Under the patronage of H. E. Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, Honorary Director of the American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation (ARCCF), Honorary Chairman President George H.W. Bush, and Chairs Susan E. Lehrman and the Honorable Selwa W. Roosevelt, the ARCCF hosted a gala in honor of its 20th Anniversary as well as to commemorate the 200th Anniversaries of America's and Russia's triumphs in the Wars of 1812.
The Gala featured a mini-exhibition of original objects that belonged to Alexander I and Napoleon, including Napoleon's hat, as well as other historical artifacts from the Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, the French Chalencon Collection, the Russian State Archive, and the State Historical Museum of the Russian Federation. An actor portraying Napolean Bonaparte greeted guests to an evening that transported them back to the early 1800's. Russian entertainment completed the evening with performances by Russian cellist Dmitry Volkov, pianist Yury Shadrin, French harpist Emmanuel Ceysson, dancers from the Kirov Ballet Academy, and the classical music group Nova Era.
Said Ambassador Kislyak, "I would like to acknowledge the meaningful contributions the ARCCF has made in the betterment of our countries' mutual trust and understanding through appreciation of the arts and culture of each other. American-Russian cultural relations are integral to the well-being of our two countries' political and diplomatic relationships. The continuance of cultural exchange between the US and Russia presents promising opportunities to further cultural relationships between our two nations and support more and more occasions for cross-cultural contact."
Alexander Potemkin, the ARCCF's Executive Director, noted, "This gala continues the Foundation's tradition since its inception, to celebrate the most important joint pages from America's and Russia's histories. During the last 20 years we have celebrated the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the joint victories in WWII, the Bicentennial of US-Russia diplomatic relations, the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln and his friendship with Russian Tsar Alexander II, and many other meaningful events from our cross-cultural legacies. This 1812 Gala is dedicated to yet another link in our parallel journey through history. Being connected in this way illuminates how much we have in common."
Susan E. Lehrman, Co-chair of the evening's event, and Chair of the Advisory Council of the Initiative for Russian Culture, added, "This evening we celebrate the beauty of our cultural similarities as well as our differences. Through initiatives like the ARCCF and the American University's IRC, we will continue to share with younger generations the importance of our two nation's commonalities, and our shared history together."
Photos: (top) Amb Kislyak, Mrs. Kislyak, Dr. Billington, Mrs. Billington, Hon. Symington, Mrs. Symington. (Right) The Golden Hall.
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ARCCF Hosts Gala Honoring 20th Anniversary and 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812
November 19, 2012
Under the patronage of H. E. Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, Honorary Director of the American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation (ARCCF), Honorary Chairman President George H.W. Bush, and Chairs Susan E. Lehrman and the Honorable Selwa W. Roosevelt, the ARCCF hosted a gala in honor of its 20th Anniversary as well as to commemorate the 200th Anniversaries of America's and Russia's triumphs in the Wars of 1812.
The Gala featured a mini-exhibition of original objects that belonged to Alexander I and Napoleon, including Napoleon's hat, as well as other historical artifacts from the Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, the French Chalencon Collection, the Russian State Archive, and the State Historical Museum of the Russian Federation. An actor portraying Napolean Bonaparte greeted guests to an evening that transported them back to the early 1800's. Russian entertainment completed the evening with performances by Russian cellist Dmitry Volkov, pianist Yury Shadrin, French harpist Emmanuel Ceysson, dancers from the Kirov Ballet Academy, and the classical music group Nova Era.
Said Ambassador Kislyak, "I would like to acknowledge the meaningful contributions the ARCCF has made in the betterment of our countries' mutual trust and understanding through appreciation of the arts and culture of each other. American-Russian cultural relations are integral to the well-being of our two countries' political and diplomatic relationships. The continuance of cultural exchange between the US and Russia presents promising opportunities to further cultural relationships between our two nations and support more and more occasions for cross-cultural contact."
Alexander Potemkin, the ARCCF's Executive Director, noted, "This gala continues the Foundation's tradition since its inception, to celebrate the most important joint pages from America's and Russia's histories. During the last 20 years we have celebrated the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the joint victories in WWII, the Bicentennial of US-Russia diplomatic relations, the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln and his friendship with Russian Tsar Alexander II, and many other meaningful events from our cross-cultural legacies. This 1812 Gala is dedicated to yet another link in our parallel journey through history. Being connected in this way illuminates how much we have in common."
Susan E. Lehrman, Co-chair of the evening's event, and Chair of the Advisory Council of the Initiative for Russian Culture, added, "This evening we celebrate the beauty of our cultural similarities as well as our differences. Through initiatives like the ARCCF and the American University's IRC, we will continue to share with younger generations the importance of our two nation's commonalities, and our shared history together."
Photos: (top) Amb Kislyak, Mrs. Kislyak, Dr. Billington, Mrs. Billington, Hon. Symington, Mrs. Symington. (Right) The Golden Hall.
