The St.Petersburg Press Culture & Lifestyle Guide
And The Dead Can Dance
by Karl Henning
In the initial drafts of his ballet scenario for "Romeo and Juliet," Sergei Prokofiev altered the ending of Shakespeare's tragedy, allowing the title characters to cheat their fate, and dance -- alive and happy. The composer is reputed to have remarked at the time, "Dead people can't dance."
But the Mariinsky (then Kirov) Theater wouldn't hear of such sacrilege being
committed upon Shakespeare, and Prokofiev found himself sketching fresh music
for the lonely deaths of the "star-crossed" lovers.
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- PERFORMING ARTS
- Lost Spirits from the Past Dance Again. (Photo)
- "This house is full of ghosts," the grandson whispers, and he invites the guests to follow him through the rooms of the family home... " If you are looking for the unusual, the unexpected and the supernatural, this ghostly evening of song and dance will bring your enthusiasm back to life!
- A Month of Events to Revive Jewish Traditions
- Curiosity about Jewish traditions is experiencing a rebirth in Russia, and leaders of the Jewish community in St Petersburg have planned a variety of different festivities and programs to help increase awareness of Jewish culture.
- This week's events
- FOOD
- RESTAURANT REVIEW: Carrol's Tasty Burgers
- McDonald's may not have landed in St Petersburg yet, but the next best thing has: Carrol's.
- ABOUT TOWN: Chickin' lickin' good at Donald's
- If you like Southern fried chicken, you won't find it in St Petersburg. What you will find is something vaguely similar at Donald's Bistro on Nevsky Prospect.
- GETTING AROUND
- In The Swim. (Photo)
- Winter may not seem like the ideal time to go swimming, but a winter trip to the local pool is very much a national pastime in Russia. It's one way of escaping the winter cold and getting some exercise in the bargain.
- MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
- A Touch of Italy
- "I feel like I'm in Italy!" the elegant young woman a few yards away from me breathlessly exclaimed. Surprisingly, she was not speaking at a city fashion parade nor complaining after a near-miss on the city's dangerous streets. She was standing on the balcony of the 1,000-square-meter exhibition hall of St Petersburg's Museum of Applied, Decorative and Industrial Art -- a magnificent, palazzo-style creation with an exquisitely intricate staircase.
- Royal Count and Opera Diva 's Benefit Concert to Help Suffering Children. (Photo)
- MUSIC
- Beauty from the Mundane. (Photos)
- "Russia is a very exciting place to be now; it's so chaotic and corrupt, but despite that, there's a kind of energy," said New York musician, composer and film maker David Byrne. Byrne was in St Petersburg's Borey Art Gallery presenting an exhibition of his photos, "Evidence of Human Habitation."
- Music Scene & Club Guide for this week