Cultural Week: Izvestia's Choice
Movie
Finist. The First Bogatyr, 6+
Directed by Dmitry Dyachenko. Starring: Kirill Zaitsev, Yulia Peresild, Elena Yakovleva, Fedor Dobronravov, Sergei Lavygin, Christina Stroiteleva, Fedor Gamaleya, Pavel Priluchnyy
A prequel to one of the most successful Russian franchises for children and family audiences, which actually began the era of fairy tales in modern Russian cinematography. Finist - the most successful, the strongest and the most agile bogatyr of Belogorye in the company of his assistant Melekha and a young witch Baba Yaga goes on a long journey through the lands of the mysterious East. For exotic distances are responsible in the frame picturesque views of Kazakhstan. The film was shot on the Singing Barkhan, in the Charyn canyon, in the vicinity of the Nomad fortress, in the cities of Konaev and Almaty, as well as in the Kazakh steppes.
From January 1 at the box office
The Wizard of the Emerald City. Yellow Brick Road, 6+
Director: Igor Voloshin. Starring: Ekaterina Chervova, Yuri Kolokolnikov, Eugene Chumak, Arthur Vaha, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Dmitry Chebotarev, Denis Vlasenko.
Family fantasy, based on the books by Alexander Volkov and Laimen Frank Baum. Evil Gingema by sorcery causes a hurricane, which takes the girl Ellie together with her dog Totoshka from our world to the faraway fairy-tale land of zhevunov. To return home to her parents, Ellie, along with the Tin Woodsman, the scarecrow Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion, goes to the Emerald City. Its lord - a great and terrible wizard named Goodwin - must fulfill their cherished wishes. A bright and beautiful adaptation, the visual effects are the responsibility of the studio that worked on the films "By Pike's Will" and "The Flying Ship". The debut of director Igor Voloshin in the movie for children and family audience.
From January 1 in theaters
Water Formula, 6+
Director: Artem Minakov. Roles voiced by: Niletto, Julia Gavrilina, Sergei Garmash, Alexander Oleshko, Boris Smolkin, Evelina Bledans, DJ Grove
The story of a teenage girl Dana, who lives on one of the islands of the planet-ocean among mutants. The heroine becomes a target of cutthroat pirates, who consider her the key to a legendary treasure - a source of drinking water. Fleeing from the pirates, Dana meets a troupe of wandering artists - together they will experience a bright and dangerous adventure, become true friends and solve the mystery of the treasure.
From December 31 in Okko online cinema.
Theater
The Muscovites, 16+
Directed by Yuri Grymov. Starring: Alexander Borisov, Valeria Koroleva, Dillon Oloyede, Marina Dianova, Bogdan Shchukin, Marianna Kanivets, Maria Kondratova, Eugene Nevar.
"Muscovites" (that's right, through the letter "A" in the old Moscow dialect) - a good family comedy, non-fictionalized story of a metropolitan family divided by the Atlantic. The arrival of elderly parents abroad to their daughters and grandson becomes a real disaster and overnight ruins their usual way of life. The conflict of generations, faiths, ideologies is inevitable. But it is these restless "Muscovites" who begin to unite around themselves people who have become strangers in their own family, rekindle the fireplace and force them to talk to each other. The warmth of home, good humor and favorite music - everything you need for a New Year's mood is present here.
December 31, 17:00, Modern Theater
New Year with the Moscow Gubernsky Theater, 12+
Director: Alla Reshetnikova. Anton Sokolov, Natalia Shklyaruk, Anastasia Borisova, Valeria Minina, Alina Ivakh, Evgeny Gomonoy, Diana Egorova, Igor Nazarenko, Dmitry Vorkunov take part in the concert.
On New Year's Eve the artists of the Moscow Gubernsky Theater will present the public with a festive concert evening and collect a "calendar of happiness" of the most tender and joyful events. The evening will not do without surprise performances prepared by the musicians of the Moscow Gubernsky Theater orchestra under the direction of chief conductor Sergei Pashchenko. The audience is waiting for hits of instrumental classics, as well as favorite songs performed by wonderful artists.
December 30, 14:00, 18:00, December 31, 17:00, Moscow Gubernsky Theater
Valentine's Day, 16+
Directed by Anna Shevchuk. Starring: Alexander Kazmin, Oleg Savtsov, Julia Churakova, Evgeny Skochin, Stanislav Belyaev, Julia Iva, Alexander Sukhanov, Anna Guchenkova.
For those who are tired of the New Year's hustle and bustle - a romantic comedy to the music of a live band. "Valentine's Day" - a musical inspired by the success of the Russian adaptation of the Broadway production of "First Date" in a rather unusual for Russia theater format site-specific. The audience feels as if they are with the characters in the place of action, in this case at the bar tables. This evening the spacious parquet hall of the MDM Theater will turn into a bar in Manhattan, where the heroes of the play - 30-year-old lovers - are trying to plan the upcoming wedding and to please all relatives and friends.
December 29, 22:00, MDM Theater
Our Women, 16+
Directed by Marina Pereleshina. Starring: Marina Konyashkina, Elena Saar, Ksenia Entelis, Lina Zakharane, Milena Tskhovrebova, Margarita Exarho.
An interactive performance-concert combining the principles of stand-up, immersive and classical theater. On New Year's Eve five actresses will tell about love and hatred, happiness and disappointment and, of course, about relationships with men through the prism of female gaze. These are comedy and tragic stories written in different years by Alexei Slapovsky - writer, playwright, author of movie and TV scripts, including "Stop on Demand", "Plotstok" and "The Irony of Fate. Continuation".
December 31, 17:00, Theatre Center "On Plyushchikha"
New Year's journey, 6+
In the theater "Odeon" will put a New Year's tree of a completely new format - developmental. According to the plot, two friends - Rat Trucker and Cunning Fox - must help Santa Claus and Snow Maiden to deliver a secret cargo for the holiday. On the way they meet obstacles, which the characters together with the kids overcome with the help of knowledge - math, physics and even programming. And they also go on a fascinating journey through ancient Greece. All this, of course, is accompanied by dances, songs and a costume performance.
December 28 through January 8, 2025, 2:00 p.m., Odeon Theater
Concerts
Seasons, 6+
Traditionally for the New Year, the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra will present a program combining two works on the same theme: the legendary "Seasons" by Antonio Vivaldi - the most performed and recognizable work of the great Italian - and "Seasons in Buenos Aires" in tango rhythm by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla. The soloist is violinist Rodion Petrov, winner of prestigious international competitions, including the Paganini Competition in Italy. Petrov conquers the audience with his technique and sensual sound, playing on a unique collector's violin of 1745 by Italian master Giovanni Guadanini, a pupil of Antonio Stradivari.
December 28, 19:00, House of Music, Theater Hall
Candlelight Christmas Festival at VDNKh, 6+
Where else can you hear melodies from "The Nutcracker", "Harry Potter", "The Lord of the Rings", Hayao Miyazaki cartoons, music by Hans Zimmer, Ludovico Einaudi, ABBA and Queen performed by a live orchestra in one place? The second Christmas Festival by Candlelight will be held at VDNKh in a rather exotic location: you can enjoy live music in a tropical greenhouse under palm trees. The HighTime Orchestra under the direction of Alexey Donskoy will be responsible for the musical program for music lovers of all ages during the New Year vacations.
From January 2, 16:00, 19:00, VDNKh, tropical greenhouse
MAST GO ON TOUR 2024, 16+
One of the most popular bands on the Russian alternative scene "SLOT" is back in business. The band's concerts are always a bright and loud show. This fall the musicians went on a big tour in Russia and will give a concert in Moscow at the end of the year. There are changes in the band - the team introduced a new soloist Daria Ravdina. The name of the tour and the upcoming show hints that SLOT will continue to move on.
December 27, 20:00, Base club
Why Life? 18+
Artists of the theater "Circle II" - people with and without special developmental needs - offer in the pre-holiday week to reflect on the theme of marginal people and their contribution to culture. Who are they? People who have been thrown to the margins of life, or those who dwell on the borders of different social groups or cultural phenomena but do not belong to any one current? Slipping away and endowed with a special inner freedom of individuals who also sing. This evening in the space of the New Manege theater artists will perform songs by Gavriil Lubnin and Pyotr Mamonov, compositions by Kurt Weill and rhythms of "Tropicalia" by Tom Zeh. In addition, the audience will get acquainted with the musical folklore of Bulgarian, Jewish, Gypsy communities and contemporary music from different countries - from Brazil to Mongolia.
December 26, 19:00, "Art Platform" in the "New Manege" space
Museums and exhibitions
You look at all 100, 6+
The exhibition "You Look at All 100" will tell about how transportation design in Russia was formed and changed over the last century. The exposition includes the rarest cars of domestic production, among them ZIS-Sport, Moskvich-Tourist, GAZ-3105 and VNIITE-Maxi. Visitors can also learn how cars of the future will look like on the example of exhibits "Molniya" and electric car-gadget "Atom". During the New Year vacations the museum will also have family lounges where everyone can find something to do. For adults - movies and excursions, children are waiting for master classes and theatrical performances.
Moscow Transportation Museum, VDNKh, pavilion 26
Vikings. The Way to the East, 18+
Based on archaeological materials from the State Historical Museum's holdings, the exhibition is devoted to the life and culture of the harsh natives of the Scandinavian countries. Mastering the river routes of Eastern Europe, the Vikings became part of the Old Russian society. Visitors to the GIM branch in Tula will get acquainted with all aspects of Scandinavian life - domestic life, religion, wars and crafts. The central exhibit is a reconstructed ship, the main symbol of military and trade campaigns of the Vikings.
From December 25 to May 19, 2025, branch of the Historical Museum in Tula
Fairytale Christmas trees, 6+
At the largest exhibition of coniferous plants in Russia, all those who are not indifferent to botany will learn how spruces are used in landscaping, where they grow and how these trees differ. The exposition is a real spruce forest from the fairy tale "12 Months". On an area of 118 square meters about 70 conifers will "grow": from babies 30 cm high to three-meter giants. Among them there are some absolutely unique ones - for example, one of them smells of oranges. It is important: all trees are alive, not cut, and at the end of the project will be planted back in the ground. "Fairytale Christmas Trees" will be the first of a series of exhibitions dedicated to living plants. In February 2025, guests will be shown blooming lilacs, in March - irises, and in June a large exhibition dedicated to peonies is planned.
From December 25 to January 12, 2025, VDNKh, pavilion 29 "Floriculture and landscaping"
Festivals
New Year vacations in Ostafyev, 6+
A rich entertaining cultural program during the New Year vacations awaits visitors to the Ostafyevo estate in Moscow. The festival will be opened on January 2 by the theatrical production "Yemelya", and holiday quests will be held in the estate park. During all the days of the festival the New Year's mail will work. Here you will be able to make a memorable photo and send New Year cards to your loved ones. In addition, musical and interactive performances, including The Nutcracker, a New Year's carnival and an extensive educational program await visitors. And on Christmas Eve, traditional Russian folk festivities with songs, games and carols will be held in Ostafyevo.
January 2-8, Ostafyevo State Museum-Reserve - Russian Parnassus
Moscow Beauty Week, 6+
For four days, the best stylists and makeup artists will teach everyone who is not indifferent to fashion how to create a beautiful makeup, choose the right accessory or find your style. Guests will also be introduced to authentic Russian brands - the festival will simultaneously host a fair with more than 500 companies participating. Young visitors will enjoy the Gift Lab, where everyone will learn how to make Christmas tree toys and other holiday decorations.
December 26-29, 11:00-20:00, Central Exhibition Hall "Manezh"
