Special Evening Event at Somerset House
Somerset House, London, 9 April 2005
On Saturday 9 April, a brand new special evening event, organised by the Russian Economic Forum, was held in the magnificent courtyard of Somerset House on the Strand. The programme was designed to cater for the new up-and-coming generation of Russian and British entrepreneurs and, with a turnout of around 500 guests for the world of fashion, arts and business, the Party provided a spectacular and high profile launch to the Russian Economic Forum week.
Champagne, cocktails and star entertainment
Entering Somerset House from the Strand, guests made their way past event sponsor Audi's A8 car display to the specially-designed marquee, where they sipped Champagne from mini Moet & Chandon bottles and tried out an exotic range of Hennessy cocktails and Sputnik vodka, whilst listening to some Moscow sounds from the live bands that had come over from Russia specially to perform at this exclusive private event.
First to take to the stage was the evening's compere, talented BBC Radio presenter Sadie Nine, who set the scene with her rendition of the Beatles' Back in the USSR. She elicited a warm welcome for the first act of the evening, the Grim Brothers, the latest Russian music sensation. Twin brothers Borya and Kostya have enjoyed huge success since their launch in Russia, and they set the party off to a flying start.
They were followed on the stage by Umaturman, who made their London debut in January at the Russian Winter Festival on Trafalgar Square. One of Russia's most exciting new bands, the chart-topping Umaturman added true star quality to the entertainment line-up on 9 April.
Light fantastic
It was a night of surprises, from the stunning interior design of the marquee, to an electrifying light show and large format projection onto the full length of Somerset House's walls. The projection, which lasted ten minutes and was sponsored by Dunhill, drew guests outside the marquee into the courtyard, where the awe-inspiring light and sound show left most lost for words.
Following this spectacle, guests re-filled their glasses and made their way to the dance marquee, hosted by Audi, for a set by top Russian Radio DJ Artemy Troitsky, before a jaw-dropping live performance by the aptly-named Via Gra, the hit girl band that has caused a massive stir in Russia and Ukraine, and they kept the Somerset House guests partying until after 3 a.m.
Famous faces
The 500 guests at Somerset House included many of Russia's most well-known young entrepreneurs, their friends and partners, as well as celebrities from the worlds of art, politics and sport. Among those attending were London socialite Andy Wong, Stephen Webster (jewellery designer), June Sarpong (TV Presenter), Tim Vincent (TV Presenter), Preeya Kalidas (Actress), Robert Morrison (Celebrity Stylist), Bob Patmore (P.S Records), Leo Sayer (Singer), Peter Stone (Composer & Music Producer), Lawrence Walters and Robin Tustin (Quince Studios), Oleg Tinkov (Tinkoff Beer Co), Oscar Akhmedov (Audi), Ozwald Boateng (fashion designer) and his wife Gyunel, Vasily Sidorov (MTS), Anatoly Danilitsky (National Reserve Corporation), Vladimir Rashevsky (SUEK), Dmitry Zelenin (Governor, Tver Region), Boris Teterev (Rolls Royce Russia), Dmitry Zelenov (Don-Stroi), Moty Spector (Vivid Collection), Igor Linshits (Neftyanoi Concern), Alla Verber (Mercury), Alexander Gafin (Alfa Bank), Oleg Markov (Russian Presidential Administration), Sergei Karpukhovich (Access Industries), Nikolai Fetisov (Trust Investment Bank), Alexander Volkov (Sumosan), Alain Cornibert (Hennessy), Natalia Pavlova (Dunhill), Marwan Chatila (Chatila), Aliona Doletskaya (Vogue Russia), Nikolai Uskov (GQ), Alexei Venediktov (Ekho Moskvy), Pavel Astakhov (celebrity lawyer), Alexei Smertin (Chelsea football star) and wife Larisa, and many other prominent figures from Moscow society, including Anastassia Yastrzhembskaya, Amalia Goldanskaya, Ksenia Sobchak, Alex Shustorovich, Marina Kuzmina, Uliana Tseytlina and Valery and Viola Syutkin.
