Lecture: Buryatia (Siberia) and Buryat culture February 8, 2006

Sayan and Erzhena Zhambalov, internationally known Buryat folk musicians, will be guest artists at Carleton College from Feb. 6 through Feb. 12. Ms. Zhambalov will give a lecture introducing Buryatia and Buryat culture on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gould Library Athenaeum. The Zhambalovs will present a concert of Buryat and Russian music and dance on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. in the Concert Hall. The events, part of the Christopher U. Light Lecture Series, are free and open to the public.

Buryatia, an autonomous republic of the Russian Federation, lies in south-central Siberia near Lake Baikal and the Mongolian-Chinese border. Long recognized as the premiere Buryat musicians of their generation, the Zhambalovs are a husband and wife team who have performed traditional and contemporary music around the globe, including the New York stage.

Both Zhambalovs have been recognized as Honored Artists of the Republic for their achievements. An accomplished composer and performer, Ms. Zhambalov was first runner-up for the ?Best 20th Century Composer of Buryatia? award. Mr. Zhambalov is a poet, translator, lyricist, actor and prize-winning singer. He is also the co-author of the book ?Shanar: Dedication Ritual of a Buryat Shaman in Siberia? and co-director of a new film, ?Young Genghis Khan.?

Since 1996 the Zhambalovs have collaborated with the Yara Arts Group in New York to create multilingual works combining elements of poetry, ritual, folk music and dance. Of their theatrical production ?Circle? (2000), Michael Shapiro of Rhythm magazine wrote: ?This is what good art is all about--exhilarating, uplifting and entertaining. And for the world music lover, it is a feast of gorgeous singing, authentic costuming and masterly instrumentals.?

During their time on campus, the Zhambalovs will offer a mini-course to Carleton students titled ?Introduction to the Performing Arts in Buryatia,? will include instruction in Buryatian folk culture, dance and throat-singing.

The Carleton Russian Department is sponsoring the Zhambalovs visit, under the auspices of the Christopher U. Light Lectureship. Christopher U. Light, a 1958 Carleton graduate and freelance writer, composer, record producer and musician, established the Light Lectureships in Art, Literature and Music to promote the arts at Carleton. Prominent musicians such as the Kronos Quartet, Philip Rhodes and Gary Hines and The Sounds of Blackness have been past guest artists.

The Carleton College Concert Hall has limited disability accessibility. For more information or disability accommodations, call the Carleton Russian department at (507) 646-4252.