Season premiere in the Green Theater
This Saturday night the outdoor Green Theater at VDNH Park opens their summer season with a unique program of music for harps. The program will be performed by the much celebrated musician Alexander Boldachev accompanied by the Russian Ministry of Defense Orchestra. It will be conducted by Fabio Mastrangelo, “Russia’s most sought-after Italian born conductor,” who is artistic director of the Music Hall State Theater in St. Petersburg, the principal conductor and music director of two other St. Petersburg orchestras, the music director of the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra in Moscow — and that’s just in the two capitals. Come see why he is so popular and listen to magnificent music by Sergei Prokofiev, Reinhold Glière and other composers under the red moon. The performance begins at 8 p.m., and tickets, which range in price from 700 to 3,000 rubles, can be purchased here.
Small artistic treasures to see and buy
On Sunday the place to be in Moscow is the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center. First go inside for a lovely, refreshing, inspiring exhibition of small works by some of our favorite artists: Mikhail Vrubel, Isaak Levitan, Vasily Polenov, Ilya Repin, Lev Bakst, Kazimir Malevich and many, many more. The small-format works include sketches, unfinished works, and finishing pieces that are intentionally not large. This is a rare chance to admire works usually kept in storage and rarely put on display. For more information and tickets, see the site here.
Then come outside for the Lambada Market, Moscovites' favorite one-stop shopping opportunity for everything handmade, one-of-a-kind and fashionable. You can wander among the stands of designer goods that range from candles and cosmetics to shoes and suitcases. In between you’ll find clothing of every kind — lots of natural linen right now — jewelry, cups, shoes, slippers, writing books, toys, robes, nightclothes, kid’s clothes, household goods and even a freshly made batch of craft clutches (strapless purses, for those not in the know). There will also be a food court with a lot of delicious Israeli treats, plus live music and activities for the kids while parents shop. Open from noon to 10 p.m.
Break the rules in museums
The “old” Tretyakov Gallery is hosting its sixth international festival of chamber music called Vivarte. The concerts are held in the Vrubel Hall, giving you a feast for your eyes as well as your ears. On Saturday two pianists will perform Rakhmaninov, Gershwin and other composers, while on Sunday a sextet will play Stravinsky and Mozart. The concerts will continue through June 6; for more information and tickets, see the site here.
If you have a child who loves the Harry Potter and the Narnia books and movies, how about sand stories with music from the film versions of these stories? And how about these stories and music being performed live in one of the majestic halls of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts? The concert takes place at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets and information here. Be sure to bring your own wands.
A Legend of Love
In 1961 the young Yuri Grigorovich choreographed his second ballet, “A Legend of Love.” It was based on a play by the Turkish writer Nazym Hikmet, who had spun a tale from local legends, with music by Azerbaijani composer Alif Melikov. It is an atmospheric story of love and sacrifice involving two royal sisters, a handsome young artist, and a wizard. One sister sacrifices her beauty to save her sister and rues her choice. What will the young artist sacrifice to save his people? The ballet was a great success when it debuted at the Mariinsky Theater in (now) St. Petersburg, and you can see the revived production this Sunday on the historic stage of the Bolshoi Theater at 2 p.m.. Tickets still available on the Bolshoi site here.
Movie night
“Fast and Furious 9” has arrived in Moscow and is playing all weekend in English at a half-dozen theaters, including Pioner. If you are in the mood for a dystopian drama that hits close to home, check out “Nuevo Orden” (New Order), directed by Michel Franco in Spanish at several theaters around town. The Art Theater has a full schedule of films for adults and kids and one special event: On Sunday at 7 p.m., the theater is showing Sergei Eisenstein’s 1938 “Alexander Nevsky” in the grand hall — a rare screening that promises to be spectacular with the new sound system. For information about the program and tickets, see the site here.
