2nd Annual Russian Winter Festival
Trafalgar Square, London, 14 January 2006, 11am - 6.30pm
2nd Annual Russian Winter Festival, a successful celebration of the unique relationship between London and Moscow, took place on Trafalgar Square on Saturday 14 January 2006.
To a rapturous reception, Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London declared: “For as long as I remain Mayor, I will do everything to ensure that there is a Russian Winter Festival every year in London”. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Yuri Luzhkov, Mayor of Moscow, Mayor Livingstone spoke of the warmth of London-Moscow ties, as the crowd in the packed square cheered their support.
Sergei Kolushev, Chairman of the Russian Economic Forum and Festival organiser said: “It is wonderful to see such huge interest in Russia and its culture – the Festival is a powerful symbol of the impact that Russia continues to make in London”.
After the success of the first festival in 2005, the Russian Winter Festival is now becoming an established London event. With a crowd estimated at 73,000, Saturday’s trouble-free Festival was an eclectic staging of folk acts from across Russia, and performances from big names in rock and pop. The Festival was organised by the Russian Economic Forum, with the support of the Mayor of London, the Moscow City Government and the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography.
Brilliant event, great music, terrific atmosphere. Can't wait for the next one. This must be the best free event in the UK.
Peter Calladine
Highlights included the first-ever overseas display by the Kremlin Guards – President Putin’s very own equivalent of the Household Guards. In an elaborate and meticulously-choreographed sequence, they paraded and trooped the Russian flag on the stage, set beneath Nelson’s Column, before the New Year’s “climactic moment", complete with the peal of traditional Kremlin bells and stunning creative effects whilst the Square was covered with a carefully-synchronised snowfall.
A show-case for Russia’s rich cultural and musical heritage, the Festival included the world famous Golden Ring with Nadezhda Kadyesheva, a memorable performance of the children’s Malenkiy Jigit ensemble from Ossetia, Ergyron – an Eskimo group from the far reaches of Chukotka, Yarmarka from Moscow and others.
As afternoon turned to dusk, Russia’s leading contemporary pop and rock acts took to the stage – including the legendary DDT and the popular twins, Brothers Grim.
The performances were introduced by Sadie Nine of BBC London and popular Russian daytime television talk show host Andrei Malakhov of Russian Television's Channel One, who was joined on stage by celebrities from Russia, including Alina Kabaeva, former Olympic gymnastics champion.
A hungry crowd devoured authentic Russian food, and Russia’s no. 1 beer, Baltika, flowed from the two dedicated Baltika bars on either side of the Square.
The Russian Winter Festival has fast established itself as the premier event in the Capital's new year calendar. As London's broadcaster, we're delighted to be associated with this increasingly important cultural celebration.
Michael Macfarlane, BBC London
The Russian Winter Festival 2006 supported Russia's Year of philanthropy by teaming up with the Charities Aid Foundation to support Life Line, a project that enables sick children of the Russian Federation to have the operations (in Russia) that they so desperately need yet cannot be financed by the State. The Festival also collaborated with the charity organization, Northern Crown which provides practical, medical, psychological and educational aid for orphaned children of the Russian Federation.
Alongside Lead Sponsor, Baltika, generous sponsorship was supplied by Gazprom Marketing and Trading, Gazpromexport and Western Union, with support from Transaero as Official Festival Carrier.
Visitors came from near and far for the event. A typical comment on the day’s festivities, from a family from Wigan: “The Russian Winter Festival has been both a very safe and enjoyable way to get a true flavour of the real Russia”
