Dear readers and admirers, members of the Literary Salon and subscribers of the Russian House.
On January 24, within the walls of the Russian House, the first candlelit evening took place — a камерный (as we thought) event — dedicated to the work of the remarkable Russian poet, writer, and translator Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov.

We had already discussed the works of this great master of words at one of the Literary Salon meetings.
And in the autumn of this year, we held literary readings devoted to the work of Sergei Yesenin. It was then that the idea was born to organize a family-oriented event based on Lermontov’s works.
We did not expect such a large number of Lermontov’s admirers to gather.

The organizer and host of the evening was Maria. When she found out how many people had registered, she was “frightened”: “How will I manage?” But it wasn’t only the number of spectators that amazed her — there were so many people wishing to perform that toward the end we had to refuse some, otherwise we would not have finished before midnight. There were more than 20 performers and over 50 guests. Agree — that is impressive. People came not for famous names, but for poetry itself.

Here is what Maria wrote after the event:
“The literary evening dedicated to Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov became not just a cultural event, but a true meeting of generations around poetry. That evening, Lermontov’s poems were recited by children, teenagers, and adults alike, and it was precisely this that gave the event its special vitality and power.

A special atmosphere was created by candlelight and the sound of the violin — the poet’s favorite instrument. The soft light filled the hall with warmth and silence, tuning everyone in to thoughtful, heartfelt listening.

The evening opened with a performance by Ulyana — she is only four years old. She recited the poem “Spring”, and this touching, pure child’s voice became a symbol of how early the encounter with poetry begins and how naturally it enters life.

The program included works from different periods of Lermontov’s творчество: “Spring,” “Angel,” “Forget-Me-Not,” “On a Painting by Rembrandt,” “Desire,” “Star,” “Confession,” “If Only in Humble Ignorance,” “The Sail,” “Two Giants,” “The Airship,” “Borodino,” “Prayer,” “On the Death of the Poet,” “Cossack Lullaby,” “The Mountain Peaks Sleep in the Darkness of Night,” “Mtsyri,” “Queen Tamara,” “In the Wild North,” “Three Palms,” “The Cliff,” “I Step Out Alone onto the Road…”

This broad poetic range allowed us to see Lermontov in all his depth — from luminous lyricism to philosophical and civic heights.

A break was scheduled in the middle of the evening. During this time, guests could enjoy the exhibitions of the Russian House, explore the displays more closely, and, in a warm, almost home-like atmosphere, drink tea from a samovar. This moment of rest became a natural continuation of the evening, enhancing the feeling of comfort, tradition, and live communication.

I would especially like to mention the children — Ulyana, Liza, Sergey, Dmitry, Klara, Valeria, Alexandra, Lada, and Stefanie. Their performances filled the evening with sincerity, purity, and genuine emotion. The poems sounded remarkably bright and touching in their interpretation.

Equally important was the participation of the older students — Liza, Abdulla, Mathieu, and Jan. It is a joy to see young people choose complex, profound poetry, work thoughtfully with the word, and speak about Lermontov seriously and emotionally. This speaks to the living interest of the younger generation in classical literature and its true relevance.

The adult participants complemented the program organically, creating a sense of a shared space where every appearance mattered. One could feel that each participant put a part of themselves into their performance — and that is why the evening turned out so whole and heartfelt.

Despite the large number of performances, the evening passed in one breath. It became a true dialogue of generations and a living confirmation that Lermontov’s poetry unites people of all ages, continuing to sound modern, sincere, and profound.”

The Russian House is increasingly hosting events with your participation, dear guests. Applications are currently being accepted for a concert dedicated to March 8. Poets and musicians who live and create here in Belgium will perform on stage.

The next literary readings will be dedicated to Veronika Tushnova. Would you like to take part? Start preparing now — the date will be announced later.