Classical Music for Aficionados

Right after the Orange Revolution (2005) in Ukraine, I arrived in Odessa along the Black Sea. I stayed for three weeks with a girlfriend. I saw the Ukrainian State Ballet perform Giselle and Sleeping Beauty. The beautiful thing was that they used a sizable pit orchestra rather than recorded music to accompany the ballet. I also saw a variety show featuring different classical pianists along with a female Bandura ensemble at the Philharmonic Hall.

There is great pride in Ukrainian culture and it is very upsetting to see what is happening. No longer being in contact with friends and loved ones is very difficult. However, Dimitri Shostakovich has nothing to do with Vladimir Putin or the Russian invasion, so I opt to listen to Russian music as an act of defiance if nothing else. If there is a contemporary Russian composer who sides politically with Vladimir Putin, then I will refuse to listen to that composers work.

Americans seem to think that history starts when they arrive, or  become aware of,  or have some interest in an area of the world.

As I have said before, there are no good guys in Eastern Europe.

Stalin created a man-made famine in the early 30's that killed around 6 million in Ukraine.  I can see why there is no love lost there.

In the early part of the invasion by Hitler, the folks in Ukraine greeted the Nazi as heroes / liberators.  Helped in the round-up of the Jews.  Even the SS complained about their brutality being 'messy'.

Ukrainians provided a significant percentage of guards at Nazi concentration / death camps.  Goggle "John Demjanjuk".

Quite a few Ukrainians were captured fighting for the Germans in Normandy during D-Day.

My point is,  things are complicated.  Americans don't like complicated or shades of gray.  We like everything in Black and white.

Of course it's always good to see the Russians getting their rear ends kicked.

Again, Ain't no good guys in eastern Europe.  Certainly no one worth the life of even one American solider.

Cheers

On the opposite i like discussion...but you never answer to my musical choices post... you wanted to BULLY me and BAN my posts...And bully everyone who are not a fanatic...

But  we  cannot discuss with someone who throw one sentence insinuations , for example: pacifism as synonym to be a traitor...

Then truth is the opposite of what you say , it is you who insinuate or bully in one line sentence instead of discussing...Anyway stupid assertion like the ban of an entire culture cannot be discussed rationally for sure...Then insinuations are your tool...

And here it is a MUSICAL thread...Like i said ask others people and if they think like you two about me and Russian composers i will be glad to go out DEFINITIVELY of this thread... But speaking is easier than walking the words...Insinuating easier than speaking rationally...

Then i will correct YOU..

SOMEONE HERE DONT LIKE TO BE BULLY...for the stupidest reason especially... The nusic of Scriabin or Feinberg has nothing to do with this war at all...

Any children can understand that... Why not you?

Dont answer, any mature mind can also know why....

I am polite and i like to discuss but bully me and i will answer...

@jim5559 Someone doesn’t like being spoken back to eh Len.

Can't believe I did not spell SOLDIER correctly.

Cheers