Rome, Italy, November 2nd, 2006 – Sochi 2014, Russia’s Bid to host the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, bounded ahead today with the powerful backing of two cultural icons, world-famous cinematographer Nikita Mikhalkov and jazz-saxophone virtuoso Igor Butman, the newest in an impressive line-up of official Sochi 2014 Ambassadors, announced during the Russian Language Week held in Italy.
The announcement of their full support to Sochi 2014 during the Russian Language Week in Italy echoes the far-reaching positive impact that hosting the Olympic Games will have on the entire Russian nation, benefiting not only national sports, but the arts and humanities as well. Serving as a catalyst for social progress and cultural exchange, the Games in Sochi would represent a gateway to a Russian Renaissance, leaving a lasting legacy for Russia and the world.
Showcasing Russia’s internationally-known cultural heritage, Italy’s Russian Language Week was held from October 27th to November 2nd across six Italian cities: Rome, Bologna, Verona, Florence, Siena and Perugia. This year’s program included Russian language classes, round table conferences devoted to teaching the language in Italy, concerts, and Russian cartoons and feature films. Highlights of the week included a retrospective show of Nikita Mikhalkov’s work held at the Universita degli Studi Roma III, in Rome, and a live performance by the Igor Butman Big Band with viola player Yuri Bashmet and his orchestra “Soloists of Moscow”, in Verona.
Nikita Mikhalkov began his career in the film industry at the age of 14. In 1963, at the age of 18, he played a starring role in Georgy Danelia’s film Walking the Streets of Moscow and also sang the film’s theme song. Mikhalkov directed his first film in 1974, called At Home Among Strangers, Stranger at Home and released films almost every year for the next decade. In 1984, Mikhalkov was awarded the title of People’s Artist of Russia.
In 1993, Mikhalkov was elected President of the Management Board of the Russian Fund of Culture and Chairman of the Management Board of Cinematographers’ Union of Russia in 1999. His masterpiece Burnt By the Sun was awarded the 1995 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and also tied for the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes International Film Festival.
Nikita Mikhalkov commented on his role as a Sochi 2014 Ambassador:
“Sport has always been a big part of my life and I was honoured to be elected as President of the All-Russia Tennis Association in 1990. It’s the best way to keep fit and relax, especially when I’ve been working hard on a film. Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi in 2014 will inspire so many people to take up winter sports and it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase the ‘new Russia’ to the rest of the world.”
Igor Butman is a world-class jazz musician who started playing the clarinet at the age of 11. In 1976, he entered the Mussorgsky College of Music, where during his second year he decided to drop the classical clarinet in favor of the jazz saxophone. In 1983, Butman played in Oleg Lundstrem’s Big Band and the following year, was invited by Nick Levinovsky to join the famous ‘Allegro’ jazz group, with whom he played for three years. After Butman emigrated to the US in 1987, he went on to major in Performance and Composition at Berkley College of Music in Massachusetts. Igor Butman returned to Russia in the early 1990’s and in 1998 founded Le Club, Moscow’s top jazz venue where he performs with his Big Band.
Butman’s distinctive sound and boyish exuberance have earned him standing ovations and numerous fans around the world. He has been viewed by many as ‘a jazz bridge between Russia and New York’ and has taken many jazz superstars to Russia to perform. Butman’s marvellous coalescence of soul, sound and technique has drawn praise from US President, Bill Clinton, who described him as the “greatest living jazz saxophone player, who happens to be a Russian”.
Igor Butman said this following his inauguration as a Sochi 2014 Ambassador:
“When I was a child I dreamt about becoming an ice-hockey player, not a saxophonist. I tried to combine my love of sport with my passion for music, including playing the clarinet at ice-hockey arenas and even holding a hockey stick when it should have been my instrument! In the end I became a saxophonist, but recently the paths of sport and music have converged and I’ve been taking part in the “Stars on Ice” show on TV. Sport is a part of every day life in Russia and I consider the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi to be the ultimate showcase of Russia’s winter sports tradition.”