News

News

Space Bridge “Vyoshenskaya – Toronto”

A space bridge between the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov and the representatives of the Toronto Russian House and of the Russian-Canadian Cultural and Educational Society held on April 22, 2018, opened a cycle of the events dedicated to the birthday of the great writer.

It all began with a letter from Canada, the Toronto Russian House, to the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov offering to communicate via a space bridge. The meeting was scheduled for April 22, 18.00 Moscow time: in Canada it was 10 a.m.

The Russian House in Toronto, one of the major cities of Canada, unites the Russian-speaking diaspora, the people who continue being interested in life, history and culture of their former Motherland. There are exhibitions, lectures, discussions on topics related to Russia and the CIS countries, and leisure clubs working. The space bridge was initiated by Vaagn Karapetyan, a skilled organizer and a true enthusiast, chief editor of the almanac “Literary Canada”.

First, T.Turchin, Deputy Director, told about the Museum-Reserve, its structures, history and work. The museum workers spoke about the rarities of their collection, about publication of the journal “Mir Sholokhova” (L.Razogreyeva), about the work with children and young people (M.Popova), about the Sholokhovs’ family and the writer’s descendants (N.Kirsanova).

The Canadian interlocutors asked about the contacts of the Museum with E.Bystritskaya, meetings with P.Glebov and other members of the filming crew of “The Quiet Don” by the film director S.Gerasimov. They were enthusiastic about the work of M.A.Sholokhov, especially about his epic novel which was filmed many times.

The museum workers were curious to know that there is also a small River Don flowing through Toronto and to see a photo of the waymark “Don River”.

For the listeners distant from Vyoshenskaya, young schoolgirls Lyuba Manko and Vika Barsukova read some fragments of the short stories “Galoshes” and “The Fate of a Man”, a duo of young musicians A.Shchebunyayev and E.Plekhanov performed two compositions. The people of North America warmly welcomed Cossack songs performed by the folk group “Pravoslavny Don”: just here, from the screen, the activists of the Russian diaspora in Toronto suggested the title of the leader Gennady Vechorkin of the ensemble “Soul of Russia” to be added with the words “…and a little of Canada”. This caused smiles on both sides of the ocean.

The space bridge lasted about two hours and was a success. The parties expressed hope for new kind meetings.

The residents of Vyoshenskaya invited “Russian Canadians” from Toronto to join the upcoming holidays of “Steed is the Dearest for Cossack” and “Sholokhov Spring -2018”.

Alexey Kochetov