Sberbank Rossii : becomes general partner of Diaghilev Festival in Perm

13 June 2018, Moscow - At the Diaghilev Festival that will be held from 14 to 24 June in Perm, world famous directors will stage premieres of plays. Sberbank will act as the festival's general partner for the first time.

The abovementioned directors are the most significant masters of modern European theatre: Romeo Castellucci, Robert Lepage, Alain Platel, and Meredith Monk. The festival programme is not limited to their plays: a special art project has been created for the theatre forum for the first time. The city will be decorated with large street installations created by Alyona Kogan and Vadim Gololobov, artists from St. Petersburg. The objects, which look like tightened strings, create an atmosphere of very emotional tension. In addition, guests can use a special guidance page on the internet. The electronic assistant will not only help to plan the attendance of events, but also navigate the town, and find cafés, restaurants and ATMs.

This year the festival programme provides free masterclasses for 50 students of musical educational institutions from different Russian cities. The masterclasses will end with a concert in the park near the Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre. The best student who participates in the programme will receive a special prize from Sberbank. In addition, the winner will be invited to work in the festival orchestra conducted by Teodor Currentzis, one of the most talented conductors of our time, at the 2019 festival.

On 24 June, a live translation of the closing ceremony will be held with support from Sberbank. At the ceremony, musicAeterna, the orchestra of maestro Currentzis will perform the Fourth Symphony by Austrian composer Gustav Mahler.

'We are glad to help arrange a vivid event in the life of the modern theatre in Russia such as Diaghilev Festival,' said CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank Herman Gref. 'On the one hand, it is a tribute to the great Russian stage director. On the other hand, it is support for key cultural events that has become a tradition for our bank. We will continue to assist such initiatives that make modern art more accessible to all citizens of our country in different cities.'

The Diaghilev Festival has been held in Perm since 2003. It is named after the famous Russian theatre impresario Sergey Diaghilev who grew up in the city. A unique feature of the festival is its diversity of genres. The programme consists of opera, ballet, plays, modern dance performances, art and photo exhibitions, concerts of symphonic, chamber, jazz, ethnic and rock music, feature films, lectures and masterclasses.