’’What is music…?

It’s a quiet moonlit night…

It’s the rustle of living leaves…

It’s a distant evening call…

This is what is born from the heart and goes to the heart,

This is Love.

The sister of music is poetry

And her mother is sadness.’’                Sergei Rachmaninoff

On April 16, 2023, the Kalinka Russian Language Club in Dublin celebrated the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian composer, pianist and conductor Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov.

The event was dedicated to one of the most beautiful topics – the topic of music.

Namely, the music of Sergei Rachmaninov, which is loved and known on all continents and in all countries of the world.

At our meeting, the students of the “Kalinka” school and guests learned not only a lot of interesting things from the life of Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov, but also enjoyed the playing of excellent young pianists who performed some of his works.

All those present watched a film about Bell music in Orthodox churches in Russia. Bell ringing is one of the most important components of Rachmaninoff’s music. The film left a lasting impression.

The hall was decorated with old photographs of Sergei Rachmaninoff, a real Russian samovar, nesting dolls and a living tree with painted eggs, because the meeting of our club coincided with the great Orthodox Easter celebration.

After the presentation, everyone enjoyed talking to each other over a cup of tea and various goodies.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to come to the meeting of the club, who showed such interest in the event and helped out on the day. 

Also, I want to thank Anna Kisileva, the music teacher of the young pianists. They delighted everyone present with Rachmaninov’s music: Alexandra Keane, Zoya Yu, Rebecca Yu, Dylan Keane and Aidan Keane. Their performance of Rachmaninov left everyone delighted!

Not to forget Olga Novokreschennaya for making a film of our meeting. Thanks Olga!

Thanks to Olga Berdnikova for the photo session of the event. All the photos you see are taken by Olga.

I thank my good friends Oksana O’Carroll, Tatyana and Konstantin Senkin for providing the samovar and matryoshkas (Russian dolls).

I thank my student Nicole for a very tasty cake -„Napoleon”, which she baked especially for our meeting!

I thank my student Seonid for voicing the presentation in English.