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Feature
RUSSIA BEYOND THE HEADLINES
BOOKMARKS en.rian.ru Look for Image Galleries: Svetlana Medvedeva
SECTION SPONSORED BY ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA, RUSSIA
www.annanetrebko.com Here is a Singer Who Simply Has it All
www.eventica.co.uk
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A multi-faceted organization specializing in the Russian market
First Lady Svetlana Medvedeva has demonstrated her ability to charm; what kind
National Cuisine
of role will she play as the next president’s wife?
A Perfect
Companion
From Beauty Queen
to Vodka
IRA IOSEBASHVILI
EDITOR
OF MOSCOW GUIDE
to Kremlin Wife
As readers of this column may have al-
ready guessed, Russian foods come in all shapes,
sizes and variations of complexity. There is, how-
ever, one feature shared by most, if not all, Rus-
he may use to harden his sian cuisine – the ability to serve as the perfect
The Successor and His Wife
image, she contends. accompaniment to vodka.
Fashion versus tradition Having vodka without food is considered the
In the West, there is a saying province of amateur drinkers and alcoholics.
The details of Dmitry Medve- studied finance and econom- that behind every great man A true connoisseur will always have something on
dev's personal life were long ics, but worked in that field only there is a great woman. To hand to nibble after downing a glass – whether
kept out of the public eye. All for a short time. She now orga- Russia, this logic is completely it's only a lone pickle or piece of black bread, or
that was known was that he nizes various social events in alien. The woman is generally something as wonderfully complicated as kholo-
was married and had a son. St. Petersburg. perceived as an impediment to dets, the jellied meat dish that has long been con-
That situation changed after All the news about Svetlana her husdand’s greatness. In sidered the perfect sidekick to Russia's national
his appointment to the post of Medvedeva following that ar- an authorized biography of the tipple.
First Deputy Prime Minister. ticle has been of a social nature. current Russian president, Ly- Kholodets (the name comes from kholod, the Rus-
A detailed article on his early In February 2006, it was report- udmila Putina described her sian word for cold, because a kholodets must be
years and youth was published ed that she was present at pop husband’s two golden rules chilled before serving) resembles a rectangle
in the newspaper Moskovsky star Alla Pugacheva's house- about women: “A woman must of jelly several inches high, containing pieces of
Komsomolets on Novem- warming on Filippovsky Lane, do everything in the house,” meat and vegetables. It is served both as an ap-
ber 18, 2005, four days after and in April she was spotted at and “One should not praise a petizer, where it is often presented on a plate with
his promotion. Former neigh- the singer's birthday party at woman; otherwise, one will cold cuts, or as a main course. In either case, it is
bors recalled that, even in his the Hotel Metropol. She was in spoil her.” always eaten with a generous helping of horse-
childhood, Medvedev “was Rome with her ten-year-old son Medvedeva is unlikely to emu- radish or mustard, which is part of its appeal to
connected with a flaxen-haired from October 27 to November late her predecessor’s habits. vodka drinkers (the strong flavor of the kholodets
girl,” and his first teacher re- 2 to take part in Russian Lan- Experts see her being more and the spiciness of the horseradish help the
membered that Sveta Linnik guage Week in Italy. like Raisa Gorbacheva, who vodka go down easier).
(his wife's maiden name) was was always in public, than Ly- As with many Russian dishes, the origin of kholo-
“the queen of the school.” She From Vlast Analytical Weekly udmila Putina. dets is shrouded in the mists of time. Its recipe,
Dmitry Medvedev does not however, is no secret – although it does vary by
appear to believe a woman’s region and even household, with pork, chicken
place is within the household. and beef all being used, sometimes in combina-
youth research expeditions, likely to receive the same level Medvedeva makes glamor- tion. Here's a recipe for a delicious beef kholodets
funds pilgrimages and financ- of attention she currently en- ous appearances at events with a spicy kick that you can enjoy with or without
es youth film-making projects. joys in social circles. “In Rus- like the birthday party of pop a bottle of ice-cold vodka.
In 2007, Medvedeva also sup- sia, a domesticated husband prima donna Alla Pugacheva
ported the Russian Arts Festi- elicits disdain; that is, in part, and a fashion show in Milan.
EKATERINA CHESNOKOVA_RIA-NOVOSTI
val in Cannes and helped se- what ruined Gorbachev’s However, in Russia, the influ-
cure funding for an Orthodox image. It is not customary to ence of a wife on her husband,
When President Vladimir on the role the first lady will film festival. display either tenderness for even the president, is a do-
Putin endorsed Russia’s play in her husband’s opening The beauty and the politician or a high level of confidence in mestic matter, better left to pil-
WWW.IZOSOFR.RU
Deputy Prime Minister act. Svetlana Medvedeva The Medvedevs are childhood one’s spouse. It’s necessary low talk than aired in the public
Dmitry Medvedev as his graces the intersection of poli- sweethearts and have been to make joint appearances, square. “We’ll never know
successor, it was not the first tics, religion and pop culture. together for more than 35 but showcasing heartfelt feel- whether or how Medvedeva
time Medvedev had won a She is European-oriented, years. The couple married in ings is looked down upon,” influences her husband,”
popularity contest. hands-on in social settings and 1989 shortly after Medvedev says Olga Kryshtanovskaya, Kryshtanovskaya says. “What
hands-off in politics, which she received his law degree and director of the Center for the issues do the husband and
YELENA BIBERMAN / RUSSIA PROFILE
leaves to her husband. Svetlana Linnik graduated Study of Elites at the Russian wife discuss in bed? These
MOSCOW
She is an advocate of chil- from a financial academy in St. Academy of Sciences. things are always a mystery.
dren’s causes and Greek Or- Petersburg. In 1996 that their Kryshtanovskaya asserts that We only see what the media
Dmitry Medvedev dated the thodox-style spirituality. In son, Ilya, was born. Medvede- Medvedev’s public image is shows us.
high school beauty queen, and April 2007, she was appointed va is used to being in the lime- still something short of a self- This is why Svetlana Medve-
then married her. Nowadays, head of a program called “The light. According to Dmitry Med- possessed national leader, deva’s behavior will not dem-
that beauty queen is not used Spiritual and Moral Culture of vedev’s first teacher Vera something he must build up onstrate her real influence, but It tastes better than it looks: kholodets is meant to be
to hiding behind the curtains. the Next Generation of Rus- Smirnova, Svetlana was the before the March election. A the role that her image-mak- eaten, and not kept on the table as a decoration
As the lights go up on the pag- sia.” The program establishes school’s beauty queen. quiet, obedient wife next to ers etched for her in the politi-
eantry of power, all eyes are Orthodox Church orphanages, As first lady, Medvedeva is un- him is one of the techniques cal spectacle.”
-
Ingredients
(serves 6-8)
2 cow legs (shins) • 1 small carrot, sliced • 2 eggs, sliced •
Remarkable Russians Anna Netrebko has come a long way to be a renowned
2-3 cloves of garlic • 1-2 teaspoons of ground red pepper
• 1-2 teaspoons of salt
opera star. Talented and influential, Netrebko is an exciting new voice of Russia
Instructions
Russian Opera Singer Anna Netrebko
1. Thoroughly clean cow legs with brush.
2. Put cow legs into a pot of cold water and set it over a
high flame. Several minutes after it’s boiling, successive
layers of foam will rise to the surface (first blackish gray
foam, then white). Skim these off with a strainer spoon.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Time magazine included her Only then did she begin to re- 3. When the foam subsides, cover the pot with a lid, leav-
on the Time 100 list of the ceive invitations for Italian parts ing only a small crack for steam to escape. Lower the
Gergiev’s gamble of casting world’s most influential person- from European theatres. flame, and let boil until the meat is ready to come off the
such a young artist paid off alities. In 2002, her hard work was re- bone and the water turns a milky white. This usually takes
well. Following the U.S. tours Earlier this month, Netrebko warded with a chance to ap- at least 2-3 hours. For a firm kholodets, it is very impor-
of the Mariinsky Opera and was nominated for a Grammy pear at the Metropolitan Opera tant that the broth not be taken off the fire too early. The
the recordings of Philips’ award along with cellist Yury in New York. She made her best method for testing the broth's readiness is to take a
“blue” series, which featured Bashmet and his chamber or- debut as Natasha Rostova in spoonful, let it cool and then smear it on your lips. If your
all of the company’s Russian chestra “The Moscow Solo- Prokofiev’s “War and Peace.” lips momentarily stick together, you can be assured that
operatic productions, Netreb- ists.” The “Russian Album,” Netrebko bases much of her your broth is ready.
ko was touted as the Opera’s recorded in collaboration with success to remaining calm, 4. Add salt. It is a good idea to oversalt slightly, as the
fastest rising star. It was the the Gergiev-led Mariinsky Or- positive and happy in an indus- carrots and eggs you will soon add will absorb some of
Russian repertoire that laid chestra, will be competing for try used to much more cynical the salty taste.
the basis for Netrebko’s first “Best Classical Vocal Perfor- behavior. “I can honestly say 5. Strain broth into another pot, separating it from the
independent contracts at the mance” in Los Angeles on that I have a strong character,” meat.
San Francisco Opera, where February 10. she says. “I’m neither mali- 6. Place eggs and carrot slices into an aluminum tray at
she started working in 1995. The San Francisco Opera cious nor jealous. Backstage least 2-3 inches deep.
Nurtured by the enigmatic House was to become the intrigues have never really con- 7. Slice meat into bite-sized pieces and place into the
maestro Gergiev, Netrebko singer’s second home for years cerned me. I try to ignore the aluminum tray. For a truly delicious kholodets, extract the
matured into a guest singer at to come. Though she initially bad things and to draw some- bone marrow and add it along with the meat.
some of the world’s major op- found it hard to adapt to Amer- thing good from any situation. 8. Squeeze garlic cloves into broth.
eratic venues, including the ican life, she eventually grew to Maybe it’s because of my 9. Add red pepper.
Bavarian Opera, the Vienna like the place, the food and the Roma heritage, but I some- 10. Pour broth into aluminum tray and let cool.
Opera, the Royal Opera House people. Her time in San Fran- times have so much energy 11. Refrigerate for 24 hours. Do not put into freezer!
at Covent Garden and the Met- cisco also gave her the oppor- that I just don’t know what to do A successful kholodets should have a solid, slightly jiggly
ropolitan Opera of New York. tunity to diversify her repertory with it.”
-
consistency, a bit firmer than Jello.
In 2004, she was awarded a to include leading roles in Ital- Prepared by 12. Garnish with parsley. Cut into square slices, and
Russian State Prize. In 2007, ian operas and Mozart pieces. Mikhail Yuriev NANCY OSTERTAG_GETTY IMAGES/AFP serve with a side of mustard or horseradish.
Winter Fun London celebrates the “Old New Year” Russian style
The Russians Are Coming!
The 4th annual Russian Winter The Old New Year is a hold- the country’s celebrated ballet. Kingdom, declared that while
Festival took place in London’s over from pre-revolutionary On the ground, the Russian state diplomacy between Brit-
Trafalgar Square on Sunday, Russia, which used the Julian spirit is pervasive: the wafting ain and Russia has all but
January 13, attracting a record- Calendar. This placed the smells of Russian blini (pan- failed, “people’s diplomacy”
breaking crowd of over 75,000 country’s timeframe 13 days cakes) and pirozhki (pies), was on the rise, as indicated by
revellers from around the world. behind that of Western Europe. borscht and shashlik (Russian the festival’s success.
-
The Bolsheviks updated Rus- kebab).
Like New York, London has al- sia’s calendar, but the tradition Recent political scuffles be- This text was presented by
ways been an ethnic melting still lives on. tween London and Moscow do Eventica - a multi-faceted
pot. For one day each winter, Today, the Old New Year is not seem to have affected the organisation specialising in the
the city all but becomes Rus- premise for the Russian Winter Festival’s atmosphere. If any- Russian market, with extensive
sian. Every January 13th, Lon- Festival, which offers visitors a thing, the event has become expertise in business-to-busi-
don celebrates the “Old New look at Russian popular culture more important than ever. In a ness and cultural events, cor-
Year” in the British capital’s in all of its forms - from modern statement at this year’s Festi- porate entertainment, publish-
EVENTIKA-PHOTO
most famous public space, Tr- pop stars and rock music, to val, Yuri Fedotov, the Russian ing and communications. London Mayor Ken Livingstone and Russian Ambassador Yuri Fedo- Performers from the flamboyant
afalgar Square. folk groups, street theatre and Ambassador to the United www.eventica.co.uk tov mingling with visitors at the Festival ‘Russian National Dance Show’
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