After my first encounter with the balalaika-playing Russian musical troupe, I was given a surprise invite a few weeks later to come join them with my violin. Accordion, guitars, acapella voices (harmoniously or discordantly singing)... and me. They liked my playing so much that they invited me to perform with them in their concert the following week. Imagine melancholic Russian traditional music with those harmonies we all know so well, it was a lot of fun to play with them. I'm looking forward to playing some of the songs for you when I get back!
More music... our concert organist Marina Momalchenko returned from Moscow to perform some dramatic Easter themed music of death and resurrection. I had never heard such a moving repertoire; there was a wonderful piece by Mozart that she played along with the Catholic Choir (a professional choir started by Fr. Dan). The hall was packed and many of the songs moved people to tears. It was one of the best concerts I have ever attended.
As with the snow removal system, the spring clean up session is the same: get those students out of their classes, give them a stick broom and a homemade dustpan, and get them to work!
And the whole city gets motivated one saturday out of the year to go around and clean up the city. I saw some vast improvements, but there is still a lot of garbage around.
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| View from my accommodations. |
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| Flying at Eagle's Nest. |
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| Good morning! |
Climbing the stairs, once again.
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| Fire in the kitchen. |
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| Glorious sunrise. |
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