In May - July 2015, events of Exchange Days of Culture of Russia and Argentina will be held in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Veliky Novgorod

On May 27, a concert of the Argentine tango orchestra Victoria (Orquesta Victoria) will take place on the stage of the Moscow State Estrada Theater with the participation of vocalist Noelia Moncada and the dance couple Leandro Gomez - Marcel Vespasiano. On May 30, a concert of these artists will be held at the St. Petersburg Musical Comedy Theater.

Viewers will meet with the culture of Argentina in its most vivid embodiment - tango. Although the Argentinean monopoly on tango has long been destroyed, in order to comprehend its innermost magic for itself, it is worth touching the original source. An orchestra of twelve musicians was created in 2010 and since then has regularly performed at the legendary Vinyl Cafe in Buenos Aires. The band, masterfully performing authentic Argentinean music, was honored to perform at a gala dinner on the occasion of the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Argentina on July 12, 2014.

The performance of Orquesta Victoria is a full-scale show in which the sounds of bandoneons, violins, viola, double bass and piano, deep, melodic vocals, intense light, impeccable plastic and expression of the talented Argentinean dancers Leandro Gomez and Marcela Vespasiano are intertwined. For the milonga regulars, the performance of Orquesta Victoria will bring many surprises, which can be preceded by the words “not only Piazzolla”. The repertoire reflects a new vision of tango music, combining elements of jazz and classical, and reveals to the general public the names of such outstanding musicians as Carlos Gardel, Juan Carlos Cobian and Hugo Gutierrez.

Connoisseurs of classical vocals will meet with the soloists of the Argentinean opera. The brilliant tenor Dario Volonte, called the "ambassador of Argentinean culture", and the rising star Marina Silva (soprano) will perform on June 6 in the Great Hall of the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic named after D.D. Shostakovich accompanied by the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Philharmonic. Dario Volonte is an artist of amazing fate. At 18, he became a participant in the fighting for the Falkland Islands, miraculously escaped from the sunken cruiser General Belgrano, returned from the war, worked as a truck driver and sang in a church choir. There, his unique voice was finally noticed, after which he received a professional musical education and conquered the best stage venues in the world. June 9 concert of Argentinean vocalists, accompanied by a chamber orchestra of the Novgorod Regional Philharmonic named after A.S. Arensky will take place in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic of Veliky Novgorod. The concert programs were prepared with the participation of the famous Russian conductor Mikhail Agrest.

The visual form of art will be presented by the exhibition of works by contemporary Argentinean photographers “Human Landscapes,” which will be hosted and placed in one of its halls (Red Shop) by the Winzavod Contemporary Art Center (Moscow) from June 16 to July 4. The exhibition brings together 35 works by seven photo artists, including such recognized masters as Alejandro Chaskelberg, Luis Abadi, Florencia Blanco, Laura Glusman, Nicholas Janowski, and young, but have already formed their individual creative handwriting by the master Rosan Scheuhet and Gonzalo Maji. The works, very different in aesthetics, are united by the idea of showing a person in his natural environment. The depth of comprehension of the daily life of Argentines, they are strikingly different from the usual glossy tourist landscapes.

Holding such events will undoubtedly contribute to the rapprochement of our countries, the development of a constructive dialogue and effective partnership. Obviously, 2015 will open up new opportunities for cultural, political and economic cooperation between Russia and Argentina.

The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture of Russia and the Ministry of Culture of Argentina. The events were organized by the DANCE OPEN festival with the assistance of the Cervantes Institute in Moscow, the Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art, the Moscow Exhibition Halls Association.