It’s fun to give together – Newspaper Kommersant No. 49 (7494) dated 03/23/2023

On March 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented awards to young artists and artists for young people. Special Correspondent “Kommersant” Andrey Kolesnikov also met with them and found out why Rus’, in fact, is eternal.

Seven people received presidential awards. And only four of them sat in the Kremlin’s Executive Office and waited for the start of the ceremony, which started on time or even earlier. And what, in fact, it would seem, could the president of Russia do if the president of the PRC flew to his home in the morning?

Vladimir Putin usually awards in the Catherine Hall, where an orchestra can easily be accommodated, and even more than one, but since there were few laureates, they decided to hold the event in the chamber Representative Office, where the carpets still, perhaps, kept traces of the Chinese leader, who met here with Vladimir Putin only two days ago. But the orchestra would not fit here, and somehow it was not enough to feel everything here as it should.

Director Aidar Zabbarov received six nominations for the Golden Mask award and was noted as “the successor to the traditions of the domestic psychological theater” (apparently, Vladimir Putin, who said this, and the successor himself, know what it is right now).

“Another young, but already recognized master who has written his pages in the world history of choreography is ballet dancer Sergei Vladimirovich Polunin…” Vladimir Putin solemnly read out his text. “I just don’t see him…”

Yes, there was no ballet dancer, because of which, as they later admitted, some journalists came to the ceremony. Why, Vladimir Putin seemed so upset and looked so bewildered that it seemed to me that he, too, came to the ceremony because of Sergei Polunin.

The question why there was no ballet dancer remained unanswered. None of the organizers really knew. In any case, it’s not very good that a person who seems to have decided everything for himself a long time ago and marked this decision with the famous tattoo on his chest (on which, as everyone knows, and especially Elena Ilinykh, Vladimir Putin is intelligibly depicted), did not appear in the Representative Office.

Not very good for Sergei Polunin.

But there were in the hall “Viktor Pavlovich Gotsulenko and Larisa Fedorovna Feoktistova – the creators and permanent leaders of two dance ensembles that bear the same, very kind name -” Joy “”.

That is, they lead dance groups with the same name. One is in the Crimea, the other is on the Kola Peninsula.

Was not in the hall, unfortunately, and really a cult person, Inessa Kovalevskaya. It was rightly said about her:

– It is Inessa Alekseevna that we must thank for the singing heroes of the Bremen Town Musicians, for the lion cub and the tortoise, for the Katerok and Port, other beautiful works loved by everyone …

According to Kommersant, Inessa Kovalevskaya, unlike Sergei Polunin, does not feel well.

Aidar Zabbarov, in his response, was able to list, without once straying, many names of cultural figures of Tatarstan at once, which, in his opinion, influenced his formation and, being uttered in vain in the Representative Office, will, presumably, actively influence his formation and further.

Ekaterina Pilnikova (sculptor.— “b”) also did not remain silent:

“This is the most exciting day of my life,” she admitted.

It would have been better if it had been the most exciting day of her life. Otherwise, one can imagine that if taste betrays a person in words, then it can also change in plaster, and even more so in stone.

Viktor Gotsulenko, head of the dances in Sevastopol, did not refuse anyone anything (what else can be done there now?):

– I really want to thank the government of the city of Sevastopol, personally the governor Mikhail Vladimirovich Razvozhaev for their attitude, for love, for how wonderful we are now living in Sevastopol and, honestly, do not need anything. It’s just a fairy tale!

On this day, the ships of the Black Sea Fleet, however, repulsed, according to news agencies, several drone attacks, including on the city, so it’s true that not a single one passed. And Joy, of course.

Larisa Feoktistova, the head of another dance group, added color to this already vivid picture:

– In our teams there are choreographic performances on a patriotic theme. The Sevastopol “Joy” has “The Bells of Chersonesos” (this is about a colleague Gotsulenko.— A.K.). The issue is dedicated to the return to the native harbor of Sevastopol and the Crimea. The Murmansk “Joy” has the “Russian Army”: whoever comes to us with a sword will die from the sword! I thank my colleagues who teach children not only to dance, but also instill in them a sense of patriotism. I thank our joyful children of all generations who have gone through and are going through the school of life in the dance ensemble “Joy”!

And it can’t be any other way now, obviously. And most importantly, no one knows if it can ever happen again.

Vladimir Putin brought some clarity to this issue in his concluding remarks:

“Regardless of any turbulences in the world, creativity always lives in the country, always with us, always supporting us. This is the great strength of our people, this is one of the fundamental foundations of our existence.

Yes, it’s forever.

After the ceremony, the laureates and the president were offered traditional champagne.

– What are you interesting in? Vladimir Putin asked, holding a glass in his hands.

“I’m interested in discovering new Tatar authors,” Aidar Zabbarov admitted. “There is a lot of Tatar prose that has never been staged. You see, the theater in Tatarstan is more than just a theater…

Unlike all other subjects of the federation.

“It’s a pity to see some neighboring regions,” Aidar Zabbarov developed his thought, “forced to play only in Russian, because some plan needs to be fulfilled, plus, maybe there is no demand … And in Tatarstan there is the Navruz festival, in during the festival, they play not only in Tatar … After all, it’s interesting: Chekhov is in Yakut! ..

I would like to see it, of course.

“No, no one walks, and that’s all, silence,” agreed Vladimir Putin. “We need to think about it…

Ekaterina Pilnikova told the president about the sculpture of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, on which she was working on the instructions of Valery Abisalovich Gergiev (artistic director and general director of the Mariinsky Theatre.— “b”).

“We still need to work out a sketch,” she admitted, “because this is a very difficult place, near the concert hall of the Mariinsky Theater.

— Ahhh… — Vladimir Putin immediately became interested. — There, behind the new stage… Valery Abisalovich wants to go there… Well, yes!..

For him, it seems, this place has opened up in a new way.

“We need to see how it will stand,” Ekaterina Pilnikova shared with concern.

“It will revive this place,” Vladimir Putin guaranteed. “It will revive it, for sure!”

He liked this word. And nothing that it was about sculpture.

– We have a choreographic center in Balaklava, – Viktor Gotsulenko entered, holding a glass in his hands, for some reason in a half whisper. – This is the highlight of Balaklava at the moment! .. Let them be small, but they are artists! They work with their hearts!

I liked Viktor Gotsulenko, frankly, for this one phrase.

– There is an acrobatics hall! .. I really want you to come! Viktor Gotsulenko called the president.

Yes, just from there.

– Under culture, we … – Viktor Gotsulenko rejoiced. – At the Department of Culture! .. We started with one toilet … Now we have sixteen! ..

– Yes?! – Vladimir Putin doubted and at the same time was delighted.

– Yes! I’m proud of it! A.K.) it was private property, no one needed!

“Well, everything was sold out there…” Vladimir Putin sighed bitterly.

“Oh…” supported Viktor Gotsulenko.

– If only to help out the money … At any cost … – the president explained.

“Well, as I said, thank God!” Viktor Gotsulenko reassured him.

“We also have 300 children,” Larisa Feoktistova continued jealously.

She did not have such a high opinion of her children.

Then, already on the first floor of the First Building of the Kremlin, where the laureates descended, I asked Viktor Gotsulenko how to solve the theme of the return of the Crimea and Sevastopol to their native harbor in the dance.

– We tried! – he said. – Well, we have a dance “The Bells of Chersonesos”. It begins with the fact that we show Orthodox Rus’. The guys go on stage to the chime of the bells. We go out and bless ourselves to something. We have everything for real! In this dance, the child reads “Our Father”!

– In dance?

– Certainly! – Victor Gotsulenko exclaimed. – We showed in plastic how difficult life was for all of us …

– Under the previous government? I asked again.

“Of course,” Victor Gotsulenko exclaimed again.

He sang the hymn tune.

– Not with the anthem of modern Russia for some reason I wanted to end, right? I asked.

– For some reason, yes! I wanted to demonstrate that Rus’ is eternal! As an artist, it seemed to me that Rus’ was, is and will be with us or without us!

Yes, this is what I really want.