Cultural dialogue in a major anniversary year: Bolshoi Theatre delegation visits the National Centre RUSSIA

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A delegation from the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre visited the National Centre RUSSIA on a working visit. The meeting was held in the year marking the 250th anniversary of the country’s main theatre. The guests highly praised the concept and content of the space. They toured the exposition areas, concert hall and lecture halls, explored the "Geography Lessons" exposition and visited the Gastronomic Rows. However, the main part of the visit was a discussion of new formats for cooperation with the National Centre, from joint educational projects to exposition and music programmes bringing together two of the country’s leading cultural spaces.

The Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Natalia Virtuozova, noted that cooperation with the Bolshoi Theatre began almost in the first days of its work. Bolshoi soloists regularly take part in productions on the stage of the National Centre. Their performances have made it possible to implement a number of striking projects, each of which drew full houses, from the ballet "The Nutcracker" in multimedia scenery to the original multi-genre production "Morozko", based on the Russian fairy tale of the same name.

"The National Centre RUSSIA was established by order of President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin to showcase everything we are proud of. The Bolshoi Theatre is one of the country’s main cultural achievements. The first production featuring soloists of the Bolshoi Theatre was 'The Nutcracker', followed by 'Diaghilev Forever', and this year by 'Morozko'. But the most important thing for us is education. It is important to us that after each event, viewers are left not only with an impression, but also with knowledge they can take with them. That is why we are open to any formats of cooperation: podcasts, lecture halls, literary meetings and educational programmes. We are very pleased that the Bolshoi Theatre shares this approach. I hope that our cooperation will not only strengthen, but also expand, and that in the year of its 250th anniversary it will acquire special meaning," Natalia Virtuozova said. #IMAGE_78ae21f6-b1a8-4cff-8142-2a503003a45

The National Centre was visited on behalf of the Bolshoi Theatre by Deputy Director General Yekaterina Nekrasova, Assistant to the Director General Anna Kasatkina and staff members of the Museum of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia.

They spoke about the upcoming anniversary events and invited the management of the National Centre RUSSIA to take a tour of the Bolshoi Theatre. The guests noted that the Bolshoi Theatre is not only a space for outstanding productions, but also a guardian of rich history. Its archives contain evidence of many decades of vibrant creative life. These unique exhibits are rarely seen by the general public, but form an integral part of our country’s cultural legacy.