Letters to the Editor

To the Editors:

In your Nov/Dec issue, in the article on the Bolshoi,  Michel Fokine’s ballet miniature The Dying Swan is called Swan Lake.

It is difficult to imagine the author making such an error as he refers to it as a miniature (Swan Lake is a three act ballet.)

Did the editors think he was wrong and change it to Swan Lake?  Having been subjected myself to the introduction of errors by well-meaning editors I sympathize with Mr. Sedov if this is the case.  If not, he needs to brush up on his ballets.

Janet O’Keeffe

by email

To the Editors:

For a number of years I have anticipated receiving and enjoyed reading Russian Life. I particularly enjoyed the article, “A Conservatory in Peril,” by Lynnda Greene.  I am writing to point out an error in this article pertaining to Dmitry Shostakovich.

Shostakovich was born and educated in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). He attended the Leningrad Conservatory (not Moscow as stated in the article) and was the first graduate of the post-graduate (aspirantura) program in that institution.  He was appointed to the faculty of the Leningrad Conservatory (not Moscow), and in 1948 was fired from that position by Stalin for writing “subversive” music.

These facts are widely recognized by musicians in the United States.

Frances Larimer

Professor Emerita

School of Music

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

Both of these lamentable errors caught by our attentive readers were due to editor oversights. Our sincerest apologies.

– The Editors

To the Editors:

I have been receiving your magazine for several years, and it is getting better and better! I especially enjoyed  the humorous, well-written article in the latest (March-April) issue  titled “Off the Beaten Path,” by Tamara Eidelman.  Although I spent three weeks in Russia 10 years ago, I never had a chance to visit any of the Golden Ring cities. Ms. Eidelman’s article brought them to life for me, and I felt like I was her fellow traveler.

I often share your magazine with the English class that I am teaching to older Russian immigrants.  Most of them came to the United States several  years ago, and they are interested in learning about the recent changes that have taken place in their former homeland.  Thank you.  Sincerely,

Dorothea Heberle

Williamsville, NY