Duration of the excursion to Sergiyev Posad – about 7 hours.
Lev Tolstoy Yasnaya Polyana Estate. It is located 12 km southwest from Tula. The great Russian writer Lev Tolstoy was born and spent most of his life at Yasnaya Polyana, and is buried there. The museum contains the writer’s mansion, the school he founded for peasant children, and a park with Tolstoy’s grave.
The excursion to Yasnaya Polyana takes 12 hours.
Excursions to the Moscow countryside should be booked, preferably well in advance, through the Service Bureau in the hotel.
Theatres
The Bolshoi Theatre was designed by famed architect Joseph Bové. Its original name was the Imperial Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow. Its opera and ballet productions are famous all over the world. Among them are Tchaikovsky’s ballets Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and the Nutcracker, Adam’s Giselle, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, and Khachaturian’s Spartacus; operas such as Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, Glinka’s A Life for the Tsar, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Tsar’s Bride, Borodin’s Prince Igor.
Moscow Art Theatre (MKhAT), founded in 1897 by Constantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, is famous by Anton Chekhov’s four major works, beginning with The Seagull. This play has been so firmly associated with the Moscow Art Theatre that the seagull became its emblem. In 1987, the theatre split into two troupes: Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre and Gorky Moscow Art Theatre. Oleg Tabakov was Chechov Moscow Art Theatre’s artistic director since 2000. The theatre is presently located just off Tverskaya Street, within walking distance of Red Square.
The Maly Theatre is the oldest theatre in Russia. Its company was founded by the Moscow University in 1756. The theatre’s artistic director is the national artist of the USSR, Yu.M.Solomin. The theatre’s repertoire mainly consists of Russian and world classics, especially plays by A.N.Ostrovskii. The theatre is well-known for its staging of A.K.Tolstoi’s dramatic trilogy about the history of the Russian state: Tsar Ivan Groznyy, Tsar Fedor Ioannovich and Tsar Boris. Must-sees at the Maly Theatre are Griboedov’s Gore ot uma and Pravda – khorosho, a schast’e luchshe.
The Obraztsov Puppet Theatre (formerly the State Central Puppet Theatre), founded by Sergey Obraztsov. Children and grown-ups alike love its puppet shows. Here children find themselves in the wonderful world of fairy-tales, meet their favourite characters, and enjoy the performances to the utmost.
The Moscow State Circus (on Vernadsky Prospekt) is an auditorium which was opened in 1971 and can seat up to 3,400 people. Performances are held each day in the afternoon and evening. The company employs several hundred performers and tours as the "Great Moscow State Circus troupe". The circus consists of a cast of thirty-one performers, including clowns, trapeze artists, aerial acrobats, springboard acrobats and illusionists, but does not feature animals. Since 2012 its director is Edgar Zapashny, a famous wild-animal tamer from a well-known circus dynasty.
Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard named after Yuri Nikulin still remains the most popular one. Among the famous performers who worked there were the clowns Karandash, Oleg Popov, and Yury Nikulin, who managed the company for fifteen years and whose name it has borne since his passing in 1997. In front of the building is a remarkable statue of Nikulin, whose son Maxim has been in charge of the circus ever since his death.
Evening performances in all Moscow theatres begin at 19:00; matinees – at 12:00. Concert and circus shows begin at 19:30.
Notes
Andrei Rublev Museum of Early Russian Art, the – Центральный музей древнерусской культуры и искусства им. Андрея Рублева
Annunciation Cathedral, the – Благовещенский собор
Archangel Cathedral, the – Архангельский собор
Assumption Cathedral, the – Успенский собор
Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the – Колокольня Ивана Великого
Cathedral Square – Соборная Площадь
Christ the Savior Cathedral – Храм Христа Спасителя
Church of All Saints – Церковь Всех Святых (На Кулишках)
Church of the Ascension of Christ in Kolomenskoye – Церковь Вознесения в Коломенском
Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the – Церковь Ризположения
Donskoy Monastery, the – Донской монастырь
Faceted Palace, the – Грановитая палата
Fili Church – Церковь Покрова в Филях (Церковь Покрова Пресвятой Богородицы в Филях)
Grand Prince Andrew Bogolubsky – великий князь Андрей Боголюбский
Ivan the Red – Иван Красный
Ivan the Terrible – Иван Грозный
Iver God’s Mother Icon Chapel – Часовня Храма Иверской Иконы Божьей Матери
Kazan God’ Mother Icon Cathedral – Храм Казанской Иконы Божьей Матери
Kolomenskoye Estate-Museum, the – музей-усадьба Коломенское
Kuskovo Estate and the Ceramics Museum, the – усадьба Кусково и музей керамики
Moscow State University – Московский Государственный Университет имени М.В. Ломоносова (МГУ)
Museum of Oriental Art, the – музей Востока
Novodevichy Convent – Новодевичий монастырь
Old English Embassy, the – старое английское посольство
Palace of Congresses, the – Дворец Съездов
Patriarch’s Palace, the – Патриаршие палаты
Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, the – Музей Изобразительных Искусств имени А.С. Пушкина
Roman boyar residence – Палаты бояр Романовых
Sergiev Posad History and Art Museum-Preserve, the – Историко-художественный музей-заповедник в Сергиевом Посаде
St. Basil’s Cathedral (Cathedral of the Intercession) – Храм Василия Блаженного (Покровский Собор)
State Department Store (the Upper Trade Rows) – Государственный Универсальный Магазин, ГУМ (Верхние Торговые Ряды)
Time of Troubles, the – Смутное время, или Смута (период в истории России с 1598 по 1613 год, по другим данным по 1618 год, ознаменованный стихийными бедствиями, гражданской войной, русско-польской и русско-шведской войнами, тяжелейшим государственно-политическим и социально-экономическим кризисом)
Tretyakov Art Gallery, the – Третьяковская галерея
Triumph Arch – Триумфальная Арка
Tsar-Bell, the – Царь-колокол
Tsar-Cannon, the – Царь-пушка
Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill – Парк Победы на Поклонной горе
Vocabulary
1. A sweeping panorama of – обширная панорама чего-либо
2. A tour of memorable places – тур по памятным местам
3. A treasure-trove of culture and art – сокровищница культуры и искусства
4. An eminent figure in cultural life – выдающаяся персона в культурной жизни
5. An inseparable component of – неотделимая часть чего-либо
6. The intersection of trade routes – пересечение торговых путей
7. To acquaint smb. with smth. – знакомить кого-либо с чем-либо
8. To be booked in advance – быть заранее заказанным (зарезервированным)
9. To be embellished with – быть украшенным чем-либо
10. To be exquisitely decorated – быть изысканно (изящно) украшенным
11. To be mentioned in chronicles – быть упомянутым в летописях
12. To be set in picturesque surroundings – быть расположенным в живописном окружении
13. To be thrilled by a splendid panorama – быть взволнованным великолепной панорамой
14. To boast a collection of architectural monuments – хвастаться коллекцией архитектурных памятников
15. To comprise a unique open-air museum – составлять (включать в себя) уникальный музей на открытом воздухе
16. To contain fabulous collections – содержать поразительные (невероятные) коллекции
17. To contain treasures of old art – содержать сокровища древнего искусства
18. To enjoy the performances to the utmost – максимально (в высшей степени) наслаждаться представлениями
19. To give smb. an opportunity to see smth. – дать кому-либо возможность увидеть что-либо
20. To have a close look at – близко рассмотреть что-либо
21. To have on display the rarest works of painting – выставлять на показ редчайшие картины
22. To include a close-up view of – включать вид крупным планом на что-либо
23. To occupy an outstanding place – занимать выдающееся место
24. To play a major role – играть ведущую (значительную) роль
25. To remain smth. – оставаться чем-то
26. To rise in arms against – восстать с оружием в руках против
27. To suggest smb. do smth. – предложить кому-либо сделать что-либо
28. To symbolize the unity of some nations – символизировать единство нескольких наций
29. To win unfading glory for – снискать (завоевать) неувядаемую славу для
Tasks on the text
1. Make up special questions concerning the information about Moscow based on the text.
2. What do these numbers and dates refer to according to the text?
3. True or False? If the statement is false correct it.
1) 1137 is considered the year of Moscow foundation.
2) Moscow became the capital of the state twice: in the 15th and in the 18th centuries.
3) The first very important defeat of Hitler’s army was in Moscow.
4) You can get acquainted with the variety of Moscow streets during the General Sightseeing Tour of the city of Moscow.
5) You can see some of the city’s architectural sights from the river during the tour of Moscow’s Architecture.
6) Most of the buildings of the Dosnkoy Monastery are in the Moscow Baroque style.
7) There are a lot of splendid estate-museums in Moscow: Tsaritsyno, Kuskovo, Archangelskoye, Yasnaya Polyana and many others.
8) In the Boshoi theatre you can enjoy to the utmost opera and ballet productions famous all over the world.
Discussion
Choose one or two of the following questions and discuss them in pairs. Then share your ideas with the whole group.
1) Do you like going sightseeing in our capital city? What is your favourite place? Why do you like it?
2) Is it possible to visit all Moscow museums in a day or two? Why/Why not?
3) Have you ever been on any excursion in Moscow? What were your impressions? Would you recommend them to our foreign guests?
4) Do you like going to the theatres? When did you last go there? What theatre were you in? What did you see?
5) What fact from the history of Moscow do you consider the most interesting or amazing? Why does it impress you?
Tasks on Vocabulary
1. Fill in the gaps with a suitable word from the box.
1) The palaces and cathedrals of the Kremlin contain … of old art.
2) Moscow is situated at the … of trade routes in the heart of the Russian lands.
3) The city … the unity of many large and small nations and nationalities of the country.
4) From Vorobyovy Hills you can enjoy a … panorama of Moscow.
5) St. Basil’s Cathedral is a unique exquisitely … monument of the 16th century.
6) This oldest district … a whole collection of architectural monuments of the 16th-19th centuries.
7) This person used to be an … figure in Russian cultural and political life.
8) This museum has a fabulous collection of Russian porcelain, antique …, pottery and glass.
2. Match English words and combinations with the Russian equivalents.
3. Translate the following sentences into English using the words and combinations from Vocabulary.
1) Они были взволнованы великолепной панорамой города, которая открывалась со смотровой площадки (viewing point) в самом центре.
2) В этом музее можно найти информацию об одной из выдающихся персон в культурной жизни нашей страны.
3) Усадьба расположена в живописном окружении, рядом с прудом, в 16 км от города.
4) Фонтан на центральной площади города символизирует единство нескольких наций, которые когда-то входили в состав нашего государства.
5) Тур по памятным местам дает посетителям возможность увидеть самые незабываемые места города.
6) В прошлом месяце в музее изобразительных искусств выставляли напоказ редчайшие картины художников-импрессионистов и нам дали возможность увидеть эти прекрасные полотна.
7) Эта сокровищница древнерусской культуры и искусства была упомянута в летописях, которые хранятся в Историческом музее Москвы.
8) Во время экскурсии по городу мы познакомились с памятниками архитектуры и предложили друзьям посетить несколько музеев на их выбор.
Creative Tasks
Look at the information about the Richards family below and prepare an itinerary for a weekend break in Moscow for the whole family.
Mr. and Mrs. Richards and their two boys aged 13 and 15 are planning to spend a weekend in Moscow. They will arrive at the airport on Friday evening at 20.30 and leave at 21.45 on Sunday.
Mr. Richards is interested in the 16th century history and painting. He prefers bus trips, but will tolerate walking on foot.
Mrs. Richards enjoys river trips and theatre performances and she is very fond of religion.
The boys find art and culture very boring. Their main interests are boats and sport. They enjoy walking on foot and breathing fresh air, especially in the evening.
Unit 2. Russia. Saint Petersburg
Historical Review
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city’s other names were Petrograd (1914–1924) and Leningrad (1924–1991). It is often called just Peterburg and is informally known as Piter.
It was founded by Tsar Peter I of Russia on May 27, 1703. Unlike some cities, it was not created by a process of gradual graceful development but was forcibly constructed, stone by stone, under the force and direction of Peter the Great, for whose patron saint the city is named. World-class architects participated in the building of the city and today it remains an imperial city of golden spires and gilded domes, of pastel palaces and candlelit cathedrals. St. Petersburg is a fascinating place which dazzles the eye of a visitor with numerous architectural landmarks, museums, palaces, parks, wide avenues, spectacular bridges and stylish monuments. Born in the heart of an emperor, St. Petersburg is Russia’s adopted child. So unlike the Russian cities that came before it, St. Petersburg – with its strict geometric lines and perfectly-planned architecture – is almost too European to be Russian. And yet it is too Russian to be European.