The ballet, Giselle
Professor Almira Yusupova is the curriculum coordinator for Bob's visit here. When we first met with Almira at the beginning of our visit, she asked us if there was anything in particular that we wanted to do or see while we were here. We told her that we’d like to see a performance at the Opera and Ballet Theater. Last week she told us she had tickets for the ballet, Giselle, and invited us to join her family for the performance.
This afternoon we met Sophia, Almira’s daughter, and traveled with her to the theater. Since we had arrived in plenty of time, we were able to enjoy a photo exhibition of the renovation of this enormous hall. With its renovation completed, it reopened in December 2005. We still had time to have a snack in the café. The theater has cafes which serve finger foods, desserts and beverages.
We met Almira, and Sophia’s dad, Rais, before the performance began. This theater is the largest in Russia, larger than Moscow’s Bolshoi (which means “big” by the way.) Rais observed that much of the interior wood had been salvaged and refinished, some of the work being done in St Petersburg. These chairs were redone in St. Petersburg.
The ballet was beautiful.
As we were departing the theater, Rais ran into a school mate from years ago. She asked him what he thought about the performance. After he gave her a good report, she told him that her daughter had danced the part of Giselle!
When we emerged from the building, Rais told us about some prominent buildings in the Ploschad Lenina where the theater is located: the former trade building which was built at the turn of the century and now houses the Regional Studies Museum; the mayor’s office; the geographic center of Russia (really of the former Soviet Union) is about a block away. From her childhood days, Almira remembered the square without the massive statues of Lenin and his comrades. She said they are impossible to remove because of their enormous size.
After the concert, Rais drove all of us back to Akademgorodok. He pointed out sights along the way, while Sophia translated for us. A very nice evening with this charming family.
This afternoon we met Sophia, Almira’s daughter, and traveled with her to the theater. Since we had arrived in plenty of time, we were able to enjoy a photo exhibition of the renovation of this enormous hall. With its renovation completed, it reopened in December 2005. We still had time to have a snack in the café. The theater has cafes which serve finger foods, desserts and beverages.
We met Almira, and Sophia’s dad, Rais, before the performance began. This theater is the largest in Russia, larger than Moscow’s Bolshoi (which means “big” by the way.) Rais observed that much of the interior wood had been salvaged and refinished, some of the work being done in St Petersburg. These chairs were redone in St. Petersburg.
The ballet was beautiful.
As we were departing the theater, Rais ran into a school mate from years ago. She asked him what he thought about the performance. After he gave her a good report, she told him that her daughter had danced the part of Giselle!
When we emerged from the building, Rais told us about some prominent buildings in the Ploschad Lenina where the theater is located: the former trade building which was built at the turn of the century and now houses the Regional Studies Museum; the mayor’s office; the geographic center of Russia (really of the former Soviet Union) is about a block away. From her childhood days, Almira remembered the square without the massive statues of Lenin and his comrades. She said they are impossible to remove because of their enormous size.
After the concert, Rais drove all of us back to Akademgorodok. He pointed out sights along the way, while Sophia translated for us. A very nice evening with this charming family.
posted by Peggy W at Friday, October 20, 2006
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