RCWS occasionally hosts events to
raise funds for our projects in Russia.
Click the pictures below to learn more
about two recent popular events.
Benefit Gala with Anna Netrebko
and Dmitri Hvorotovsky
The Russian
Children's
Welfare Society for the first time
in its history hosted a fundraiser
at a concert
presented by Carnegie Hall on May
30, 2007. The concert featured two
of the leading opera singers in
the world, Anna Netrebko, Soprano,
making her Carnegie Hall debut, and
Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Baritone, accompanied
by the Orchestra of St. Luke's. Both
Anna and Dmitri are Honorary Directors
of RCWS. The sold out evening was
a complete success. The Society sponsored
a group of retirees from the Tolstoy
Foundation and also gave out tickets
to vocal students from the Juilliard,
Mannes and Curtis music schools.
Afterwards, the RCWS held a private
post-concert reception with the
artists in attendance. After all
expenses, the charity earned $100,000.
It was a performance that will go down in recent history as one of the great evenings of this revered concert hall. The event was sold out weeks in advance and immediately before the performance people were desperately trying to purchase tickets. The atmosphere was electric. A guest wrote: "There was a party (and also a concert) at Carnegie Hall last night, and we were there. What a party it was! The audience was chock full of handsome young men and women, many conversing in Russian. It was like a dream from the past. The chemistry between the two stars was something to see. Two incredibly attractive and supremely gifted Russian mastersingers at the top of their game, they each played shamelessly to the excited audience. In my 40+ years of concert going, I've never seen anything like it. Here's Anna Netrebko in a fetching black gown, singing the most difficult opera arias to perfection, even, and this is the hardest possible thing to do, creating characters in a concert venue. And there's incredibly handsome Dmitri Hvorostovsky doing the same thing. When they sang their three duets together, the chemistry was smoking."
Of the performance, one critic wrote: "Ms. Netrebko served notice from her very first roulade in Je
veux vivre that she was in complete command and that her stunning instrument can shake the very walls of Carnegie Hall. As often happens at the opera house, the talk at intermission centered around the disbelief of first time hearers of her live performance." Of Mr. Hvorostovsky he wrote: ". he was his mighty self, dazzling with extraordinary breath control and long lyrical lines." He concluded by stating: "All this was great fun but just a prelude to a wonderful encore program. Having her chance to vamp, Ms. Netrebko blew the lid off of any remaining Carnegie Hall reserve with a sassy Meine
Lippen sie kuessen so heiss of Franz Lehar in which she not only captivated the audience - and, it seemed, some individual members - but even conducted the orchestra for a while. [Anna blew a kiss to the President of the RCWS.] Mr. Hvorostovsky countered with his signature realization of Ochi
chornyje ("Dark Eyes"), a surefire hit. The pair ended with La
ci darem la mano, a welcome sendoff for the soprano who will be performing in Don Giovanni at Covent Garden soon. What can I say? Some nights you just want your guilty pleasures."
It was a fabulous evening and the post-concert reception went on to 1 AM at the Rohatyn Room at Carnegie Hall. The Society thanks Chopard for its support and supplying beautiful gift bags. Anna is an official brand ambassador of this Geneva based company. We also thank the professional staff of Carnegie Hall for working so seamlessly with us. In addition, the Society expresses its gratitude to Art Saguirian, President of BMC Imports Ltd, Oxford Capital Management, Igor Gorbaletov, James Wolfensohn and Board members: Michael Jordan, Tom McPartland, Doug Paul and Peter Tcherepnine.
One guest summed up the extraordinary evening by writing to us: "Thank you so much again for the wonderful event - it was unlike anything I've ever heard or seen - fantastic!!"
RUSSIA! A Celebration of Russian Culture
On September 27, 2005, The Russian Children's Welfare Society (RCWS) hosted a fundraising evening in conjunction with the exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum - RUSSIA! The theme of the evening was "A Celebration of Russian Culture" honoring the great cultural contributions Russia has made to the world. Over 400 guests attended and the Society raised over $40,000 to support our on-going programs in Russia.
Opened on September 14th, 2005, RUSSIA! was the
most comprehensive and spectacular showing
of Russian art ever sent to the United States.
Organized by a team of leading American and
Russian curators, RUSSIA! was conceived as
a series of key moments that, added together,
told the remarkable and interconnected history
of Russian art of the last nine centuries
and Russian collections of Western art since
the eighteenth century. The leading museums
of Russia, including The Russian Museum,
Hermitage and Tretyakov Gallery, lent 300
of their most precious masterworks.
The Russian Children's Welfare Society had the exclusive use of the museum allowing guests to enjoy a private showing of this incredible exhibition followed by a reception at the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in New York.
The evening's highlights included a speech given by Suzanne Massie, whose outstanding ability as an interpreter of Russian culture and bridge builder between the Russian and American people has been acknowledged by both countries. She spoke about contributions of Russia to world culture. Anyone wishing a copy of this fascinating talk can receive it by writing to the Russian Children's Welfare Society. Valerie Hillings, the co-curator of the RUSSIA! gave a well-received talk about how the exhibition was put together.
The musical portion of the evening began with Sergei Prokofiev's stunning Suggestions
diaboliques, Op. 4, No. 4. 
It is hair-raisingly difficult and was excitingly performed by the acclaimed pianist Ignat Solzhenitsyn. The noted cellist, Andre Emelianoff and pianist Dmitry Rachmanov followed with a richly played movement from Variations
on a rococo theme by Peter Tchaikovsky and were joined by Gulnara Mitzanova, mezzo-soprano, who beautifully sang the composer's poignant None
but the lonely heart. The musical portion of the evening ended with Prelude
in C sharp minor of Sergei Rachmaninoff nobly played by the eminent pianist Eteri Andjaparidze. The Society is grateful to these extraordinary artists for a memorable evening.
In addition, the evening included a special display of current and estate jewelry collections by Van Cleef & Arpels, a jeweler to Russian nobility and aristocracy since the 1920's.
The Russian Children's Welfare Society applauds the generosity of Peter Tcherepnine, Event Sponsor and Corporate Sponsors - Alexandra Investment Management, LLC and Aton Securities Inc.
