Nothing of Importance since 1812?

Russians can come out with the most amazing opinions.

There was a large gathering in Moscow’s Red Square for the 50^th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War (aka WWII) and I was listening to the National Symphony Orchestra from Washington,  DC, conducted by Mstislav Rostropovich.

After the Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, the bells of the Kremlin (really!) and cannon (really!) there was a “parade of the ages” that I had seen in Japan and elsewhere. Costumed heroes from the past ride in their carriages or on horseback. On this occasion they rode out of the Kremlin gates, including Alexander Nevsky who defeated the Teutonic Knights during the Battle of the Ice in 1242, and then General Kutuzov who chased Napoleon back to Paris in 1812. And then that was all. I looked for more.

Then I asked a policeman, “Is that all?” His answer had more meaning than he intended. He looked at me for a moment and then said, “Nothing of importance has happened since then.”   

As usual in Russia, the answer can have two, maybe three, meanings.

Learn more about Russians. Buy here “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”. Your comments are welcome.

Bernard Herrmann~an Artist that Thrills

I learned in film class that the better the film score, the least you notice it. It is just an invisible but vital part of the story. But some scores are historic and live forever on their own. The music of Bernard Herrmann is among the most thrilling and memorable. I love it. What would Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho and Vertigo be without that music?

On LA’s great radio station KUSC they played a two hour special to Herrmann’s music. He scored 52 films until his last, Taxi Driver (Martin Scorcese) in 1976. A few were Citizen Kane, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, North by Northwest, and Fahrenheit 451.

His work won many awards, five Oscars or nominations. What an artist—Bernard Herrmann!!

What Is To Be Done?

What is to be done to move Russia into the 21^st century world? It always has been a very tough question, but more possible of success today than ever before. It will lift Russians who can accomplish so much more if they develop an environment of cooperation and mutual need and respect. But it’s not easy. While it does not require sleeping on a bed of nails, as the hero did in Nikolai Chernyshevsky’s famous novel What Is To Be Done to prove his dedication to his Markist ideals, it does require a clear and serious intent, dedication, perservance, and many other things.

In a land historically devoid of the predictability of law, the cement of Russian society is built on personal relationships. That interwoven matrix is complex. That is why one never makes commitments he cannot deliver. It is deeds, not words that count. Character is more important than contracts. Once that trust develops, I found the Russians reliable, resourceful, dedicated, and extremely hard-working. New leadership can develop out of that growing pool of forward-looking younger men and women. And contracts can be a result.

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Now it’s Russian art at the auctions!

One of my favorite Russian artists is Ilya Repin. The painting above is called “They did not expect him.” It is in Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery. I always enjoy seeing it. Repin was one of the “Peredvizhniki” or “The Wanderers.” These famous artists in the late 19^th century rebelled against the academic formalism of the Imperial Academy and portrayed the hard lot of the poor folk, the common men and women. Today much of Repin’s art can be seen in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg as well as the Tretyakov.

Now Russian art is getting the big money. I was amazed to see where a Repin recently was sold at Christie’s auction for over $7.3 million. It was one he did in Paris, called “Parisian Café.”

There is a very interesting story behind Repin’s “They did not expect him,” but that is for another time. Contact me if you want to discuss this or any of the “Peredvizhniki,” as it is all a favorite art subject of mine. Repin, clearly, is one of the best.

Learn more about Russian Art, Buy here “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”. Your comments are welcome.

How Fiction Becomes Truth

The great painting by Johannes Vermeer, “The Girl with a Pearl Earring” is sometimes called “The Mona Lisa of the North.” I visited it once in The Mauritshuis in The Hague, the Netherlands. That girl’s gaze will rivet the most impatient viewer.

I had read the popular book on this painting, “The Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Tracy Chevalier, and after seeing the painting, I wrote Tracy and told her of my experience. I told her about the man who sat in front of the painting for hours , his eyes glued to those of the girl in Vermeer’s painting.  I assumed the man had read Chevalier ’s historical novel and for him, like for me, that story became the truth about Vermeer and the girl in the painting. Tracy agreed how, especially in the absence of any pertinent historical facts, the fiction becomes fact, the story.  Tracy Chevalier did a masterful  job. Great movie, too.

Writing a historical novel myself on two Rembrandts, it has been an enjoyable task to separate what is known from what is not known and create a compelling story.  I hope to get this published within the near future.

Artist’s across the Water~ LA and St. Petersburg

It’s a wonderful start in understanding the world, when children can paint for friends across the sea, and learn about the world and its different people.  One thing learned is that we are not so different. For the second year the Los Angeles-St. Petersburg Sister City Committee is sponsoring a student art exchange between student’s of the Los Angeles and St. Petersburg, Russia.

The LA display of several hundred paintings, including 82 from St. Petersburg has just closed and will be on its way to St. Petersburg in late June. It will be displayed in this famous Russian city as part of the renowned Master Class International Art Festival during the fabulous “White Nights”   this summer.

The painting shown above is the work of the 9-year old Maxim Domochevsky.

Learn more about St. Petersburg, Buy here “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”. Your comments are welcome.

Art Across the Ocean

The Los Angeles-St. Petersburg Sister City Committee again in 2011 has sponsored a Children’s Art Exchange Exhibition between the students of our sister cities.  The LA exhibit opened May 12 and will close June 4. About 200 paintings from LA Unified School District and 82 paintings from St. Petersburg are on display. It looks really beautiful. It can be seen at the Charles White Gallery: 2401 Wilshire blvd., LA , 90057. All are invited.

 Children and families attended the opening and many will go to the closing reception as well. The exhibit will then go to St. Petersburg, Russia  as last year for a special exhibit during the famous “Master Class International Art Festival,” in June. Our great thanks to Masha and Muriel and the officials of the LA Unified School District here in LA, and to the wonderful people in St. Petersburg for what they are doing there.

It is great to be sponsoring an event like this. There is so much good to be done with the children expressing their knowledge of and respect for their brothers and sisters across the sea. There is a growing respect and interaction between the US and Russia and we are proud to be part of it.

See last year’s exhibit on www.laspscc.org. 

Learn more. Buy here  “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”

Changing Russia~ Patience Pays!

The American or Western visitor or businessman has a special challenge in fitting into the colorful and exciting environment of an evolving Russia. The world is not really so flat as to obscure the character of a people, though superficial similarities make these defining traits less visible. Even in this high-tech world, we need to understand the deeper meaning of a people, including those cultural elements that make them on occasion behave differently. Although Russia is in a great state of change, the effects of a thousand years of history are not erased in a decade or two—if ever.

After over thirty years doing business in Asia and Europe, I went to the new Russia in 1991. The contrasts with the rest of the world were amazing and at the same time stimulating. I was fortunate to gather around me in Russia some of the most dedicated, hard working, ethical, intelligent, and enjoyable young people I have ever worked with. I found a mutual sense of understanding and a team spirit toward the common goal. I started a telecom company and lived there for six years, managing the task in the cauldron of the chaotic residue of the Soviet Union and the stumbling progress of an emerging New Russia. With such smart men and women in Moscow the venture was successful, providing advanced telecom services to Fortune 1000 companies in Russia, to major Russian businesses, and to diplomatic offices, including the American Embassy.

Russia has been the highlight of my international business career—enriching and enjoyable.

Learn more. Buy here  “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”

Russia’s Victory Day!!

There is nothing like a Russian military parade.  And on May 9, this year, it will happen all over Russia again. As usual, there will be the patriotic bands, goose-stepping soldiers, rockets, missile launchers, freshly painted armored personnel carriers and tanks. Overhead will be low flying jet fighters. You’d think The Great Patriotic War wasn’t over 66 years ago. But, the Russians are proud, and have a right to be, of course.

I remember such a celebration a decade or so ago in Red Square. The orchestra that day was the  National Symphony Orchestra from Washington conducted by the famed Rostropovich and they played, of course, Tchaikovsky’s 1812  Overture. It was a memorable experience. After the Kremlin bells and cannons closing the 1812 Overture, out came costumed historic figures on white horses. It was like a Parade of the Ages  I had seen in Japan once parading all the heroes of the centuries. That took an hour.

The Red Square experience was different however. Out came Alexander Nevsky, fresh from defeating the Teutonic Knights during the Battle of the Ice on 5 April 1242. After that rode General Kutuzov after chasing Napoleon from Russia in 1812. Then that was all. I asked a policeman, “Is that all?” He looked at me with that satirical Russian expression and said, “Nothing of importance has happened since then.”

Learn more. Buy here  “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”

The Wonderful Moscow Metro

Russia can’t build a decent car. But it can build the best rockets, incredible fighter planes, all kinds of technology, and the world’s best subway, the Moscow Metro. You’ve heard about them. They are works of art. In the main Metro ring and stations in Moscow they are filled with statuary and frescoes. The architecture is superb.

The Moscow Metro was built in 1935,  is 301.2 km (187.2 mi) of length, 12 lines, and 182 stations. The highest passenger traffic is highest on weekdays, when the Metro carries over 7 million passengers per day. Of course you know about the dogs that ride the Metro daily to visit their favorite dining grounds.

Ride the Moscow Metro. It is a treat. Get a guide book and top off at the most artistic stations. But do it on the weekend.

Learn more. Buy here  “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”