Russian Folk Music Concert

Date: February 27th, 2009

Time: 7:00 pm

Location: Russian Orthodox Community Center at 617 Sand Creek Rd, Colonie, NY

Description: Moscow Traditional Russian Instruments Ensemble Razdolie will give a two hour performance of traditional Russian music including a musical surprise for the American public. The group is not paid Festival performers, the Festival promoters are trying to reinburse their travel expences.

Admission: Free, donations are appreciated

An Exhibition of Traditional Russian Costumes from 19th to Early 20th cc

Date: February 21st, 2009
Time: 10:00am - 4:00 pm

Date: February 22nd, 2009
Time: 12:00pm - 4:00 pm

Location: Albany Institute of History & Art at 125 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12210

Admission: free with paid museum admission. Phone:518-463-4478

Exhibit Description: Get a sneak peek at the first annual Russian Winter Festival of the Capital District when the Albany Institute hosts a pre-festival exhibition of traditional Russian costumes.

The display will be on view in the Institute’s Key Cultural Center and includes 15 genuine Russian costumes from a private collection in Moscow. Noted for their richness and diversity of form, the costumes reflect the stylistic features of each represented region and high artistic mastery.

The exhibition will include musical performances by the Ensemble of Russian Folk Instruments "Razdolie".

The opening reception is held on February 21st at 11:00 am.

An Exhibition of Russian Art

Date: February 1- 27, 2009
Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location: Town Hall of Colonie at 534 Loudon Rd, Newtonville, NY 12128

Admission: Free

Exhibit Description:

Russian landscape paintings, quilts, decorative wood burned plates crafted by Russian artisans.

The reception is held on February 25th at 4:00 pm.

Traditional Russian dresses from the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries will be put on display, thanks to the collector Sergey Glebushkin from Moscow, Russia.

The ensemble of Russian Traditional Instruments Razdolie from Moscow brings a new dimension of traditional Russian folk instruments presenting music of different styles. The group includes the young artists whose combined musical experiences demonstrate mastery of both their instruments and the music they present.

The Kozak Family Trio is a world renowned musical group. Valentina , Alexander and Olyia have been in the United States since 1990. Valentina holds numerous world titles including "Distinguished Artist of Belarus" and the "Best Performer of European Folklore" (Bratislava 1986).

Russian music, dance and song Ensemble Barynya was established in 1991 in New York City. Barynya presents Russian, music, songs, virtuoso performances on balalaika, garmoshka (Russian folk button accordion), balalaika contrabass, bayan accordion, Gypsy guitar.

At the Festival ensemble "Barynya" will provide outdoor entertainment for adults and children. Barynya performance will include folk music, dancing, costume characters appearances, interaction with public.

Maslenitsa (Pancake week) is the only purely Russian Holiday that dates back to the pagan times. For seven days russian towns and villages jingle with bells, sing with garmoshkas and glare with gaily-painted dresses. The people are letting the long-annoying winter out and the long-awaited spring in.

The ounters in the Maslenitsa town are groaning with various dainties. There are the paunchy samovars with mellow tea, bunches of sweet-scented barankas, nuts and honey pies. Salted foods, various fish, caviar - choose and eat anything however much you like!

But the essential elements, of course, are pancakes (blini). Pancake is a symbol of sun. It is as round, gold and warm as the sun. Pancakes are served hot with either butter, or sour cream, or caviar, or mushrooms, or sturgeon - to any exquisite taste.

Where else can you take a horse-drawn sledge ride that will take your breath away? Or take a jaunty slip down an enormous ice slope? Or go round on a giant carousel? The Great Maslenitsa will reel you round in a dancing fairy-circle and your feet won't be able to keep still to the sprightly chastooshkas (gaily songs) and byword. Clowns and skomorokhs (histrions) will make you laugh to tears. The show goes on and on in the balagans (Punch-and-Judy shows) and theatres. And those who will not want to be simply a spectator can take part in the masquerade: to dress up beyond recognition or to muffle in a long fur coat and to drink a glass of vodka or a bear.

On the last day of the Great Maslenitsa the feasting and drinking ends up by burning down the scarecrow symbolizing winter thus saying goodbye to winter till the next year.

For the Russians Maslenitsa is like a carnival for the Italians, especially because the initial sense of festivals is the same: the Italian word "carnival" (carne-vale) means "farewell the beef!", and Maslenitsa that precedes the Great Lent, in old time was called "Myasopust" because it was forbidden to eat meat during this week.

The last day of Maslenitsa is called the Forgiveness Day. Everybody ask one another for forgiveness in order to redeem themselves from their sins before the Great Lent. They bow to one another and say, "God will forgive you". Maslenitsa is over and so is the winter giving way to the spring.

Everybody knows what the Russian Soul is! This is prowess, dare-devilry, and, of course, the famous Russian hospitality.

Sponsoring the Festival is an excellent way to support our community's cultural landscape as well as build recognition for your organization at the same time.

The levels of sponsorship:

Level: $150 - $349
Recognition: company’s logo in a special section of the Festival program
Benefits: two complimentary tickets to the Festival.

Level: $350 - $499
Recognition: company’s logo and a business card’s size ad in the Festival program
Benefits: two complimentary tickets to the Festival.

Level: $500 - $999
Recognition: company’s logo and 1/3 page ad in the Festival program, the logo (with hyperlink) on the festival web site for one year, ending on January 1, 2010.
Benefits: four complimentary tickets to the Festival.

Level: $1,000 +
Recognition: company’s logo and a half page ad in the Festival program, the logo (with hyperlink) on the festival web site for one year ending on January 1, 2010, and space to hang your signage at the Festival grounds.
Benefits: four complimentary VIP All-Event Passes.
Special Events: invitation to The Center’s annual Donor's dinner.

Your support is very important because it will enhance the Russian Winter Festival’s stature as a regional cultural event. Regardless of the size of your contribution or the motivation behind it, we are grateful for your gift.

Please contact Tanya Lichtenwalter at 518-364-6321 or email at lichten@newrussiacenter.org

 

The craft vendors lending to the authenticity of the Russian Winter Festival are welcome.

Please fill out the Vendors Application Form. Please download the Word document on your computer, save and email it to events@newrussiacenter.org.