RUSSIAN BOOK CULTURE PAGE 16-17
RussianMind №3 (03), 2-15 June 2011, www.RussianMind.com
Prisoner of the Kremlin
Fashion Guru Slava Zaitsev Page 12-13
Page
6-9 Russia’s Unpredictable Election Page 10-11
Russian Architecture Page 18-19
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Contents
Acting Editor Olga Kudriavtseva olga@russianmind.com Head of Editorial Board Mark Hollingsworth mark@russianmind.com Managing Director Azamat Sultanov md@russianmind.com Business Development Director Alina Blinova alina@russianmind.com Art Director Yuri Nor ynor@russianmind.com Front Page Design Elizabeth Yurieva info@russianmind.com Special Project Department Daria Alyukova d.alyukova@russianmind.com IT Director Oleksii Vyshnikov it@russianmind.com Sub Editor Julia Gobert julia@russianmind.com Distribution Olga Tsvetkova distribution@russianmind.com In print: Carl Thomson, Ecaterina Kilian, Anatoly Karlin, Ivan Kolpakov, Tatiana Irodova, Anton Phatianov, Alla Sanders. Address United Kingdom 40 Langham Street, London W1W 7AS United Kingdom Tel: +44(0) 207 637 1374 E-mail: info@russianmind.com France 6 Rue du Docteur Finlay 75015 Paris, France Tel: +33(0) 981 147 395 E-mail: france@russianmind.com
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6-9 Prisoner of the Kremlin 10-11 Russia’s Unpredictable Election
6-9
16-17
12-13 The Red Dior 14-15 National Comparisons: The National Character 16-17 We Came from Russia
12-13
Contents
18-19 Russian Architecture 20-21 Andrey Kovalev Rocks
20-21
26-27
22 How Can I Improve My Emotional Intelligence? 24-25 Baguettes and Other Stories 26-27 Zilli – Philosophy of Pleasure
28-29
28-29 Confessions of a Shopaholic 30 Event Guide 31 Event Diary
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5
Londongrad
Prisoner of the Kremlin Mark HOLLINGSWORTH Last month a documentary about Mikhail Khodorkovsky by the film-maker Cyril Tuschi was shown at the Frontline Club in London. The film has been well-received in the West and is, by and large, sympathetic to the oligarch who was once Russia’s richest man. But while most independent analysts accept that the jailing of Khodorkovsky has been an example of “selective justice” and his sentencing politically motivated, they also argue that the former Yukos owner was, in fact, guilty of many of the charges filed against him. ‘This wasn’t Mother Teresa versus Mike Tyson.”, said Bill Browder, head of Hermitage Capital. “These were two big tough guys at it with each other and one of them won. Putin won, Khodorkovsky lost, but it was a fair fight. He certainly didn’t deserve the pity of some type of political prisoner because all the things he did basically disallow him from claiming that’ 6
U
nlike Berezovsky, Khodorkovsky was strategic, modest living, and methodical. Highly-focused and intense, he often appeared oblivious to his immediate surroundings. A classic boffin-type intellectual, he once arrived for a business meeting wearing only shoes, socks, trousers, and jacket, having forgotten his shirt and tie. None of this, however, should disguise his singleminded, ruthless streak – he was known to install CCTV cameras to spy on his own staff. Khodorkovsky was merciless in his pursuit of wealth and power. One journalist who interviewed him remembers ‘rarely meeting anyone with such hard and unforgiving eyes’.
An unidentified woman holds a portrait of Khodorkovsky near a Moscow court during the tycoon's trial
As Russia faced bankruptcy in the late 1990s, Khodorkovsky became obsessed with protecting the value of his fortune. Like his fellow oligarchs, he had obtained lucrative state assets cheaply, but in the volatile atmosphere of the time his windfall wealth was far from secure. Knowing that the authorities might claw back the nation’s wealth by reversing the privatizations or imposing retrospective taxation, the tycoon had already taken contingency measures. Like many tycoons, Khodorkovsky, developed an aversion to paying tax. Fortunately, there was a neat solution that would enable him to both protect his assets and avoid paying tax: he could move his assets offshore and into hard currencies. With advice from Western European financial experts, he developed a complex network of offshore companies and accounts. Bank Menatep – registered in a PO box in Gibraltar – was at the centre of all Khodorkovsky’s business operations. It was through Menatep that he acquired his biggest prize of all, Yukos oil, in the ‘loans for shares’ auctions. The potential flow of money from oil was huge and required an even more complex set of arrangements. As Khodorkovsky’s empire escalated and his offshore base expanded, he turned to the lawyer Stephen Curtis for specialist advice. In 1997 Khodorkovsky arrived at Luton Airport in his private jet. Surrounded by three bodyguards and amid intense secrecy, he was driven to Curtis’s offices at 94 Park Lane. Soon Curtis set about masterminding the restructuring of Yukos and its offshore network. Excited by the challenge, Curtis’s first task was to set up Group Menatep, №3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
which was the vehicle of ownership for the oligarch’s control of Yukos. But its primary purpose was to protect Khodorkovsky’s assets from being reclaimed by the state. This could only be done by setting up an elaborate offshore network. Placing money offshore proved a huge financial bonanza, helping to save Khodorkovsky’s fortune when the rouble collapsed in 1998. As the crisis turned into near catastrophe, Menatep was in deep trouble. Staff went unpaid, and the bank blocked withdrawals and refused to pay its creditors. The Central Bank withdrew its licence and its giant name in letters was removed from its headquarters while depositors queued №3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
up in their hundreds, largely in vain, outside the grand marbled building. Menatep appeared to have crashed but most of its assets, including Yukos, had already been safely deposited abroad through the offshore networks set up by Curtis. The shuffling away by Khodorkovsky of these assets was not just a mass tax avoidance device. Some minority shareholders in Yukos also claimed that this structure was used to hide profits and hence avoid making their dividend payments. One of the minority investors was Bill Browder, once the largest private foreign investor in Russia. From 1997 to 1999, the share price of Yukos crashed. Although the fall was mainly down to the economic crisis, this
was not the only reason. ‘While some of the drop in the share price was down to the market, the rest from $1.25 to 8¢ was as a result of the asset stripping plan,’ said Browder. Menatep’s creditors had lent Menatep, with deeply unfortunate timing, a total of $236 million just a few months before the crash. As collateral, the lenders were pledged shares in Yukos – the equivalent of 30 per cent of the company. The shares would be reclaimed by Menatep when the loan was repaid. On paper the deal looked pretty robust. However when, following the crisis, they inquired about the state of their loan, the overseas banks were given a remarkable runaround. Repeated 7
Londongrad requests for information were met with contradictory answers. At one point a truckload of Menatep documents being shipped out of Moscow ended up in the Volga River. Moreover, to hide the true state of the bank’s finances, Khodorkovsky embarked on a series of new financial manoeuvres, effectively playing a game of hide and seek with both the bank’s and Yukos’s assets. On one occasion shares were sold on Khodorkovsky’s behalf in two of Yukos’s petroleum-producing units to a group of offshore subsidiaries. Menatep claimed that it did not know who owned these companies, but one of the subsidiaries was owned by close advisers of Khodorkovsky. Yukos’s minority investors claimed that profits were being siphoned off into anonymous offshore accounts. The effect of the share offloading was that Menatep’s assets were further diluted. As a result, the overseas banks owned 30 per cent of a company that was little more than an empty shell. By early 2003, Khodorkovsky was Russia’s richest man and increasingly arrogant. But he believed that he no longer needed protection or to pay political godfathers for a ‘krisha’ (Russian for roof ). And so he was strongly critical of the Kremlin and Putin. The tension between the two culminated in a dramatic meetings at the Kremlin between the President and businessmen. Usually, such meetings were mundane affairs, but this one crackled like a log fire, with Khodorkovsky accusing Russia’s bureaucrats of corruption. Ignoring the advice of his colleagues, he singled out a murky deal involving the purchase of the Northern Oil Company by the state-owned Rosneft a few days earlier. His own company had been outbid by Rosneft, which paid $622.6 million – three times what Yukos considered a reasonable price. Frustrated at losing out, Khodorkovsky complained that Rosneft executives had paid an inflated price and received kickbacks from the state in return. He demanded that Rosneft be investigated. ‘Your bureaucracy is made up of bribetakers and thieves,’ he told the President. 8
The Khodorkovsky Trial Drawing by Julia Aryeh
Bristling with irritation, Putin icily reminded the oligarch of how he himself had made billions through manipulated government auctions and tax evasion. ‘Rosneft is a state company and needs to increase its insufficient reserves,’ he said. The President then stared at Khodorkovsky with such hostility that he turned pale. ‘And a few companies like Yukos, for example, have good reserves. The question is, how did they get them?’ he added sharply. ‘So I am returning your puck.’ The meeting was the catalyst for the impending showdown between Russia’s richest man and its most powerful. Khodorkovsky had consistently ignored Putin’s stark warning not to meddle in politics. He funded opposition parties hostile to Putin, and hinted at his own presidential ambitions. He even acted like a sovereign power, negotiating with the Chinese government directly to build a pipeline through Siberia to China. Despite his outward self-confidence, Khodorkovsky knew he was taking risks. In early 2003 he made secret contingency plans to avoid arrest. His business partner Leonid Nevzlin devised a plan whereby oligarchs would live on a ship that sailed around the world in international waters. A Cyprus security company was commissioned and it
bought a mini-QE2 cruise liner for the operation. The 100-cabin ship was dismantled, refitted, and refurbished and its cabins reduced to twelve luxury suites. Named Constellation, the plan was for the ship to fly an international flag, in the manner of Liberia, and remain in international waters, thereby avoiding extradition and international arrest warrants. While Khodorkovsky was on board, other oligarchs would be flown in by helicopter and plenty of food and drink would be provided. Plans for military, anti-radar, and security systems were agreed and commissioned. The idea was for Khodorkovsky and the other oligarchs to move from port to port, a sort of floating anti-Putin vessel. This may have helped to explain Khodorkovsky’s bravado. He may have thought that he would be immune from extradition but, in fact, he was legally misinformed – no territorial waters are immune from extradition. Meanwhile, Putin, urged on by the leaders of the newly empowered FSB, was running out of patience. On 2 July 2003, the same day the value of Yukos reached £16 billion, Platon Lebedev, Khodorkovsky’s business partner, was arrested. Warrants were also issued for other executives, notably Yukos’s Security Chief, Alexei Pichugin, who was later found guilty of murder and given a life sentence. It was this move that triggered the rapid flight of Yukos executives to the UK via Malta and Cyprus. Two days later Khodorkovsky attended the official residence of the US Ambassador in Moscow, to celebrate American Independence Day. He briefed the Ambassador on the situation, then he flew to Washington, DC. During his trip, he began negotiations to sell a substantial stake of Yukos to ExxonMobil, the US oil giant. These discussions further infuriated Putin, who was not consulted. Khodorkovsky could have stayed in exile and Putin sent messages that he would not pursue the oligarch if he stayed away from Russia. But Khodorkovsky thought he was untouchable, and his wealth would protect him. ‘With money, you can №3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
Londongrad ultimately buy anything’, he once said. But even the steely Khodorkovsky was now showing uncharacteristic signs of nerves. Later in July, the self-confessed former robber baron gave a lecture in London. During the session, he was asked about the pressures on Yukos. ‘I would rather rot in a Russian jail than make compromises with these criminals,’ he replied bluntly. ‘It is my right as a citizen to use my money to organize political opposition.’ One of those present, Lord Skidelsky, recalls, ‘He was clearly having no part of the Putin deal. I gained the impression he had developed a martyr complex. He was courting danger. He was certainly tense – he was chain-smoking and I had never seen him smoke before.’ Three months later, on 25 October 2003, Khodorkovsky arrived in his private jet at Novosibirsk Airport in central Siberia to refuel. It was the day the Yukos owner had been summoned to appear
Former Yukos CEO stands behind a glass wall at a court in Moscow, Russia, 2010
before the prosecutors for questioning. Once it had taxied to a halt, two carloads of masked FSB officials, armed with submachine guns, stormed the plane. The country’s richest man had reached the end of his journey tountold wealth. The dramatic arrest of Khodorkovsky sent a chilling message: the state was more powerful than the oligarchs. Yukos’ assets were soon frozen. Then, in December 2004, the government announced that the bulk of Yukos was to be auctioned off. Only two companies were allowed to bid and the winner was a mysterious company called Baikal – later found to be registered to a 24-hour grocery store in the provincial town of Tver. On the day of the auction, to which Yukos’s lawyers were refused access, Baikal bought the company for a fraction of its real value. Two days later the government announced that Baikal, clearly set up to act as a front for the
state, would sell the main production arm of Yukos to Rosneft, the giant state combine. If Rosneft had made a direct bid for the company, it might have been the subject of international lawsuits for recovery of Yukos’s foreign-owned assets. The deal was done and Khodorkovsky now languishes in jail in Siberia. But while his arrest and the nationalization of Yukos does not signify the triumph of the rule of law, the oligarch is far from an innocent victim. As Paul Klebnikov, no friend of the Kremlin and murdered for his investigations into corruption in Russia, wrote: “The brutal way in which the detention was handled shows how far Russia has to go before it develops a civilized law-enforcement system.. But I think that we will look back on this event (Khodorkovsky’s conviction) and conclude that it actually strengthened the foundations of Russian property rights”
Russia’s Unpredictable Election OPINION
D
10
Carl THOMSON On Wednesday 18th May, Dmitry Medvedev gathered 800 journalists to the Skolkovo business park, where it was anticipated that he would make an announcement about next year’s presidential election. However, after building up expectations, he delivered a vague and non-committal statement that failed to give anything away.
mitry Medvedev used the first major press conference of his presidency to promote himself as a progressive, modernising leader, with his easygoing style aimed at attracting support from a younger, middle class audience, He teased the audience by letting them believe that he had called the meeting to declare his candidacy for re-election in 2012. However, when the subject came up, he brushed off the question and said he would make an announcement in due course. The foreign press was quick to declare that Medvedev had squandered an opportunity to assert his authority after weeks of sniping with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. One correspondent said Medvedev’s vacillation made it all but certain that Putin would return to the presidency in 2012. The reality is not quite so simple. Despite the widely held view that Medvedev is only occupying the Kremlin temporarily until Putin makes a comeback, the participants in the forthcoming election are by no means certain, much less the outcome. Whereas elections in America are drawn out affairs with candidates launching their campaigns two years in advance, in Russia decisions are usually made after the Duma elections, which for the last three electoral
cycles have taken place a few months before the presidential contest. At the last election in March 2008, Medvedev’s candidacy was announced at the end of 2007, just twelve weeks before polling day. It would therefore be perverse for Medvedev to declare his hand at this stage, especially when, other than the Prime Minister, there are no serious contenders. While Medvedev didn’t use the press conference to launch a re-election campaign, he has certainly dropped hints about his intentions as well as taking swipes at those pushing for Putin to return to the Kremlin. He criticised leaders in history who have attempted to cling onto power, noting that the concentration of authority around one person invariably leads to dictatorship, civil war or state collapse. One of Medvedev’s greatest successes, and one that is often overlooked, is that he has presided over a changing of the guard amongst Russia’s local elite, edging out the regional strongmen who have held office since the early 1990s. Whereas Putin replaced 24% of the Kremlin administration in his first two years in office, Medvedev removed 63% of the bureaucrats as well as 40% of the governors by the end of 2010. More recently, he №3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
has sought to reduce the influence of state officials on Russia’s top companies by replacing them with professional directors. Many of the new guard have backgrounds in business and civil law, and recognise that having Putin return to power for another twelve years will result in stagnation and isolation. They also understand that long-term economic growth can only be sustained if Russia takes steps to reduce corruption and protect private property. Moreover, the political scene in Russia is currently in a state of upheaval. Putin’s new social movement, the All-Russian People’s Front, has been seen as a vehicle for a return to the presidency. It is more likely an attempt to reengage people with United Russia following a poor set of local election results in March.
№3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
After seeing a big drop in its support, United Russia announced it would use open primaries to select candidates for the upcoming Duma elections. Russia’s other political parties are also reorganising themselves ahead of the Duma vote. Sergey Mironov, the former head of A Just Russia, recently announced that his party is to position itself unambiguously as an opposition force. Mironov was removed as Federation Council speaker on the same day as Medvedev’s press conference after denouncing United Russia as “a party of thieves and crooks”. He has since resigned as leader of A Just Russia, paving the way for a more effective figure, such as Russia’s ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, to stand. The nascent Right Cause also received a boost when it
won the support of billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia’s third richest man. Prokhorov proposed that he lead Right Cause in the Duma elections and is the first businessman to enter national politics since the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky in 2003. While much of the political commentary about Russia has focused on perceived splits between Putin and Medvedev, the reality is that they are both part of the same team and hold similar opinions on the future direction for the country. Putin supports Medvedev’s attempts to modernise Russia’s economy, while both have said they want to see Russia move towards political pluralism. The key difference is the extent to which this transition should be managed, and how quickly it should take place.
OPINION
The Unpredictable Race
Those who seek to draw dividing lines between the two should remember that Putin presided over the liberalisation of much of Russia’s economy, while Medvedev played a key role in decisions such as the abolition of elections for governors. Given their lack of ideological differences, Putin and Medvedev are unlikely to run against each other next year. Therefore, despite the popular opinion that Medvedev turned himself into a lame duck at his recent press conference, it is still more than likely that he will seek re-election in 2012, as he will receive support from Russia’s elite, and he will win. Amidst all the speculation, perhaps the biggest indication of progress is the fact that, for the first time since 1999, Russia is finally going to have an unpredictable election.
11
Person
The Red Dior Alina BLINOVA Vyacheslav Zaitsev is a Russian couturier, painter, graphic artist and theatrical costume designer. He doesn’t like it when people call him Vyacheslav, so he is more commonly known by the short form of his name – Slava. It seems that having a career of a fashion designer was his destiny from early childhood, as he was born in the Russian city Ivanovo which is famous for its textile industry and also known as the “town of brides”. Slava Zaitsev has a typical Russian mentality – of kindness to sentimentality, from explosiveness to brutality. How did you start your career? SZ: My father was captured by the Germans during World War Two and after he was released he was accused of being a spy in Russia. It affected the whole family and for me there was no chance of going to university. The only college I could attend was Ivanovo Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Arts, where I learned how to draw on fabric. I graduated with good grades from school and went to Moscow College, but I soon realized that college taught me nothing new. I then decided to train as a fashion designer.
How would you describe your style?
SZ: Many years ago, I choose a classic frock coat as the basis for the classic style and that’s what I am constantly developing. I always try to add a new meaning by changing some details – be it the colour of fabrics, the style, or fit. It gives me an opportunity to be different and at the same time easily recognizable. 12
Slava Zaitsev Fashion Show
What is your favourite textile to work with and where do you usually buy your materials?
SZ: I like all of them, I love silk, cotton, wool and linen. In Russia we don’t have silk, or cotton but we have linen. Quite recently I purchased 400metres of linen in different colours and textures for my new collection. For the rest I prefer to buy material from France, Italy and Spain.
Who are your clients?
SZ: Very interesting women, with different histories, backgrounds and shapes. During the Soviet times I used to work with the wives of ambassadors, spacewoman Valentina Tereshkova, tutors from universities, composer Aleksandra Pahmutova, famous doctors, bankers, actresses Vera Vasileva, Olga Drozdova, Marina Neelova. There have been many wonderful people who have been my clients for a very long time.
Are you working just for the Elite?
SZ: I have never wanted to work just for the elite. That is why I never got along
with the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. I had no interest in collaborating with Raisa Gorbacheva because I didn't like her arrogant attitude towards people. I have always preferred to work with people who share my values, like my style, and don't just order clothes.
Are you a businessman?
SZ: Unfortunately or maybe fortunately I am not, I don’t earn enough money! I have my own line of perfume that gives me an income, I use it to support my Fashion House and to develop new collections. Everything else I do on my personal funds.
Do you think the new generation of designers differs in their approach and style?
SZ: Of course! The most interesting is that this is true. I specifically opened the “home laboratory of fashion”, which invites professional artists, those who do not have a complete education in modelling, design and illustration. I give them the opportunity to improve themselves, laying the foundation for a classical style and to move on, as a result, by the end of the №3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
Slava Zaitsev reads Russian Mind Magazine
In his works Zaitsev uses elements of the traditional Russian costumes
Facts about Slava Zaitsev course, we have many different graduate styles. Today it is easy to get lost in a variety of possibilities. It is very important to create personal style.
What type of women attracts you?
SZ: I have always been attracted to free and independent women, trying to find their own original style. Today, many women emulate Western fashion, but we should remember that the West can never accommodate Russia's harsh climate. №3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
Do you have many friends?
SZ: In my life I have so much interaction with people, so by the end of the day I go home to relax, write and draw. My best friends nowadays are my son Egor Zaitsev and my granddaughter Marusya.
What is your life credo?
SZ: My whole life has been to love people and the world.
He sewed his first costume at the age of 24. In 1965, he became acquainted with the French couturier Pierre Cardin. In 1980 he created costumes for the participants of the Olympic Games in Moscow. Slava Zaitsev is a Member of the Artists Union of Russia, Honoured Artist of Russia, State Prize winner, Knight of the “Merit” Order. Cheerful Zaitsev helps women to express individuality and to become more charming. 13
NATIONAL COMPARISONS: USA, UK, RUSSIA 14
The National Character A Anatoly KARLIN
The second part of my series comparing Russia, Britain, and the US focuses on the people themselves. What are their strengths and foibles? How do they vary by class, region, race, and religion? How do they view each other and other countries and people? What do they eat, drink, and watch? Where do they travel and against which groups do they discriminate?
s befits its climate, Californians are a sunny and gregarious people. It is not unusual to refer to someone as your friend after getting to know her after a few minutes, whereas this typically takes weeks in Europe. Other states are, from what I heard, different; e.g. New Yorkers are known for being curt and rude. Friendly as distinct from polite. As a rule, Britons are very polite. However, this translates into a greater sense of distance and insistence on propriety that approaches dourness as one travels north into Scotland. Driving on UK roads is a relatively stress-free experience (and a boring one), while Californian roads demand attention and Russian roads are for thrill seekers only! Russians are cold and curt to strangers, which many foreigners attribute to rudeness. This isn’t exactly fair; most Russians are just warier of people they don’t know. This is not an irrational attitude in
a society more permeated by scams and violence. Friendships that do develop with Russians usually go deeper than in Britain or the US. If you slip down a social class or two, e.g. after a bankruptcy, you may find your previously big social circles beginning to melt away in the West. In particular, Americans have a special instinct for steering away from “losers”. Russians ARE far less civil in big groups. For instance, it is common for someone to start talking on their cell phone in a cinema. While Britons will always let a pedestrian walk across a zebra crossing – as they are obliged to do by traffic regulations – there is a 25% chance that an American wouldn’t, and a 75%+ chance that a Russian wouldn’t. By and large, Russians only follow regulations out of fear of punishment – and as mentioned in the last part, these regulations are rarely policed. Many things will make you go “what a hell?!” in Russia
№3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
№3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
the Revolution – kilometers, kilograms, Celsius; with archaic units like the verst or the pud only present in poetry or referring to traditional objects (e.g. church bells).
Class System
Despite the UK having the lowest formal rate of economic inequality – its Gini index is 34, compared to Russia’s 40 and America’s 45 (for comparison, Sweden – 25; Brazil – 57) – it also has by far the most deeply embedded class system. There is a world of difference between the socio-economic expectations of the “chavs” (low-class; lumpen-proletariat), the working class (emphasizes importance of hard, honest work); and the upper middle class (goes to Oxbridge; constitutes political and financial elite). Even their accents are noticeably different: Britain may well be the only country on Earth where class overrides region and ethnicity in this respect. There are very clear demarcations between poor, middle-class, and affluent neighbourhoods. Needless to say, the latter two also have the best schools. I would estimate that the UK has less social mobility than either the US or Russia. Despite their higher inequality, relative to Britain, there are fewer class differences in the US and far fewer in Russia (though they’re increasing in both countries). Russia’s case is unsurprising. It had no billionaires before about 1995; even millionaires only began reappearing in the late 1980′s. They might vacation in the French Riviera and send their children to private schools, but it is not uncommon for that same Russian millionaire to live in a Moscow flat with other professionals and pensioners, and retreat to their dacha on the weekends (however, more and more of them are moving to gated communities as is common in the US).
Lower class whites are "white trash" in the US, "chavs" in Britain, and "gopniki" in Russia Russian girls are prettier and more approachable
NATIONAL COMPARISONS: USA, UK, RUSSIA
On the other hand, the disregard for social conventions leads to a lot of quirky and unusual happenings in Russia. For example, I’ve seen a man walking with a bear in central St.Petersburg, walkways leading into blank walls and cars with their internal machinery exposed, etc. In general, weird things like this are rarer in the US, and almost non-existent in the monotone plod of British life. Everybody has their two cents about the differences between women and men from different countries. My experiences agree with some common observations, such as American women are far more outgoing than their more reserved British sisters, or that Russian girls are prettier and more approachable but higher maintenance. Girls typically consider American men to be more humorous and talkative than British men, though the latter enjoy a more masculine reputation. Russians are considered to be more romantic or macho (it’s usually one or the other). Nonetheless, for both sexes, individual characteristics far exceed national stereotypes. Though not quite as disciplined as the Germans, the British are expected to get to meetings strictly on time. Things are far laxer in Russia, where it is common to see people wandering in and out of meetings, and half to a quarter fail to turn up at all. The golden mean is in California, where things are fairly casual but still organized (e.g. “Berkeley time” equals the appointed time plus ten minutes). But it is not representative of the US as a whole; stricter punctuality is expected in the east of the country. The US is dominated by imperial measurements – miles; pounds; Fahrenheit; etc. Britain uses both measures – miles; pounds; litres; Celsius. Russia is completely metric since
Culture
We Came from Russia
I
need to declare an interest as I am involved in this project. The Perm Book Fair is organized by publishing house “Saltt”, where I am the chief editor, and the “Piotrowskiy” bookstore. The Book Fair is part of the monthly festival “The White Nights in Perm” and may be included on the list of cultural revolutions in Perm. Book publishing is not rigidly centralized in Russia, though provincial publishers are somewhat low profile compared to ones in the capital. If it continues, the Perm Book Fair will become a market-oriented event. That’s why it is a smaller, niche event. This year, the Book Fair budget is mostly covered by 16
the Ministry of Culture. Next year’s Book Fair will have to fund itself, not by publishers or bookstores, but through partners and sponsors. Well, who needs a book fair in the outskirts of the country? It is not the first time I have been asked why such events have to happen in Perm or another provincial city? It seems all about giving Russia a chance to present such an event away from the Moscow mindset. Less than a year ago we started the “Saltt” project – the first major provincial Internet news station covering national political and social affairs. We actually succeeded with it, so now we are hoping to succeed with this Book Fair
too. “Piotrowskiy” bookstore is our only ally and the main driving force for the event. The Perm Book Fair is not a business platform. So what is it? Let me begin from the last but not least important point, we want to create an event for the academic public. It is clear that universities are no longer the only place for discussions. The Book Fair is a place where the public have an opportunity to discuss not only the crisis of the book as a material object, but the problem of accumulation and transfer of knowledge. The philosophical component of the line-up is powerful as many Russian academics will give workshops and classes in Perm.
I do hope all this does not sound too intimidating. Though fighting for status in academic fields, the Book Fair in general is aimed at a wider audience. That is why we created this event at our own expense and have brought in more than 50 top publishers from Moscow. Preference is being given to producers of books that are in high demand among the “Permyaks”. The first Perm Book Fair is targeted at the consumer. That is why we decided to bring the Russian literary elite to Perm. The most acclaimed writer in the country Vladimir Sorokin who is also well known in Europe, will be headlining the fair. The №3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
Culture
Ivan KOLPAKOV
bright young writer Zakhar Prilepin will also be attending. Generally, the aim is to show multiple dimensions and generations of Russian literature, from Vladimir Sorokin, Victor Erofeev, Zakhar Prilepin to Andrey Astvatsaturov, Pavel Krusanov and Andrey Levkin at the same event. Plus the literary critics, linguists and philosophers will also be there. An entertainment programme is scheduled with singer Alexander F. Sklyar reading selected works of Vladimir Sorokin, poet Andrey Rodionov presents his poems from the “local loop”. Vsevolod Emelin previews a new book of poems based on №3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
According to the international experience, book fairs are very special events which involve the presence not only of readers and writers, but also publishers and booksellers. They all come together to observe what their competitors do to negotiate manuscripts, translations and sign contracts. The Book Fair in the Russian city of Perm is another story, as the business platform is not the main target, we have different objectives. Primarily, we are aiming to create a spectacular event for the mass market. In fact, here we occupy a niche market, as in Russia there is nothing to compare to our book fairs.
the explanation of Russian and world news and much more. In my opinion, the main advantage of the Perm Book Fair compared to other similar events is that it is an open and honest affair. An event with low-cost innovations staged for the consumer and not the publishers who want to exploit their competition. Discussions will be held with the academics who will come together to be heard not just by students, but for anyone who is interested in books. Meeting the authors is aimed at showing the quality of contemporary Russian literature that exists. In the end, we are all fond of reading and it is still the best form of entertainment.
up with the format of the Perm When we came Book Fair, we understood the principle value
that such an event would have to have: our Book Fair is not just for retailers, nor the place for vendors and publishers to negotiate, but is intended for publishers and readers to meet one another. Perm’s range of books is very diverse and not only for the major Russian publishing labels, there are dozens of smaller, interesting publishers attending the event. We set ourselves the task of highlighting the current cultural trends. The Book Fair is an annual report of the intellectual environment to the provincial public. We want to present to the Permian readers the best publishing houses, whose products they can see on their shelves. Denis Korneevsky and Mikhail Maltsev, “Piotrowskiy” 17
Photo Blog
Russian Architecture Museum of Wooden Architecture “Malye Korely”, Arkhangelsk Region
Belgorod State Museum-Diorama “Kursk Battle”
Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics, Kaluga
Qolsharif Mosque, Kazan
Yekaterinburg City
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Photo Blog
Pokrova na Nerli Church, Vladimir Region
Kinder Garden, Yoshkar-Ola
Chukotka Village
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The Dying Village, Republic of Karelia
Bell Tower of St. Nicholas Church, Kalyazin, Tver Region
Dubna Dam, Moscow Region
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Conversation
Andrey Kovalev
Rocks enterprise. Did it encourage you to sum up your achievements?
Daria ALYUKOVA This interview did not require much effort to demonstrate the popular appeal of Andrey Kovalev. The setting spoke for itself: as we were talking in a London café, a woman approached Andrey for an autograph, and her friends were also expressing their heartfelt thanks to the Andrey for the music he plays with his rock band called the Piligrim.
AK: Well, it’s still too early to sum up. We have released 4 albums, visited dozens of places during our tours, met many of our fans – but it still feels like the very beginning. There are many changes to come, many experiments planned. Still, whenever I look back, I get the feeling that something could have been done differently – like musical arrangement or video editing. As a rule, in the process of production of songs or videos you cannot look at them from the outside, but after a while, you can look at the result from a third person perspective and see the flaws.
You mentioned that you plan to bring something new into your music, what kind of changes will there be? AK: In regards to our new album – the Piligrim XXX – in Cyrillic transcription the
“XXX” reads as an abbreviation for “heavy hip-hop”. That’s what we want to bring together – hard rock and hip-hop. We’ve already started a contest for young hiphop musicians: the new album will include the tracks that win the vote, and the best musician will join our band. Also, the Piligrim XXX will contain tracks recorded in collaboration with Ligalize and Snoop Dogg.
The Piligrim is well-known for collaborations with world celebrities, like Pamela Anderson and Dolph Lundgren in videos or Apocalyptica in music. Do your personal friendships lead to creative cooperation? AK: Yes, they often do. This kind of creative cooperation brought me to London this time – we are in discussions with an internationally acclaimed English band. I think the public will be able to hear the song we’ve done by the end of 2011. With Apocalyptica
First of all, let me congratulate you on the Piligrim’s fifth anniversary that you celebrated in December 2010. How did you spend it?
AK: We had a big concert dedicated to the anniversary; it was staged by Lina Arifullina. That seemed the best way to celebrate it!
Five years is usually considered an important milestone for any 20
№3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
Conversation
His Honda Gold Wing
With Pamela Anderson
Your political career as a member of Moscow City Duma is probably best remembered for the successful measures taken against “lips singing” at the concerts and anti-piracy campaigns. What about changes in favour of bikers?
The Piligrim with Dolph Lundgren
AK: Well, a motorcycle in Moscow is indeed a luxury item, especially after the increase in transport tax. Another problem is that drivers’ behaviour needs to be moderated – they treat bikers irreverently. But I think the situation is changing for the better. Speaking of “mute singing” – I do feel that the fight against deception at concerts is more than just tilting at windmills. It works, and there are more and more live concerts. Moreover, the recent economic crisis revealed many fake celebrities – many singers had to start tours, as the earnings from corporate parties went down, and people simply did not buy tickets for their shows.
Do you need any specific atmosphere or place to write a song? What inspires you? AK: Frankly speaking, I don’t need any particular ambience. Music and lyrics just flow naturally, so easily. Sometimes it causes amusing situations, like after
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Bio
an important meeting I had to run to an empty room to use the voice recorder, so as not to forget the tune. And this is why we have produced so many albums already – I just cannot hold back new songs for several years, I want to release them immediately.
Born: 7 June 1957, Moscow Education: State Automobile and Road Technical University, Stroganov Moscow State University of Arts and Industry Occupation: businessman, singer, musical producer, rock-festivals organizer. Headliner of the Piligrim band (hardrock, heavy-metal), songwriter Nickname: Arkadich Instruments: bass guitar Label: 1Rock 21
Blog Letters to YOU:
“How Can I Improve My Emotional Intelligence?” Dear You, Emotional Intelligence is all about the ability to control emotions under different circumstances, be it at work or at home. Emotionally intelligent people are very much in touch with their own emotions (i.e. understand their own emotions, know what these emotions are telling them, how these emotions affect other people around them) and such people are able to sense the emotions of others. There are lots of theories, frameworks and research available for you to read on the subject. I will only offer you a few tips on how to start developing and improving your EI. Following through with these tips will be the best thing you will ever do for your self-development and personal growth. Start with writing down every single emotion you feel during the day – something like a diary of emotions. It’s important to write down why you think you felt that way; what you think was the cause of each emotion you felt during the day. It’s important to keep updating the diary 22
on a daily basis, for quite some time. When you analyse your entries after a week or a month and you begin seeing a pattern of particular emotions, then you can deal with the causes of these emotions. This stage is all about becoming self-aware. Watch the way you express your feelings. If you keep saying “this person always makes me feel furious” will not help you deal with the problem. In fact it will only make matters worse, because whenever you then see this person, you will always feel furious, even though there will be no problem to resolve between you. Instead, you can say “this situation involving this person made me furious, everything is resolved now”. Once you’ve become aware of your emotions and what they cost you on a daily basis, you will control your emotions, not the other way around. This stage is all about self-regulation. Start thinking before you act. After all, no one is rushing you to make impulsive decisions you might regret later. Don’t let your negative emotions become too strong. Recognise them at an early stage, stop and think how you can control them.
Be empathetic! It’s important to recognise and understand other people’s emotions. Learn not to judge too quickly, hear people out and relate to them. And most importantly, be genuine! Live your life honestly and openly, accept and enjoy challenges and stay motivated no matter what. Improve your social skills. People with great social skills put other people’s needs before their own. They are usually team players, with good listening skills. They are guiding others to success. They are able to build and maintain fantastic relationships. Observe and learn from these people! Ask them for tips. Anger is a natural feeling, but it is destructive! It makes you do and say things you will regret. When you are angry, it’s better to say nothing at all; use
all the possible reasons to stop anger and avoid emotional vampires which will feed on this destructive emotion. Use different techniques to release anger. The most effective would be – art and music therapy, yoga classes, aromatherapy, meditation. You can take a walk in a park and look at something that will take your focus away from anger. Do something around the house – clean windows or rearrange books. Energetic tasks will help you convert anger to positive emotions. Be healthy, happy and wealthy.....and Remember: "Never speak out of anger, never act out of fear, never choose from impatience, but wait... and peace will appear.” Always by your side, Tati Irodova www.lifeskillsemporium.com №3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
Baguettes and Other Stories
Paris in One Day
I have learned an important route for any tourist that wants to see ‘everything’ in a day. If you arrive at the railway station Gare du Nord early in the morning, take the following directions to see Paris for a tick on the ‘to see before I die’ list. Go down Boulevard Magenta then turn right onto the Boulevard de Sebastopol to marvel at all the African hair salons, at the end on the
right you will be able to get a first glance at the Centre Pompidou, the contemporary arts museum. You will then end up at the Ile de la Cite, where you will be able to see the Notre Dame de Paris, and point zero of all the roads of the world (honestly just France), across the road is the Palais de Justice, a rather intimidating construction. Follow the Quai d’Orfevre, where according to French films all criminals plot
and get caught and end up on the Pont Neuf, where you will have to cross. Turn left and walk along the Seine, one of the dirtiest rivers in Europe. Stop at the Louvre, you will not have time for more than 2 hours, then continue through the Jardin des Tuileries, onto the Place de la Concorde and the Champs Elysees where you will end up at the Arc du Triomphe. Go down Av Klebert to the Trocadero, look at the pretty view of the Eiffel Tower, cross to see it up close. Continue along the river on the right hand side you will see the Invalides, and a little further down the Musee D'Orsay, Stop. Take the Metro to Montmartre and wander around to look at the artists, you might have a few minutes to sit on the steps of Sacre Coeur. Walk down to the Moulin Rouge and Place Pigalle, home to decades of prostitution. Then proceed back to the Gare du Nord and go back to wherever you came from. Montmartre
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Now Paris in a day is NOT the best way to see it, you have to enjoy the beauty of the city, and like any other it has so much to offer, but that depends on how you look at things, for some a rat race tour outlined above is enough!
Beyond Stereotypes
First of all never hold your head up, you have got to look at the ground constantly otherwise you will have your soles covered in dog faeces! Paris has beautiful architecture, but so does London and Madrid. Paris has beautiful people, though I beg to differ, show me five beautiful Parisians in the same day, if you can you’ll get a medal. Paris does have good coffee and amazing pastries, croissants included. If you do get the chance to spend more than a day in Paris spend a whole day at the Louvre, it has a lot more to see than the Mona Lisa. Walk around the centre Pompidou, it’s one of my favourite buildings in Paris, and in the evening sit in the cafe opposite and admire the Parisian life, street artists, tourists, workers and students who love walking in the square. I love walking around Montmartre, even though it is a tourist trap during the day and it’s not the best place to be in the evening albeit a somewhat appealing part of Paris, I just love wandering the streets looking at the small houses and guessing where famous French artists used to live. To be honest, the capital of France is just another capital and elsewhere in the country there is much to see, be it Strasbourg, a little village №3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
Traveller’s Diary I have become acquainted with Paris over the last thirteen years, following regular trips to the city branded the epicentre of love, dreams, and lights. Many people love Paris, hence I have been chosen as your eternal guide. I know Paris quite well, the tourist side at least. A big mistake that many make is relying on stereotypes, Paris is nothing like what they say. There are no princes on every corner, Parisian women are not all astonishing supermodels with an impeccable sense of style, nor does everyone eat baguettes or wear berets. Two things are true however, they all smoke and drink coffee! Bois de Boulogne
in Brittany or Aix-en-Provence, they have more soul. Something that I failed to find over the years is a good place to eat and get good service. If you go to a brassiere the waiters are amazing, in every sense of that word, if you speak English you might as well starve during your stay, they won’t like you, they will be rude to you and will treat you like trash, they have an amazing amount of self confidence that renders me jealous, sometimes.
Back to the food, as I mentioned before the pastries are good, Paris has a good bread culture in general, but they can manage to make even pizza taste bad, and if you get the chance to visit an expensive restaurant the food might be good, but you just will never notice because the portions are miniscule. Right next to the Notre Dame de Paris there is a cafe on the corner, where they do very good crepes, the outside seats are not only great for people watching, a French national sport, but to lift up
Gargoyle of the Notre Dame de Paris
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Ecaterina KILIAN
Not much has changed
your head and look at the gargoyles. Most of the time I sit there I come up with stories about these gargoyles, they’re all so different and interesting in their own special way. Le Bois de Boulogne is a wood, or a park in the west of the capital with magnificent views and walks, it is mainly known for hosting Rolland Garros, one of the tennis grand slams. The area around the Sorbonne University is vibrant with life and this is where all the young people spend their time congregating. In the North West there is Defence,
the business quarter of Paris, la tour Montparnasse is stands in the middle, if you are able to get to the top of this building you will see the best views of Paris. I will try summarising Paris, the way I see it, many pretty hidden places, a lot of dog faeces and rude people. This is what I found after thirteen years. Paris would not be my first choice for a holiday, but people crave to see it. I’m not stopping anyone, but be warned that Paris is not what you think it will be. Au revoir. Centre Pompidou
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Fashion Insider
Zilli – Philosophy of Pleasure Z
illi apparel and leathergoods are made and hand-finished using the finest precious skins and materials in the world and they demand to be touched and experienced, not just seen. This is partly why shopping at Zilli is a pleasure.
Alina BLINOVA
In the international world of luxury men’s clothing, ZILLI embodies perfection and traditional knowhow, making each piece of clothing truly unique. ZILLI has worked to the same stringent standards to create a collection of glasses which stand About Zilli out for their exceptional richness in the choice Founded in 1970, Zilli is of materials, details, and strong styling. The present in more then 40 ZILLI approach is about comfort, freedom, and countries with 15 boutiques in seduction, the quintessence of a philosophy – the such cities as London, Milan, philosophy of pleasure. Moscow, Paris and Dubai. Just Slava Zaitsev likes Zilli
the fact that Zilli has more then 20 shops in Russia, makes you think and look at this brand. The label’s sportluxe objective centres on fine fabrics and tailoring - a single belt takes up to six hours to make and a jacket up to three days. Materials used include sting-ray skin, crocodile, black velvet chinchilla, silk, wool and cashmere. The company specialises in coats, jackets, sweaters, ties, footwear, belts, small leather goods, cufflinks and other accessories for men, along with garments and leather goods for women, including handbags. Everything is made either in France (leather, fur goods and outerwear) and Italy (clothing such as ties and shirts).
Alain Schimel, founder and chairman of French luxury label Zilli
Family - Owned Business
The Fall-Winter Collection 2011-2012
Zilli is a family-owned and run affair. Alain Schimel is the founder and chairman, his son is managing director, his wife is the fashion director, his daughter is in charge of duty free goods, his son-in-law runs the shoes, while his god-daughter looks after the
cuff-links. Who said keeping it in the family doesn't pay? They employ 300 people in 29 countries around the world.
Fact
Alain Schimel first elevated the image of the leather jacket in the 1970s by making it in lamb suede, peccary, alligator and other skins and then finished his designs with artisan details such as custom-printed Italian silk linings and fully taped seams like those applied to tailored clothing. “Before that, leather was mostly used for flight jackets and motorcycle jackets; it was not considered an upscale material for businessmen,” says Schimel.
ZILLI reveals its invaluable know-how. The Fall-Winter collection 2011-2012 associates lines and forms, shade and light, timeless and unexpected... Inspired by Geometry, essential for the Maison, pieces are №3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
enhanced by shapes research, cuts and details. Straight line effects, angles, symmetry and asymmetry reveal the influence of the Constructivist and Futuristic movements. The range of dark colours is deeply contrasted. Burgundy, dark red, black, grey and navy are illuminated with saffron, royal blue and bright red linings. This modernity also joins in the "warm" outfits: the fabrics are quilted to add extra comfort. ZILLI also offers precious furs and exceptional skins of: glazed lambskin, calf suede, deerskin, cashmere, ZILLI snake, ostrich, â„–3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
shaved mink, beaver...The shearling, sometimes reversible, joins the most luxurious furs. Patent leather is also available to punctuate the double edges of a jacket for a unique mattbrilliant effect. Three-quarter mix cashmere and lambskin or still calf suede and smooth leather.
Accessories collection
The ZILLI leather goods, luggage, shoes and accessories celebrate geometric details and warm fabrics. Leather goods collections express the refinement and know-how of the artisans of the House: hand-painted outlines,
gold leaf decorations, opposing colours, tone to tone embroidery... The collections use a selection among the most exceptional skins in the world including crocodile, shaved mink and patent deerskin. The Boomerang bag line mixes kangaroo leather with a new water-repellent canvas, for a Sport Chic style. For this season, ZILLI proposes a carrier bag in treated sheepskin doubled by shaved mink. Shoes reflect the boldness of the House: high sneakers adopt
the sweetness of the chinchilla cashmere or the shaved mink. Loafers, in dark red shagreen or green patent crocodile and calfskin, are heightened by thick soles. Derbys and moccasins use the most beautiful skins of crocodile hand-painted in a chromatic palette of blue, burgundy... For dandyism lovers, gloves are made of glazed lambskin with crocodile inserts, double edges in patent lambskin or lining in shaved mink or cashmere. 27
Street Chic
Confessions of a Shopaholic What Do Russians Wear?
Zoe Hunter, 32 years, account manager, top from Hip in Leeds, shorts from Tesco.
Chrissie, 25 years, assistant designer, skirt and top from topshop, belt vintage.
Fur
Something warm
Kelly Jones, 28 years, admin assistant, top and trousers Miss Selfridges, bag vintage.
No idea
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Liz Allen, 46 years, makeup artist, top Zara, trousers Dune, Bag Gucci.
Casual clothes
Partick, 27 years, student, jeans Dsquared, wallet Louis Vuitton, t-shirt Vivienne Westwood.
Fur coats
Vanesa Fonseca, 22 years, cleaner, top Jane Norman, shoes New Look, short bought in Brazil.
Jeans
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Photographer: Anton Phatianov www.onanton.co.uk
Umanah Tarrala, 16 years, student, top - free from Marathon, jeans Topshop, shoes Zigzag.
No idea
Medina Ljutvia, 20 years, student, blazer Monkey, top H&M, shorts Gina Tricot.
Everything
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Kat Vallely, 21 years, student, dress Ace fashion, shoes Primark, bag Accessorise.
Massih Najafi, 21 years, student, jacket Cheap Monday, shirt and sandals Acne, shorts Weekday.
Fur hats
Normal clothes
Anelle, 20 years, student, bag and dress from Urban Outfitters, shoes Repetto.
Arctic kind of clothes
Jamom, 20 years, student, jeans H&M, top and jacket Soleiado (vintage), shoes Repetto, bag Urban Outfitters.
Big fur hats
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Event Guide
Sonya's Story Opera Screening Thu 9 June 2011 – 7.30pm Sonya’s Story is an operatic setting of the text from Anton Chekhov’s play Uncle Vanya presenting the debut collaboration of Neal Thornton as Composer and Musical Director, Sally Burgess as Director, Charles Phu as Designer, with art assistance by Philippe Devaud and choreography by Simon Rice. It is the world’s first opera adapted from Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. Sonya responds to events one tragic summer as the stresses of her life in pre-Revolution Russia come to a head. This is a melodic score for 2 opera singers and a chamber orchestra. A musical psycho-drama focussing on Sonya’s character which is revealed very effectively in a musical setting. Sonya’s story is shown through the disturbance to her humdrum life created by her father and stepmother’s stay for the summer at the estate. How her infatuation with love for Doctor Astrov is stirred up by his frequent visits, brought on by his interest in her beautiful young stepmother; her father’s confrontation and a shooting incident with Vanya, then the subsequent return to a resigned normality with her awareness that acceptance can bring peace. Programme 7.30pm – Introduction by Sally Burgess, Neal Thornton and Charles Phu 7.45pm – Screening of Sonya’s Story. Duration 40 mins. 8.25pm – Q&A and discussion with the production team Tickets: £7, conc. £5 (students and OAPs), free for Friends of Pushkin House
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Pushkin in Britain Poetry Festival Thu 2 June, Fri 3 June, Mon 6 June Language: In Russian Pushkin in Britain Festival comes back to Pushkin House with a new programme of contemporary Russian poetry. A special event to commemorate the birthday of Russian classic Alexander Pushkin is on June 6th. Participants from the most prominent Russian Poetry contest abroad will be introduced for the first time, followed by a recital jam-session and discussions. Creative writing master-
classes by this year’s members of the jury: Igor Guberman, Igor Irtenievev, Mikhail Popov and Oleg Borushko. Tickets: £ admission is free, but booking is necessary.
Third Translators' Evening Tue 7 June 2011 – 7.30pm Talk with Angela Livingstone and Peter France Language: In English The Pushkin Club is continuing with its series of events: “Translators’ Evenings”, where translators of Russian poetry and prose read and discuss their work. Translators, academics, students and anybody interested in Russian literature are invited to discuss the relationship between the original text and the translation, compare (if available) different translations of the same original text and see how the art of translation helps literature to cross boundaries between languages and cultures. Marina Tsvetaeva’s “Phaedra” translated by Angela Livingstone. Angela Livingstone taught Russian literature at the University of Essex for thirty-one years; has written about and translated works by Boris Pasternak, Marina Tsvetaeva and Andrei Platonov; is now finishing translations of Tsvetaeva’s verse-drama Phaedra (1927) and three of her poems (1926-7). Boris Pasternak’s “Doctor Zhivago” translated by Peter France. Peter France was professor of French at Edinburgh University. He has been published widely in French, Russian and comparative literature and most recently in the history, theory and practice of translation. His Poets of Modern Russia appeared in 1982 and his translations include much Russian poetry, notably that of Gennady Aygi. His Selected Poems of Pasternak, done jointly with Jon Stallworthy, was published in 1983. He has recently been translating Baratynsky, Annensky and Mandelstam. Tickets: £7, conc. £5 (students and OAPs), free for Friends of Pushkin House
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Event Diary
The Russian Ballet Icons Gala Dinner 2011 This year's Russian Ballet Icons Gala was dedicated to 100 years since the birth of the legendary Galina Ulanova and supported by the St. Petersburg City Administration and The Galina Ulanova Foundation. The Gala was followed by an exclusive dinner at St. Martin’s Lane Hotel which gathered ballet dancers and celebrities from different industries: business, politics, art and fashion.
Nancy Dell'Olio and Vladimir Vasiliev
The ballet stars with Vladimir Vasiliev and Marina Panfilovich
Richard Barned, Deputy Mayor of London with guest
Seva Novgorodsev with spouse Olga
Ulyana Lopatkina & Marat Shemiunov
Russia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom Alexander Yakovenko with spouse Nana
Igor Zelensky, Olga Balakleets and Vadim Repin
The Launch of Russian Mind Photographer: Alla Sanders
International Publishing Group Limited (IPGL) had a pleasure of welcoming their guests at the Launch of Russian Mind Magazine at the Intercontinental Hotel. The event attracted guests from different industries: luxury and lifestyle, travel, finance, real estate, education, hotels and many more.
Olga Tzvetkova, Daria Alyukova, Olga Kudriavtseva (RM) №3(03) 2 June - 15 June 2011
Audrius Eimutis (Zilli), Alina Blinova (RM), Arnaud Corbin (Zilli)
Denis Korotkov, Roman Joukovski (Oracle)
Andrei Boykov (Citi - Wealth Management), Alina Blinova, Peter Baltadjiev
Maria na Negivaya, Alex McBarnet, Natalia Bukhonova (UniTrust)
Karina Baldy, James Rackham (Emporia Brands) with guest
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