«Concert in the dark» was successfully held in Vyksa
On November 23, shocked people were leaving the Batashev Hotel in Vyksa. The reason is the «Concert in the Dark», which took place with the support of the OMK-Participation Foundation and the Resource Center for Socio-Cultural Inclusion.
The concise name fully reflects the essence: sound and nothing superfluous. A velvety voice in the velvety darkness enveloped and gave a cosmic feeling of weightlessness, where music served as a guide. The nocturnal rendezvous of random passers-by evoked emotions in deep and recognizable melodies, poems and songs of the past: Yevtushenko, Rozhdestvensky, Voznesensky, Tariverdiev, Dunaevsky, Babajanyan. Brilliant performers Nozim Orifdzhonov (guitar), Natalia Zaikina (artistic word) and blind musician Alexey Gerashchenko (vocals, piano) gave Vyksa residents unforgettable impressions and emotions.
It turned out to be difficult to hold a «Concert in the dark» in Vyksa due to the strict requirements for equipping the hall, which creates absolute darkness that is not found in everyday life. The conference hall of the Batashev Hotel allowed us to realize a bold idea and ensure the necessary security requirements. Two concerts were attended by about two hundred people for free. It was not easy for all viewers to relax in an unusual environment. The organizers paid great attention to the comfort of the audience: everyone who felt uncomfortable received the support and assistance of experienced specialists.
Many appreciated the absence of distractions and the opportunity to fully experience the beauty of sound. For others, the absence of a picture in the presence of sound is a familiar life. Among the guests were participants of the organization of people with disabilities «Edelweiss», representatives of the Vyksa and Kulebak branches of the All-Russian Society of the Blind.
«Our foundation has been working for more than 15 years to ensure that people with disabilities are equally comfortable and safe. Events that allow us to learn more about the world of people with any health problems help us in this. Moreover, these events also have great cultural value, they are interesting and unusual from an artistic point of view. The „Concert in the dark“ helped the guests not only enjoy the music and the voices of the artists, but also opened the veil — what it feels like to be in absolute darkness. Is the darkness scary, friendly, or does it all depend on the people around you?», said Irina Skobeleva, Project Manager of the OMK-Participation Foundation.
After the main event, the concert guests had the opportunity to ask questions and get to know the artists and organizers better. Communication with the audience after the performance and the thunder of applause was carried out on a wave of unanimity: The residents of Vyksa willingly sang along with Alexey Gerashchenko, thanked the musicians and guides for the extraordinary experience of immersion in art, and also expressed a desire to repeat it.
«The chosen format allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the musical action and sharpened the perception of what is happening, while at the same time providing an opportunity to understand the world of people with visual impairments when other senses become the main thing. This is a reminder that we can feel and touch the world in different ways, while equally being surprised and succumbing to the beauty and power of art. Thanks to the artists and organizers for the concert. I think all the viewers leave with positive emotions and the brightest feelings," said Oksana Gabdrakhimova, Deputy head of the local government.
«Concert in the Dark» was presented by the staff of the Nikolai Ostrovsky State Museum and Cultural Center «Integration» and specialists from the Center for Socio-cultural programs «People IN». The museum is an urban methodological center for the socio-cultural integration of people with disabilities into the cultural life of Moscow, the center for socio-cultural programs «People IN» specializes in the implementation of socio-cultural projects and programs.