Vitebsk as a Cultural Centre

Mr.A. - During my visit to Minay Shmiryov Museum I saw photos of your

town on the day of its liberation. The town was left in ruins. But

now it is a modern town with wide streets and avenues lined with

trees, comfortable residential quarters and up-to-date

administrative buildings.

Kate - And even with its own Palace of Sports. Our people have done very

much to build the town anew. And you know, Mr. Adams, the

famous astrologer Pavel Globa predicted that Vitebsk would

become the capital of Belarus. And indeed, there is something in his

prediction. Though Vitebsk is not very large, with the population

of only 341,000 people (in 1999), it is becoming an important

cultural centre. Some people even call it the Northern Star of

Belarus.

Mr.A. - What makes them think so?

Kate - Vitebsk is famous for its cultural events. There are 5 or 6 festivals a

year here.

Mr.A. - That’s quite a number for a town. What are they, I wonder?

Kate - In summer the town is the host of the International Festival of Arts,

called Slavonic Bazaar. It is rather popular with singers and pop

music groups, to say nothing of the audience. And its popularity

constantly grows - from 25 to 30 countries are represented at the

festival every year.

Mr.A. - And what does the programme of the festival consist of?

Kate - It is rather diverse. It includes concerts of pop stars, a competition

of young singers, a film festival, a children’s musical contest, art

exhibitions and even a Miss Slav competition. The programme is

getting more extensive every year.

Mr.A. - Well, I wish I had a chance to attend these concerts and exhibitions.

When is the festival usually held?

Kate - We have it for 5 or 6 days in July. And in winter we have Ivan

Sollertinsky International Music Festival. The lovers of classic

music have a wonderful opportunity to enjoy it. Then, for some

years running, Vitebsk is the host of International Festival of

Modern Choreography.

Mr.A. - Have you got a Ballet Theatre here?

Kate - No, we haven’t. Yet the festival grows in popularity and a lot of

famous dance groups come to Vitebsk to participate in it. Besides,

we have some sport dance clubs, Mozaika and Fest being the most

famous of them. These clubs give very good training to their

charges. Every year we have “Vitebsk Snow-flake” Championship

of Sport Dances. There are also festivals of Bard Songs and

“Students’ Spring” Festivals that are held every year.

Mr.A. - I wonder why your town has become the venue of so many

festivals?

Kate - Vitebsk is said to have some specific aura that is supposed to be

very beneficial for arts. Maybe it is thanks to it that there are so

many artists in our town. There is always some exhibition of their

pictures at the Art Museum, the Exhibition Hall or in Mark Chagall

Centre.

Mr.A. - Your town is rich in talented people, isn’t it?

Kate - It is believed that spiritual life in Vitebsk is approaching the level

which it had in the early 20-s.

Mr.A. - And what was that time famous for?

Kate - A whole group of outstanding people lived in Vitebsk then - Mark

Chagall, Nikolay Lossky, Mikhail Bakhtin, Kasimir Malevich. And

if you add such names as Lev Petrazhinsky, Yury Pen and Ivan

Sollertinsky you will have almost the whole Vitebsk galaxy.

Mr.A. - Oh, these names are really world-famous.

Ex.22. Put questions to which the following statements are answers.

1. Vitebsk looks quite a modern town with comfortable residential quarters, wide streets and much greenery in its public gardens and parks.

2. A lot of cultural events take place in Vitebsk every year and some people call it the Northern Star of Belarus.

3. Reprisentatives of about 30 countries take part in the Slavonic Bazaar every year.

4. Ivan Sollertinsky International Music Festival is held in Vitebsk every winter.

5. Though Vitebsk hasn’t got a Ballet Theatre it is the host of International

Festival of Modern Choreography.

6. Mozaika and Fest are the most famous sport dance clubs.

7. Some people say that Vitebsk has some specific aura, beneficial for arts.

Ex.23. Mr. Adams wants to know more about the Slavonic Bazaar Festival of Arts. This article from Vitebsky Rabochy will help you satisfy his curiosity. The words given below will be of some help too.