Events This Week

"Soviet Communal Living: An Oral History of the Kommunalka," 1219 SIPA, 12:15 pm (Tuesday)

Please join the Harriman Institute and the Slavic Department to mark the publication of Paola Messana’s new book Soviet Communal Living: An Oral History of the Kommunalka (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011).

Soviet Communal Living: An Oral History of the Kommunalka brings together fascinating testimonies from thirty inhabitants of the “Kommunalka,” the communal apartments that were a common feature of Russian cities during the Soviet era. Beginning in 1920, multiple Russian families—purposefully selected from different social classes—were relocated and crammed together into single apartments. The intent was not simply to level out class differences, but also to create spy networks within homes and extend the government’s surveillance and control over citizens. Possibly the most important social experiment undertaken by the Soviet regime, the Kommunalka arguably had as much as if not more of an effect on the experiences of inhabitants than external political realities. Soviet Communal Livingoffers a fascinating glimpse into the circumstances that defined daily life for millions of citizens during the seven decades of communist rule—and, in some cases, long after.

Paola Messana is the New York Bureau Chief of Agence France-Presse, and the agency’s former Moscow Bureau Chief. She holds degrees in Russian from the Sorbonne and Political Science from the Paris Institute of Political Studies.

********************************************************

"Lyric Poetry and Modern Politics: Russia, Poland, and the West," NYU, 5:30 pm (Wednesday)

A lecture by Clare Cavanagh on Milosz, Szymborska, Akhmatova, and Mandelstam.

20 Cooper Square
7th Floor
New York, NY 10003

Tickets: Free and open to the public
Telephone: 212.998.2190

********************************************************

Nevrus (Noruz, etc.) Celebration @ DROM, 8:00 pm (Doors at 7:00 pm) (Wednesday)

Amir Vahab and his Ensemble will perform songs selected from the poetry of the great Sufi Masters Rumi, Hafez, Yunus Emre as well as folkloric songs from different parts of Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan. The lively folk and traditional music featuring the etherial sounding Ney (mystical reed flute), Oud/Ud (the short neck lute), Tanbur (ancient three-stringed long-necked lute), Saz (seven-stringed long neck lute), Daf/Def (large frame drum associated with Sufi rituals), Dohol/Davul (Double-headed folk drum used most often in celebrations) and Tombak (Persian goblet drum). The concert concludes with a dynamic drumming performance that echoes the universal heartbeat of existence.

The New York Times calls him the "ambassador for a silenced music."

Amir Alan Vahab is one of New York’s most celebrated and distinguished composer / vocalists of sufi and folk music. He sings in nine different languages with a unique mystical style. The virtuosos of Amir weave fiery instrumentals and songs of the Ancient land of the Middle East that include Persian, Turkish, Azeri and beyond. As an instrumentalist, he plays and teaches the tar, setar, tanbour, saz, oud, ney, daf and zarb.

Kazakh ethno-rock band "Ulytau" was formed in 2001 with the aim to highlight and convey to the audience the beauty of folk songs, to promote among youth the art of playing the dombra and present the world the greatness of the Kazakh national heritage. The word "Ulytau" in Kazakh language means "Great Mountain". Group Ulytau "- a real breakthrough in the world and home of contemporary instrumental music that the band with such enthusiasm and drive, perform the works of the greatest composers, such as: Kurmangazy Dauletkerey, Tattimbet, N. Tlendiev, Bach, Vivaldi, Paganini. The guys from "Ulytau" is equally passionate about how to find cover versions of classics and the works of Kazakh classics in their own interpretation of the rich - very compacted in sound and dramatically associate opus. They hear the gusts of wind of the steppe, mnitsya smell of sun-scorched grass, seen proud gait graceful thoroughbreds, the strict gaze of elders, mesmerizing mystery ceremonial rituals ... Call it art, and "World Music". By the way, virtuoso electric guitar riffs in "Ulytau" bring to mind similar exercises Ritchie Blackmore, and dynamic and very charismatic rumbling bass - Roger Glover. Musicians with talent inkrustiruyut traditionally bright sounding violins and distinctly focused - Kazakh national instrument dombra a rigid aesthetic of hard rock, blues and ... relaxing New Age.

AND...

Mugam 4lusu from Azerbaijan.

Advance Price: $10; Door Price: $15

********************************************************

CONFERENCE: Franz Liszt and the Birth of Modern Europe (Thursday-Friday)

This conference is sponsored by Columbia University’s East Central European Center, the Harriman Institute, the European Institute and the Consulate General of the Republic of Hungary. Please RSVP to ece@columbia.edu.

********************************************************

MOVIE: Outbound (

Bogdan George Apetri,

2010) 9:00 pm (Thursday @ MoMa) or 5:30 pm (Saturday @ Film Society of Lincoln Center)

"The march of New Romanian Cinema continues apace in this quietly gripping drama that steadily descends into a dog-eat-dog netherworld in which matter-of-fact exploitation and reflexive avarice are givens. Two years into a five-year prison sentence, Matilda is given a day pass to attend her mother’s funeral. In the 24 hours that follow, the camera tracks this determined and unsentimental woman as she relentlessly pursues her goal of finding the money she needs to skip the country for good. As single-minded as its protagonist, this brisk, hard-edged, and businesslike film bears many of the hallmarks of the new generation of talented Romanian filmmakers. With his first feature, Bogdan George Apetri deservedly joins their ranks."

Click here for more information.

********************************************************

"Global Models, National Strategies: Higher Education Policy in Russia," 136 Thompson Hall, Teachers College, 525 West 120th St., 2:00pm–5:00pm (Thursday)

Since 2005, the Russian government has pursued ambitious programs to modernize its education system, with particular attention to higher education and internationalization. Russia has introduced a universal state exam, EGE, for college admission; established elite research and federal universities by providing them with additional funding; allowed for private business and research universities to grow, and actively joined the Bologna Process, etc. Has Russia attained its goal? Have these reforms been successful? How will these impact Russia, CEE/CIS, and Europe?

Panelists include: Alexander Karp (Teachers College, Columbia University), Ben Eklof (Indiana University), Harley Balzer (Georgetown University), Mark Johnson (University of Wisconsin-Madison), and Iveta Silova (Lehigh University).

This event is co-sponsored by the Harriman Institute and Teachers College. This event is FREE and open to the public.

********************************************************

MOVIE: Loves of a Blonde (

Milos Forman,

1965) Film Society of Lincoln Center, 1:00 pm (Friday)

Teen romance behind the Iron Curtain turns comic and bittersweet in Forman’s small-town story, involving an awkward party, a pianist, and a lovelorn girl.

Click here for more information.

********************************************************

"Kandinsky at the Bauhaus, 1922–1933" at the Guggenheim (Info)

********************************************************

Zlatne Uste Brass Band, Drom, 10:30 pm (Doors at 10:00 pm) (Saturday)

From Kolos to Kusturica, experience the rich sounds of driving Balkan brass. Zlatne Uste (Golden Lips) is an internationally known group of American-born musicians playing traditional music of the Balkans, primarily representing Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Romany (Gypsy) traditions. Four-time invited guest at the Dragachevo Brass Festival in Gucha, Serbia, the 12-piece band is among the foremost presenters of traditional Balkan dance music in the United States. Each year Zlatne Uste hosts and produces the Golden Festival, New York's biggest and best Balkan music festival with an astounding 40 or more bands and something for everyone. (Info)

Advance Price: $10; Door Price: $15

********************************************************

Russian National Ballet's Romeo & Juliet, Lehman Center, 4:00 pm (Sunday)

The 35-member Russian National Ballet brings one of the greats of Russian classical ballet, Romeo & Juliet scored by Tchaikovsky. The ballet portrays Shakespeare's famous romantic tragedy of young lovers thwarted by a family feud. Artistic Director and founder of the company Elena Radchenko is dedicated to upholding the grand national tradition of Russian ballet, while developing new talent. This performance recreates the original choreography of the legendary Marius Petipa.

With a company of 35 dancers, including a large corps de ballet, the Russian National Ballet Theatre has upheld the grand tradition of major Russian ballet works. The troupe returns to Lehman Center to bring to life the beautiful tale of William Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. This performance is set to the remarkable score by Tchaikovsky.

(Info)

********************************************************

"In the Mirrors" by the Dialogue Theater, 5:00 pm (Sunday)

ENCORE PERFORMANCE!

Please celebrate with us World Theater Day as the Dialogue Theater presents the encore performance of "In the Mirrors," dedicated to the fascinating Silver Age of Russian poetry. The scene is set in St. Petersburg between 1910-1913 at the legendary "The Stray Dog Cafe." The play celebrates the legacy of Russian poetry and the cultural figures of the Silver Age: A. Akhmatova, N. Gumilev, Kuzmin, O. Mandel’shtam and others. The script is based on excerpts from their widely acclaimed poetry, compilations of rare memoirs, letters, musical improvisations, romances and documentary film clips.

Written and adapted by: Irina Volkovich
Cast: R. Galitch, I. Yesilevskaya, R. Freid, S. Gordeev, N. Romanova
Stage decoration: Kira Melamed, James Caratini
Sound and light: Yuriy Avezov
In Russian.

Read a review of the premiere performance of "In the Mirrors" here.

Tickets: $20, $17 for Shorefront Y members, seniors, students
Shorefront YM-YWHA
3300 Coney Island Ave Brooklyn NY 11235
718-646-1444 ext 326
www.shorefronty.org/arts