MIR Corporation's Travel Log:
Volga River Cruise with the Russian National Orchestra
Join veteran MIR client Moonyeen Albrecht on a cruise from Moscow through some of Russia's lesser-known Volga River towns, accompanied by a soundtrack from the world-famous Russian National Orchestra. 
Days 7-8: Kazan and Cheboksary
May 11-12, 2008 We disembarked in Kazan with Mikhail Pletnev, the Russian National Orchestra's artistic director. A costumed arrival commitee treated all of us with the traditional gifts of bread and salt. We saw another performance of "Aleko" featuring the same choir from Samara. The next day we continued on to Cheboksary. Probably not many Americans have heard of the town of Cheboksary. It is the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Chuvashia. The people are Chuvash by ethnicity but there are also Russians and it might be difficult to distinguish between them. I had the very good fortune to be on the first Volga trip (arranged by MIR Corporation) with the Russian National Orchestra back in September of 1997. At that time the only "visitors" on the ship with the orchestra were the five of us American tourists with our Russian tour manager (and now my good friend) Katya Boyarskaya. That trip on the Volga, for us started in Samara. We heard two concerts: the first in Ulyanovsk (Simbirsk) and the second in Cheboksary. Back then, when our teplokhod pulled into Cheboksary it was very picturesque, but old and very provincial. There was no river port, per se. Our boat pulled up to a wooden pier adjacent to the monastery below with the green domes. The white building in the lower right of the photo was probably the river port although we did not notice it. We just pulled up to the wooden pier and disembarked. Cheboksary seemed old and poor. We visited an art museum. I bought a painting of a local church for $10 and received attention from about five people working there as they fussed and packed it up for me. They were so excited that someone was buying a painting from them. It was fun buying it from them. It now hangs lovingly on my bedroom wall. Now there is a fully functional river port! Chebkosary is now a vital, renovated, seemingly properous city. It is good to see such changes. It is a real gem. We were met with a wonderful greeting party. Bread and salt, music and even Chuvash dancing. The smiling sun greeted us and as we left the River Port we walked under a rainbow for good luck! The renovated (and still under renovation) men's monastery is now active again near the embankment of the old river port. The red letters (as could also be seen in other churches, some in neon lights!) say "Christ is Risen!" Before we returned to the ship for lunch we stopped at a brewery and enjoyed the local beer. After lunch we had a little free time near the River Port which is not far from shopping. Before dinner back on the ship we had a chamber music recital by members of the RNO. The concert master (1st Violinist), principal cello and pianist played a piano trio by Rachmaninov. After that the the concert master played several virtuoso solo pieces. Then it was our turn to perform. We, the visitors on the ship, had been practicing "Kalinka" and "Katyusha" and we sang them in Russian for members of the orchestra with the accompaniment of Illona and Volodya. The Japanese tourists sang the first verse of "Kalinka" in Japanese! Then we were treated to several dances by one member of the Japanese group. Truly an international program!
Photos from this leg of the tour:
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