Novgorod

[Marianne]

Here is my little report of my third journey to Novgorod (literally New city), one of the oldest cities of Russia.
We know that Rachmaninoff was born in this area, and went with his grandmother to the churches of Novgorod. There he listened to the choir singing.



This is "Cremlin", the fortress (reminds of Italian fotresses)




The Cremlin, inside of it there is a big church of Saint Sofia



The Church of Saint Sofia, the main church of Novgorod




The Church of Saint Sofia. Other side




We went on the bridge on the other side of river Volhov, we look backward on Saint Sofia Church



We look backward on the "Cremlin"



River Volhov reminds the sea a bit




We look forward on the other shore of Volhov river



Closer view



Entrance to one of the churches

More on Novgorod:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veliky_Novgorod

There are more than 40 old churches in Novgorod, hope next time we will visit other churches too.

[Daniel]

Thank you so much Marianne for sharing your Novgorod experience with us! The photos made me wish I had been there too.

[RACHBOY]

Wonderful pictures Marianne, thanks for sharing!!

Thank you so much Marianne for sharing your Novgorod experience with us! The photos made me wish I had been there too.

[Marianne]

You are welcome!
I was so happy to see these churches that Rachmaninoff visited when he was a child...
It's a pity we didn't have a chance to listen to the choir in the Sofia Cathedral... May be next time we will be more lucky.

[StewH]

Let me add my thanks, too, Marianne. Retracing Rachmaninoff's steps through this old city certainly is akin to "treading on Holy ground."

[opus23#10]

Marianne, the pictures of Novgorod are absolutely amazing. You are generous to share them. The pictures of Rachmaninoff are really special too. You are a wonderful Forum member!
By the way, the Tchaikovsky copy of The Seasons arrived and I am very pleased at how playable the pieces are, even "Troika". I am not saying that they are simple, just very pianistic.
Opus23#10

[Marianne]

Thank you for your words, I appreciate them so much!! They make my heart melt

As for the "Seasons" - that's so exactly said - they seem to be simple, but one must be a real pianist to play them good, because every sound is to be played with feelings, with heart.
They are real masterpiece of Tchaikovsky, they show fantastic approach to music, to the piano... when I listen to them it seems that it is not the piano playing but here is the music itself without any instrument...

[morakeo]

Astonishing!!!! Thank you so much!

[Marianne]

You are welcome!!! Thank you for your warm words!
I'll post some photos of the huge bells that stand on the ground soon!