Cultural Life in the Udmurt Republic

Literature

Grigory Egorovich Vereshchagin (1851-1930) – the founder of Udmurt literature, the first Udmurt scholar and ethnographer.

Kuzebai Gerd (Kuzma Pavlovich Chainikov) (1898-1937) – prominent Udmurt poet, writer, playwright, folklorist and ethnographer. Executed in 1937 in the raging repression time.

Ashalchi Oki (Lina Grigoryevna Vekshina) (1898-1973) – the first Udmurt poetess. Her highly lyric verses have been translated into many languages.

Mikhail Petrovich Petrov (1905-1955) – prominent Udmurt writer, poet, playwright, public figure, translator. Participant of the Great Patriotic War. Chairman of the Union of Writers of the Udmurt Republic (1950-1952). Author of the famous Old Multan novel (1954).

Trofim Arkhipovich Arkhipov (1908-1994) – People’s Writer of the Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Author of the “By Ludzinka River”, “Beauty of Man”, “Overcome Yourself” novels.

Mikhail Andreevich Lyamin (1906-1978) – People’s Writer of Udmurtia. Author of well-known “Through the Fire” war stories, the “In the Name of Happiness” and other novels.

Stepan Pavlovich Shirobokov (1912-1983) – People’s Poet of Udmurtia. Author of 10 collections of poems: “May Nightingales Sing”, “Cheptsa Speaking” and other books. Also known as the author of plays and books for children. 

Gennady Dmitrievich Krasilnikov (1928-1975) – Udmurt classic, writer and publicist, a prominent leader of the Union of Writers of the Udmurt Republic. His books have been translated into many European languages and tongues of peoples living in the Russian Federation. ”Beginning of the Year” is his most famous book.

Flor Ivanovich Vasilyev (1934-1978) – prominent Udmurt poet-lyrist, whose poems have been translated into many foreign languages and tongues of peoples living in the Russian Federation. An innovator in the Udmurt poetry, Vasilyev invented an original synthesis of folklore, traditional and contemporary verses. Many of his poems became songs.

Grigory Sergeevich Medvedev (1904-1938) – prominent Udmurt writer, one of the first members of the USSR Union of Writers. Author of numerous stories and essays, the first ever author of a trilogy of novels (Lozinskoe Field) in the history of the Udmurt Literature. Repressed in 1938.

Alexander Egorovich Belonogov (1932) – well-known Udmurt poet, author of over 10 collections of poems. Author of the third sonnet sequence in the history of the Udmurt literature (“This Gift Will Never Get Old”).

Zoya Alexeevna Bogomolova (1923) – prominent literary critic, scholar, professor at the Udmurt State University. Well-known as the author of books on Udmurtia’s prominent writers. For many years has been a member of the High Creative Council of the Union of Writers of Russia.

Vasily Mikhailovich Vanyushev (1936) – poet, scholar, publicist, Doctor of Philology, professor. The most prominent scholar of the literary heritage of G.E.Vereshchagin, the founder of the Udmurt Literature. In 2006 was granted the People’s Writer of the Udmurt Republic title.

Pavel Fedorovich Kulyashov (1929-1905) – writer and publicist. Distinguished Cultural Worker of the Udmurt Republic. Author of a number of novels. The “Mother’s Heart” novel is very popular in Russia. 

Oleg Alexeevich Poskrebyshev (1930-2007) – People’s Poet of Udmurtia, publicist, translator, participant and delegate at numerous congresses of the USSR and RSFSR writers, member of editorial boards of numerous magazines published in Moscow. His poems have been translated into tongues of peoples living in the Russian Federation, many of them became songs. 

Foma Kuzmich Ermakov (1927) – well-known Udmurt literary critic and scholar, a prominent Finno-Ugric figure, since 1958 – member of the Union of Writers of the USSR. The first Udmurt Candidate of Science in Philology and professor of literary criticism. His 420 research works have been published in 22 languages.

Mikhail Alexeevich Konovalov (1905-1938) – Udmurt writer, playwright and literary critic. Author of the first Udmurt novel about the working class (“Scarred Face”) and the Gayan novel about the life of Udmurts. In 1937 was unlawfully arrested, died in 1938.

Nikolai Semenovich Baiteryakov (1923-1997) – People’s Poet of Udmurtia, participant of the Great Patriotic War. 11 collections of poems were published in the Udmurt language and four collections have been translated into Russian. Many of his poems became songs popular with the Udmurt people.

Semyon Alexandrovich Samsonov (1931-1993) – People’s Writer of the Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, gifted writer and prominent public figure. From 1985 to 1993 – Chairman of the Union of Writers of the Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1990 elected vice-president of the Association of Finno-Ugric Writers of Russia. Winner of the State Prize of the UASSR (1981). An essay author of standing reputation, author of “The Shadow” and “Midnight Phone Call” novels based on real events, and of the “Pigeons Never Lose Their Way” novel.

Egor Egorovich Zagrebin (1937) – Udmurt playwright and writer, People’s Writer of Udmurtia, Distinguished Cultural Worker of the Russian Federation. His plays, such as “Spring Rain”, the “White Swan” drama and “Nastya and Stepan” comedy have remained in the repertoire of the Udmurt National Theatre for many years. Winner of the State Prize of the Udmurt Republic (2001) for the “The Cuckoo Keeps Crying” and “Eshterek” tragedies.

Fine Arts

Many talented artists, painters and sculptors live in Udmurtia.

The Udmurt Union of Artists (a branch of the Russian Union of Artists) has functioned in the republic for almost 70 years. Today it comprises 89 artists representing various genres and styles, such as widely known painters A.P.Kholmogorov, A.T.Russkikh, P.S.Semenov, A.E.Lozhkin, V.B.Kononov, P.V.Elkin, S.N.Vinogradov, B.N.Postnikov, F.P.Matantsev, Y.N.Osipov, O.V.Chunaeva; sculptors A.E.Anikin, P.K.Medvedev, A.L.Suvorov; masters of decorative arts Y.S.Blinov, K.F.Reznitsky, A.S.Soloninov.

Five Distinguished Artists of Russia and six People’s Artists of Udmurtia live in the Udmurt Republic. Paintings and sculpture of leading Udmurt artists adorn collections of Russian and foreign museums.

Decorative Arts and Crafts

A unique system of the promotion of decorative arts and crafts in the Udmurt Republic helps develop culture and arts not only in Udmurtia, but in Russia in general.

In 1991 in order to preserve, revive and promote folk decorative arts and crafts, the state cultural institution called the National Decorative Arts and Crafts Center with the Ministry of Culture of the Udmurt Republic was established in the Udmurt Republic.   

Today there are 21 Centers (Houses) of Arts and Crafts in Udmurtia. Unique, highly artistic, ethnically recognizable items are made there, 22 various kinds of crafts are promoted, including weaving, production of art pieces made of birch bark and straw, wood carving and decoration, etc.

Since 2002 landscape architecture has been promoted in Udmurtia. As of today, about 200 sculptures inspired by Udmurt myths and legends have been placed in parks and gardens.

Theatres

There are seven professional theatres in Udmurtia:

·       State Opera and Ballet Theatre

·       State National Theatre

·       V.G.Korolenko State Russian Drama Theatre

·       State Puppet Theatre

·       “Young Man” Izhevsk Municipal Youth Theatre

·       Sarapul Municipal Drama Theatre

·       “Paraphrase” Glazov Municipal Theatre

Udmurtia’s theatres offer about 160 plays by Russian, Udmurt and foreign, classic and contemporary authors. Much attention is paid to staging plays for children.

Periodically the “Theatre Spring” festival of professional theatres of Udmurtia is held, one of its missions being to make people interested in the best plays staged in Udmurt theatres.

Museums

The history of museums in the Udmurt Republic dates back to early XIX century when factory museums were established at the Izhevsk and Votkinsk factories.

The first public museum in Udmurtia, the Sarapul Zemstvo Museum (today it is called Museum of the Cultural History of Middle Kama Region), was opened in 1909.

In 1920 a museum of local lore, history and economy was established. Today this largest and leading museum in the Udmurt Republic is called the National Museum of the Udmurt Republic named after Kuzebai Gerd.

In 1940 Tchaikovsky museum was opened in the composer’s native city of Votkinsk.

In 1980 the Republican Fine Arts Museum was opened.

In late 1990s the Idnakar History and Culture Museum was established in the city of Glazov.

In 2003 the Ludorvai Architecture and Ethnography Museum was granted the status of an independent institution. 

The opening of the M.T.Kalashnikov Museum and Exhibition Small Arms Complex became a significant event in 2004.

Today there are 32 museums in the Udmurt Republic; 6 of them are state museums, and 26-municipal museums – museums of local lore, history and economy, literature and fine arts museums and exhibition halls, memorial museums and conservation area museums. Besides, there are 140 non-state (public) museums at schools, universities, agencies and enterprises.

Museum funds in the Udmurt Republic amount to 600 thousand exhibits, including a unique collection of Izhevsk-made, Russian and foreign firearms dating back to the XIX century, collections of XVIII and XIX centuries fine arts, jewelry, coins (some of unique, e.g. sablinitsa ancient Russian coins, kopeks minted in the XVI century, in the times of Ivan the Terrible, tsar Fedor Ioannovich and Boris Godunov), archeological (some dating back to VIII B.C.) and ethnographic artefacts, exhibits of decorative arts and crafts, memorial exhibits, such as Tchaikovsky’s grand piano. 

One of the museums’ missions is to present the Udmurt Republic to visitors. More than 700 thousand people visit museums annually, over 15,000 excursions, 2000 lectures and special events, over 500 exhibitions are held every year.

All museums, together with public organizations of ethnic cultures, participate in the organization of national holidays, reviving the cultural traditions of peoples living in the Udmurt Republic.

Music

There are 8 concert organizations in Udmurtia:

·      Udmurt State Philharmonic Society comprising the Academic Choir, Zarni Krez’ (Golden Melody) folk orchestra, Shuldyr Zhyt (Merry Evening), Lulgur (Cordial Melody) and Malpan (Dream) Udmurt ensembles,

·      Italmas State Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Udmurt Republic awarded the Friendship of Peoples order,

·      State Symphony Orchestra of the Udmurt Republic,

·      State Ensemble of Wind Instruments with the Ministry of Culture of the Udmurt Republic,

·      Aikai Udmurt State Folk Song Theatre,

·      Tanok Udmurt Republic State Folk Song, Music and Dance Ensemble,

·      Izhevsk P.I.Tchaikovsky Municipal Chamber Choir,

·      Izhevsk Municipal Choreographic Ensemble.

Every year the above concert institutions offer 50 new concert programs to spectators and give over a thousand concerts.

Every year the republic hosts the Tchaikovsky musical festival, and another festival called “Young Talents of Russia in Tchaikovsky’s Native Land”. The latter popularizes young people’s creative work, helps to interest young people in the best of classical music.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikivsky Musical Festival

For over half a century now the Udmurt Republic has hosted annual musical festivals devoted to the birthday of the genius of Russian classical music Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Prominent singers and musicians, symphony and wind orchestras, choirs, drama and dance collectives from Russia and Udmurtia participate in this most significant event in the cultural life of the Udmurt Republic.

It has become a good tradition that the winners of the Moscow Tchaikovsky competition participate in the concerts of the musical festival held in the composer’s native land.

Admirers of Tchaikovsky’s music will never forget performances given by symphony orchestras conducted by Yury Temirkanov, Dmitry Kitaenko, Eduard Serov, Natan Rakhlin, Kirill Kondrashin, Fyodor Glushchenko, Eugene Svetlanov, Vladimir Fedoseev, Veronika Dudarova, Eugene Bushkov and Yury Bashmet.

Spectator’s gratitude makes musicians come here again and again, with new programs, fulfilling Tchaikovsky’s request that his music “spread, so that more people come to love it finding consolation and support in it”.

Traditionally, the participants of the musical festival start familiarizing themselves with Tchaikovsky’s native land with a visit to the Tchaikovsky Estate Museum in Votkinsk. Such visits are very enjoyable due to the atmosphere of kindness and reverence for the composer’s heritage and a chance to touch the first grand piano of the would be genius of Russian music.

Prominent foreign musicians have taken part in the festival’s concerts over recent years. In 2006 an Italian opera star, soloist of the La Scala theatre Chiara Taigi performed with the State symphony orchestra of the Udmurt Republic. The Venezuela Symphony Orchestra conducted by Angelo Pagliuka for the first time participated in the festival during its 50th anniversary.

Among the participants of the 50th festival were the winner of international competitions cellist Nathaniel Rosen and violinist and conductor Yuval Waldman from the USA.

In 2002 the Center “Tchaikovsky and the Present” was established by the Creativity Center for UNESCO on the basis of the Eastern-European University. Within the framework of the 50th festival the “Tchaikovsky – Son of Udmurtia, Genius of Mankind” conference organized by the Center was held. Researchers, musicologists, historians, philologists, art historians, theatre experts, culture experts and psychologists from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Germany, Switzerland, Israil and the USA presented their reports at the conference.

The program of the 51th musical festival devoted to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky included a performance of the Musica Viva academic chamber orchestra (Moscow) conducted by one of the best foreign conductors Lin Tao (China).

The State Symphony Orchestra of the Udmurt Republic presented a unique project called “Three Tenors – Two Conductors” that involved solo singers Francesco Cingarello from Italy, Michael Spadaccini from Belgium and Andrian Hema from Germany, and Italian conductor Leonardo Cuadrini.

The best students of Russian and foreign conservatories participate in the Young Talents on Tchaikovsky’s Native Soil festival. Citizens of Udmurtia enjoyed the performances of the winner of international competitions, Korean National Musical Youth competition 1st prize winner, Moscow International Violinist Competition 1st prize winner, graduate of the Korean National Arts University and student of the Moscow State Conservatory Hung Wong Li (violin), the Foggia Conservatory student Andrea Saracino from Italy (vibraphone), violin player Hi Ji Chon from Seoul, Korea.

Circus

The first circus appeared in Izhevsk more than a century ago. As early as in late XIX century circus show-booths were periodically erected by travelling circuses. In fact, they were nothing more than temporary wooden shacks with benches for richer spectators, while the poor had to enjoy shows standing in pens. The first permanent circus was built in 1895, and operated till the Civil War. In 1926, close to the Hay Square, the permanent Kolart circus was built. It accommodated 1500 spectators, was heated with firewood and lit with kerosene lamps. That circus fell into decay by 1939, and a decision was made to replace it with a brick building. Architect P.M.Popov based his design on the Ciniselli circus in Saint Petersburg (built in 1877), adding a portico with a bas-relief depicting a female acrobat and a male animal-tamer, and increasing the height of the dome to 20 meters. In spite of the war, circus construction was brought to completion, and on November 29, 1943 wounded soldiers became the first spectators in the newly built circus accommodating 1800 people. 

In 1990 the dilapidated circus was classified as dangerous, and reconstruction was intended. However, experts found out that the building’s renovation would cost as much as the construction of a new building. It was only nine years later that a decision was made to demolish the old circus and build a new one. 

In 2003 a unique construction project for the new building of the State Circus of Udmurtia was implemented in the shortest possible time. The circus is one of the best in Russia. It is equipped with cutting-edge equipment; high quality lighting and sound systems help make circus shows truly spectacular. Numerous circus stars have performed in Izhevsk, such as Anatoly, Vladimir, Yury and Theresa Durov; Nikolai Gladilshchikov, Ivan Ruban, Valentin Filatov, Zapashny brothers and many other performers.

Udmurt Folk Culture, Arts and Crafts 

Actualization of traditional folk arts in the cultural heritage of Udmurtia and the Finn-Ugric world for its further popularization and development is the main purpose of the Vorshud (Family Shrine) regional festival of the Finn-Ugric peoples living in the Volga region and the Ural. Folk art collectives from Finn-Ugric republics, Finland, Estonia and Udmurt enclaves in various Russian regions take part in this festival.

Introduction of the youth to the spiritual culture via search for and implementation of innovative methods and approaches occurs during the traditional yumshan-festival called The New Song of the Ancient Land. Contemporary interpretation of elements of the original Udmurt culture makes it possible to introduce young people to the spiritual values of the traditional culture, make these values understandable and living in today’s world.

There are over 3.5 thousand amateur folk art collectives in the Udmurt Republic. They are well-known both in Russia and abroad. The leading Udmurt folk art group called Zarni Shep has presented folk art in Finland and Hungary, the Vavozh Krezchi krez band participated in the XI International Childern’s Festival in Hungary, the Rainbow folk ensemble – at the VII International Festival of Finn-Ugric Peoples in Hungary, the Ashalchi people’s ensemble of the Udmurt song won a diploma at the Baltika-2006 International Folklore Festival in Latvia.

22 folk arts and crafts are being successfully developed in Udmurtia. The folk artisans’ pieces have been successfully presented at various All-Russian and International forums. The Aikai Theater of Folk Song and masters of folk arts and crafts participated in the presentation of the Green Week-2008 international exhibition in Berlin.