Musicologist Vladimir Orlov gave an intriguing presentation “English Snow White
versus Yablochko” – an overview of Russians in Britain generally, and
in Cambridge in particular.
We learned about John Milton’s travels in Russia in the 17th
century summarised in his “Brief History of Moscovia”, as well as what
Tchaikovsky had for his gala dinner when he was awarded an honorary doctorate
at Cambridge University in 1893, and why a Russian physicist Pyotr Kapitsa
nicknamed his famous Cambridge supervisor a “Crocodile”.
This was followed by a vigorous AGM, with a most entertaining
discussion of the concept of membership. Our outgoing chairman Tanya Yurasova whizzed through her annual report, and a new Organising Committee was elected unanimously, with Ksenia Afonina as a new President. Ksenia had supported CamRuSS for a number of years, and had helped to organise a few very memorable events, including the “Images of Rural Russia” exhibition last May. We wish Ksenia never-ceasing enthusiasm,
sparkling energy and brilliant success!
Meanwhile, fabulous home-made food was already waiting, beautifully
prepared by Aniko Eliadze, Elena Kapitsa and Irina Deych. The menu included exotic pumpkin ‘samsa’, gigantic rich poppy ‘bagel’, and tender cabbage pies, to name just a few.
Boisterous (and sad) Russian music was playing – so that we could dance (or cry)…
