08
Leisure
RUSSIA INDIA REPORT
BOOKMARKS www.sergeidreznin.net
IN ASSOCIATION WITH ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA
Sergei Dreznin, Catherine the Great composer
www.diningguide.ru
THE ECONOMIC TIMES SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2008
Moscow restaurants – the most refined and glamorous
www.russiaprofile.org
Unwrapping the mystery inside the enigma
Entertainment Dreznin’s musical “Catherine the Great”
National cuisine
portrays the emotional drama that filled the Empress’ life
Putting summer
‘Singing’
on your table
IRA IOSEBASHVILI
Special Projects Editor
The Moscow Times
the praises
Some stereotypes are firmly grounded in reality. For
instance, ask a foreigner what comes to mind when
you mention Russia, and one of the first answers you’ll
hear is “cold”. And though there are certain parts of
of Catherine
the country that rarely see snow, most of Russia is in-
deed a land where winter holds sway. But not always.
Summer may come late to Russia and not linger very
long, but it’s perhaps the most breathtaking time of
the year, a reward after nine months of snow, ice, mud
and rain. City streets that were once a depressing grey
explode with colour as trees bloom and the sun glints
off the churches’ golden cupolas.
In the countryside, fields that were covered in snow
fill with wild flowers, once-frozen rivers burble and
rush.
Of course, Russian cuisine undergoes a transformation
as well – many of the heavy, nourishing foods meant
to get you through the winter are replaced by a
lighter, more summery menu.
One of these warm weather wonders is svekolnik, a
close cousin to that most famous of Russian soups,
borscht. While a bowl of borscht could equal an entire
meal, this light, easy-to-make soup is strictly a refresh-
er, served cold and filled with crunchy fresh vegeta-
bles. On a hot summer day, there are few things better.
FROM PERSONAL ARCHIVES
Musical theatre was almost tle between her private and
unknown in Russia before public selves, the conflict be-
T
.RU
the collapse of the Soviet
Sergey Dreznin, composer
tween her love for her country
Stars speak
OSOF
Union in 1991. Since then, and her passion for men such
.IZ
foreign musicals such as
Sergey Dreznin is a Moscow- cluding Sarajevo, Berlin and
as Count Grigory Orlov and
“Catherine is a real woman,
Cats, Metro, Notre Dame de
born (1955) concert pianist his native Moscow on the eve
Prince Grigory Potemkin.
who had total power. I know
WWW
Paris and Chicago have
and composer, who played of Perestroika. A graduate of
“It captures the unbeliev-
some people who are very
filled theatres in Moscow
more than 200 concerts a the Tchaikovsky Conservatory
able emotional depth of Rus-
skeptical of her, but I think
Svekolnik
and St Petersburg. Now
year before moving to Vienna in Moscow (as a composer)
sia,” Dreznin said. “The show-
she lived in a difficult time, she
Russian composers have
in 1987. While in Vienna, he and the Russian Academy of
stopper is not all about fun,
didn’t control power, power
INGREDIENTS (SERVES 6-8)
started experimenting with
had several of his music the- Music (as a pianist), he has
fun, fun, like in Western musi-
controlled her… the musical
● 3 litres beet stock ● 6 beets ● 2 bunches of spring
the genre, and Catherine
atre pieces produced, per- been awarded the honourary
cals. It’s tragic.”
follows a very Slavic style.”
(green) onions ● 2 sticks celery ● 4 cucumbers ● 4
the Great is the latest
formed at the Salzburg Festi- diploma of the All-Russia Pi-
“The ideas are as current as
MARIA VINENKOVA, actress
carrots ● 4 eggs ● 1 cup lemon juice ● 1 cup sour
effort.
FROM PERSONAL ARCHIVES
val and all across Europe, in- ano Competition (1977).
they were 200 years ago. One
playing the younger Catherine
cream ● 2 teaspoons sugar ● 2 tablespoons wine
song goes, ‘In this rich country
vinegar or pickle juice ● 2 tablespoons finely cut pars-
there’s everything but fair pow-
“I think it will be a fantastic,
ley and dill ● 1 tablespoon black pepper ● salt to
er.’” Tragedy, he said, is some-
historical musical spectacle.
taste
thing that still defines modern
We want it to be a big suc-
Catherine the Great is perhaps husband, she corresponded composer Sergei Dreznin. – the Russian musical epic. Russia. “Look at Chechnya –
cess, not just in Russia, but
PREPARATION
most famous in the West for with the French philosopher The show, which premiered “It’s a new page in Russian every mother trembles when
everywhere.”
1. Wash the vegetables.
the rumour that she was Voltaire, built a huge, wealthy in Yekaterinburg State the- theatre. It’s a combination of her son reaches 18.”
NINA SHAMBER, actress
2. Boil beets and carrots separately, let it cool then
crushed to death by a horse Russian Empire and had a atre of musical comedy, fea- the Russian world of beauty But the musical is not in-
playing the elder Catherine
peel and cut into straws. Save the water from the
during an act of bestiality. Not string of love affairs. tures a full orchestra, as well and the achievements of the tended as criticism. “We love beets – this is your stock.
only is this false, but it also The tale of the development as Orthodox chants, rock, West in musical theatre.” Russia the way it is. It makes 3. Peel cucumbers and cut into straws.
detracts from the true story of a naive, 15-year-old blues and rap numbers. “It’s a kind of Boris Go- people shiver with pride and plans to take the show to Ger- 4. Finely dice green onions and rub with salt.
of her fascinating life: A minor princess into a powerful, en- In a telephone interview, dunov as a musical,” he said, shame,” he said. “I’m just ask- many, and that he hopes the 5. To vegetables, add strained beetroot stock.
German princess who usurped lightened despot forms the Dreznin said the show was an referring to Modest Mus- ing the questions: Who are musical will be performed in 6. Add salt, sugar, lemon juice, vinegar or pickle juice,
the Russian throne from her basis of a new musical by attempt to create a new genre sorgsky’s opera based on we? Why do we live the way Moscow. pepper, parsley and dill. You are aiming for a sweet
Alexander Pushkin’s drama. we do? It’s up to the audience Response from Russian crit- and sour taste here, much more sour than sweet, so be
“There are mass crowd to decide.” ics has been overwhelmingly generous with the vinegar and pickle juice.
scenes, and the story takes Dreznin is one of the few
What the press say about Catherine
positive. 7. Before serving, add a dollop of sour cream and a
place against a backdrop of Russian composers with an es- With a budget of 17m rou- halved boiled egg to each bowl.
people who change their opin- tablished reputation in the bles ($725,000), the produc-
Guardian Reuters Rossiyskaya Gazeta
ions about Catherine.” West, having worked in Vienna, tion is epic in its staging and This is a soup that comes in many easy variations.
Now the sex and enlighten- Sex, power and fabulous A fine show! You can talk
The libretto, written by New York, Berlin and Paris. The preparations – 700 costumes Sliced sausages or diced ham can be added to satisfy
ment-filled story of Catherine wealth are images of modern about it only in superlatives –
playwright Mikhail Roshchin musical is staged by the young are used. carnivores. Boiled potatoes will make svekolnik heavier
the Great is being turned for Russia and also the theme for costumes, props and all, to say
and lyricist Alexander Anno, Moscow director Nina Chusova But there are no horses. and more filling.
the first time into an an ambitious new musical nothing of video effects on
covers Catherine’s whole life and choreographed by interna- At the end, Catherine doesn’t If you like your soup spicy, a dose (50 grams or
all-singing and dancing evoking one of Russia’s most two screens the size of the
until her death at the age of tionally renowned, Yekaterin- die but leaves the stage more) of horseradish and a spoonful of mustard will
musical. famous rulers. stage.
67. The central tension of the burg-born Tatyana Baganova. singing: “I kno
story revolves around the bat- The composer said there are
–
w you’ll remem- lend some heat. Another delicious option is to drop a
ber me.” slice of lemon into each plate before serving.
Global Russian
The Presidential Regiment’s ceremonial and semi-precious stones. Most were kept in the Mikhailovsky Theatre guest der Smelkov and conductor is Valery Gergiev.
changing of the guard royal family’s private rooms, occasionally appear- performances http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill
culture calendar
Until October 2008, Moscow ing at official receptions in the Faceted and Gold- July 22-27, Coliseum, London
This special event takes place on the Cathedral en Chambers of the Kremlin. The Mikhailovsky Theatre of St Petersburg has Diana Vishneva’s gala evening
Square in the Kremlin every Saturday. Last Sat- www.kreml.ru/ never before performed in Britain. It will stage July 26, Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg
urday of every month on Red Square, 2pm. productions of Spartacus, Giselle and a ballet Diana Vishneva is prima ballerina at the Mari-
16th International Stars of the White Nights www.kreml.ru/ Lecture: Yekaterinburg. evening. insky Theatre, having won many Russian and
Festival of Music The Last Days of the Romanovs http://mikhailovsky.ru/london2008/ international awards, including the Golden
Upto July 27, Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall, The Union of Earth and Water: applied art from July 8, Pushkin house, London Mask, the Zolotoi Sofit/Golden Light and the
St Petersburg the Moscow Kremlin Museums July 2008 marks the 90th anniversary of the The Brothers Karamazov opera Benois de la Danse. Vishneva was the first to
The festival will coincide with the 225th anniver- Upto August 10, The Amber Museum, death of the Romanovs. Author Helen Rappa- July 23, Mariinsky Theatre, receive the Isadora Duncan Dance Award.
sary of the Mariinsky Theatre. Valery Gergiev is Kaliningrad, Russia port speaks about the assassination of the St Petersburg http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill
artistic director. Over the festival’s 79 days there Exhibition of more than 50 items: 17th-18th-cen- family at Yekaterinburg. Their deaths marked One of the most sensational and intriguing cul-
will be more than 120 operas, ballets and con- tury Western European, Russian and Turkish the onset of mass murder under the Bolsheviks tural events of this summer. The two-act opera
For more events,
certs. goblets, tankards, jugs, cutlery, candlesticks, in 1918. will have a world premiere during the Stars of
http://www.mariinsky.ru/ crosses and encolpia of amber, mother-of-pearl http://www.pushkinhouse.org.uk/ the White Nights Festival. Composer is Alexan-
visit www.rbth.rg.ru
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8