On November 2, 2012 Dresden drama theatre (Schauspielhaus) hosted the grand opening of the VI St. Petersburg Theatre Season attended by the official delegation of St. Petersburg, Martin Seidel, Deputy Mayor of Dresden, and Viktor Minkov, artistic director of the Season and the Priyut Komedianta St. Petersburg State Drama Theatre.
On November 2, 2012 Dresden drama theatre (Schauspielhaus) hosted the grand opening of the VI St. Petersburg Theatre Season attended by the official delegation of St. Petersburg, Martin Seidel, Deputy Mayor of Dresden, and Viktor Minkov, artistic director of the Season and the Priyut Komedianta St. Petersburg State Drama Theatre.
The Season was opened with the play based on “Uncle’s Dream” novella by Fyodor Dostoyevsky with the participation of renowned stage and film actors Alisa Freindlikh and Oleg Basilashvili.
In his welcoming speech Igor Lonsky, deputy chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg and head of the International Cooperation Office, delivered a congratulatory address on behalf of Georgy Poltavchenko, Governor of St. Petersburg. In the address the Governor pointed out that it was a great honour for the Russian capital of culture to demonstrate its rich theatrical potential to the sophisticated audience of Dresden, especially as part of the German-Russian Year declared by the Governments of Russia and Germany. Georgy Poltavchenko also stressed the important role of the art in strengthening tolerance and peace, uniting different peoples and, in particular, promoting friendship between the citizens of the two partner cities.
He thanked Helma Orosz, Mayor of Dresden, for her full cooperation in organizing the Season and expressed hope for further development of bilateral relations.
Igor Lonsky added that the choice of the play was very symbolic for the German city because Fyodor Dostoyevsky lived there and there was a monument in his honour near the Congress centre on the Elba embankment.
Martin Seidel expressed his gratitude to St. Petersburg City Administration for the precious present for the residents and guests of Dresden and supported his St. Petersburg partners in their aspiration to further strengthen the regional relations that had been in place already for over 50 years.
Viktor Minkov concluded by saying that the 2012 theatre delegation was the largest one in the history of the Season and extended words of recognition for the warm reception of the play “Baal” by St. Petersburg State Academic Drama Theatre named after Vera Komissarzhevskaya that was performed in Hellerau theatre on October 29.
Plans concerning further development of St. Petersburg–Dresden partnership were discussed in depth during the negotiations with Kristina Schoger, head of the Department for European and International Relations of the Office of the Mayor of Dresden.
More information on the programme of the VI St. Petersburg Theatre Season is available on the official website of St. Petersburg City Administration.
Interview of Viktor Minkov, artistic director of the Season and the ‘Priyut Komedianta’ St. Petersburg State Drama Theatre (audio).
The Programme of the Year of Russia in Germany is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.