On September 4th, guests of the Bialystok Opera house festival stood the chance to see their favorite characters of the “Narodny Albom” musical created in the 90s by Lyavon Volski and Mikhail Anempadystau. Belsat TV, which became one of the organisers of the 20th anniversary show, will televise the recorded performance on New Year’s eve.
Narodny Albom was recorded in 1997 in the studio of the legendary radio station 101.2 and became one of the biggest cultural events of independent Belarus: it brought together not only several dozens of its creators, but also thousands of fans across the country.
Creators and successors
Musicians and singers of the original cast – Lyavon Volski, Zmitser Vaytsyushkevich, Kasia Kamotskaya, Veranika Kruhlova, Alyaksandr Pamidorau, Syarhei Akhramovich are involved in the project. Guitarist Syarhei Kananovich (ex-Krambambulya), Apple Tea jazz band, Aquarelle quartet and others also took part in the event.
The stage was organized a a small-town tavern in the former Polish-Soviet frontier region. All the actors got into the characters of people who were here before the start of World War II, and the viewers met their old friends – smugglers, spies, teacher Rahoysha, student Alicja, Kazik Piasecki – a supporter of the idea of Great Poland, sawmill worker Yuzik who is looking forward to Russian tanks’s coming and others.
The best part of the characters and lyric were created by Mikhail Anempadystau, the author of the Narodny Albom concept.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”277999″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]Scene: A small-town tavern in the former Polish-Soviet frontier region before the Second World War[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”277987″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]Lyavon Volski as a Polish spy[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Next performance in Belarus’ Rakau?
Singer Zmitser Vaytsyushkevich says that each musician engaged in the project would like to present the show in Belarus, but at the moment it is impossible to due to the black lists made by Belarusian culture officials.
“It’s a shame that the Belarusian performing artists who have made significant contributions to both official and independent Belarusian culture are not allowed to appear on stages in their own country,” the musician stressed.
According to Lyavon Volski, the borderzone about which Narodny Albom tells about is the entire country.
“A culture of borderzone is, unfortunately, a culture of war – some people seized the land, and the local people had to tolerate it. Some borderzones made a cult out of this tolerance. By the moment, we have failed to do so, but I think it will come out in the future, because borderland cultures promote trade and tourism.”
The musician wants the next performance to be held in Rakau.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”277931″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]Rehearsal in progress[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
‘We should try to stage it in Belarus’
The premiere has turned out to be a stiff examination for independent television, Belsat TV director Agnieszka Romaszewska-Guzy believes.
“Madam Minister who attended the performance asked what theater troupe participated in the event? I answered that we had formed a team for 2 months. The ministergot wide-eyed. It was well worth it. I see a positive response from viewers, which is a very good reward,” Romaszewska-Guzy said.
According to her, about 10,000 persons might show up at the performance based on the Narodny Albom musical. “I believe you have to try to put it up in Minsk. Why not? Or is there something political?” she wonders.
In her opinion, the project should not be separated from the audience for which it was created because Narodny Albom was made primarily for Belarusians and has a particular importance to them.
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”277863″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]Zmitser Vaytsyushkevich[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”277823″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]Alyaksandr Pamidorau[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
‘Once again – long live Belarus!’
Stanislau Shushkevich, the first head of independent Belarus and former chairman of the country’s Supreme Council, said: “It was a wonderful performance made by free and creative talented people who love Belarus. This show instills love to Belarus. I attended it and made sure once again that Belarus does live.”
‘Narodny Albom’s song could become Belarus’ anthem’
The authors and creators of Narodny Albom are real heroes who did their best to preserve the Belarusian culture under authoritarian rule, Mikalai Statkevich, a 2010 presidential candidate and former political prisoner, told Belsat.
“Narodny Albom is a stunning project that would be an honor to any country. My hat off to these people, and many thanks to Belsat TV for this wonderful gift,” Statkevich said.
One of his favorite songs is ‘Kraj’ (My Native Land), which, according to the politician, could become the anthem of a free Belarus.
“There is a big threat from the East to Belarus. Such songs inspire, create emotions and readiness to defend oneself. That iswhy they are invaluable,” the former political prisoner says.
Story of the two nations
“Narodny Albom tells the story of Poles and Belarusians living together. This is the story of the heritage of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth which no longer exists. Podlasie is a mini- Commonwealth of the two nations, many cultures, religions and languages,” Polish MP Robert Tyszkiewicz, who attended the show, said.
The MP expressed hope that it was not the first and the only time the musical was played in Bialystok.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
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The show ‘Narodny Albom. 20 years later’ directed by Konrad Smuga premiered within the Wschód Kultury. Inny Wymiar festival coordinated by Bialystok Cultural Center and National Cultural Center with support of kulturadostepna.pl.
Belsat TV is the executive producer and author of the idea. The festival is co-produced by Polish National Audio and Video Institute NInA.
Viktar Shukelovich/MS, belsat.eu. Photo: Zmitser Yahorau, Natallia Yahorava
