere of music, architecture, and painting?
A.D.: Yes! Most recently, the International Academy of Transport (IAT) became our partner. One of the activities of IAT is the “Book Diplomacy” international scientific and cultural project which is being implemented together with the “Technosphere” publishing house. Four books by world-famous Italian scientists have been published in Russian. These are “Red Moon. Soviet conquest of space” by Massimo Capaccioli, “A Thousand and One Nights, Astronomical Studies”, as well as “The Invisible Universe” by Antonino del Popolo. Russian scientists, cosmonauts and specialist in specialized industries were the responsible editors of the books. We participate in the presentation of these books, so scientific ones have been added to our cultural events.
E.B.: This year, Alessandro Swab, an amazing Italian opera bass, teacher, Holder of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, head of the international project “Il Belcanto italiano oltre i confini” – “Italian Belcanto without borders” International project is taking part in your project. In 2008 he founded the Accademia Lirica Santa Croce in Trieste, Italy. Accademia Lirica Santa Croce di Trieste is an international singing school, a laboratory that gives young singers an opportunity to participate in operatic training productions. How do you collaborate with him?
A.D.: The point is that Maestro is active in creative and teaching activities both in Italy and in Russia. He is always invited to the jury of many vocal competitions and congresses. And as a part of the “Italian Seasons” project, in autumn we are planning a creative meeting between Alessandro Swab and fans of opera singing and conducting vocal master classes in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Pskov and other Russian cities.
E.B.: By the way, tell about the regional component of your project. Are there any peculiarities in organizing events outside Moscow or St. Petersburg?
A.D.: Of course there is. Cultural life in the regions is not as rich as in the capitals, so any opportunity to touch Italy is always an event. Our evenings are held in a warm and cozy atmosphere, intimate, family-style. For example, on July 20 in Uglich the events of the “Italian Seasons” project are included in the cultural program of the city day celebration. A chamber music concert is planned with the participation of students of the Yaroslavl Music School (College) named after L. V. Sobinov and multimedia lecture “The history of the image of musical instruments in the works of Italian painters.” The events will take place in the Red Living Room of the Uglich Kremlin exhibition space.
E.B.: I can’t resist asking the traditional question about your future plans. What do you expect for the Italian Seasons project next year?
A.D.: In 2025, we will have another format of events. Priority right to participate in chamber music concerts of the “Italian Seasons” project will be given to the winners of the International Competition of Composers and Chamber Music Performers “Winterreise – Winter Way”. We have already agreed on this matter with the organizer and artistic director of the international festival – competition “Winterreise”, pianist Natalya Korshunova. For eleven years she has been devoting all her strength to her project and as a result it has become one of the notable events in the musical life of Moscow and even abroad (the Winterreise festival is named after the vocal cycle of the same name by the great composer Franz Schubert). Next year, the “Winterreise” competition will be held in January-February, and already in the new season of our project, it will be possible to hear the laureates at the chamber music concerts.
E.B.: How does the “Italian Seasons” project influence the perception of Italian culture in Russia and vice versa?
A.D.: Our project is attracting more and more interest every year. We see that it has many fans. The goal of the project is preservation of cultural heritage and continuation of the traditions of classical painting, music, literature and architecture. Strengthening friendly relations between our countries, built on the ideology of cultural development and family values.
Events poster www.adgroupart.ru/italianseasons
