Bolshoi's story

The company was founded in 1776 by Prince Peter Urussov and Michael Maddox. Initially it gave performances in a private home, but in 1780 it acquired the Petrovka Theatre and began producing plays and operas.
Main Hall of the Bolshoi Theatre
The current building was built on Teatralnaya Square in 1825 to replace the Petrovka Theatre, which had been destroyed by fire in 1805. It was designed by architect Osip (Joseph) Bove, who had built the nearby Maly Theatre in 1824. At that time, all the Russian theatres were imperial property.
In Moscow and St Petersburg, there were two theatres only, one of them intended for opera and ballet (these were known as the Bolshoi Theatres) and another one for tragedies and comedies. As opera and ballet were considered nobler than drama, the opera house was named the "Grand Theatre" ("Bolshoi" being the Russian for "large" or "grand") and the drama theatre - "Smaller Theatre" ("Maly" being the Russian for "little").
The Bolshoi Theatre's original name was the Imperial Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow, while the St. Petersburg Bolshoi Theatre's (demolished in 1886) name was Imperial Bolshoi Kamenn Theatre.
The theatre was inaugurated on 18 January 1825. Initially it presented only Russian works, but foreign composers entered the repertoire starting from 1840. A fire in 1853 caused extensive damage; reconstruction was carried out by Albert Kavos, son of Caterino Kavos, an opera composer, and reopened in 1856. During World War II, the theatre was damaged by a bomb but was promptly repaired.
The Bolshoi has been the site of many historic premieres including Tchaikovsky's Voyevoda and Mazeppa, and Rachmaninoff's Aleko and Francesca da Rimini.

What an emotion...

Irina, my Russian colleague, organized a "special" surprise for our first night in Moscow! Ballet at Bolshoi! Since I was a little girl and attempted to be a ballerina I dreamt to see a ballet at the Bolshoi, one of the most famous theatre of the world! I was extremely excited to pass the the door of this famous place where dancers like Rudolf Nureyev have danced! I had the pleasure to see Svetlana Lurkina, leading soloist of the Bolshoi Ballet, dancing Giselle! Born in Moscow in 1979, Svetlana Lunkina was once described by former Bolshoi Ballet director Alexei Fadeyechev as "the hope of the company". Physically gifted, beautifully proportioned, and moreover of an exquisite delicacy and femininity; with her fragile, ethereal appearance Svetlana Lunkina seems destined to dance the romantic repertoire. And I can assure you that watching her dancing was a real emotion!!

WE SUCCEEDED!!!!

It's been 7 weeks now since my life has changed. I was given a second chance. I haven't figured out why this has happened to me, but in time I'm certain God will let me know. I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason, and that God knows exactly what he's doing. He has it all written out like pages in a novel, and we need to go through what he has written for us in order to proceed to the next chapter in our lives. I can tell you now, I am a SURVIVOR, a survivor of the incredibly awful illness of NECROTIZING FASCIITIS, also known as The Flesh Eating Disease. God challenged me and the closest people in my life, and I can say with blessedness, we SUCCEEDED!!!

posted by Nancy, February 23, 2007

движение к Москве (Going to Moscow!)

Cindarella here is leaving for Moscow this Sunday! With the Russian name I have is about time to go and visit the ex USSR! And I am really thrilled about it! One little down side to this adventur! It's -24C! I know that for you guys in Canada this is not big deal but you know how much I "dislike" cold! I am really scared that they will sell me on the market as frozen fish! So today, during my break, I went to buy special underwear to bear the cold. They are made of a special thermic fabric : really smooth and warm. Warm but surely not sexy! But who cares! I have been told that there is another way to warm up... ! And it's not what you have in mind but it's drinking vodka! I guess I'll have some stories for you guys when I'm back! But for now : поздравления от олгы (greetings from Olga)!

Role

While "the guys" were busy painting and putting new tiles in the bathroom I was confined to the usual "female role" : cleaning! And I just don't like it! Anyway, last night, I cleaned the kitchen till midnight and felt like Cinda"fucking"rella! I thought I would be turned into a beautiful princess and have a carriage waiting for me to go to the ball. Nothing of the above happened but instead I broke a nail, scratched a finger and when I got finally to bed I was so exhausted that I could hardly sleep! Tonight it's not going to be any better! As you can imagine we are back, extremely busy with the apartment and almost sure that we will not make it on time. Apart from this I am fine, it's sunny in Paris and Meggie is doing great in Italy. So what should I ask for more?? Maybe a maid with the smile!

Dangerously good!

Italy is a dangerous country. On many aspects. Not only people drive too fast but food is dangerously too good. Even if you don't want to eat too much you are exposed to a multicolor parade of food that it's hard to resist. Especially now, still in the winter season, some of the Piedmont specialties are too delicious to be left "uneaten"; and so I submitted to some pepperoni with bagna cauda sauce, some polenta and some pasticcini. I promised to myself that when back to Paris I would go back to my sad "boiled courgette" and vegetables soup but while at my mom I would please my "senses". And so I did! Shopping can be also extremely dangerous in my country. Too beautiful shoes look at you from the windshill saying" buy me please". So in the end (and only because it was still "sales") a pair of high heel shoes, a new black coat, several sweaters, a a new tailleur came back to Paris with me! And finally my hair looks decent again! And I am not too blonde!

Going home...!

It's time to go to Italy. I really need to go to the hairdresser! I know that Nancy it's laughing right now! A part from the hairdresser (I am in desperate need of "coloration"!!) we bring Meggie, during her school vacations, to stay with her "nonni" while we will be busy fixing the apartment and moving before March 1st when they will come to Paris! Days are counted to do all the things we have to do! My good friend and colleague Séb is helping us a lot but still we have to make a new bathroom, paint 4 rooms including windows, buy a new closet, go and search for our old furniture at la Ferté and then move everything in the new apartment by February 28th! Exactly 14 days from now! But on Sunday 25th I am leaving for Moscow, Russie and so I have in fact only 10 days! Yes you are right : I am stressing!! So tonight we leave for Lyon where we will spend the night and continue our trip to Villarbasse on Friday morning. Hairdresser is scheduled at 2pm! A nice excursion to Alba is planned for Saturday. On Sunday, after lunch with nonno-bis, we will drive back to Paris!

San Valentino

Do you know the story behind Saint Valentine's day?

According to one legend, Valentine was a priest during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine was not happy and he continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.For this act of goodness he was thrown into prison. The jailer’s daughter, Julia, was blind and often visited Valentine in his cell. He described the world for her and told her about God. One day, during one of her visits, the girl regained her sight. Convinced by the miracle, her family converted to Christianity. Claudius II, irritated by this new act of defiance, condemned Valentine to death. The day before his execution he wrote to Julia, signing his letter “from your Valentine”. He was decapitated on February 14th 268 AD. Saint Valentine officially became the patron Saint of lovers in 1496 thanks to Pope Alexander VI.

For me "San Valentino" is not only the lovers' day in a restricted sense, it's more the day to remember the people I love and cherish. My family, my friends. In other words: YOU GUYS!

Happy Saint Valentine!

Wind Chime

Every morning, when I open my window the tinkling sound of the wind chime welcomes me! And every morning it tells a different story. The music of this object embodies the old legends of the American Indians and I am totally fascinated by it. This wind chime was given to me by Nancy many years ago, travelled around the world with me, and now will find a new place where to brighten my days.

Creation Story & The Importance Of Dreaming
An Abenaki Legend
The Great Spirit, in a time not known to us looked about and saw nothing. No colors, no beauty. Time was silent in darkness. There was no sound. Nothing could be seen or felt. The Great Spirit decided to fill this space with light and life.
From his great power he commanded the sparks of creation. He ordered Tôlba, the Great Turtle to come from the waters and become the land. The Great Spirit molded the mountains and the valleys on turtle's back. He put white clouds into the blue skies. He was very happy.He said, "Everything is ready now. I will fill this place with the happy movement of life."He thought and thought about what kind of creatures he would make.
Where would they live? What would they do? What would their purpose be? He wanted a perfect plan. He thought so hard that he became very tired and fell asleep.
His sleep was filled with dreams of his creation. He saw strange things in his dream. He saw animals crawling on four legs, some on two. Some creatures flew with wings, some swam with fins. There were plants of all colors, covering the ground everywhere. Insects buzzed around, dogs barked, birds sang, and human beings called to each other. Everything seemed out of place. The Great Spirit thought he was having a bad dream. He thought, nothing could be this imperfect.
When the Great Spirit awakened, he saw a beaver nibbling on a branch. He realized the world of his dream became his creation. Everything he dreamed about came true. When he saw the beaver make his home, and a dam to provide a pond for his family to swim in, he then knew every thing has it's place, and purpose in the time to come.
It has been told among our people from generation to generation. We must not question our dreams. They are our creation.

Standing alone!

Micaela calls me this morning. She sounds awfull. Her voice is broken. Today is Ugo's birthday and they decided to put their appartment on sale and go different roads. I know that it's excrutiating. I have been there too. I worry that my words are vain. I don't know how to confort her. I tell her that I am there for her. I tell her that I believe, sincerely, that today it's not the end. Today it's the beginning of a new life. She cannot see it yet. It's still dark. But soon the sun will make it through the clouds. And warw her heart. Miky ti sono vicina!

Ropes!

I don't know what to do. I know that Micaela is in hell. I know that her relation is vicious and unhealthy. And I know that she knows it too. But still she doesn't move. She stay still. And waits. She went to see her lawyer, made a step,then called off. She told me that she needs more time. She has already been waiting for 14 years. She screams out that she is miserable and then she waits. I told her, many times, that she is the only one you can make her world. If she sits and wait nothing will ever change. She knows but still she doesn't act on it. I don't know how to wake her up. I wish I could shake her, phisically, and tell her "What the hell are you doing? What are you waiting for??" I did. I heard her words : "I am tired. I don't want to talk about it!" What shall I do? Do I have the right to tell her that she is in hangman/victim relation? Do I have to tell her that she is loosing herself? Will she hate me? But how can I close my eyes and let my friend drifting away?

Old letters...

I kept all the letter Sandra sent me. The first postacard is dated July 1985 the last July 2006! 21 years of letters, cards and photographs. 21years of written life. Because these letters are not only the testimony of time that passed by but also the demonstration of a enduring friendship. In all these years birthdays were never forgotten, and Christmas were always celebrated with cheerful cards! Many stories were written and shared and the black characters on the white paper just lost a little of their colour. Many times a letter with my name on it crossed the ocean and ended, peacefully, in my mail-box! And everytime it was a special moment for me! I long for the day that I can read these letters, again, with Sandra. Look back at our lives. And see that we always been there for each other. And we always will...

Again!

He is been cheating again. Micaela found out yesterday. His mobile was left unattended when a message arrived. A new agony for Micaela. And then the same old rituals. Questions and lies. Anger and tears. Same old story, new woman. I don't know how long Micaela can "hold" against this new storm. She is frigile. Lost. For too long she has been under his spel. For too long she believed his excuses. For too long. This man doesn't deserve her. He should have protected her.
He should have taken care of her. But he is too busy being the center of his world. Micaela has to leave his world, now. She has to break the spel. She has to built a new life. For her kids and above all for herself. She has to stop being her own shadow and she must allow herself to dream again!

Keys...

The keys are in my hands! We, finally, are the new"locataires" of our appartment! Today, after signing the "états des lieux", I stayed a moment in this new place, I looked around, and even if it was a cute place (that needs a lot of refreshing!!), I felt "strange"
because there were no signs of us, there wasn't my touch around, there wasn't any trace of Meggie and it was just an empty, sad appartment. This is not our place yet, it will take time before we will get used to its noises, lights, neighbours and most of all it will take time before this appartment will reflect our personalities, and have a soul back!

Pride and Prejudice

Miss Elizabeth. I have struggled in vain and can bear it no longer. These past months have been a torment.I came to Rosings only to see you. I have fought against judgement, my family's expectation, the inferiority of your birth, my rank. I will put them aside and ask you to end my agony. - I don't understand.- I love you. Most ardently. Please do me the honour of accepting my hand. Sir, I appreciate the struggle you have been through, and I am very sorry to have caused you pain. It was unconsciously done. - Is this your reply?- Yes, sir. - Are you laughing at me?- No. Are you rejecting me? I'm sure the feelings which hinderedyour regard will help you overcome it. Might I ask why with so little civilityI am thus repulsed? I might enquire why you told me you liked me against your better judgement?

Back to Paris!

My 4 days in a fancy 5 star hotel are over and I am finally back in sunny and cold Paris! I love to travel, I love to see people and be in luxury places but I also love to come back to my family! Sometimes the everyday chores are too much and I wish I was "somewhere else" but when I am, actually, somewhere else there is no other place I would rather be than home! Tomorrow I get the keys of the new appartment and boxes are going to be my close friends for the coming weeks! I presume that I was gipsy in a previous life and it's my destiny to move from one place to another! The experience tought me that I just don't have to think about it and just do it!! God I sound like a Nike commercial!