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Dedicated each year to the Ukrainian/Russian writer Mykola Gogol, Gogolfest is fairly recognised as an artistic institution in Ukraine. Headed up by the creative genius, Vlad Troitsky, 2012 marks the fifth year this multidisciplinary festival has taken shape. With a new location and a new philosophy, actors, musicians and artists from all over the country have been invited to participate in this year’s event.
 Setting up at an old, abandoned industrial factory not far from the Vydubychi metro station, Troitsky (Dakha Brakha, The Dakh Contemporary Art Centre) admits that this year’s festival will not be on the same financial scale as previous years. He does say, however, that the venue is the “perfect place for contemporary art, as it allows visitors to create their own festival without borders”.
In addition to performances from the Dakh Theatre, a programme by Pavlo Gudimov is promised, as well as various other showings by well-known DJs, bands and artists! Promising surprises throughout the week, there really is something for everyone. The highlights are listed here. But with new shows and showcases added daily, keep on top of their website for the most up-to-date information.
Gogolfest 2012
21 September
19.00 Theatrical performance – Gogol Metal by the Dakh Theatre opens Gogolfest 2012
20.00 Cinematic presentation – a showing of Dovzhenko’s Zemlya (Earth), accompanied by the Daha Braha ethno house band. Zemlya is considered one of the best movies in the history of world cinema with music by Daha Braha created especially for the film.
22 September
16.45 Cinematic presentation – George Harrison: Living in the material world by Martin Scorsese.
17.30 Musical encounters – a performance by Ensemble Nostri Temporis (Kyiv), Senza Sforzando (Odesa), Uroy Yaremchuk (Lviv) and Dmytro Radzetsky (Kyiv) called MusiCircus, commemorating the 100th anniversary of John Cage – outstanding American musician famous for his atypical use of musical instruments.
23.00 Nightlife – Venetian Snares, aka Canadian electronic musician Aaron Funk, takes to the DJ stage to play a mix of what some call “prolific” drum’n’bass, orchestral and intelligent dance music.
23 September
19.00 Musical encounters – Margaret Leng Tan (USA). Demonstrating the art of the toy piano, Margaret was a close personal friend of John Cage and main performer of his music
24 September
19.00 Musical encounters – New Vienna Ball is performed throughout the night by the National Chamber Ensemble Kyiv Soloists (UA). With works by Schoenberg, Webern and Berg, this is a contemporary interpretation of the old favourite.
25 September
18.00 Theatrical performance – short film, Cross, by Maryna Vroda (UA), which won the Ukrainian director a Palm d’Or at Cannes last year.
19.00 Musical encounters – a performance improvisation to discover the musical and visual power of water by The Water Project (UK, UA).
26 September
19.00 Musical encounters – Ars Moriendi (18 songs for an actor that can sing) by Natalia Polovynka (Lviv, vocals) and Viktpria Polyova (piano, Kyiv). Polovynka and Polyova present musical thoughts based on the poetry of Shakespeare, Rilke, Dickinson and Galsworthy.
21.30 Cinematic presentation – Mikhail Mestetskiy (RUS) presents his short, Legs – Atavism, which won a prize at Kinotavr cinematic festival this year.
27 September
19.00 Musical encounters – The New Era Orchestra presents a concert of contemporary academic music called Nevertheless. Part II (works by Giya Kanceli, Artur Maskats, Oleksandr Shymko).
28 September
19.00 Musical encounters – Famous composer and cellist from London, Anton Lukoszevieze, presents works by John Cage, Lawrence Crane, Christopher Fox, as well as his own.
29 September
00.00 Musical encounters – this indie music project by Ukrainian musicians, called Sleepy Music, will take you between sound and silence. As it is scheduled to finish at 04.00, you are encouraged to bring mats, blankets and pillows with you!
Gogolfest
21 – 29 September
Inzheniernaya 7v (Metro Vidubychi)
Ticket prices vary www.gogolfest.org.ua
Kateryna Kyselyova
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