GlavUpDK under the MFA of Russia held a party for the diplomatic corps, called “The Great Russian Storyteller in Music”, which took place at the Reception House of the Russian Foreign Ministry and was dedicated to the 180th anniversary of N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov. The event was timed to coincide with the celebration of Russia Day.

It was opened by Vyacheslav Fatin, Head of GlavUpDK under the MFA of Russia, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Gediminas Taranda, and Ekaterina Shapovalova, initiator and manager of the Food Map of Russia project.

“This evening dedicated to our most important national holiday, Russia Day, we will turn over another page of rich Russian culture and get acquainted with the work of the great Russian composer N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov. We have prepared for you a real musical fairy tale, into the atmosphere of which we invite you to immerse yourself,” said Vyacheslav Fatin. He thanked the partners who contributed to the party, with special thanks to Kaluga Governor Vladislav Shapsha.

That evening, the garden of the legendary Zinaida Morozova’s Mansion on Spiridonovka Street was transformed to combine fairy-tale motifs from different countries and eras. The party was opened by colorful Parade of Fairy Tales, involving students of Moscow Art Industrial Institute (MHPI), MHPI President Alexey Egorov, and Gediminas Taranda.

The cultural program included the premiere of a Scheherazade ballet fragment that was performed by soloists of the Imperial Russian Ballet directed by Gediminas Taranda. It was starring Bolshoi Theater artists Deymante Taranda and Ilya Karpovich, while music for the vibrant performance was played by the Richter Kaluga Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Alexey Lavrentyev.

The event’s highlight was a display from the holdings of Bakhrushin State Central Theater Museum, which presented scenery designs for Rimsky-Korsakov’s operas by A.M. Vasnetsov, M.A. Vrubel, N.A. Benois, K.A. Korovin, and B.M. Kustodiev, in addition to costume desins created by I.Ya.Bilibin and F.F. Fyodorovsky. The fairy-tale and magic atmosphere was complemented by dolls from Irina Gromova’s Gallery. In addition, the educational part highlighted a bust of N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov created by sculptor, honorary academician of the Russian Academy of Arts G.V. Pototsky.

At the end, there was a Russian-style buffet “Magic Tablecloth” for visitors to taste delicious treats offered by Food Map of Russia participants, namely, Perepechkin (Republic of Udmurtia), Tsar Kurnik (Rostov Region), Azbuka Severa (Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Dagestanskaya Lavka (Republic of Dagestan), Mark and Lev (Tula Region), Murmanchane (St. Petersburg), Altai Myaso (Altai Territory), Kamchatsky Dom (Kamchatka Territory), V Karelii – Est (Republic of Karelia), Arctic Moon (Murmansk Region), Orda (Republic of Buryatia), Daar (Chechen Republic), Kolokolnikov Chai (Tyumen Region).