Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Since becoming its artistic director in 1988, Valery Gergiev has revitalised the
Mariinsky ( CLICK HERE ). The Russian classics still top the list of performances, but
Gergiev is also willing to be a little adventurous, taking on operas that had not been
performed in half a century or more. Gergiev is also responsible for initiating the
Stars of White Nights Festival ( CLICK HERE ), an annual event that showcases the
best and brightest dancers and musicians.
Rock
Russian music is not all about classical composers. Ever since the 'bourgeois' Beatles
filtered through in the 1960s, Russians both young and old have supported the rock
revolution. Starved of decent equipment and the chance to record or perform to big
audiences, Russian rock groups initially developed underground. By the 1970s - the
Soviet hippy era - rock music had developed a huge following among the disaffected,
distrustful youth in Leningrad.
Although bands initially imitated their Western counterparts, a real underground
sound emerged in Leningrad in the 1980s. Boris Grebenshchikov and his band Ak-
varium (Aquarium) caused sensations wherever they performed; his folk rock and in-
trospective lyrics became the emotional cry of a generation. Yury Shevchuk and his
band DDT emerged as the country's main rock band. The god of Russian rock was
Viktor Tsoy and his group Kino. His early death in a 1990 car crash ensured his le-
gend would have a long life. On the anniversary of Tsoy's death (15 August), fans still
gather to play his tunes and remember the musician, especially at his grave at the Bo-
goslovskoe Cemetery, which is located a short distance from the Piskaryovskoe Me-
morial Cemetery ( CLICK HERE ).
For an engaging account of how culture and politics became intertwined
during the early Soviet period, read Solomon Volkov's Shostakovich and
Stalin , which examines the fascinating relationship between two of the
main representatives of each field.
Many contemporary favourites in St Petersburg have been playing together since
the early days. The most prominent (and perhaps most popular) local fixture is Dva
Samolyota (Two Airplanes), a ska band exhibiting influences of Latin-jazz, reggae
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search