The Belarusian State Philharmonic is a musical institution based in

Minsk Minsk (, ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach (Berezina), Svislach and the now subterranean Nyamiha, Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administra ...

, Belarus.

History

The Belarusian State Philharmonic was founded on 25 April 1937. It featured a symphony orchestra, a Belarusian folk instruments ensemble, a

dance ensemble A dance troupe or dance company is a group of dancers and associated personnel who work together to perform dances as a sport, spectacle or entertainment. There are many different types of dance companies, often working in different styles of dan ...

, and a choir. A 930-seat concert hall on

Yakub Kolas Square The Yakub Kolas Square ( - ''Plošča Jakuba Kolasa'') is a square in Pershamayski District of Minsk, located on the crossing of Independence Avenue, Yakub Kolas street and Vera Khoruzhaya street. The square was named in honour of the folk poet ...

opened its doors in April 1963. In 2004–2005, the hall underwent renovation. Nowadays, the Philharmonic houses the Great Hall, with 688 seats, and the Small Hall named after R. Shirma, with 200 seats. On 13 August 2020, following the 2020 presidential election and the brutal crackdown during anti-government rallies by riot police, the Philharmonic employees joined the protests with posters ''My Voice Was Stolen'' and a performance of the iconic song '' Mighty God'' by Gregory Shirma Choir . The Philharmonic continued the protests by singing '' Kupalinka'', '' Pahonia'' by M. Bogdanovich, ''Break the Prison Walls'', and other songs around Minsk: on Yakub Kolas Square, in front of

Minsk Tractor Works Minsk Tractor Works (; ; MTZ) is a Belarusian agricultural machinery manufacturer with headquarters in Minsk, Belarus. Minsk Tractor Works is one of the main tractor factories in the country. It is a part of the Minsk Tractor Works Industrial Ass ...

, at the indoor pavilion of Komarovsky market, at Kupalovskaya metro station, and in the atriums of Capital and Gallery shopping centers.

List of Departments

* State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus * National Academic Folk Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus named after I.Zhinovich * State Academic Capella Choir of the Republic of Belarus named after G. Shirma * State Chamber Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus * State Chamber Choir of the Republic of Belarus * Ensemble ''Classic-Avant-garde'' * Minsk String Quartet * Ensemble of soloists under the direction of I. Ivanov * Belarusian State Folk Music Ensemble ''Svyata'' * Ensemble ''Camerata'' * Folklore group '' Kupalinka'' * Belarusian Poetic Theater of One Actor ''Znich'' * Concert and tour department * Youth programs

Soloists

* Arutyunova Natalia (cymbals)

Architecture

The original philharmonic hall was built in 1959-1963 under the direction of G. Benedict. In 1983, five-story wings were added on both sides. The main facade is decorated with porticoes featuring six fluted pillars and a triangular pediment. Semicircular bay windows on the side facades open to the staircase foyer with a colonnade. The gypsum facades are finished with block masonry and an impressive cornice. The Greater Hall is designed as an amphitheater; it features an organ created by Czech craftsmen. The interior is decorated with the tapestry ''Music'' (1976; by V. Nemtsov, V. Tkachev, A. Yaskin).

External links

Official Belarusian State Philharmonic site

References