On June 6, the Russian House in Brussels hosted a ceremonial evening titled “An Evening with Tchaikovsky: Music and Art”, dedicated to several significant occasions — Russia Day, International Russian Language Day, and the 185th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
The Russian National Museum of Music presented the exhibition “Tchaikovsky. The Joy of Being an Artist”, dedicated to the 185th anniversary of the composer’s birth, in Brussels.
Opening the event, the Director of the Russian House in Brussels, Vera Bunina, emphasized the importance of preserving Russian culture abroad:
“The exhibition of the Russian National Museum of Music, dedicated to P.I. Tchaikovsky, was warmly received by Brussels residents and compatriots. The legacy of the great composer continues to serve as a powerful cultural bridge connecting nations. We are especially grateful for the high level of organization, the memorable design, and the modern presentation of the exhibition, which allowed the European audience to see Tchaikovsky’s heritage in a new light.”
A special highlight of the evening was the speech by Maria Alexandrovna Pushkina-Durnovo — a direct descendant of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin.
“The Russian language is the soul of our people. It is an honor for me to speak here today not only as a descendant of the great poet but also as a continuer of his cultural mission.”
A major moment of the evening was the vernissage of the Museum of Music exhibition “Tchaikovsky. The Joy of Being an Artist.”
The Director General of the Museum of Music, Mikhail Bryzgalov, spoke about Tchaikovsky’s significance in global music culture:
“It is a great honor for us to present an exhibition dedicated to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky at the Russian House in Brussels on such a symbolic day. As Dmitri Shostakovich once said, Tchaikovsky, like Pushkin, entered ‘the very foundation of Russian national consciousness.’ Without Tchaikovsky — and I will add, without Pushkin — we can no longer live! On the eve of Russia Day, we are glad to welcome not only our compatriots but also the local audience, who treat Russian culture with great interest and respect.”
The highlight of the evening was a concert by the international string orchestra Silk Road (Belgium), which performed works by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
The music program stirred strong emotions and enthusiastic applause from the audience. The concert featured pearls of Russian and European musical heritage, including excerpts from the famous Swan Lake Suite, Op. 20a, such as: Overture, Dance of the Swans, Scene IV.
Also featured were vivid and magical fragments from The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Overture, March, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
A special highlight was the Serenade for Strings, Op. 48 — also composed by Tchaikovsky — whose selected parts were performed with exceptional expression and depth.
The Silk Road performance became a true celebration for classical music lovers — refined sound, high professionalism of the musicians, and masterful interpretation left a lasting impression.
The concert was a reminder of music’s power as a universal language that unites cultures and hearts.
The festive evening at the Russian House became a vivid cultural event that brought together guests from different
