There is so much in this city. Thursday we went with Mary to the Hermitage. It is only about a 20 minute walk from their apartment. We met up with her father, Alex. It was great to see him after all of these years. He is still a wonderful lively guy. He now works for Sweco, a Swedish software company with a big office in Russia.
There was a long line to enter the museum (first Thrusday is free here), but it moved swiftly. Besides all of the incredible regular stuff, they have a big visiting exhibit from Korea, and a huge number of pieces by Picasso, on loan from a museum in Paris. We decided to devote most of our time to Picasso, but took in some Goya and Rembrandt, too.
In the afternoon there were two severe thunder storms, but we were able to take shelter on a porch of the Hermitage for the first one, and in the apartment for the second.
In the evening we went with Bella to opening night of a revival of the 1950s Russian ballet Spartacus at the Mariinsky. We were in the top (fourth) balcony, but in the Mariinsky, every seat is a good seat.
The production was incredible. Often more than 100 dancers on stage. Two exquisite willowy prima ballerinas. A big orchestra with lots of dynamics. The show started a little after 7pm, and didn't end until almost 10:30pm. Frances was entrhalled the whole time. I bought a glass of champagne during the first intermission, and shared it with Michelle and Bella and a friend of hers she met up with. Her friend had brought a small picnic from home to eat during the intermission. That's OK here.
Afterwards we walked outside into the bright 10:30pm light, dodging the puddles from the thunderstorms.
Later I found some video of the ballet's rehearsals at
that gives you a taste of it.
Seeing such a huge number of super-talented dancers all on the stage at once was just beyond words.
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