Boyan State Academic Concert Orchestra. Why is the Russian Boyan discriminated against? President of the German company Novitex Witold Nowak
The "Russian Assembly" turned to Vladimir Putin with a request to create appropriate conditions for the famous Russian orchestra for creative activity ...
“We, the members of the International Public Organization “Russian Assembly”, held in the city of Kalyazin, Tver Region, on February 13-14 this year, the traditional, fifth in a row, readings of the International Public Organization “Russian Assembly” on the topic “The role and place of the Russian people in the history and modern life of Russia”. The event was attended by well-known Russian scientists, clergymen, political scientists, writers, journalists - exponents of Russian thought from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Yaroslavl, Tver, Kaluga, Rybinsk, Sergiev Posad, Nizhny Novgorod, Shuya, Kozelsk. At the readings, the question was raised about the situation around the world-famous State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra “Boyan” under the leadership of the People’s Artist of the USSR and Russia Anatoly Ivanovich Poletaev,” says the Address of the IPO “Russian Assembly” adopted in Kalyazin on February 13 to the President of Russia V.V. Putin in connection with the situation around the famous Boyan orchestra.
“Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich! Back in 2006, M.E. Shvydkoi, at that time the head of the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography, put "Boyan" on the "liquidation" list. It was then possible to save the famous orchestra thanks to the protests of the general public and your personal intervention: you unequivocally spoke out for the need to preserve and support it. The “Boyan” orchestra was preserved by officials, but they did not provide support, and conditions were not created for the continuation of the creative activity of the orchestra. Moreover, on the part of the officials of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, everything possible was done to prove the futility of the existence of a unique Russian musical group! - said in the document.
“A.I. Poletaev, the creator and for decades the permanent artistic director of the group, was imposed on administrators - directors and "parallel" conductors, whose aesthetic and human qualities did not meet the aspirations of "Boyan". The orchestra itself, symphonic in sound and composition, was ordered to be reduced to a “chamber” one (up to 37 performers). Over the past years, the Russian orchestra has never been given state grants, therefore, the musicians eked out a miserable existence in material terms, ”the appeal says.
“Finally, we recently, on December 28, 2017, the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation V.R. Medinsky issued order No. 2274, according to which Boyan is being “reorganized”, and in fact, completely liquidated! It follows from the order that Boyana no longer exists as an administrative unit - the remaining musicians have been transferred to the staff of the Moscow State Philharmonic. It remained outside the scope of the order that the artistic director of “Boyana”, its inspirer and creator A.I. Poletaev was fired, and another person will lead the orchestra. In such a sophisticated bureaucratic way, a blow is dealt to traditional Russian musical culture, ”the appeal emphasizes.
The authors of the appeal ask themselves: “What does Mr. Zhuravsky propose?” And his words are quoted: “... It is necessary to preserve the team, at the same time creating conditions for its creative growth, since many questions arose in the field of repertoire, the representation of various academic instruments in the orchestra ... The team currently has 37 artists. This does not meet the generally accepted standards of either a chamber or a symphony academic orchestra.”
“It is paradoxical that such statements are made by a high-ranking official of the department, which should have taken measures in due time to ensure “compliance with generally accepted standards”. Astounding hypocrisy!" - exclaim the authors of the appeal.
The document notes that “the merits to the Fatherland of A.I. Poletaev and the “Boyan” orchestra he created, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, need not be described. And such a “gift” from the officials of the Ministry of Culture for the anniversary of the illustrious team cannot suit either the public or the state.”
“Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich! We are convinced that the situation around the Boyan State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra is unfair and damages traditional Russian culture and our national interests. We ask you to intervene and once again save the “Boyan” orchestra! Create for him and his creator A.I. Poletaev, who, despite his age, is full of health, creative strength and ideas, all the appropriate conditions for creative activity! - emphasized in the appeal, which was signed on behalf of the members of the IPO "Russian Assembly" and the participants of the Fifth Kalyazin Readings, the chairman of the IPO "Russian Assembly" A.D. Stepanov.
More music biographies
Anatoly Poletaev: “It is in the power of a conductor to destroy a person’s spiritual loneliness…”
Conversation with People's Artist of the USSR, Head of the State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra "Boyan" / People's Artists of the USSR / January, 2017
In the book "Boyan" - People's Love "one can find many vivid responses about this orchestra. Leonid Leonov, the author of "Russian Forest" and the mystical "Pyramid", who attended concerts in the Church of St. Blaise, called the work Anatoly Poletaev "deed".
Conductor Anatoly Poletaev
Almost 100 years have passed since the beginning of the revolution of 1917, a whole century of changes and upheavals, it seems that the Russian people have already become different, but still something remains that preserves us as a single people. This is a great centuries-old culture, music, one of the guardians of which is the orchestra "Boyan" . Most recently in Moscow, in the House of Scientists, an author's concert was held by the People's Artist of the USSR Anatoly Poletaev in honor of his 80th birthday and the 60th anniversary of his creative activity. Soloists, folk and honored artists of Russia, with the participation of the winner of international festivals of the State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra "Boyan", led by Professor, composer A. Poletaev, performed odes, hymns, solemn songs, prayers for the glory of Slavic unity. The Moscow choral ensemble of sacred music "Blagovest" took part in the concert.
In a year and a half, the Boyan orchestra, which musicologists call the “Russian symphony” for its unique sound, will turn half a century old. The concerts of "Boyana" owe their special atmosphere to the virtuoso leader, who skillfully combined the instruments of the symphony orchestra with folk instruments. In the West, until the very perestroika, the brilliant team was given a standing ovation, bowing before this “island of the spiritual principle, personifying the primordial power of the Russians, the greatness of the culture of the Russian land.”
And in Moscow, from 1985 to 1995, connoisseurs of the music of Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Dvorak, Smetana, Rachmaninov, Sviridov hurried to the concert hall of the Church of St. Blaise in Staraya Konyushennaya Sloboda. This hall was built on the ruins of a former church by the musicians themselves, but by the authorities of the Moscow Property Committee it was transferred to the church parish, and the orchestra became homeless ... They did not provide it with another room, violating Article 53. Culture Law.
"Romance", G. Sviridov. Orchestra "Boyan"
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Today, the artistic director and chief conductor of the Boyan orchestra, A. I. Poletaev, is visiting the "Century".
- Anatoly Ivanovich, the concerts of "Boyan" excite listeners to tears, how do you achieve this? For example, how did you please the listeners at your anniversary author's concerts in the House of Scientists and in the Ministry of Emergency Situations in Obninsk?
- As always, we did not seek to entertain the public, but forced them to work - both in mind and soul ... We consider our main task to strengthen the traditions of national self-consciousness, improve morals and morals.
Is it possible in concerts? And how. In the performance of the classics, it's all about interpretation. For example, when "Boyan" plays the finale of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, I always pay attention to the tragic signals of brass instruments, with which the author predicts the catastrophe that occurred in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century at the climax. Most often, conductors perform these “signals” at the pace and rhythm of a polonaise procession. As a result, the idea of a major tragedy disappears... At the end of the symphony, when the theme of the folk song “There was a birch stood in the field” is being developed, I, outside of tradition, suspend the usual tempo for the violins and give the solo to the balalaika, which is not in Tchaikovsky’s score. At first she slowly cries, gradually returning to the set pace, and the theme of the birch is already perceived as a “club”, as an image of the struggle for justice. So music in the modern world becomes a weapon. We played this symphony not only in Russia, but also abroad. In Taiwan, the audience gave a standing ovation, understanding and accepting our interpretation. And when the audience gives a standing ovation, it's a triumph.
Or in Rachmaninov's Second Concerto, a deeply patriotic work, we always highlight national problems. This is required by time and the situation in the country. It is in this that the co-authorship of the composer and conductor is expressed. The second part of the concert for me is like going out into space, to meet with the hierarchs... Rachmaninoff seems to be asking them a question: why is there such a mess on earth, so many dramas and tragedies, injustice?! And they answer him that a person chooses his own path. And if he does not follow the path offered by Christianity, but tries to get the maximum benefit from his earthly life, then he will betray the Creator. And it becomes clear what is at stake. In music, a bright light arises, rising with its energy to the Sky. I see, hear and feel this energy, I make the orchestra demonstrate it. And in the third part - “scherzo” (in Russian, a joke) Rachmaninoff, armed with advice and knowledge, as if jokingly, deals with his problems and comes to a victory of incredible power!
Orchestra "Boyan" and conductor Anatoly Poletaev: "Burlatskaya" (S. Rachmaninov)
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Musical works like Rachmaninoff's Second Concerto can be counted on one hand in world music. According to the conclusion of the research laboratory of the Ministry of Health, this is the most energetic repertoire in my practice. Scientists conduct the experiment with the help of water, which is frozen when it receives information. If the thought is positive, a geometrically correct, beautiful “snowflake” is obtained, and if not, a blot. This is how an energy formula appears, which confirms that music can either heal people or cripple people.
- At the anniversary concerts, the audience heard a lot of your works. So, in the House of Scientists, the ensemble "Blagovest" and soloists performed "Ode to St. George", "Hymn of the Defenders of the Fatherland" (music by Tchaikovsky), the song "Russians are Victory!", "Holy Rus'", "Monastic Choral", the prayer "Save, Lord, and save." The most urgent today prayer “The Hermit Fathers…” to the words of Pushkin was also performed, how was it born for you?
– Imagine, Nikolai Nikolaevich Drozdov introduced me to her and persuaded me to write music. He heard my "Ode to the Mother of God" in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and, coming up to me, said that he liked it very much. He asked if I knew the prayer “The Desert Fathers…”? I did not know. “You must,” he says, “write music.” And he sent me by fax a copy of the great Pushkin's text with his own hand. I read and see actual verses. But deciding that I am not able to deal with such a difficult and responsible task, I go to bed. I wake up at three in the morning: a melody sounds in my head. I go to the piano and write. I start to work. The draft is ready.
Larisa Pavlova and orchestra "Boyan" "Ode to the Mother of God"
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Later I learned that the music for the prayer of the Syrian theologian and poet of the 4th century Ephraim the Syrian was written by several composers. Three in the 19th century: Dargomyzhsky - in the genre of romance for vocalist and piano, Rimsky-Korsakov - in the genre of Catholic fugue for choir, Grechaninov, who emigrated to Paris and wrote for Catholic churches. In the XX century - the famous church regent Chesnokov. All of them used a version of Pushkin's prayer - from the words "Lord of my days." And I - in the 21st century - wrote music in the form of an aria for a soloist, choir and orchestra, preserving Pushkin's poem in full. Here are the lines...
Desert fathers and blameless wives,
To fly with your heart in the region of correspondence,
To strengthen it in the midst of the valley storms and battles,
Laid down many divine prayers;
But none of them make me happy
Like the one that the priest repeats
In the sad days of Great Lent;
More and more often she comes to my lips
And my soul is refreshed by an unknown force:
Lord of my days! the spirit of idleness is dull,
Love of command, this hidden serpent,
And do not give idle talk to my soul.
But let me see my, oh God, sins,
Yes, my brother will not accept condemnation from me,
And the spirit of humility, patience, love
And revive chastity in my heart.
This work of mine on the verses of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin was successfully performed by the soloist Dmitry Stepanovich at the concert "Orthodox chants" in the hall. P.I. Tchaikovsky together with the Synodal Choir of Alexei Puzakov and the Boyan Orchestra.
- In a year and a half, the orchestra will turn half a century old, with what losses and gains do you approach your anniversary?
- Alas, the level of virtuosity that allowed the orchestra to receive the title of academic has been lost. The cadres brought up by me left because the salary is lower than the competitive one. We have always lived off austerity: if necessary, we had to be both a driver and a loader, and in a tailcoat with a bow tie, carry props by bus through the whole city. When the Church of St. Blaise was being built, subbotniks and Sundays were constantly arranged. They dug trenches by hand, two and a half meters deep, laid complex communications. They gave charity concerts to earn money for restoration: 15 kg of gold was required for gilding a 900-kilogram cross and domes.
We were helped by the public - from students to academicians, and in two years we restored the temple according to a scientific project. I remember how at one meeting I was attacked by about a hundred abbots of temples: teach me, how did you manage?! “It’s very simple,” he answered, “take a stretcher, pitchfork, shovels, picks and start working together with everyone, otherwise my violinists and balalaika players would not do this.” In 1985, after a three-year restoration of the temple, "Boyan" began to rehearse and give concerts.
We went through a series of damp basements, dilapidated halls, abandoned buildings where we had to store instruments, costumes and rehearse. They repaired the kindergarten on their own, where, in conditions of unimaginable crowding, they recorded Rachmaninov's Romances with one of the best baritones of the country, Polikanin. Then, thanks to the help of the Prosecutor General, we were given the building of the Zenit cinema, from which the orchestra was again thrown out into the street. And after the phenomenally successful concert "Moscow - the Third Rome" in the International House of Music.
In 2006, at the initiative of Mr. Shvydkoy, it was decided to liquidate the orchestra in connection with "the optimization of budgetary expenses." And only thanks to the support of the participants of the II Council of the Slavic peoples of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine in 2006 in Minsk, who addressed a letter to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, "Boyan" survived.
A. Poletaev "Hymn to the Slavs" - Larisa Pavlova sings
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- What are the challenges you are facing right now?
- We hold on to our experience, literacy, we play the repertoire not below the waterline, but, to tell the truth, we survive. Instead of 100 people, the team now has 35 musicians. We had a concert orchestra - not folk, not symphony, not pop, for which I was always reproached, they say, you need to play in one genre. They wanted Boyan to turn into an ensemble of folk instruments. I am a populist by education, but now I am engaged in the education of the national Russian spirit in our people. And for this I need to play the masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninoff not on balalaikas and domras, but on symphonic instruments.
I am fulfilling the behest of Vasily Vasilyevich Andreev, the founder of the Great Russian Orchestra of Folk Instruments: his main task was to revive the Russian song and create a national orchestra. Unfortunately, he did not have time to do this. Andreev did not emigrate with his friends Prokofiev (returned to the USSR in 1936 - ed.), Chaliapin, Rachmaninov and others, but stayed with the orchestra in Russia. Speaking at the Chapaevs, in the trenches of the city of Kushva, without a sheepskin coat, in one tailcoat, he caught a cold and died ... Vasily Vasilyevich said: “No matter how great the sufferings brought from a pure heart on the altar of serving the Motherland, they are all redeemed by the happiness of serving her.” These are his commandments of preserving national self-consciousness, I try to fulfill with modern means. For this, I need the Boyan Orchestra.
- And yet, what was the impetus for the emergence of such an unusual team?
– I created the National Orchestra in the prime of my career as an accordionist-tourist who played in the best concert halls in Russia and abroad. And at the same time, I, with my ensemble of folk instruments, were sent to give concerts for the builders of railways, to prisons and timber industry enterprises, where the conditionally released prisoners felled the wood. They got to the "concert" venues on buses blown through all the cracks, while they saw in what poverty, humiliation and lack of rights people live. They listened to us by the light of kerosene lamps, sitting on fallen cedars and pines, but I saw how their eyes sparkled. And we played them not tavern music, but the most serious. It was there that I decided to serve with my art those who sow and plow, and created a national orchestra. Unlike my impatient colleagues, I succeeded, and I studied conducting for many years with the conductor of the Bolshoi Theater Gavriil Zimin, he saw me as a conductor.
– Have there been any changes in the orchestra in the last two years?
- Actively began to cooperate with the President of the Slavic Art Forum "Golden Vityaz", Director of the University of Culture of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, People's Artist of Russia Nikolai Burlyaev. He invites our orchestra to the opening and closing of numerous Golden Knight forums. So, recently they performed in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. We also perform at the events of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. We perform in prestigious halls, we try to make an interesting repertoire.
- They say that you have several interesting stories connected with the performance of Sviridov's "Romance"?
- I'll tell you. Vladimir Gostyukhin, a well-known "truck driver", once heard Sviridov's "Romance" performed by us in the Kremlin. After the concert, everyone left for a banquet, and I was late: I was collecting instruments and props. Finally, I arrive at the concert hall of the Rossiya Hotel, where the holiday is in full swing, looking for a place for myself. And suddenly Gostyukhin, seeing that I had come in, ran up and fell to his knees. The guests are at a loss, and Vladimir Vasilievich rises and explains to everyone that he was shocked by the performance of Sviridov's romance "Boyan". This is one of his favorite pieces, and he knows how different orchestras play it, but this is the first time he hears such a piercing. Since then, he often comes to our concerts, he has all our records.
Orchestra "Boyan", ch. conductor A. Poletaev "Evening bells"
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People's Artist of Russia Alexander Mikhailov really likes how Boyan performs Evening Bells and Linden Ages. “Evening bells” we somehow even opened his anniversary evening. Once, at the Days of Culture of the Russian Federation in Dortmund, when we played "Evening Bells", the famous artist Zhanna Bolotova burst into tears, so much so that it was impossible to calm her down ... An interesting consideration was shared by the viewer, who often listened to the concerts of "Boyan" in the Church of St. Blaise, and "our" "Evening Bells" also made him cry. It would seem that major music, no one offends the listeners, does not hurt them, what happens to their feelings?! The fact is that during the performance of this work, the conductor has the power to destroy the spiritual loneliness of a person, even if he is not alone outwardly. Enormous energy power lies in the "Evening Bells". I will even say this: when I conduct it, I always talk with the Creator. And I try to fulfill the tasks that He sets before me.
- Is the revival of "Boyan" possible?
- Perhaps, but for this the orchestra needs to be equalized in rights with other academic orchestras that have concert halls, sponsors, banks, foundations, presidential grants, which organize trips abroad and pay a decent salary. You can't let people into the ring by saying, "Win the fight first, then you'll beg." Talent must be protected - a common truth. Minister of Culture Medinsky, unfortunately, has never been to our concerts, never invited me to a reception to find out about our problems. He trusts the rumors of ill-wishers, and there are more than enough of them around Boyan.
– Why do the Japanese love your orchestra so much?
– The Japanese are people of honor, and in music they feel the truth keenly. Their first subjects at school are drawing and music. Art is in the foreground, exact sciences are in the background. They excel in electronics, but they need the spirituality that comes from Russian culture like air. Therefore, "Boyan" is a godsend for them. We have toured in Japan three times, and one day we went to Sapporo, in the north of Hokkaido. They greeted us as friends, because for six years they tried to get us released to them. Once, instead of us, they wanted to send Lyudmila Zykina with an ensemble, they received an answer - “Zykina is good, but we need Boyan”. And here we are in Sapporo: on each pillar there is a poster - “Boyan”, “Boyan, “Boyan”, on each object there is an advertisement for our concert.
And I must say, the problem of the return of the Kuriles was sharply discussed in Hokkaido. And suddenly, about three hours before the concert, the organizer comes up to me and asks if we are holding a concert. It turns out that only 700 tickets were sold in the hall for 1800 seats. And, according to the rules, the performer has the right to cancel the concert if the hall is less than 50 percent full: a drop in reputation. I said that 700 people are also the public, and one should have seen how happy he was: repressions would not follow. And suddenly we hear: through the mouthpieces of passing cars, the population is called to boycott our concert. “Russians are barbarians and aggressors, you can’t deal with them! Take away their islands and don't listen to their music!" And what do you think? When the curtain was opened, there were 1800 people in the hall! With the help of negative advertising, what was not done in several months was done in three hours.
The concert was a triumph, then there was a banquet. But in front of him, I gave autographs for an hour and a half on the Boyan discs. And when they ended, I had to sign with a felt-tip pen on the sleeves of the white blouses of Japanese girls. And the organizers humbly waited until the entire queue had passed. The mayor of the city, who was anti-Soviet, said at the banquet: “Whatever the policy, we have become witnesses of truly Russian folk art, and we must be friends with such people!”
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The article was published as part of the socially significant project “Russia and the Revolution. 1917 - 2017" using state support funds allocated as a grant in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 08.12.2016 No. 96/68-3 and on the basis of a competition held by the All-Russian public organization "Russian Union of Rectors".
Called Oleg Yuryevich Kassin, informed about the evening of the State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra "Boyan". This is a special musical group, the bosom of the Russian musical mode. Its founder and leader is a wonderful Russian man, my idol and friend, People's Artist of Russia and the USSR Professor Anatoly Ivanovich Poletaev. The evening will take place at the Slavic Music Center tomorrow Wednesday, March 15 at 19.30 at 40 Taganskaya Street. The evening should turn into a demonstration of support for the musicians.
The fact is that the famous orchestra is thrown out of the building of the former cinema "Zenith". A year ago, I gave a report there about Sophia Fominichna Paleolog, about the struggle to choose the historical path of Russia, and about the "heresy of the Judaizers." And on March 4, a rally took place on Slavyanskaya Square, to which Kassin called me, but I could not come because of illness.
“We won’t give up Boyan for desecration!” - a report on the rally on the Pravaya.ru website (www.pravaya.ru):
“In Moscow, a rally was held in defense of the State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra "Boyan". On Saturday, March 4, 2006, a rally in defense of the State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra "Boyan" was held on Slavyanskaya Square in Moscow. The rally was organized by the People's Cathedral movement with the participation of the Union of Orthodox Banner-bearers, the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods, the Union of Christian Revival, the Union of Orthodox Citizens, the Union of the Russian People, the Organization of National Patriots of Russia, the Orthodox Human Rights Organization "People's Protection", the People's Control Committee, as well as the Internet site "Pravaya.Ru" and the famous Russian classic writer V.N. Krupin. The rally was led by the coordinator of the "People's Cathedral" movement, vice-president of the "Unity of the Nation" foundation V.E. Khomyakov.
The event began with the performance of the chief conductor of the "Boyan" orchestra, People's Artist of Russia and the USSR, Professor Anatoly Ivanovich Poletaev. The well-known musician and composer, who turned 70 last year, spoke about the current plight of the orchestra he leads.
The Moscow authorities, represented by the Moscow Property Committee, are trying to throw the orchestra, created by Anatoly Poletaev in 1968, out of the building of the Center for Slavic Music, the former Zenit cinema, into the street. About 10 years ago this building, by the decision of the mayor of Moscow Yu. Luzhkov, was transferred to the musical group to replace the premises of the church of St. Blaise, which they had previously occupied since Soviet times. The Center hosts concerts of folk and classical Slavic music, as well as the annual festival "White Lilac", dedicated to S.V. Rachmaninov.
With successful touring performances, the "Boyan" orchestra traveled not only in Russia and its former territories, but also in many foreign countries, such as Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Sweden, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, and Taiwan.
"Boyan" performs works by famous Russian and Slavic composers, as well as arrangements of songs and dances of the peoples of Russia. The repertoire of the orchestra also includes works by Anatoly Poletaev himself. Famous singers, soloists of the Bolshoi Theater perform with the orchestra and outstanding choral groups of the country collaborate. "Boyan" recorded six CDs of musical works from his repertoire.
And now, taking advantage of the legal loopholes that remained when the building of the Zenit cinema was transferred to Boyan, the Moscow Property Committee puts up and sells this building at auction.
Clarification of relations with the new owner in the Arbitration Court will begin in March this year. The team of the famous state orchestra in the amount of 70 people must now wander around different concert venues and pay crazy money for rent, rehearsals, performances. In his speech to the participants of the rally on Slavyanskaya Square, the head of the orchestra, conductor A.I. Poletaev, who received congratulations on his anniversary last year from the President of Russia and the Minister of Culture, said: "A people without culture is not a people, it is a population. And they want to deprive us of culture - musical art. A people in whose life their own, national music occupies less than 60%, is doomed to extinction."
Head of the Union of Orthodox Banner Bearers and Chairman of the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods L.D. Simonovich-Niksic drew the attention of those present to the similarity of the current situation with the one that has developed around the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist in Sokolniki. Both there and here the Russian Spirit is expelled, only in one case it is about Faith, and in the other about Music. Instead, they want to approve the abomination of desolation, casinos, brothels, marketplaces.
Head of the Union "Christian Revival" V.N. Osipov recalled the words of the "hero of Russian thought" philosopher Ivan Ilyin, who said that one of the main elements in national education is folk and classical music and songs. The destruction of national identity is the main goal of those who are behind the attempts to expel the Russian Orchestra from the Center for Slavic Music.
The coordinators of the main organizer of the rally - the Movement "People's Cathedral" - V.E. Khomyakov and O.Yu. Kassin spoke about the latest events held by the Council, as well as the importance of the unity of the Orthodox-patriotic forces in defending their positions on all acute issues of Russian modernity.
Editor-in-chief of the Pravaya.Ru Internet portal I.L. Brazhnikov noted that, unfortunately, not all local officials are yet aware of the change in the state course of Russia and, driving "Boyan" out into the street, they act in accordance with the plans of those who want to turn all of humanity into a gray mess of sin, abomination and unbelief. At the forefront of this movement are sodomites who are striving to win new positions in the public life of many countries of the world, and now they are making similar attempts in Russia and are planning to hold their festival and parade in May this year in Moscow.
The press secretary of the Union of Orthodox Citizens, Kirill Frolov, called on all Orthodox Christians to act as a united front in support of the introduction of the "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" in schools and the institution of military priests in the Army. In addition, he suggested turning to His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II with a request to resume everywhere in all churches the rite of anathematization of heretics on the first Sunday of Great Lent, the Week of the Triumph of Orthodoxy.
Leaders of the Orthodox Human Rights Organization "People's Defense" V.S. Sergeev and A.B. Sergeev spoke about the pernicious role that the head of the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography M. Shvydkoy plays in modern Russian culture. It is he, and not the Minister of Culture A. Sokolov, who actually controls the state money allocated for the support and development of culture. Millions of dollars are spent organizing and holding exhibitions of notorious personalities like Marat Gelman, or filming false historical films like Bastards.
The rally ended with the adoption of a resolution and the collection of signatures in defense of the Russian Concert Orchestra "Boyan".
The material was prepared with the assistance of the Information Service of the Union of Orthodox Banner Bearers.”
The speakers have known me for a long time, we stick together and support each other, despite different opinions on certain positions. All of us are united by the desire to revive Great Russia, to resist the triumphant devilry.
Those who wish to help the orchestra and its leader Anatoly Ivanovich Poletaev would be satisfied with the concert, said Oleg Kassin. And he invited me and my friends to it.
A few words about the history of the Boyan Orchestra (http://www.boyan.ru/rus/history.htm). Ensembles of folk instruments have long existed in Russia - gusliers, harp players, lyre players. In the 70s of the last century, the Vladimir horn choir gained European fame, and ten years later, Vasily Vasilyevich Andreev, a musician, a balalaika virtuoso, created the first orchestra of Russian folk instruments in Russia, which won world recognition. At the same time, Andreev not only brought together performers - on his initiative and with active participation, folk instruments were improved, their sound was enriched, and new artistic and technical possibilities were discovered. Vasily Andreev's orchestra was often called by his contemporaries "Russian Symphony".
This tradition, the tradition of innovation in playing folk instruments, is also followed by the musical group - the “Boyan” orchestra. With all the wealth of high-class performing groups in our country, the “Boyan” orchestra occupies its own, special place.
Named after the legendary storyteller of Ancient Rus', the orchestra was created in 1968 by one of the leading musicians of Russia Anatoly Poletaev as experimental in nature: folk instruments were equipped with radio equipment. The experience paid off. Balalaikas, domras, harmonicas, psaltery acquired a new color, sound volume, the widest range - from soulful pianissimo to the most powerful forte.
The relatively small orchestra expanded not only its performance capabilities, but also its audience. Any concert hall, any open-air venue can serve as a stage for the orchestra. Later, after a period of establishing Boyan as an outstanding creative team, recognized by the musical community, professional criticism, and the general public, the orchestra was enlarged in composition and combined two principles - traditional folk instruments of Russia and instruments of a symphony orchestra: flutes, oboe, bassoon, horns, trumpets, trombone, timpani, violins, violas, cello and even a synthesizer. The experiment exceeded all expectations. As a result, the idea of a modern small Russian symphony orchestra with the preservation of a group of folk instruments was brilliantly realized by the Boyan orchestra. The orchestra acquired an unusually colorful, varied palette and a large dynamic range. Such an orchestra has no analogues either in Russia or abroad.
The concert base of the orchestra was the building of the church of St. Blaise, restored and transformed from a vegetable warehouse (which was typical for the use of churches during the years of Soviet power) into a magnificent concert hall. Here in the 1990s, the orchestra gave hundreds of concerts for a wide variety of audiences - from schoolchildren and students to pensioners. In 1997, the orchestra was expelled from this building, and after long ordeals, by the decision of Moscow Mayor Yu.M. Luzhkov, it was given the premises of the former Zenit cinema. Wonderful concerts of Russian (folk and classical) and foreign music have been held here on a regular basis in recent years. In April - May, the festival "White Lilac" is held, dedicated to S.V. Rachmaninov, the initiator and organizer of which is Anatoly Poletaev.
The orchestra performs in the most prestigious concert halls in Moscow: in the Great Hall of the Conservatory, in the hall named after. Tchaikovsky, in the Hall of Columns. Orchestra "Boyan" is a welcome guest of various enterprises and organizations in Moscow and Moscow region.
The tour routes of "Boyana" run not only in Russia and the Soviet Union, but also abroad. Enthusiastic reviews of the orchestra's concerts were published by the press in Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Sweden, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, and Taiwan.
Among the ensembles in our country, the Boyan orchestra has taken its special place, which is facilitated by constant work on the repertoire. Boyan performs works by Glinka and Balakirev, Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky, Glazunov and Rachmaninov, Smetana and Dvorak, Sviridov and Ovchinnikov, Kholminov and Budashkin, Kulikov and Chaikin, as well as arrangements of songs and dances of the peoples of Russia. The repertoire of the orchestra also includes works by Anatoly Poletaev.
Most of the instrumentation and adaptations of the works performed by the orchestra were made by Anatoly Poletaev and form the main fund of the concert repertoire. The listeners appreciated Anatoly Poletaev's many years of creative achievement - the arrangement of romances and individual piano pieces by Rachmaninov for the Boyan orchestra. The concert of works by Rachmaninov brought great success to the orchestra.
Famous singers, soloists of the Bolshoi Theatre, People's Artists of the Soviet Union and Russia Alexander Vedernikov, Boris Shtokolov, Yuri Gulyaev, Dmitry Gnatyuk, Virgilius Noreika, Evgeny Belyaev, Leonid Zimnenko, Evgeny Polikanin and others performed with the orchestra with pleasure. Such outstanding choirs of the country as the Great Choir of the Ostankino Television and Radio Company, the Yurlov Chapel, the Sveshnikov Choir cooperate with the orchestra.
The composers of the capital also appreciate “Boyan” at its true worth. It was in the performance of “Boyan” that the works by A. Rogachev “Kursk Concerto” and “The Seasons”, A. Atarov (“Slavic Symphony”), V. Chachin (“Suite based on Russian fairy tales”) were first performed.
A great achievement of the orchestra and its artistic director is the recording of six CDs, which contain masterpieces of Russian and Slavic music performed by the orchestra, including works by Anatoly Poletaev himself. Arrangements of many works presented on these discs were made by Anatoly Poletaev.
The music performed by the Boyan orchestra was used by the Intersoft company, the developer and publisher of computer CDs dedicated to the cultural and literary heritage of Russia, such as the CD ROM Treasures of Russia and Hermitage. Journey to the World of Treasures”, DVD ROM dedicated to the life and work of Mikhail Bulgakov.
It became a rule for the orchestra to hold patronage concerts with specially prepared programs dedicated to significant events - for example, the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo, the 1500th anniversary of Kiev, the anniversary of the Victory, the 800th anniversary of the Tale of Igor's Campaign.
Orchestra "Boyan" is constantly in creative search, revealing to the listener still unknown to him musical treasures. And he revives the traditions of not only Russian, but also the all-Slavic musical culture. And at the turn of the second and third millennia, the idea of Slavic unity becomes a social ideology in countries whose peoples have grown from the same root, have a related language and culture, common moral values and beliefs.
Thus, the celebration of the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture has been revived in some Slavic countries. In 1992, this holiday was declared a public holiday in Russia. The Congress of Slavic Cultures held in Moscow gave a start to life to many public organizations, including the film forum “Golden Knight”, the International Association of Slavic Composers. An international Slavic cultural center was opened in Moscow.
Since ancient times, the Slavs loved music, singing, dancing, playing musical instruments. Folk songs and dances of the Slavs are characterized by stability and cheerfulness. Ancient songs and dances are passed down from generation to generation, improving the most valuable features and characteristics of the national character. The students of the famous Slavic enlighteners Cyril and Methodius founded the first Slavic cultural center in Bulgaria and developed the foundations of Slavic music.
The Polish people have long been distinguished by high culture, Czech musicians were distinguished by their performing skills, and the work of the great A. Dvorak had a great influence on the development of world symphonic music. Significant contribution to the treasury of the musical art of Ukrainians, Belarusians, Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Montenegrins, Bosnians.
Truly huge and recognized by the entire cultural world are the achievements of Russian musical classics of the 19th and 20th centuries, the founder of which is the brilliant M. Glinka.
There is no need to recall the enormous impressive power of music, in particular, its ability to unite large masses of people, to charge them with a single aspiration, impulse.
At present, we are witnessing a broad offensive of base, unspiritual and intonation-limited music, which, having flooded the radio and television, orients people, especially young people, not towards spiritual, but towards aggressively material and carnal “ideals”.
In contrast to the imposition of alien traditions in music on us, in Moscow, on the initiative of A. Poletaev, in March 1999. The Center for Slavic Music was founded on the basis of the State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra “Boyan”.
This orchestra, inheriting the commandment of the creator of the first Russian folk orchestra V. Andreev - to preserve the domestic musical tradition, revive the Russian folk song, raise national self-consciousness - embodies with its creativity the idea of combining two orchestral principles, symphonic and folk, which has no analogues either in Russia or abroad.
The active creative, social, cultural and educational activities of A. Poletaev and his orchestra are aimed at the revival of Russia as a Power of the Spirit, put forward the goals and objectives of the development of the Center for Slavic Music in Moscow:
Spiritual unity of the Slavic peoples, which make up more than 300 million of the world's population.
- Maintaining cultural ties between the Slavic peoples and all Slavic diasporas living on the planet.
- Promotion of the originality of the musical culture of the Slavic peoples in the world community and the exchange of experience in the development of Slavic cultures.
- Creation of a fund for the achievements of Slavic musicians to study the culture of the Slavic peoples in the field of music, its roots and origins.
- Holding concerts, festivals, competitions and other events aimed at strengthening and developing Slavic musical traditions.
- Development of creative cooperation between Slavic composers, creative groups of Slavic states, exchange and performance of musical compositions of classical, folklore, church and pop music.
- Active participation in the provision of creative assistance and organization of various Slavic music competitions and film festivals, festivals of song and performing arts.
- Organization of tours of creative groups in the Center of Slavic Music for the purpose of creative exchange and revival of the traditions of performing Slavic music.
- Educational and educational activities, the provision of methodological assistance in the creation of children's musical groups (brass bands and orchestras of folk instruments), lectures on music and the work of Slavic composers.
Shame on the officials from the Ministry of Culture who destroyed the State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra "Boyan"!
For two decades, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation has carried out vile persecution of the outstanding conductor and musician, creator of the State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra "Boyan", winner of international competitions and the Gold Medal and. G.V. Sviridov "For an outstanding contribution to musical culture" People's Artist of the USSR, Professor A.I. Poletaev.
The persecution, begun by the former Minister Shvydkoy, was continued by the heads of the Department of State Support for Art and Folk Art Shalashev, Apfelbaum, Emelyanova, Malyshev, and this was done despite the orders of the President of the country and the Prime Minister to “preserve and support” this unique orchestra.
Boyan is truly unique, the only symphony orchestra in Russia and the world that combines two musical worlds - the world of folk instruments and symphony orchestra instruments. The ideology of the orchestra is aimed at preserving and enhancing the traditions of Russian, Slavic music, educating and enlightening the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism and love for the Motherland, national pride, high spirituality, faith in the strength of Russian and Russian culture, and the triumph of justice.
The orchestra has many fans, both in Russia and abroad, especially among connoisseurs of truly Russian musical art, its performances have always been a great success. Apparently, all this has always irritated the bureaucratic imperious crows, who are trying to impose an alien culture on the country.
At first, officials essentially organized a raider seizure of the orchestra with the help of Mr. Tolmachev, who was introduced to the position of director, (a former supply manager-driver of the orchestra, who brought up and brought instruments), a person far from music.
Then the Ministry of Culture secretly organized a secret listening by a group of experts appointed by it, and without the public. , to concoct another reason for the persecution of the People's Artist of the USSR, conductor A.I. Poletaev and his brainchild orchestra "Boyan".
As a result, it was decided to dismiss its creator A.I. Poletaev, reduce the composition of the orchestra to a chamber one, change the name of the orchestra to "State Academic Orchestra", removing key, semantic words: Russian, concert orchestra "Boyan", while "generously" retained the title of academic. It is the Spirit of the ancient Russian storyteller Boyan who, by order of the officials of the Ministry of Culture, should henceforth leave this orchestra together with its founder. What was created by the painstaking work and talent of the outstanding musician A.I. Poletaev for 50 years, today illegally destroyed by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
In essence, there was an act of vandalism, namely, an act of destruction of the State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra "Boyan", which has a half-century history and tens of thousands of grateful listeners.
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the birth and the 60th anniversary of the creative activity of the outstanding Russian musician, People's Artist of the USSR and Russia Anatoly Ivanovich Poletaev, a book has been written that includes interviews, conversations with Anatoly Ivanovich, reviews, reports, reviews and other materials published about him and the State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra "Boyan" created by him in various media. The word of the Master, supported by his very life, the highest creative achievements, will be of interest to everyone who cares about Russia. This book is presented at the International Competition of the Union of Journalists of Russia "Page of Family Glory". It can be downloaded here: http://pobeda.vif2.ru/posts/item/4700%20.
2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the orchestra! And instead of giving the collective an opportunity to prepare for its anniversary and delight its large army of admirers with their virtuoso art, the officials destroyed the brightest star of Russia's traditional national culture.
Let there be national shame to officials from the Ministry of Culture, who destroyed the State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra "Boyan"!
Prof. V.A. Sukhomlin, a fan of the orchestra "Boyan"
State support of the famous orchestra is clearly insufficient
The State Academic Russian Concert Orchestra "Boyan" is one of the best musical groups in the world that has collected a repertoire of Slavic music and has been performing it at the highest professional level for almost half a century - educating, strengthening, literally healing its numerous listeners.
The creator of the orchestra - People's Artist of the USSR, Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, holder of state and public awards, Professor Anatoly Poletaev is convinced: “The Russian people are not only bast shoes and sundresses. But it is also Nevsky and Suvorov, Pushkin and Lermontov, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, Lomonosov and Mendeleev, Tsiolkovsky and Chizhevsky, Kurchatov and Korolev, Zhukov and Gagarin... This is the highest level of science, these are people who were the first to go into space. And in order for the people to survive, they need dignity, self-awareness and an understanding of the value of being Russian. In order for a person to become a mature, self-conscious patriot, he cannot do without what is the achievement of the entire planet: this is the Russian character, Russian intellect, Russian ingenuity, Russian resourcefulness and Russian humanism, Russian love of freedom, kindness and kindness. These properties cannot be lost, they must be preserved and strengthened. To do this, one cannot only be a beggar or complain about enemies.
First of all, we must fight with ourselves: with our shortcomings, our vices. We must blame ourselves for the fact that we have become weaker, become more stupid, we allow enemies to sit on our necks and destroy us.
In order to fight this, a person must understand what values to preserve. That's what music does, if it's real."
The Boyan orchestra is also doing this.
For many years of work, the Boyan orchestra has received a standing ovation from listeners: in Japan and Germany, England and Scandinavia, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia, Poland and Taiwan…
The Boyan Orchestra celebrated this year with concerts dedicated to the 210th anniversary of the birth of A.S. Pushkin, performing his works set to music by great Russian composers and becoming concert masterpieces. The Orthodox prayer of Ephraim the Syrian "The Desert Fathers" in poetic presentation by Pushkin to the music of Anatoly Poletaev for soloists of the choir and orchestra is very popular with the public. The composer's Orthodox-patriotic oratorio "Holy Rus'" was performed with triumph in the crowded hall of the Moscow International House of Music.
A. Poletaev and his orchestra are certified by the International Agency for Records and Achievements, obtained on the basis of confirmation of the healing bioenergetic effect on listeners. The studies were carried out by the medical laboratory of the Federal Center of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation. Doctor of Biological Sciences S.V. Zenin revealed that the music performed by the Boyan Orchestra has a beneficial effect on people's health. After the concerts of the famous orchestra, many listeners get rid of various ailments. The sound of music penetrates the body at the cell level, so even the deaf and dumb can distinguish what kind of music they like and what they don't. Anatoly Poletaev was approached more than once by people who came to the concerts of his orchestra with a fever, but left with a normal one. “The thing is,” explains Professor Poletaev, “that there is dissonance (destruction) in nature, and there is consonance – natural harmony and creative energy, which gives not only an aesthetic feeling, but also health.”
Poletaev is convinced that the Boyan orchestra has an exclusive right to exist, because, unlike the orchestras of Mikhail Pletnev, Vladimir Fedoseev, Vladimir Spivakov, Pavel Kogan, Yuri Bashmet and others, it has been combining symphonic instruments with Russian folk instruments for 45 years to expand the palette of the national repertoire.
The President of Russia is increasingly saying in his speeches that today we need to preserve national traditions, but officials are in no hurry to help an outstanding orchestra that any other country would be proud of.
Orchestra "Boyan" has no analogues in the world!
However, unlike a dozen other orchestras, "Boyan" has no presidential grants, no sponsors, no foreign diasporas or banks that could help him. The ensemble "Russia" receives a state subsidy twice as much as the orchestra "Boyan", with a team half as much. Why is the Russian Boyan discriminated against? Until 2005, there were 102 full-time positions in the orchestra, of which 71 were musicians, and now there are no more than 35 musicians left. Orchestra professionals are forced to go abroad, where their professionalism is in demand, and they receive from 2,000 to 7,000 euros a month, when the Boyan orchestra had a salary of 6,000 to 12,000 rubles for a long time, and the current salary, after the reduction in the number of the orchestra by half, is 24,000 rubles.
The founder of the orchestra, A. Poletaev, was officially removed from the post of artistic director, the position was deleted from the Charter of the orchestra, and the current director, I.S. Shramkov is being fired the other day, as he himself says, for not being able to reduce the orchestra by three-quarters, as demanded...
Today, the orchestra is deprived of the possibility of foreign tours, we will not see this musical group on domestic television either.
Thanks to the professionalism and experience of Anatoly Poletaev, the orchestra adapts to work "in a state of war". Boyana concerts are held in various cultural centers of Moscow, the orchestra has been an ornament of the Golden Knight International Forum of Slavic Arts for many years, dozens of outstanding performers, leading soloists of the Bolshoi and other theaters have performed with the ensemble.
Today there is a question about the quantitative and qualitative revival of the unique experimental orchestra "Boyan". In Russia, especially in Moscow, "Boyan" has an army of fans - lovers of Russian music, but these are simple people who have neither power nor money.
And the state cannot or does not want to finance this orchestra on equal, competitively fair terms with other Moscow academic orchestras that have received both presidential grants and other types of support.
The oligarchs are ready to sponsor the stars of show business, but who will support the world-famous orchestra, beloved by our people?
Special for the Centenary
