Moscow's Epic "Victory Readings"
Mnemonic Sessions: Blending Books and Tunes on the Russian Conflict
It's time to journey back to the chilly night of December 4-5, 2024, when the intriguing event called "Victory Readings" lit up the Mayakovskaya metro station in Moscow. With a rockin' lineup featuring the talents of Valeriy Barinov, Sergey Potapov, and others, the night churned out masterpieces from renowned writers and poets like Konstantin Simonov, Alexander Tvardovsky, and Daniil Granin.
But this wasn't just about listening to great literature. The lucky attendees included students from local universities, leaders of volunteer organizations, and other active citizens, all gathering together for an inspiring night.
Immersive videos showcasing the Great Patriotic War were streamed, and the platforms became a canvas for two thematic trains, "Museum of Victory" and "Heroes of the Nation." These trains donned designs commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War, hinting at the historical gravity that loomed over the event.
In between performances, the crowd was treated to fascinating anecdotes about the Moscow metro and its resilience during the war. As the night wore on, the hauntingly beautiful song, "The Tenth Our Parachute Battalion," sung by the choir of the Sretensky Monastery, filled the air. Many stood up and belted along, joining together in a shared experience immersed in the legacy of our past.
Volgograd's Battle Tales
In the heart of Volgograd, the museum-panorama "Stalingrad Battle" bore witness to 18 heart-wrenching narratives about the Great Patriotic War and the Battle of Stalingrad. This thrilling event drew in the talents of notable artists like Yevgeny Knyazev, Lidiya Velicheva, and others, as well as locals who marveled at the performances.
The event reached its peak when the choir from the "Tsaritsyn Opera" theater graced the stage. Their chilling renditions echoed the memories of a time long gone but not forgotten.
Kaliningrad's Memorable Show
Moving on to the historic Zarya cinema in Kaliningrad, "Victory Readings" took a dramatic turn as the talents of Robert Rozhdestvensky, Rasul Gamzatov, and other authors were recited.
The event featured performers from the Moscow Art Theatre named after Chekhov and Kaliningrad theaters who brought to life literary and documentary works about the heroism of Soviet sailors and naval battles.
To add to the spectacle, the Baltic Fleet's twice Red Banner Song and Dance Ensemble put on a show-stopping performance. The event was wrapped up with Kaliningrad Oblast Governor Alexei Besprozvanny sharing his thoughts on the importance of events like this in strengthening our youth's understanding of our history.
Across the CIS
But Moscow, Volgograd, and Kaliningrad weren't the only cities keeping the spirit of the past alive. In Tashkent, the renowned artist Dmitry Kharatyan and local figures paid tribute to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War through songs by Bulat Okudzhava, David Samoilov, and others.
Meanwhile, in Minsk, the main focus of the readings centered around the partisan movement, with Merited Artists of Belarus, Ruslan Alekhno and Andrey Dushechkin, and other notable artists filling the room with the words of Yakub Kolas**, Konstantin Simonov, and other authors.
"Victory Readings" is more than just a cultural project; it's a collective effort aimed at preserving the remarkable resilience of Red Army soldiers and ordinary people during the Great Patriotic War. Public figures, artists, and activists from across the CIS are joining together to keep the memories of our heroes burning bright.
- The upcoming anniversary of the Great Patriotic War will be marked by a series of "Victory Readings" events, with the initial one held at the Mayakovskaya metro station in Moscow.
- Famous performances were delivered by Valeriy Barinov, Sergey Potapov, and others, accompanied by works from Konstantin Simonov, Alexander Tvardovsky, and Daniil Granin.
- The event catered to students, leaders of volunteer organizations, and active citizens, promoting education-and-self-development and personal-growth.
- Immersive videos about the Great Patriotic War were screened, while thematic trains, "Museum of Victory" and "Heroes of the Nation," showcased designs commemorating the anniversary.
- Between performances, captivating anecdotes about the Moscow metro's resilience during the war were shared.
- In the chilly air of December, the choir of the Sretensky Monastery sang "The Tenth Our Parachute Battalion," uniting attendees in a shared experience.
- Volgograd hosted its own event at the museum-panorama "Stalingrad Battle," featuring the talents of Yevgeny Knyazev, Lidiya Velicheva, and others.
- The choir from the "Tsaritsyn Opera" theater provided a poignant climax with their haunting renditions.
- In Kaliningrad, Robert Rozhdestvensky, Rasul Gamzatov, and other authors' works were recited at the Zarya cinema, with performances by artists like those from the Moscow Art Theatre named after Chekhov and Kaliningrad theaters.
- The Baltic Fleet's twice Red Banner Song and Dance Ensemble performed, and Kaliningrad Oblast Governor Alexei Besprozvanny highlighted the event's importance for career-development and understanding history.
- Similar events were held in Tashkent and Minsk, where Dmitry Kharatyan, Ruslan Alekhno, Andrey Dushechkin, and other artists celebrated the heroes of the Great Patriotic War with songs and literary works.
- With collaboration from public figures, artists, and activists across the CIS, the "Victory Readings" project aims to preserve the remarkable resilience of Red Army soldiers and pioneers during the Great Patriotic War, becoming a significant part of pop-culture, general-news, crime-and-justice, accidents, sports, weather, movies-and-tv, social-media, entertainment, politics, and sci-fi-and-fantasy.
