The meeting with People’s Artist of Russia Boris Plotnikov left a lasting impression on the residents and guests of Kirillov. This event was held within the framework of the Art Festival “The Property of Republic”. The performance on the stage that lasted for one hour and a half engrossed the spectators’ attention. Boris Plotnikov recited the verses of local poet Nikolay Rubtsov. The program “Hello, Russia, My Motherland” included various works. People could listen to love lyrics, poems about the small Motherland and some regions that Nikolay Rubtsov liked and children’s poetry.
At the beginning of the event, Boris Plotnikov addressed the meeting and said, “It is certainly difficult to tell you, residents of the Vologda region, something new about Nikolay Rubtsov. Anyhow, we will remember him today. The inner world of the poet could be seen in the best way among friends and music was always near him. He sang a lot, played four musical instruments: the balalaika, the button accordion, the guitar and the accordion”. Therefore recitation of the verses alternated with singing of songs and presentation of melodies that came down to us from the 19th century. It became possible thanks to Vladimir Markushevich, musician and laureate of international contests, and his seven-string guitar.
The spectators’ support was enormous. Everybody who performed on the museum stage at least once could probably feel it. People greeted the artists with cheers, asked them to play an encore, gave them flowers and stood to clap Boris Plotnikov and Vladimir Markushevich at the final of the program thanking them for the presented spirits.
The audience didn’t leave the hall at the end of the event. We can even say that one event changed into another one. People asked Boris Plotnikov different questions and he dispersed autographs to them. They were especially interested in the fact that the famous Moscow actor performed with the program based on the creative work of the Vologda’s poet. The answer was rather unexpected: it turned out that the Regional Public Organization “Vologda Friendly Association” in Moscow played the main role in it. The museum closely cooperates with it. Once Marina Barysheva, member of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia and member of the board of this organization, caught the likeness of voices of the poet and the actor. It was the starting point of the program based on Nikolay Rubtsov’s works. However, later the spectators stated, “Indeed, not only the voice, but also the appearance of Boris Plotnikov resemble Nikolay Rubtsov. We were looking at him the whole evening and were amazed at this likeness”.
Honoured Artist of Russia Vladislav Sergeev was also among the museum visitors that evening. He personally knew Nikolay Rubtsov, decorated the books of his verse and wrote his portraits. Vladislav Sergeev told Boris Plotnikov about his acquaintance with the poet and his stay in the Kirillov district and gave him his book about Rubtsov.
The museum employees presented the books about the pearls of the Russian North - the Kirillo-Belozersky and the Ferapontov Monasteries - to the actor. Boris Plotnikov shared his impressions about the place where he performed, “Today I have heard that the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery is the largest in the country. But the matter is not in its grandeur, but in the fact that such a place that has always struggled for spirituality exists. At present the museum continues this struggle. Thanks to it, the monastery has come down to us and it is its value”. Answering the question about the concert, he said, “I saw response in the hall; I felt support – in the people’s eyes and nods, on their lips because some of them recited the same lines as I did”.
During the visit to the Kirillov district, Boris Plotnikov and Vladimir Markushevich went to the Museum of Dionisy’s Frescoes. A tour was conducted for them there. They signed the Book of Distinguished Guests, “You begin to understand what the origin of Rus is and how it developed only in such places. The perception that there is Ferapontovo somewhere warms the soul. Thank you for Dionisy and live memory about him. Thanks for living word that gives confidence in future”.
