Russian House Brussels-Europe

🎼🎨 How can we hear colour and see music? This evening, the Russian House in Brussels welcomed guests to a lecture by Mikhail Bryzgalov, “The Three Faces of the Russian Avant-Garde: Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Kandinsky.” The audience embarked on a fascinating journey through the world of the Russian avant-garde, where music, painting, theatre and cinema came together in the search for a new artistic language. The lecture explored the remarkable connections between the works of Wassily Kandinsky, Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich, demonstrating how different art forms inspired and enriched one another. Special attention was given to the role of music in cinema and its power to create meaning beyond the screen. One of the most moving moments of the evening was the performance of “Arise, Russian People” from Sergei Prokofiev’s cantata Alexander Nevsky. The audience also learned about Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 (“Leningrad”), a masterpiece that became a symbol of courage, resilience and hope during the Second World War. The lecture concluded with a remarkable story of mutual respect between the two great composers. In 1957, Dmitri Shostakovich insisted that the first composer to receive the restored Lenin Prize should be Sergei Prokofiev, who was awarded it posthumously for his Symphony No. 7. We sincerely thank Mikhail Bryzgalov for this inspiring lecture and all our guests for joining us for an evening dedicated to the enduring legacy of Russian avant-garde art. We look forward to welcoming you again soon at the Russian House in Brussels!