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Sochi 2014 promises “fresh look” at Russian culture in Closing Ceremony

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23/02/2014

Sochi 2014 creative director Konstantin Ernst has promised to deliver a “fresh look” at Russian culture in Sunday’s Closing Ceremony, which will bring the curtain down on the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

The ceremony, which begins at 20:14 local time, will be directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, who has enjoyed worldwide success with productions such as ‘Corteo’ for Cirque du Soleil and ‘Requiem by Verdi’ for the Mariinsky Theatre.

The Italian director and screenwriter was chosen in order to show how Russian culture is seen in a global context.

"We wanted to take a new fresh look at the Russian culture,” explains Ernst. “We wanted to change our perspective and to look at Russian culture through the eyes of a European, and for that reason we invited one of the most talented European directors, my friend Daniele Finzi Pasca.”

While Ernst says the Opening Ceremony was like a “blockbuster” production, tonight’s performance will have a slightly different feel.

“The Closing Ceremony is always different from the Opening Ceremony,” he explains. “In our case we decided to turn the Opening Ceremony into a kind of blockbuster, whereas the Closing Ceremony will be more down the art-house avenue.”

Audiences will once again be led through the performance by Lubov, the young girl who was introduced to spectators during the Opening Ceremony. Along with her new friends Valentina and Yura, she will travel through Russian culture, turning the pages of Russian literature, enjoying the highlights of Russian art and listening to the world-renowned sounds of Russian music.

Performers include operatic soprano Hibla Gerzmava, a children's choir from St Petersburg, pianist Denis Matsuev and celebrated violinist and conductor Yuri Bashmet.

As per tradition, the Closing Ceremony will also see the Olympic flag handed over to the host of the next Olympic Winter Games, with PyeongChang 2018 set to perform an eight-minute show that will introduce audiences to the Republic of Korea’s five-millennia-old history.