Doma… s Sem’ei. At Home… with Family. music: “An die Musik” by Schubert, sung by Lotte Lehmann

This is my all-time favourite recording of Schubert’s An die Musik. Lotte Lehmann was not only one of the greatest singers of her time; she showed great courage in her open opposition to the Nazis. I chose Russian domestic art to accompany this, one of the most-loved pieces in my musical life.

This is a great song by a great composer, sung by a great soprano, who was a great woman. What more do you need?

Vasili Belyaev. Christ at Emmaus. Khram Spasa na Krovi (Church of the Saviour on the Spilt Blood). St Petersburg RF. undated (1890s?)

Christ at Emmaus

Vasili Belyaev

undated (1890s?)

Khram Spasa na Krovi (Church of the Saviour on the Spilt Blood)

St Petersburg (Federal City of St Petersburg. Northwestern Federal District) RF

Slava k Svyateishy Rossii! Glory to Holy Russia! music from “A Life for the Tsar” by Mikhail Glinka

The recovery of Russia under the rule of President Putin is nothing short of miraculous. A strong Russia is no threat to America, despite what one hears from neocons and CNN. The final scene from the opera A Life for the Tsar by Mikhail Glinka is paired with photos of contemporary celebrations of Victory Day, the Day of National Unity, and the feast day of Holy Warrior St Fyodor Ushakov.

Why do some unrepresentative American extremists fear countries that are their equals (most Americans are good and decent people who desire peace, as is true of most Russians as well)? All Russians desire is to be treated as equals, not as inferior helots.

In a Dark Wood Wandering. music by Tchaikovsky

Forest photos from Russia by the inimitable nature photographer Igor Shpilenok match up with an audio backdrop from Tchaikovksy’s “Swan Lake”.