Priyantha Hettige Courtesy Island

Moscow has just been voted the third best city in the world to live in by the UN. But it beats all the competition in having the highest quality of life for its citizens, which includes the best medical care, the best education, attractive public spaces, public safety and, importantly, the best cultural activities.

Moscow alone has 170 concert halls and theatres, with 40 million visits annually, which means Muscovites attend an average of four concerts per year. And this is repeated in towns and cities throughout the Federation of Russia and including even the old Soviet Union.

They are benefited from their legacy of Communist rule with its policies of developing all its people and raising them up, equally as their talents allow. There are hundreds of theatres and stages throughout the towns and cities of the old Soviet Union, not to forget to mention all those great gymnasia used to train young ballet dancers, rhythmic gymnasts and even young circus performers. You can go ice skating in Russia all year round and trampoline-ing, too!

St Petersburg has the Mariinsky theatres (old and new). The old and original Mariinsky theatre is most beautiful, glamorous and historic and is where Europe’s royalty came to be amused in bygone times. Russia’s capital, Moscow has the famous Bolshoi Ballet and now, there is the newly opened hi-tech Zaryadye Park Concert Hall with its spectacular expanse of glass roof and perfect acoustics.

Note that for these many theatres they must require the services of hundreds of performers, costume designers and dress makers; make-up artists, scenery designers, and lighting experts, musicians and scriptwriters. Well, Russians have to spend their long, dreary winter nights somehow – so, why not be involved in these socially approved activities. Participation in choirs, orchestras, gymnastic teams and artistic groups is considered as worthy, Good”. As a result of this legacy from the past, one can choose to develop one’s talents in so many ways. All this expression of art and culture has resulted in both a professional and also a huge, spare-time entertainment industry based on music, dance and drama, and of course, gymnastics.

Schools are very active in this area by organising competitions and annual shows where they display their talented performers. The originality and the inspiration of these productions is amazing, if not actually stunning. Winners of competitions, and those particularly good performances are filmed and then broadcast on TV, thus providing public entertainment of good quality; in a word, uplifting. Then the whole of Russian society can see and enjoy watching this home-grown skill and wonderful talent. Some performances, perhaps the best, are loaded up to the internet, for the whole world to see and be amazed!

At the end of every competition young student participants are awarded medals and certificates and even cuddly toys as a reward. These mementos are collected and students proudly show them to relatives to admire.

Choirs and Choral music

Russia has its patriotic songs arising from their struggle to survive the many madmen and robber invasions they have endured over the centuries. These are stirring songs sung with gusto and feeling with real motivation! The famous Moscow based Gnessin School of Music is active in traditional and cultural music making, and their Moscow Boys Choir is world famous. The choir has recorded The Children’s Prayer.” This is quite heavenly to hear. Also, Igor Donilov of the Moscow Choral School, has sung Motherland” which is of stunning beauty. You have heard nothing until you hear this. These choral pieces are posted on the internet.

Russian Music Composers and

their Music

Professional song and music writing is to a high standard, and of course Tchaikovsky and the Bolshoi Ballet are the pinnacle of all this creative activity. Many Russian composers have created great amounts of good music and now the world has a most wonderful cultural heritage. It is waiting for you to explore! Thank you, Russia!

Priyantha Hettige