NB! · Observations · Humour

A Thousand Years On, Nothing Has Changed

Art · Observations · Society Pages

Took a cursory look at the Blazar young art fair: pleasing to see how the project has grown in a year: many new partners, new architecture, lecture halls for professionals, and as many as 20 galleries received free stands…

Took a cursory look at the Blazar young art fair: pleasing to see how the project has grown in a year: many new partners, new architecture, lecture halls for professionals, and as many as 20 galleries received free stands (up to 3 artists each). Prices, admittedly, have also risen noticeably,

Observations · People · Society Pages

A viewer’s response to the premiere of Kirill Serebrennikov’s production of “The Decameron”

My heartfelt congratulations to Kirill Serebrennikov on an incredible premiere, a great success, and such a beautiful and kind production! When the whole house was shrieking “bravo!”, I was there too, stamping my little foot 🧚🏼‍♀️ For the first time in a great many premieres I did not leave during the

Coming Up · Observations · Education · Humour

I remember Vladimir Annushkin from the school literature olympiads of old, where the distinguished professor was habitually the wise chairman of the jury and even strummed something on the guitar

I remember Vladimir Annushkin from the school literature olympiads of old, where the distinguished professor was habitually the wise chairman of the jury and even strummed something on the guitar. And now, who would have thought it, we may meet again after so many years: I see him among the

NB! · Observations · Pop Culture · Society Pages · Humour

At the Premiere of Kirill Serebrennikov's "Decameron", the Most Gorgeous Lolita Milyavskaya, Chulpan Khamatova, Yana Valensia, Maria Revyakina and Even Alexander Filippenko Were Spotted

At the premiere of Kirill Serebrennikov's "Decameron", the most gorgeous Lolita Milyavskaya, Chulpan Khamatova, Yana Valensia, Maria Revyakina and even Alexander Filippenko were spotted. And this before I had managed to give my spectacles a proper wipe

Aristocracy · Monarchies · Observations · Society Pages · Humour

The Late Queen Fabiola of Belgium Sends Greetings to Her Niece, Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg and Liechtenstein, Who Wore Her Diamond Earrings to the Wedding of Her Daughter, Princess Marie-Annunciata of Liechtenstein, in Vienna the Other Day

Sorry if, from now on, you will always picture the departed owners of old things saluting you from the other world whenever you come to use them. On the other hand, it may even be good for you

Coming Up · Art · Books · Moscow · Observations

Tomorrow at 6.30 p.m. a new monument to Fyodor Mikhailovich is due to be unveiled beside the "Dostoevsky" bookshop; this year he is, after all, 200

Tomorrow at 6.30 p.m. a new monument to Fyodor Mikhailovich is due to be unveiled beside the "Dostoevsky" bookshop; this year he is, after all, 200. The previous Dostoevsky sits literally 20 metres away, on the little patch by the Lenin Library, where he has been

NB! · Observations

Good Yasnaya Polyana morning

Coming Up · Moscow · Observations

Lyubimovka young playwrights festival at the Sovremennik Theatre until 10 September

While I am at the "Tolstoy" theatre festival at Yasnaya Polyana, the "Lyubimovka" festival of young dramatists is running in Moscow until 10 September. Readings of plays are held at the Sovremennik Theatre; admission is free, by registration, which opens the day before each event, and

NB! · Books · Observations · Reportage · Humour

Walking Dmitry Volkostrelov's route at Yasnaya Polyana during the "Tolstoy" theatre festival

My colleagues and I walked Dmitry Volkostrelov's route at Yasnaya Polyana during the "Tolstoy" theatre festival. The length of the path equals the combined length of all the lines of the first edition of War and Peace. A stroll of some 6 km: the sum of

Moscow · Observations

"Though our life is not like yours, as silver is not like roofing tin…"

Kirill Serebrennikov writes that the Moscow Art Theatre (MKhT) has dropped Zoyka's Apartment from its repertoire after nine years. It is the only production I saw five times, beginning with the premiere and going on watching it for years, and I would gladly have gone again.

NB! · Observations · Pop Culture · Humour