ALEXANDER BORODIN’S beautiful composition In the Steppes of Central Asia will help cleanse your mind of Russian drag queens. You can just see the wide open skies and exhilarating emptiness when listening to this. Why does great beauty make us want to cry? It makes us homesick, that’s why. We are made for a better world. And great music momentarily takes us there.

“In the Steppes of Central Asia had been intended to be presented as one of several tableaux vivants to celebrate the silver anniversary of the reign of Emperor Alexander II of Russia, who had done much to expand the Russian Empire eastward. The intended production never occurred, but the work has been a concert favorite since its first performance, on 20 April 1880 (8 April Old style) in St. Petersburg by the orchestra of the Russian Opera under the conductorship of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. [Source]

This was performed by the USSR Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Evgeny Svetlanov, proving that even Communists can’t resist great art.

— Comments —

Patrick O’Brien writes:

Now listening to The Steppes of Central Asia. A pleasant morning surprise; one of my favorite pieces of music, a true actual grace.

Thank you.

Laura writes:

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

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