Manama: Unique pictures brought by two Russian cosmonauts from space expeditions will feature in the Days of Russian culture in Manama this month.
“The exhibition ‘Space’ is prepared by the State Museum and Exhibition Centre (Rosphoto) and presents the photos brought by Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergei Krikalev from space expeditions,” Viktor Smirnov, the Russian ambassador to Bahrain, said. “Among the images of countries, continents, mountains and glaciers, there are unique shots taken in outer space.”
Russian jewellery, woodwork, handicraft, folk dance and horn music will also feature in the Russian culture days to be held in Manama on November 17-21.
Both Bahrain and Russia said that they looked forward to giving a new impetus to their cultural ties as the Bahraini capital hosts performances and exhibitions that reflect some of Russia’s traditional splendour.
“The Russian embassy is very enthusiastic in arranging the Days of Russian culture in Bahrain,” Smirnov said. “These special days are one of the most remarkable events in the Russian-Bahraini cultural cooperation and bilateral relations. We appreciate the personal efforts of Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Culture Minister, in promoting the Russian traditions and cultural wealth,” he added.
The diplomat said that he was optimistic about the success of the cultural event in Manama.
“We look forward to everybody enjoying the performances and exhibitions during the Days of Russian culture,” Smirnov said.
The performance by Lezginka, the Dagestan State Academic Folk Dance Group, known for its fiery, temperamental dances from the Mountain Country, will be one of the highlights of the event.
Smirnov said that Lezginka was founded in 1958.
“For more than half a century the ensemble visited 65 countries and became the winner of 48 world famous festivals of folk dance. It has created and performed more than 100 dances acquainting the audience with the national customs and traditions of the Russian people as well as peoples of Dagestan and other nations of Caucasus,” he said.
Art critics have regularly heaped praise on Lezginka’s display of traditional folk songs and dances, sumptuous costumes and outstanding acrobatics.
The diplomat said that “The Horn Orchestra of Russia” was a unique band from Saint-Petersburg.
“It was founded in 2006 giving the second birth to the genre of the Russian horn music, which appeared in Russia more than 250 years ago. After six years of its creative activity, the band performed more than 400 concerts in Russia and abroad. The repertoire of the Horn Orchestra includes pieces by the world-renowned classics and those by contemporary composers, church music and military band music.”
The Horn Orchestra of Russia, conducted by Serge Polyanichko, is expected to add new admirers to its long list of professional musicians, historians, art and musical critics and audiences that have paid tribute to its successful revival of the traditions of horn music performances.
“The North Ossetia-Alania handicrafts’ exhibition” consists of jewellery, woodwork, pottery, traditional woman’s dresses and artistic Ossetian craftwork.
Bahrain established diplomatic relations with the then Soviet Union in 1990. Manama recognised the Russian Federation on December 28, 1991 as the successor state of the Soviet Union after its dissolution.
Smirnov, 57, became Russia’s ambassador to Bahrain in 2008. He joined the diplomatic service in 1980.
