Russia celebrates Pushkins 212th birthday

By Yun Suh-young

The Russian Embassy in Seoul hosted a concert celebrating the 212th birthday of the Russian writer Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin.

On June 6, Seoul Cyber University’s Tchaikovsky Hall was filled with classical music and Pushkin’s poems.

“The Russian Embassy will take significant steps to introduce Pushkin to Koreans. I hope you will join us in the effort,” said Russian Ambassador to Korea Konstantin Vnukov in a congratulatory speech. The embassy also designated it the “Russian language day.”

Pushkin (1799-1837), a poet and author of the Romantic era, is known as the father of modern Russian literature, pioneering the use of vernacular speech. Pushkin has influenced many Russian writers as well as foreign writers. Although his works were difficult to translate, Pushkin has influenced western writers like Henry James.

“Pushkin is an outstanding Russian poet who uses beautiful and extensive vocabulary. His poems well portray the deepness of the Russian language. Music, in fact, is a good way to understand the difficult works of Pushkin,” Vnukov added.

Pushkin’s poems have attracted many composers. Seventy songs, 20 operas and 10 ballets have been made based on his works, some of which have become world classics. The concert began with one of his best known work- “What though life conspires to cheat you.”

The first part of the concert featured Pushkin’s other notable poems such as “A Magic Moment I Remember,” “I Loved You,” “The Night,” “The Poet,” “To the Fountain of the Palace of the Bakchisarai” and “My Beauty, Do Not Sing for Me.” The poems were recited by university students studying Russian literature.

The second half was filled with piano performances of Tchaikovsky’s “The Seasons.” The 12 pieces characteristic of each month of the year was played by Russian pianists Alexander Svyatkin and Elena Svyatkina.

South Korea and Russia have established diplomatic relations in September 1990.

However, cultural exchanges between the two countries date far back. Performances by ballet companies such as Bolshoi Ballet and Mariinsky Ballet and concerts by Russian symphony orchestras were part of the festivities during the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

“I hope Koreans grow a desire to learn the Russian language and culture through this concert. I am confident that today’s concert will bring our two countries closer together,” the ambassador said.