A unique Christmas concert at the intersection of musical genres took place at the National Centre RUSSIA
On January 7, the concert hall of the National Centre RUSSIA
hosted the musical evening "Living Windows of Christmas". The
multi-genre concert program, dedicated to the story of the Christmas night,
featured soloists from the country’s leading theatres, renowned conductors, and
creative ensembles.
The large-scale program included performances by Merited Artist of Russia and Bolshoi Theatre soloist Agunda Kulayeva, Mariinsky Theatre soloist Natalia Pavlova, Bolshoi Theatre soloist Ksenia Dezhneva, Mariinsky Theatre soloist Alexander Trofimov, Mariinsky Theatre soloist Andrei Serov, European Champion, eight-time Russian Champion, and World Champion in beatboxing Vakhtang, and other stars.
The conductors were Merited Artist of Russia and Bolshoi
Theatre conductor Pavel Sorokin, as well as one of the most sought-after
conductors in Russia and worldwide, the Russian-Italian conductor Fabio
Mastrangelo.
"As an Orthodox Christian, I greatly value Christmas, and every year we come up with something new for this holiday. This year, of course, the concert is grandiose, so I believe the audience will be delighted to hear familiar melodies as well. I hope this concert will become a new Christmas tradition. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I wish you happiness — the more, the better," said Fabio Mastrangelo.
The program was divided into three thematic sections,
presented as three "windows." The first one, "Christmas Carols on
Christmas Eve. Traditions," embodied the ancient custom of singing carols
on Christmas night. Slavic folklore is rich with stories about carolers who
crafted stars, dressed up, and went door to door singing songs. The hosts
always warmly welcomed their guests, offering treats and bidding them farewell
with kindness.
"Carols are wonderful; they remind me of my childhood when I also went caroling. And I am certain that all carolers are united by one emotion — the feeling of happiness, the anticipation of a miracle, magic, and a fairy tale," noted Agunda Kulayeva.
In the second section, "Opera at the Christmas Ball.
Aspiration for the Future," after passing through the living window, the
audience found themselves at a luxurious and majestic Christmas ball. Through
operatic compositions from Russia and around the world, the traditions, beauty,
and sophistication of Christmas balls were showcased. The concert combined
various genres in real time. On one stage, the audience heard Tchaikovsky's
Christmas music, carols performed by the vocal ensemble ARIELLE and the
"Paraskeva" ensemble led by Inna Kameneva, world opera hits,
classical arias, and fragments from operettas mixed with beatboxing.
"Today’s concert will feature not just beatboxing; it will be the very best beatboxing, as it’s performed by the world champion. Not long ago, I had a solo concert in the Kremlin. The program was classical, but Vakhtang also participated in it. And I think that such collaborations allow a wider audience, perhaps those without a deep knowledge of classical music, to get closer to this genre," emphasized Ksenia Dezhneva.
That evening, people of all generations gathered at the
National Centre RUSSIA to spend time together and listen to the magical music
of Christmas. The concert concluded with the section "Family Celebration.
The Present," which transformed into a cozy family gathering: the audience
could sing beloved songs from Soviet cinema, accompanied by the Russian
Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, along with soloists from the Bolshoi and
Mariinsky Theatres.
"Entire families always attend our orchestra’s concerts, and we strive to make them interesting for both children and adults. A significant number of large families come to our performances. It’s wonderful that both adults and children show interest in such concerts. It is very important that we pull these kids away from their computers. And, of course, enormous gratitude to the National Centre RUSSIA for the idea of such a wonderful, magical, and enchanting concert," said Gayane Shiladzhyan, head of the Russian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.
The concert conveys essential meanings and values — uniting
generations, reviving the tradition of caroling, blending traditions with
modern culture, fostering cultural development, and looking toward the future.
Therefore, it is particularly symbolic that it took place at the National
Centre RUSSIA.
"The National Centre RUSSIA is truly a unique and very interesting venue. First of all, the audience here doesn’t buy tickets. This means the state cares for its population, for its people, ensuring they can experience art for free — art that makes us better, touches our hearts, and inspires us to do good for the benefit of all society," concluded Andrei Serov.
The National Centre RUSSIA was established by order of the
President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to preserve the legacy of
the International RUSSIA EXPO and to showcase the achievements of the country
and its citizens on a permanent basis. Federal government agencies, state
companies, corporations, and regions take part in the Centre’s work.
The National Centre RUSSIA is located at 14
Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment, Moscow. The Centre is open from 10:00 to 20:00
every day except Monday.
