Musical Secrets of Moscow: The Path of Cellists

A group of cellists were in for a personal discovery of Moscow, and our guide was happy to immerse them in a new route. This author's tour was specially designed for a delegation from various regions, including Kazakhstan. Guests were met at the Helikon Opera and taken on a fascinating journey through the streets of Moscow. The tour began with a story about Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street and the buildings where the Helikon Opera is located, built on the site of an old estate.

The guide then took the participants to the Mayakovsky Theatre, where they learned about its architect Fyodor Ospovich Shekhtel and the history of the theatre, which in the past carried the revolutionary spirit of Bolshevik propaganda. A special place in the excursion was occupied by the Moscow State Conservatory, with which our guide has personal memories. The monument to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, created by Vera Mukhina, and the fence with notes of his works aroused keen interest among the guests.

The tour participants were amazed when they turned into the alleys leading to the Rachmaninov Hall and found themselves in a non-touristy but charming Moscow. This route offered them a new perspective on the city, revealing inconspicuous but significant corners of the capital. They also heard the history of the Moscow metro and the architecture of the substation designed by Daniil Fridman.

After that, the guide took the group along Nikitskaya Street, where they discussed the Zoological Museum and Moscow State University. In Romanov Lane, the guests learned about the Church of the Sign of the Mother of God, a pearl of Naryshkin Baroque. This masterpiece hidden in the courtyards became a real discovery for them. The tour continued with the history of Moscow students, funny episodes of the past and present, connected with Moscow State University and the conservatory.

The tour ended with a visit to the Alexander Garden, where the guide told about the architecture of the Manezh and the Stalinist style. The excursionists learned interesting facts about the Eternal Flame monument and the architectural details of Red Square. On Tverskaya Street, they discussed its expansion and cladding with granite, which the Nazis planned to use for the triumphal arch.

In Brusov Lane, which is an open-air museum in itself, guests learned about famous residents and monuments such as Rostropovich and Turian. The tour ended in time for guests to enjoy a concert at the conservatory. The tour was not only educational but also inspiring for both guests and our guide, who took them around his native places with particular pleasure.