Gazprom EP International supported the recitation contest Living Classics in the Netherlands
Gazprom EP International acted as the general sponsor of the national stage of the international contest Living Classics in the Netherlands.
Recitations of young readers were held in the theatre De Vaillant in Hague on 14 March. Sixteen boys and girls from different cities of the Netherlands took part in an in-person contest. For the majority of them, the Russian language is not their mother tongue. However the children not only speak Russian fluently, but also can appreciate the beauty and depth of the classical works of the Russian authors.
Chekhov, Paustovsky, Zoshchenko, Kharms, Usachev are wonderful Russian writers familiar from the childhood. We remember a lot and recognize them by the first words. But to learn the whole novel by heart, to master the text as actors say, and to read it as if it happens to you in reality is not an easy task for everyone.
Children not only recited the novels, they played, got into character and truly experienced the process, and the public like entranced followed the actors and empathized with the narrator. Beautiful Chantal Welsing from the school Umnitsa recited the novel Birthday by Irina Pivovarova, Rafael Nikogosyan (school Glagol) recited the extremely difficult Piece by Daniil Kharms, and Amir Kamakhval (school Mozaika) was choosing a fiancée very artistically and hilariously while reciting the novel Groom from class 3B by Valentina Postnikova.
Three kids won the national stage of the contest: Aleksandra Bogdanova from the school Matreshka with the novel Spruce by Mikhail Zoshchenko, 10-years-old Vasily Vaganov (school Glagol) with the novel Funny Guys by Natalia Dobrokhotova-Maykova better known as the Literature Anecdotes ascribed to D. Kharms, and Sofia Kononova (school Matreshka) who recited the novel Basket with Fir Cones by Konstantin Paustovsky.
All participants of the recitations were awarded with diplomas, flowers, books and sweet gifts provided by the contest sponsors. The Dutch stage of the Living Classics was held under supervision of its supervisor in the Netherlands, Svetlana Kononova, and the Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots with support of the Embassy of the Russian Federation.
Background
The international contest of young readers Living Classics is the competitive event of recitation of prose works of the Russian writers. The age of the contestant is from 10 to 17 years. The winners of the national stage participate in the international final event in the ICC Artek, and in case success — in the super-final event in Moscow. The contest has been held already for 8 years, its goal is to promote and protect the Russian language and Russian culture abroad. The contest is founded and organized by the Living Classics Foundation.
