In this issue

The Kremlin Garage * Tchaikovsky Project * Counting Sheep in Siberia * Exploring the Borderlands * Moscow Revamped * Enemies Under the Bed * Reflexive Russian * Cabbage Fest * Instagram Snapshots from Around Russia * Books We Liked * Crowdfunding * The Murder of Rasputin * Russia on the Sixes

Beloved Friend

An acclaimed Russian conductor reconnects with Tchaikovsky. This fall, Russian-born conductor Semyon Bychkov inaugurated a multiseason, international project devoted to Tchaikovsky, Beloved Friend. It began with a concert series with the BBC Symphony in October, and will continue with the NY Philharmonic’s three-week festival, “Beloved Friend: Tchaikovsky and His World,” in January and February of next year. In September, Russian Life Editor Paul Richardson caught up with Bychkov via Skype, at his home in France.

2 mins

Border

BORDER: A journey along the edges of Russia is the outcome of a nearly 70,000 kilometer, fiveyear trek exploring the most distant and often undiscovered areas of Russia. Border areas were chosen for a reason, because they are so innately complex. The question of emotional and physical belonging is connected with the notion of territory, which is so earthy and solid, yet at the same time abstract, like the borders themselves. The borders exist, yet they are not material or tangible. 

2 mins

Moscow In The Middle

The view from Moscow’s newest passenger railroad is not picturesque.

8 mins

Rasputin

“Ra-Ra- rasputin, lover of the Russian queen” went the refrain of a song by the group Boney M., Jamaican-born singers who were all the rage in my youth. This song reflected the popular allure of rumors about the depravity that gripped the final years of the House of Romanov, including that Tsaritsa Alexandra had been involved in illicit relations with a Siberian peasant, Grishka Rasputin, who was later killed by members of the Russian nobility. “Oh, those Russians!” as the song concludes.

7 mins

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Russian Life Magazine Description:

Russian Life is your bimonthly trip to the heart of Russian reality. Colorful. Informative. Engaging. Respected.

In short, everything you can want from a bimonthly magazine on Russian history, culture, business and travel.
Each issue contains fine features, news and photo journalism on all aspects of life in Russia, past and present.

Regular departments include: Travel Notes, Events Calendar, Russian Calendar (important events in Russian history that month), Russian Cuisine and Survival Russian – a guide to the Russian you really need to know.

If you're interested in what is going on in the world's largest country, then Russian Life – in publication since 1956 and fiercely independent since 1995 – is for you.