SPbU graduates decorate Christmas trees for the Mariinsky Theatre

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bella Smetanina, co-author and curator of the Christmas Trees of Russia project, said that the main aim of the exhibition is to promote Russian folk crafts and artistic heritage. "This year we decided to expand the range of traditional folk crafts by introducing the theme of famous people who lived in different regions. In this context, cooperation with St Petersburg University, which is celebrating its 300th anniversary, is an important step. The Christmas trees presented at the Mariinsky Theatre are dedicated to the outstanding graduates of the university — Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Diaghilev," explained Bella Olegovna.

"Christmas Trees of Russia" is a large-scale project with a unique collection of Christmas trees, each of which reflects the peculiarities and artistic traditions of a particular region of Russia, as well as the history of families of Russian artists. The collection brings together over 20 different styles of decorative and applied arts in the country.

Last year, the "Christmas Trees of Russia" project covered 89 Russian regions, presenting unique compositions decorated with local handicrafts. Each tree reflects the cultural characteristics of its region and emphasises an ecological approach to the project: live trees were used and planted in a special avenue near the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy. 

According to the project’s decorator, Natalia Lazareva, each tree in the collection has a unique story, told through decorative elements that reflect local colour, folklore and period features. A special feature of the collection is a series of Christmas trees decorated with handmade porcelain dolls. 

The tree on the old stage of the Mariinsky Theatre represents the legacy of Sergei Diaghilev — a great Russian impresario and University graduate. The collection includes reproductions of works from the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art at St Petersburg University, including pieces by artists such as Valery Lukka and Levon Lazarev, as well as samples from the SPbU Herbarium collection, which includes plants such as horehound collected over 100 years ago.

"St Petersburg University is closely associated with theatre tradition and the magical spirit of the New Year. More than 15 years ago, the University opened the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art, where we received some of the decorations for the tree, some of them in magnificent diamond-encrusted frames," said the museum’s director, Ekaterina Stanyukovich-Denisova, adding that the "Russian Ballet" tree symbolises the snowy Russian winter and the purity conveyed by the porcelain decorations that are always associated with the Mariinsky Theatre.

The tree in the Rachmaninoff Hall is decorated with roses and peonies that, according to the designers, grew in the Ivanovka estate — the place where the great Russian composer lived and worked.

The concept of picture frame decorations appears for the first time in the four years of this project. The frames contain photographs from the Rachmaninoff family album, provided by the Central State Archive of Film and Photographic Documents.

St Petersburg University graduate, art historian and founder of the "Christmas Trees of Russia" project, Georgy Rostovtsev, told guests about the concept behind this year’s Christmas tree decorations. "The Rachmaninoff Hall is a special place for us because we are introducing a new trend — decorating the Christmas tree with photographs and other memorabilia. The tree is dedicated to family values, memories of relatives and loved ones," added the art historian.

The Christmas tree in the foyer of the New Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre has become a visual testimony to the important role of St Petersburg University in shaping the country’s cultural and educational traditions. The decoration is dedicated to the ballet "The Firebird", created by SPbU graduate Igor Stravinsky at the request of Sergei Diaghilev for the "Russian Seasons". The main elements of the set are flaming birds encrusted with gemstones, symbolising the magic and beauty of Russian ballet. About a hundred toys used in the decoration were handmade by master Yulia Balta. 

"This year we are celebrating the anniversary of St Petersburg University, and this event has a special meaning for me. I am a graduate of SPbU and I am proud of this fact, as the University played an important role in my professional development. I hope that SPbU will continue to inspire new students to realise their creative initiatives and remain an important part of the cultural life of our country," said Georgy Rostovtsev, founder of the "Christmas Trees of Russia" project, expressing his gratitude to the University for providing the archives.