Belarus’ Bolshoi Theatre invites joint celebration of traditional ‘Old calendar’ New Year festivities

Involving every guest in the action

Belarus’ Bolshoi Theatre invites joint celebration of traditional ‘Old calendar’ New Year festivities

In 2010, a wonderful tradition was born: on the night of 13th-14th January, the country’s major theatre — Belarus’ National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre — invites everyone to jointly celebrate the ‘Old calendar’ New Year holiday.

Belarus’ Bolshoi Theatre invites joint celebration of traditional ‘Old calendar’ New Year festivities

Austrian Vienna is known as the global ‘ball’ capital, while Belarus’ Bolshoi Theatre is a hub for those who love elegant entertainments. The traditional festive programme includes thematic sessions: artistic, musical and poetic. Musical concerts across various genres take place on the major stage and in the lobby, with the ball lasting all night and closing with a gala concert, at which the brightest participants are awarded. Organisers have managed to find the ideal formula for the event, with every guest involved.

The ‘Old calendar’ New Year starts on January 13th at 8.30pm, finishing on January 14th, at 3.00am. The festive ball opens with a parade of Bolshoi Theatre stars. Its dance programme traditionally begins with the Russian Ball and solemn polonaise. At 11pm, a concert-surprise — New Year Express — is scheduled, inspired by a romantic fairytale. At midnight, theatre artistes will join guests in welcoming in the ‘Old calendar’ New Year, with glasses of champagne in their hands. The dance programme will then continue with a delicate Viennese ball of music by Strauss and Lehar. Meanwhile, guests in the Tango salon will be able to learn some passionate dance movements from a dance master, free of charge, at an improvised ball dancing school.

New Year Ball at the Bolshoi Theatre is a good tradition

The theme of the New Year Express will dominate the ball, with the main hall and part of the lobby transformed into improvised railway stations and the city streets of various world capitals. Artists, jugglers and mime artistes will entertain in the romantic Italian style corner, while the Eastern salon will transport dancers to the Orient. Students of the Belarusian State Arts Academy will stage a flexible hokku-inspired composition and there will be performances by several musical troupes. The Alexandrovskaya Chamber Hall will host original concert programmes: Laughing Opera and Blue Light. The poetic salon will host Muses Serve while the Astrology salon will offer Tarot card reading. The theatre lounge will host ‘live’ statuettes, available for photographs, and illusionists will demonstrate their magic.

After midnight, the programme will continue with the Elemental Theatre of Fire and Light, and celebrations will close with a concert by the ‘fantasy-folk’ Irdorad band, performing medieval folk and compositions performed on rare musical instruments such as the bouzouki, didgeridoo and dudelzak.

The dress code is evening or ball dress for ladies, while men must come in dinner jackets or elegant costume.

By Mikhail Svetlov
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