‘Pathetic Diary of Memory’ presented by the Bolshoi Theatre in the Brest Fortress

The stage was set in Ceremonial Square, which adds a specific symbolic value to the event. ‘The Pathetic Diary of Memory’ is a large-scale theatre project which brings together opera, oratorio, symphony, ballet, plastic drama, mystery and a multimedia light show.

The performance is based on the documentary evidence found in the archives of Belarusian museums. It portrays the tragedy and heroism of the Belarusian people during the Great Patriotic War. The performance was created on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders and was supported at the expense of the President of the Republic of Belarus' Fund to support Culture and Art.

The musical score of the performance includes works by Belarusian composers created from 1924 to 2024. About 300 people came to Brest; the groups of opera, ballet, choir, orchestra, supernumeraries, and the Children's Musical Theatre Studio are all involved. The leading artists of the theatre take part in the performance. The theatre's chief conductor Artem Makarov guides the performance. 

Director General of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus Kateryna Dulova noted that it was an issue of principle to stage the performance specifically in the Brest Fortress. She emphasised that the ‘Pathetic Diary of Memory’ is a great national project, which tells about the tragedy and heroism of the Belarusian people during the war, using various genres of art and oblivious scores of folk music.

Director of the Brest Fortress-Hero Memorial Complex Alexander Korkotadze noted the importance of showing such performances in memorial complexes in order to appeal to people's hearts and convey the truth about the war via art. The production in the Brest Fortress has acquired a new three-scene approach, which enhances the emotional impact on the audience.