The Days of Culture format - i.e. a complex of activities, aimed at deep and diverse intercultural communication - became an important event for Satka. On 06 of April, the third festival "Days of Italian Culture" came to a close. 

Close correlation between two countries

— One of my goals is to facilitate insight into diversity of Italian culture, not only in Moscow but in Russia’s further-flung regions. Festival events will show Italy through various perspectives to Satka citizens. Such events demonstrate that our countries have great relations in the field of culture – said Pasquale Terracciano, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy in Russia as openings remarks. CEO of Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Moscow, Olga Strada continued the grand opening of the festival at Magnezit Cultural Center by saying: “Such events are like bridges of knowledge: movies, photos and theatre provide the possibility to have a better understanding of our culture. We are glad that the Days of Italian Culture are held in Satka for the third time and this year the festival is large-scale. I hope that this tradition will be carried on and that next time we will create something new and exciting for Satka people to learn even more”.

Preliminary stage of the official ceremony was the opening of the “Latitude/Longitude” sculptural composition by maitre Diego Esposito in Zuratkul National Park and presentation of same-name catalogue concerning his creation. When the Italian delegation experienced the nature of The Southern Urals, they had an insight into industrial centres of the region and the city, they visited principal industrial site of Magnesite Group and “Magnesite” museum. 

The first day of the festival came to an end with the opening of "Testimonianze prezione", the exhibition of the selected photographs by Elizabetta Catalano, a famous portrait painter.

— For the first time this exhibition was held in Moscow in 2017 on biennale “Fashion and style in photography”, which our museum has put on a show for the past few years, - told Diana Gurova, exhibition curator, Multimedia Art Museum “Moscow House of Photography” representative. - This is a project where Catalano captured many famous actors, stage directors and artists in photographs. Here we can see both fashion and style; she represented us women, who have been known to be standards of beauty, femininity and charm. We will see short photo reportages on the set where the most famous and favourite Russian stage directors used to work.

Deep traditions 

Stage plays of the world's oldest puppet theatre - Milan Puppet Theatre Carlo Colla and Sons («Compagnia Marionettistica Carlo Colla e Figli») was sort of keynote of the Days of culture in Satka in the Year of Theatre in Russia.

“We held performances all over the world and now we are so glad to perform in Satka. We love your city. The most exciting for us were the people – it is they who attract our attention everywhere as well as the opportunity to show our art. It is a sort of exchange: we do our best and see if we could make people happy, - noted Dario Albini, representative of Governing Body of group “Carlo Colla and Sons” on the day of the premiere in Satka.

At Magnezit Cultural Center the theatre showed its best plays — “Turandot” and “Sleeping Beauty”, and between the acts the actors showed the way to the backstage of the theatre actors, they told about Italian performing arts, more than 250-year-long history of Colla theatre and unveiled details of family crafts.

— Initially the puppet theatre was shaped as a theatre for adults. Group of “Carlo Colla and Sons” produced operas, ballets, dramas, comedies and tragedies. This group was the first to show historical plays (for example, Independence Rebellion in Italy, Napoleonic wars), by taking on the role of newspapers. Our theatre has had fairy tales on the repertoire since the early XX century, - said Pierrot Corbella, manager and theatre actor during master class for students of Rozum Children Art School No. 1. — The theatre added the play “Sleeping Beauty” to its repertoire in 2001. Our group manager Eugenio Monti Colla wrote a script of Charles Perrault's fairy tale for string puppets. Our play is much closer to Perrault's fairy tale. Eugenio added some pieces from “The Sleeping Beauty” ballet, set to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and developed the famous fairy tale”.

Designed back in the XIX century and hand-picked theatrical scenery and puppets produced the impression of depth and realism of onstage actions. Records of the best performers as supporting music, attention to every string puppet's character, acting skills and actors' sincere passion held both adults and children in thrall. During 4 performances, actors of the Colla theatre presented an impression of unique colourful show that united centuries, countries and cultures. 

Large footprint on the sands of time 

Maitre Luchino Visconti showed Italy of Risorgimento era in his film epic “Leopard”. This film was screened in Magnezit Cultural Center during closing days of the festival.

Upon the completion of the Days of Culture Satka citizens will able to get deeper understanding of the Italian cultural heritage by visiting the Satka Central Library, where they can see books and catalogues, which the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Moscow presented at the official ceremony on April, 03. The Library enlarged its book collection concerning culture of this country with new books of classic and modern prose, guides and linguistic dictionaries, albums of Italian art and architecture.

Italian multifaceted culture, displayed in the festival program, once again left a long-lasting impression for citizens and visitors of Satka District. Year after year due to such events, citizens of the small industrial town get a deeper insight into global culture, by enriching new traditions and world-wide testimonies.

The fourth Italian Culture Festival in Satka will be held from August 23 to September 24. Italian Culture Fest is a large-scale cultural program by the Italian Culture Institute aimed at international cultural exchange and allowing a large diverse audience to get to know the heritage of the country. 

This year 2021 is the fourth time that this annual project “Italian Culture Festival” of the Cultural and Educational Program of the Italian Culture Institute is held in Satka. In previous years the town had concerts, plays, and exhibitions held, there were painters who came to share their knowledge of Italian culture with the Satka Region residents.

Program of this year’s Festival is dedicated to the memory and achievements of the distinguished artist and inventor of the Renaissance – Leonardo Da Vinci. 

On August 23 the Magnezit Museum will open the exhibition “Leonardo – a Chivalrous Genius” telling about inventions and main interests of this distinguished figure of the Renaissance. The display will allow the visitors to get to know the research and works of Leonardo Da Vinci, covering such areas of his activities as sculpture, art, architecture, botany, theater, anatomy, painting and engineering. 

The educational program also includes the movie of Jesus Garces Lambert dedicated to the 500th death anniversary of the homo universalis – “I, Leonardo”. Historic portrayal of the Renaissance genius filmed in a documentary-gamely style shall invite the Satka residents to immerse themselves in creation of international cultural legends, as well as allow them to empathize with the emotional turmoil of creating masterpieces felt by Da Vinci on the screen. In Satka the movie will be shown twice: On August 26, 17.15, the first viewing will be held in the Magnezit Museum, and on September 9, 17.30, the second viewing will be held in the Magnezit House of Culture. 

Guests can get acquainted with artistic and scientific achievements of the homo universalis within the framework of online lectures and discussions held within the “Art-Satka” Public Art Space. The youngest residents of the Satka Region will be able to visit workshops and practicals demonstrating ideas of artistic and engineering discoveries of the master. 

All interested can continue their acquaintance with Italy and its culture thanks to the books newly shipped to the library fund of the “Art-Satka” Public Art Space. The collection will be enriched with books on philosophy, history, art and science, especially with gifts from the museum publication “Garazh”.

Leonardo Da Vinci – an artist, architect, sculptor, inventor and musician. The exhibit dedicated to the great representative of the Renaissance opened on August 23 in the Magnezit Museum as part of the Italian Culture Festival in Satka.

This is the fourth time that this project “Italian Culture Festival” of the Cultural and Enlightenment Program of the Italian Culture Institute is held in Satka. In previous years the town had concerts, plays, and exhibitions held, there were painters who came to share their knowledge of Italian culture with the Satka Region residents. One of the venues for the events is still the Magnezit Museum. The visitors still fondly remember the photo exhibit “Viva l’Italia. Italian Cinema by Angelo Frontoni” which was held in the Museum in 2017.

Program of this year’s Festival is dedicated to the memory and achievements of the distinguished artist and inventor – Leonardo Da Vinci. The program started with the exhibition “Leonardo – a Chivalrous Genius” prepared by the Italian Culture Institute in Moscow to celebrate 500th year death anniversary of the homo universalis. 14 posters filled with text and illustrations get the visitors familiar with the major milestones in Da Vinci’s life and describe key areas of activity and interests of the Renaissance genius.

“Our exhibition has traveled to a lot of Russian cities and towns, and we are glad that today it is opened in Satka. We are sure that every visitor will reinvent the image they have of Leonardo Da Vinci. Many know of his artistic masterpieces, but few are familiar with his scientific research. For instance, as early as in 1487 (several centuries before the first appearance of tanks) he created a design of an armored vehicle and a drawing of the first machine gun”, greeted the gathering Ms. Daniela Rizzi, Director of the Moscow Italian Culture Institute, in her video message.

And the discoveries did not make the visitors wait. It turns out music was one of Leonardo’s many interests. He composed musical plays, invented musical instruments and even sang for a big auditorium, as well as won musical competitions.

One of the posters suggested the visitors take a trip through images depicted on postmarks with Leonardo Da Vinci and his works. As everybody knows, stamp-collecting is one of the most widespread means to show recognition of a genius and their works by the society.

Exhibition “Leonardo – a Chivalrous Genius” precedes the first showing of the movie “I, Leonardo” (by Jesus Garces Lambert) which will be held on August 26 (Thursday) in the Magnezit Museum. This artistic film created in 2019 using modern technologies unifies documentary and artistic genres and recreates the greatest inventions of the maestro. In the movie Leonardo is portrayed by Luca Argentero.

FOR REFERENCE:

Italian Culture Fest is a large-scale cultural program by the Italian Culture Institute aimed at international cultural exchange and allowing a large diverse audience to get to know the heritage of the country.

Italian Culture Festival 2021 program in Satka includes:

August 23 – September 24 – Exhibition “Leonardo – a Chivalrous Genius” in the Magnezit Museum.

August 26, 17.15 – Showing of “I, Leonardo”, 12+ in the Magnezit Museum (booking by tel. 9-46-84).

August 27, 15.00 – Artistic Session “Houses of Burano Island” with Valentina Abrosimova (Water Color) in the “Art-Satka” Public Art Space.

August 31, 15.00, September 1, 17.00 – Literary Session “Gianni Rodari’s Fairy Tales” in the “Art-Satka” Public Art Space.

September 3, 12.00 – Lecture by Natalia Vodoleeva, Teacher of Yu. A. Rozum’s Children Art School No. 1, “Genius of Leonardo Da Vinci” in the “Art-Satka” Public Art Space.

September 9, 17.30 – Showing of “I, Leonardo”, 12+ in Magnezit House of Culture.

September 10, 18.00 – Lecture “Italian Neo Realism: Music of Nino Rota in Movies of Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti” in the “Art-Satka” Public Art Space. Lecturer: Liliya Nemchenko, member of Board of Directors of Russian Guild of Film Critics, member of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, Director of International Practical Festival of Cinema Schools “Kinoproba”, assistant professor of Ural Federal University of First President of Russia, B.N Eltsin, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences. Pianoforte: Anton Zubarev, award winner of the B.N Eltsin Award in category “Musical Instrument Mastery”, award winner of international competition “Usadba Jazz” (as part of Andrey Pletnyov quartet). Clarinet: Yuri Nechaev, concertmeister of the clarinet group of the Ural Academic Philarmonic Orchestra, award winner of all-Russian and international competitions.

September 12, 16.00 – Artistic Session “Italian Landscapes” together with Yu. A. Rozum’s Children Art School No. 1 in the “Art-Satka” Public Art Space.

September 14, 17.00 – Lecture Day in the “Art-Satka” Public Art Space. Technical and Artistic Discoveries of Leonardo’s Age.

September 15, 17.00 – The “Art-Satka” Public Art Space invites everyone to study mysterious symbols in Italian still-life paintings.

September 16, 18.00 – Video lecture “Italian Language Lesson from Rome” in the “Art-Satka” Public Art Space. Lecturer: Elena Tsarenko.

September 20 – Lecture Day in the “Art-Satka” Public Art Space. Technical and Artistic Discoveries of Leonardo’s Age.

September 23, 18.00 – Second video lecture “Italian Language Lesson from Rome” in the “Art-Satka” Public Art Space. Lecturer: Elena Tsarenko.

September 24, 15.00 –Video lecture “Artistic Session. Toscana Landscapes” in the “Art-Satka” Public Art Space.