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Saturday, September 04, 2010 | Russian Nobility Association in America, Inc. (RNA) |
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Home | Members | Functions & Legacy | Events | Links | Contact Us |
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| The Annual Russian Nobility Ball
at the Pierre Hotel, New York City May 13th, 2011 |
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| Events International Nobility Forum in Russia Junior Patron's Cocktail Party Museum of Catherine II in Zerbst Douglas Smith: The Pearl (introduction speech) Russian Cadet Exchange Visit Initiated |
The Russian Nobility Association in America is glad to announce that the RUSSIAN SPRING BALL 2010 was successfully held on May 14th at the Pierre Hotel, New York. The Ball pictures can be found at www.jasonmckayphotography.com (you can browse them by Categories at http://www.jasonmckayphotography.com/category/rna-dancing/) A digital copy of the official 2010 Russian Spring Ball Program can be downloaded from http://tinyurl.com/2010-Ball-Program-HiRes (a lower resolution copy of the Program can be found at http://tinyurl.com/2010-Russian-Ball-Program ) ~ Please mark your calendars for our next Ball which will be held at the same place on May 13th, 2011 For more information please send inquiries to RNA@RussianNobility.org, or call (845) 215-5851, (212) 986-9634, (516) 496-4688
International Tolstoy Conference War and Peace across the Disciplines The Russian Nobility Association in America is pleased to announce that an International Tolstoy Conference was held at West Point on April 7-11, 2010. Leo Tolstoy’s great-great grandson, Vladimir Il’ich Tolstoy and a distinguished group of scholars from various academic disciplines gathered at West Point to present papers on Tolstoy’s epic masterpiece War and Peace. The RNA was represented by Dr. & Mrs. Cyril E. Geacintov, Prince Vladimir K. Galitzine and Mr. Warren C. Hutchins. Cornell University Press will publish the presentations made on this occasion in a book which will be the first interdisciplinary companion volume to War and Peace. The lectures and contacts of the book will be applicable to history, political science, and literature in time to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino. For donations please contact Dr. Rick McPeak, US Army Colonel, Finance Manager for the North-American Tolstoy Society at 845-709-5783 or ruslit1979@yahoo.com. As you see from the above, this was a major event to commemorate and honor Leo Tolstoy and his epic novel War and Peace. Dr. Cyril E. Geacintov The famous Russian basso Alexander Kisselew gave an exclusive concert for the benefit of the Russian Nobility Association in America and its charitable efforts at the Russian Consulate General (9 East 91st Street).
Farewell Reception at the Russian Consulate General in New York on November 6, 2009 Consul General of the Russian Federation, the Honorable Sergey Viktorovich Garmonin, has completed his very successful tour of duty in New York and will be returning to the Moscow Ministry of Foreign Affairs later this month. Mr. Garmonin has shown great support to the Russian Nobility Association in America by providing the Ballroom and other meeting facilities at Russian Federation Consulate in New York on 91st Street for the many receptions, lectures and concerts by the RNA. In recognition of his amicable and friendly relationships with the Russian Nobility Association in America, an old Russian emigre organization founded in 1938, the RNA presented an Award of Recognition for the Consul’s support and assistance of the goals of the Association.
The picture depicts Dr. Geacintov presenting the Award to the Hon. Sergey V. Garmonin.
NOVEMBER 2, 2009 THE RUSSIAN NOBILITY ASSOCIATION IN AMERICA, INC. ROMANOV REMAINS FOUND AND IDENTIFIED? Lecture by Captain Peter Sarandinaki, President and Founder of SEARCH (Scientific Expedition to Account for the Romanov Children). In 1991 nine sets of remains were found not far from the Four Brothers Mine area, long suspected as the burial site of the murdered Romanov family and their loyal servants. Missing were the remains of Grand Dutchess Maria (or was it really Grand Dutchess Anastasia?) and their brother Tsarevich Alexis.
Captain Sarandinaki spoke about his personal journey through this maze of controversy, opposition and resistance. Judge for yourselves if the Romanov mystery has been finally solved almost a century later. What role did modern technology play?
And now there's a new mystery. SEARCH is now involved in locating the remains of Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich Romanov, the Tsar's brother. SEARCH is progressing...
MOZART & SALIERI by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov In the year 1830, not only did Pushkin work on his great epic poem Eugene Onegin, complete other poems, several short stories and folk tales, but he also wrote the four short Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) and Cesar Antonovich Cui (1835-1918) were both members of “The Mighty Five”, the group of highly influential Russian composers The Little Opera Theatre of NY The Tsars and the East: Gifts from Turkey and Iran in The Moscow Kremlin Announcing a current special exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington, DC, which may interest the Russian Nobility Association. Organized by the Sackler Gallery in collaboration with The Moscow Kremlin Museums, The Tsars and the East: Gifts from Turkey and Iran in The Moscow Kremlin features more than sixty exceptional objects that large embassies, diplomatic missions, and trade delegations from Ottoman Turkey and Safavid Iran offered to the tsars of Russia. Ranging in date from the early sixteenth to the late seventeenth century, these lavish gifts and tributes include rarely seen arms and armor and jeweled ceremonial vessels and regalia intended for the Russian court or the Orthodox church. The exhibition, only on view in Washington, D.C., explores the reasons why these extraordinary gifts were presented, their artistic and cultural impact, and how they inspired artists to develop a highly original visual identity that became a potent symbol for the Russian state and the Orthodox church.
Freer Gallery of Art + Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Our friends from the RUSSIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER (RACH-C) are preparing their biggest annual project - Children's Festival of Russian Culture - which is coming again to New York!
The opening day of the Festival will take place at Lincoln Center with a concert of talented young musicians of the Spivakov Foundation from Moscow plus other outstanding young talent from the US. The concert will be on May 30, 2009 at 3:00 pm in Lincoln Center. Because of our mission on behalf of children, and with the kind support of "Russkiy Mir" we have made the tickets very affordable and they are already available at LincolnCenter.org
The second day in Fort Tryon Park in Northern Manhattan (by the Cloisters Museum) is June 6, 2009, 12:00pm-5:00 pm, and will feature performances by a dozen Children's Folk Ensembles from different US cities and Russia. For details, please visit www.rach-c.org Please encourage your friends and family to attend these unforgettable family events of Russian Culture in New York.
The Russian Nobility Association in America is glad to announce that this year's RUSSIAN SPRING BALL was successfully held on May 8th, 2009 at the Pierre Hotel, New York. We thank all supporters of our charitable efforts worldwide!
Courtesy of Jason McKay - www.jasonmckayphotography.com
Due to an atrial septal defect, Sergey needed to have the surgery. Sergey’s Mom, Elena, is very relieved that all went well and that years of struggling with the effects of the heart defect are over. Young Sergey and his mother attended the Annual Russian Nobility Association in America benefit Ball at the Pierre Hotel on May 8th. Perhaps, you remember, if you attended the Ball, Sergey and his mother were introduced by Mr. Michael Yurieff, Executive Director of the Russian Gift of Life organization (www.RussianGiftOfLife.org, or www.RGOL.org).
The electronic version of this year's Ball Program is available at http://www.adegi.com/www/rna/RNA2009Journal.pdf.
Suzanne Massie: Lecture On THE REEMERGENCE OF OLD RUSSIA
Suzanne Massie’s lecture at the beautiful Russian Consulate Hall was a sold-out event with standing-only audience participation. Ms. Massie commented on the reemergence of old Russian traditions, religion, history and culture, emphasizing the role of the Russian women in reestablishing traditions which were suppressed during the communist era in Russia, as well as in reestablishing the family values and normalization of life in the country.
Suzanne Massie is a well-known author and co-author of a number of books published in the United States, such as Nicholas and Alexandra, The Living Mirror, Land of the Firebird and others.
Ms. Massie is the winner of a prestigious literary prize and is an active participant in the cultural and social concerns of the city of St. Petersburg. She has served as a fellow of the Harvard Russian Research Center (now the Davis Center) from 1985-97, as well as on the Board of the International League for Human Rights. In 1991 she was appointed as the only lay member of the Permanent Episcopal-Orthodox Coordinating Committee which has involved bi-annual discussions in Russia and the United States with hierarchs of the church, giving her a unique perspective on the life and role of the Orthodox Church in Russia today. Left to right: Mr. Sergei V. Garmonin, Consul General of Russia in New York; Ms. Suzanne Massie; Dr. Cyril E. Geacintov, President of the Russian Nobility Association; Prince V.K. Galitzine, the RNA Vice-President Ms. Massie is the daughter of a Swiss diplomat. Born in New York, she graduated from Vassar College, and also studied at the Sorbonne and the Ecole des Sciences Politiques in Paris. She is travelling permanently to Russia and writing a new book on the dramatic change in American-Russian relations. Ms. Massie’s lecture was received with well-deserved standing applause, and we at the Russian Nobility Association in America are proud to have had such a knowledgeable and well-spoken Russian expert as the speaker on the first seminar series we have staged. On behalf of the RNA, our member Ludmila Selinsky has sent Ms. Massie an art book she translated on the paintings of Vassily Nesterenko in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, films about the Russian Civil War for which she was a consultant to Nikita Mikhalkov, and a 2009 calendar by the artist. Suzanne Massie was very pleased replying: "It means a great deal to me as I am very familiar with the magnificent restoration work of Church of the Savior and I was both touched and delighted to receive your book.... Thank you also for sending the film of the Russian Civil War. This too is of great interest to me... I would very much like to have some of my American friends see it... I have always been interested in learning more about Denikin and Wrangel and their heroic fight and I think it is vital for Americans as well as Russians to know about this too. Your work is so necessary and I would be most grateful to you for any information you can give me about your projects." With Pres. Reagan, whom she advised.
Mr. Douglas Smith was the second speaker on the 29th of October, also at the 91st Street Russian Consulate General in New York, and he spoke on his latest book, The Pearl, just published by Yale University Press. It is the story of Praskovia, a Cheremeteff family serf who became a world famous opera singer and wife of her master. It is also the story of the Cheremeteff family which in the time of Catherine the Great and her son, Emperor Paul was the wealthiest family in Russia, and their story is a fascinating one. It too was a fascinating and interesting presentation.
Over the past twenty-five years Smith has made many trips to Russia. In the 1980s, he was a Russian-speaking guide on the U. S. State Department’s exhibition “Information USA” that traveled throughout the USSR. He has worked as a Soviet affairs analyst at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Munich, Germany specializing in Russian nationalism and served as an interpreter for late President Reagan. Mr. Smith has taught and lectured widely in the United States, Britain, and Europe and has appeared in documentaries for A&E and National Geographic. A regular contributor to The Seattle Times and other publications, he is the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, including a Fulbright scholarship and a residency at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Study Center. For a summary of Mr. Smith's lecture, please click on the following internal link: Douglas Smith: The Pearl (introduction speech). Douglas Smith's next book is titled Former People: The Destruction of the Russian Nobility, 1917-1941 to be published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in 2012.
NEW LECTURE SERIES SEPTEMBER 30 and OCTOBER 29, 2008
THE RUSSIAN NOBILITY ASSOCIATION IN AMERICA, INC. *** Cheese and wine (and vodka) reception to follow Save the date: Next Russian Nobility Ball, Friday, May 8th, 2009 at the Pierre Hotel, New York City
Arts Festival in Penza The Russian Nobility Association proudly announces an important recent event in the cultural life of Penza, an old town in the South-Eastern region of the European part of Russia. The Arts Festival was held at the Savitsky Regional Arts Gallery in Penza and consisted of two sections – an exhibition and a concert. All the paintings presented at the exhibition were created by a specially invited international group of artists – from Russia, the United States and the Great Britain – who spent almost two weeks prior to the Festival traveling throughout the Penza Region. As seen on the picture below, the Russian Nobility Association has been advertised on the back cover of the Official Catalog of the Festival. Dr. and Mrs. Geacintov (pictured below) have made a generous personal contribution to make this Festival possible. They are featured in the Exhibition Catalog as Main Sponsors of this International Arts Project.
The concert program was fabulously performed by the famous Russian Chorus of Yale University, which made a special stop in Penza on its way from Australia and Japan to Moscow.
These talented American singers amazed their Russian listeners with great voices, energetic and lively performance and excellent knowledge of Russian songs – both classical and folk. A Ball Reception was held specially for the Yale Chorus members where they enjoyed dancing with young Russian ladies dressed in XIX-century ball gowns. By the way, Alumni of the Yale Russian Chorus will participate in the performance at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday evening, October 15, of the opera "The Tsar's Bride". We encourage all RNA members to support this performance. Pictured below is a gigantic Information Board in the center of Penza which announces this cultural event mentioning the main sponsors (including our Association):
The Russian text on this Board says: “THE SOURA REGION [watershed of Soura River]: ITS PAST AND PRESENT
Letter to D.A.Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation On the occasion of the Russian Independence Day, June 12th, the President of the RNA congratulates the newly elected Russian Federation President Medvedev and offeres his best wishes for continued economic and social development for the Russian people in the name of the Russian Nobility Association in America. The letter was delivered to the Russian Federation Consul General in New York and has been forwarded to the Kremlin. This letter also describes the origin of the RNA and the statutes of membership tied to the Nobility records in Russia prior to 1917.
The 70th Anniversary RNA Ball
The 300+ guests who attended the event all expressed their enjoyment and pleasure of their participation at the 2008 Russian Nobility Ball.
The comments were: "The entertainment was fantastic... The food was delicious... The guests were gorgeous and very elegant... The dance music was great... The silent auction offers some unique items..." and everyone had a great time. As usual, the Pierre Hotel's Grand Ballroom and facilities provided a perfect setting for this wonderful event.
The many who are asking when the RNA will do it again, please mark your calendars "May 8th, 2009".
 Russian Culture Festival, Fort Tryon Park
(Saturday, May 31, 2008)
The RNA is pleased to announce its sponsorship of this year’s 2nd Children’s Festival of Russian Culture, under the auspices of the Russian American Cultural Heritage Center (RACH-C).
The Festival took place on Saturday, May 31, 2008 at Fort Tryon Park from 12 noon – 5:00 pm.
Events included Russian children’s dance and singing groups;
Magicians, story tellers, clowns, and others; Handcrafts and books (Russian & English); Mouth-watering Russian foods; Games and contests that engage and challenge; Fun ways to learn about history and traditions. Organizing Committee: Dr. Olga Zatsepina (888-762-9031)
or visit the RACH-C website at www.rach-c.org.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
After acclaimed performances throughout Europe including Notre Dame de Paris, UNESCO Hall, and the Vatican Hall Auditorium, the celebrated choir from the ancient Russian Sretensky Monastery will launch an unprecedented North American Good Will Tour this September. The Moscow Sretensky Monastery Choir (www.sretenskychoir.com) will make its American debut in a one-night only engagement at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (70 Lincoln Plaza) on Tuesday, September 4th at 8:00 p.m. Under the direction of Artistic Director and Conductor Nikon Zhila, the 42-man a cappella choir will offer a program of Byzantine and Russian chants, folk songs and Russian romances.
On behalf of IMG Artists and Maestro Artist Management, we are cordially inviting you to attend this performance!
 For tickets please call Lincoln Center Box Office at (212) 875-5030, CenterCharge at (212) 721-6500 or book online at www.lincolncenter.org
Visit to Orphanage #4 in St. Petersburg
Through the past years the RNA has contributed to the support of the State Healthcare Institution Specialized Orphanage #4 for children with psycho/neurological disorders in St. Petersburg.
The RNA donations for the Orphanage consisted of purchasing, delivering and installing a wide range of rehabilitation and sensory training equipment available from a range of sources. The equipment was purchased by the RNA and installed/serviced by DRG Biomed, the Subsidiary company in St.Petersburg of DRG International, whose founder and CEO is Dr. Cyril E. Geacintov, also President of the RNA. The visit to the Specialized Orphanage #4 on June 28, 2007, as shown at the photographs below, exemplified how donations of the members of the RNA are put into good and charitable use in Russia.
The Orphanage houses approximately 100 children, with physical and mental disorders, as well as fully healthy, between the ages of 1 week and 3 years. A staff of almost 100 doctors, nurses, cooks, rehabilitation specialists and others take care of these children 7 days a week, 24 hours a day in a very gentle and dedicated fashion. The establishment is clean, brightly lit, and the staff is extremely thankful to the RNA to have been provided with the rehabilitation equipment to assist in the mental and physical development of the orphans.
Dr. Geacintov and his wife, accompanied by members of his staff in St. Petersburg, were able to see for themselves that the children were extremely well taken care of and received all the attention each child needed to be supported and treated in accordance to his or her special needs.
The President, Dr. Geacintov, marveled at the excellent conditions of the facility, the staff and the children who had a playground, music lessons, sport activities, special diets, bright individual beds and other furniture, little chairs and tables, as well as the equipment which was donated by the RNA and its contributors.
In leaving the Orphanage, Dr. Geacintov said that “It is really rewarding to see and experience the benefits of funds donated to the RNA which help so many children and give them a chance for normal life in the future."
Dear friends of the RNA!
Thanks for joining us at the Spring Nobility Ball on May 11, 2007
Some of the pictures from this magnificent event can be found at the Cheryl Fleming's web site: http://www.cherphotos.com/special_events.htm.
Cheryl's phone number is 212-717-6959, e-mail address: cherphotos@yahoo.com.
In order to review the complete set of pictures, and place an order for the ones you like, please visit: http://www.collages.net/, where you will need to enter the following access codes (on the left-hand side of the screen, under "Guests" menu):
Username: Russian 2007
Password: 6687 After that you will be asked for your e-mail address and name, and then - you are there... ENJOY!! Please allow Cheryl several days for processing and uploading the latest pictures to the website. We appreciate your interest in the Russian
Nobility Association in America!
The International Russian Nobility Ball “ONEGIN GALA”
in Moscow (January 25 – 28, 2007)
Thursday, January 25 Daytime (for guests arriving the day before):
Moscow City Tour to cover major points of interest in Moscow
Night:
Concert and Reception “My Fair Tatiana” Friday, January 26
Daytime:
Moscow City Tour and Tour of the Kremlin covering the Armory, the Diamond Fund and the Great Kremlin Palace (the official residence of the President of Russia) Night:
Concert and Reception in the legendary “Yar” Restaurant “My soul is filled with romantic songs” – concert program that includes performers from famous Gipsy Theater “Romany”(romantic songs on Pushkin poetry, traditional gipsy songs and dances) The dinner menu will include historic recipes from the times of Pushkin. Saturday, January 27 Daytime:
– “Royal Fun” in Kolomenskoye (beautiful historic estate near Moscow). Traditional Russian games and amusement accompanied by Russian folk groups. – Lunch in old Russian style. Night:
– Russian opera and ballet stars at special performance in the Golden Gallery of the Surikov Hall (www.thehall.ru);
– Gala-Dinner after the performance: historic Official Menu of the Russian Royal Court; – Ball “Onegin Gala”: Part 1 - Ballroom Dances accompanied by Symphonic Orchestra
Part 2 - Jazz-Swing Dances accompanied by Jazz Orchestra – grand lottery and charitable auction.
Sunday, January 28
Daytime:
Russian traditional Brunch in the “Baltschug Kempinski” Hotel Russian Award for Charity
The Russian Nobility Association in America is glad to announce that our organization has been awarded the “Golden Pelican” – the special prize from the Charity Association of St. Petersburg. This award was received by our friends and supporters – the staff of DRG International, Inc. which played the key part in transferring funds and purchasing necessary equipment for two medical institutions of St. Petersburg: “Fortuna” Center of Rehabilitation for Invalid Children and St. Petersburg State Health Care Institution “Specialized Orphanage #14 for Children with Psycho-Neurological Disorders”. The award message states: “For Charity and Heartfelt Generosity”. This is an award to all RNA members and friends, for continuous warm-hearted help to needy Russian children.
All charitable projects of the RNA are made possible only thanks to your kind support.
Congratulations to all of you!
The Romanov St. Petersburg book by George Rome and Zoia Belyakova We recently came across a unique collection of photos of St. Petersburg’s famous and less-famous buildings—castles, churches, and other edifices of all types. The book is the result of a long-term interest of George Rome, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, currently living in Chicago, who now works as a designer at a renowned architectural design firm, specializing in hospital and healthcare facilities in the USA and Middle East. Mr. Rome visited St. Petersburg many times and after walking around the city with a map dating back to 1910, he recognized that many Romanov-related buildings were still standing in various stages of repair and disrepair. His co-author, Zoia Belyakova’s field of research is the Romanov family and the legacy of the Romanovs in architecture and design of St. Petersburg. She provided the information as to where to find some of the sites and wrote the Russian text. The black and white photographs assembled by Mr. Rome and Miss Belyakova, many of which have not been published before, reveal another view of St. Petersburg which will be of interest to all interested in the many forms of buildings in St. Petersburg. The book is available directly from the author, George Rome, 850 North Dewitt Place, Apt. 19C, Chicago, IL 60611-7327. The book containing 334 black and white photographs is an historical document which can be purchased for $18.50 plus postage and handling. |
The Tsars and the East will run through September 13, 2009. 
Ms. Suzanne Massie speaking
Dr.Geacintov is assisting Ms. Massie to be heard
Douglas Smith is an awarding-winning historian and translator and a Resident Scholar at the University of Washington’s Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. He studied German and Russian at the University of Vermont and has a doctorate in history from UCLA.
