Beauty is just a nice bonus given by nature. But external data have never been a guarantee of a future happy life. The fates of the titled Russian beauties have developed in different ways. Someone was able to take advantage of the victory in the competition as a launching pad for takeoff, and someone paid with their own life for their beauty
Russian opera was born at a time when French, German and Italian were already in their prime. Soon, the Russian opera school not only caught up with, but also surpassed its competitors, winning its audience in different countries. Today, classical operas by Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky, Prokofiev and Shostakovich are staged on the best stages in the world. In our today's review - the best Russian operas that enjoyed success abroad at different times
Michael Jackson is one of the most famous singers who ascended the world pedestal in the 80s, becoming the real king of pop music. He is loved and adored, he is imitated to this day, trying to cover hits and dance his famous moonwalk. And of course, like any outstanding musician, Michael has had many iconic moments in his career. Today we will tell you about a dozen of such
The author and presenter of "Unlucky Notes" Dmitry Krylov does not speak foreign languages, but at the same time has traveled half the world, sharing with the audience his impressions and emotions from travel. The show became not only his brainchild and way of life, it really changed his fate. Tatyana Barinova was so fascinated by the host of "Unlucky Notes" that she decided to find him at all costs. 20 years have passed since then, they have long become husband and wife, however, they have a rather peculiar idea of
A person from the Soviet Union does not need to explain what a gramophone record is. Rather, on the contrary - everyone has something to remember about these vinyl disks, because they recorded their favorite melodies of childhood and youth. The unforgettable smell of the record, the crackle that was heard when the needle was lowered onto the disc, the "warm" sound that was heard in the speakers - all these analog wonders, seemingly forgotten in the modern digital world, are still in no hurry to give up their positions
Moondog, a blind, homeless musician dressed as a Viking, was a central figure in the New York avant-garde of the 1960s. He was respected by such diverse musicians as Charlie Parker, Steve Reich and Janis Joplin. He made his instruments himself from ordinary rubbish, but nevertheless he managed to unravel the secret code of our Universe and become the most influential composer of the 20th century. A very strange, eccentric musician and talented composer Louis Hardin (Moondog) is now singing to us from Valhalla, and we are listening
The 19th and 20th centuries became the era of breakthroughs in medicine from Russian and Soviet doctors. The names of many of our compatriots are inscribed in the history of science in golden letters - and we don't even really think about it. Many of them literally ushered in a new era in world medicine, becoming pioneers and founders of previously non-existent areas and radically changing their profession
Children born into families of celebrities seem to pull out a lucky ticket as soon as they are born. But parental fame and love, unfortunately, are not a guarantee of a happy life. The publicity test of the parents and the exaggerated requirements for the heir break the fate of the children of the stars, sometimes leading to a tragic ending
Every year, many moviegoers freeze in front of their TV screens to watch the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Academy Awards. The most worthy representatives of the film industry go up to the stage, in the hall there are colleagues of the most successful actors, screenwriters, directors. And in the history of the presentation of this significant award, there were also such nominees that never existed in the real world
Last year, fans celebrated the 40th anniversary of the death of legendary French pop singer Joe Dassin - a romantic, white-suited chansonnier performing popular love hits like no other. During his lifetime, he was called a man of the world, and who knows what heights the singer would reach if he lived a full life. Joe died almost at 42, but after him there was not only a huge legacy of songs, videos, archival tapes, but also two already completely grown sons. How do they look and how well
The Dutch in the paintings of Rembrandt, Vermeer and their contemporaries amaze with their whitest cuffs, collars, caps and aprons. Especially when you realize that bleaching and starching at that time was the hardest work and that like this, in the cleanest clothes, the Dutch went about every day. How did women organize their lives to cope with everything?
The term "cold war" is commonly associated with post-war Russian-American relations. But a similar picture was observed in the actions of Britain in relation to the Russian Empire even in pre-revolutionary times. The southernmost point of Russia, Kushka, became iconic during that period. Located on the border with today's Afghanistan, the fortress was not easy for the Russian crown, and its conquest threatened to develop into a large-scale war with London
Russian military history is rich in victories and outstanding feats. But the chronicle of Russian diplomacy, full of ups and downs, successes and failures, is barely inferior to it. The experience of the most prominent persons from the diplomatic corps of Russia is analyzed and studied to this day. Particularly interesting is the activity of officials responsible for the foreign policy course in the tsarist era, when the international authority of European states was unstable, and Russia was only drawing a map of its influence
Girls have dreamed of successfully marrying at all times and continue to do so today. Oddly enough, over the centuries, the basic criteria have not changed much. Both in ancient times and now, potential brides do not mind seeing a rich, healthy and successful person as their husband. Better if it is Maxim Galkin. Well, or another modest Russian millionaire. In Russia, noblewomen were looking for famous and monetary men in their circle, peasant women also had their own criteria. Read
Gopniks did not become famous at all in the dashing 90s, as many used to think. This term existed back in the 19th century, when the State Prize Society (GOP) was created on Ligovsky Prospekt in Petrograd. Street children and small city hooligans arriving in the city went there. When, at the end of the October Revolution, the Society began to be called the State hostel of the proletariat, the essence did not change. The number of lawbreakers grew, and poorly educated people were routinely asked: “And you
When we see ancient temples, pyramids, cave monasteries, fantasy immediately draws pictures of the events of past centuries and makes conjectures. How did the distant ancestors manage to create creations of such beauty and scale? However, if you go down into the cave labyrinth of our contemporary - a resident of an ordinary Armenian village, you won't even have to fantasize. The fact that this person, not possessing special knowledge, but being guided only by his intuition and "a voice from above", created such a masterpiece is in itself
The Russian hinterland hides many mysteries and interesting historical sights. It may seem incredible, but today in abandoned Russian villages you can see amazing ancient Orthodox churches, many of which are masterpieces of architecture. One of these attractions is a 16th century church complex in the village of Kurba, Yaroslavl Region
Today it is very difficult to imagine those times when you could not go and just buy a good book. Severe censorship was on guard and did not allow the publication of works that could be suspected of anti-Soviet propaganda. The term "samizdat" owes its appearance to the poet Nikolai Glazkov. Back in the mid-1940s, he gave his friends typewritten collections of his poems with an inscription on the cover "Will publish himself." And already in the 1950s, samizdat became a significant cultural phenomenon
In order to touch the most ancient past and, as if in a time machine, travel back hundreds of millions of years, it is not necessary to watch films. It is enough just to go down to the Moscow metro and take a closer look at the walls and columns. In the mysterious streaks and curls of stone surfaces, to which hurrying passengers usually do not pay much attention, it is quite possible to discern fossils of corals, gastropods, ammonites and nautilus frozen in centuries
They say that marriages are made in heaven, at least when it comes to love marriages. However, when it comes to the marriage of Sergei Mikhalkov and Natalia Konchalovskaya, there is no doubt - their meeting was predetermined by fate, which decided to unite these creative people from famous families
Nikita Mikhalkov is a talented, stellar and controversial person. His name does not leave the tabloids, and his every step becomes an occasion for discussion. For many years, "scandalous news" has appeared in the press more than once that Nikita Sergeevich is divorcing his wife Tatyana. But, despite all the gossip, intrigue and gossip, for 45 years they have been walking hand in hand through life
Former spouses often share not only property, but also their own children. And in this case, everyone thinks least of all about the interests of the child and does not care at all about what kind of psychological trauma the child receives. For the mother, the trial becomes like an obsessive nightmare, because it is impossible to imagine anything more terrible than indefinite separation from her own child
A whole era in theater and cinema is associated with his name. The roles played by Vladimir Etush were remembered for their brilliance and talented play, and the whole country knows Comrade Saakhov from the "Caucasian Captive". An official who tried to win the heart of a Komsomol member, an athlete and just a beauty became a kind of visiting card of Vladimir Abramovich. The actor admits that he cannot imagine his existence without a woman and at the same time he never made pretentious marriage proposals to his wives. Pere
Today, the hobby for tattoos has become widespread, and this often causes discontent among the older generation, because how many decades ago, "tattoos" were often made not so much for decoration as "with meaning" or as a keepsake - in the army, for example. However, it turns out that in Russia, tattoos for decoration were done in past centuries, and even crowned persons. The dragon on the forearm of the last Russian emperor looks very modern
He could become a pilot, lawyer or architect, but meeting with Nikita Mikhalkov, who advised him to pay attention to cinema, turned Vladimir Khotinenko's whole life upside down. “Mirror for the Hero”, “Roy”, “Heirs”, “Dostoevsky” - he always removes only that which touches him, clings to his soul, does not let him breathe calmly. Cinema has become his greatest passion. His marriages broke up one after another, the director always considered himself a bad father and grandfather, but fate once gave him the opportunity
The name Giordano Bruno is familiar to us from school: a scientist who was burned at the stake. This execution seems unprecedented and is therefore well remembered. But in fact, Bruno was not the only scientist whose life ended in flames. There are a few more famous names
The founder of the famous clan of millionaires, Cornelius Vanderbilt, was the son of a small farmer and in his youth borrowed $ 100 from his mother to buy a barge. He managed to amass a multimillion-dollar fortune, which his descendants squandered in just three generations. One of the heirs said: "Inherited wealth is a real obstacle to happiness … It leaves me nothing to hope for, and nothing definite to strive for." The reasons for the collapse of the richest family
When the word Shrovetide is pronounced, the majority have an association with a noisy holiday, sincere fun, festivities, dances and, of course, with delicious hot pancakes. It's all great, interesting, tasty. However, some of the customs of this folk festival today may look very strange. Read how they burned or drowned the annoying winter, why for many people in ancient times Maslenitsa could end in death and how the dead were treated
In 2012, two treasure hunters in the British Isles, Red Mead and Richard Miles, discovered the largest treasure of the Iron Age. For the long thirty years of their lives, Mead and Miles devoted themselves to searching for this treasure. In the cache, which was named Catillon II and which dates back to 50 BC, 69,347 Celtic coins were found. Why is it that such an important and large find in the history of Jersey archeology has been recognized by the world scientist community only now?
An ancient Greek theater that flourished from about 550 to 220 BC. e., laid the foundations of theater in the Western world. Accordingly, its development can be traced back to the festival of Dionysius in Athens, which was the cultural center of Ancient Greece, where the first theatrical genres of tragedy, comedy and satire appeared. Chief among these three genres was Greek tragedy, which had a huge impact on the theater of Ancient Rome and the Renaissance, including influential Greek playwrights, among whom
Battle dolphins are not a myth at all. In the Soviet years, such animals really "served" in the Navy. They were trained to detect saboteurs and mines, to patrol the territory. A secret base for training dolphins has successfully existed in Sevastopol for decades. After the collapse of the USSR, the training of animals and the study of their unique abilities had to be curtailed. Now the training of fighting dolphins has been resumed
Since childhood, we have become accustomed to celebrating a bright holiday in the spring, which we call Easter. This is the day when believers massively visit churches, visit relatives and friends to exchange food and congratulations. This year, the ailment under the resounding name "coronavirus" made unexpected adjustments not only to the work and life of each of us, but also to the celebration of this important day. And what exactly is this Easter? Why do Christians have Easter, Muslims have Ramadan, and Jews have Passover? And how is everything
"In a white cloak with a bloody lining" - this is how Pontius Pilate appears in the novel "The Master and Margarita". Historians give very contradictory characteristics of this person. A cruel warrior, a cunning careerist, a man of a brilliant mind and a wise statesman. He gained worldwide fame and notoriety when he sentenced Jesus Christ to death. So what kind of person was he, the fifth procurator of Judea, Pilate of Pontus?
Where and how the first ambulance station appeared in the Russian Empire, which operates to this day
In 1881, a terrible catastrophe occurred in Vienna - a fire in the comic opera theater. Then 479 people died. Hundreds of burned people - living and dead - lay in the snow and could not receive medical assistance for 24 hours. It was this monstrous event that was the impetus for the emergence of the first ambulance in Europe. Count Mikhail Mikhailovich Tolstoy Jr. proposed to create a medical institution in Odessa based on the model of the Vienna Ambulance Station
What they ate, what they traded, and how the Indians lived before Columbus: Stereotypes versus facts
Because of adventure films, cute quotes on the Internet, and books written by colonialists during the days of active colonization, the average European perception of the indigenous people of America is rather stereotyped. Even realizing that South and North America differed from each other in history, many are very vague about what these differences looked like. It seems that in the south they ate potatoes and corn, and in the north - game meat … Right?
In the middle of the summer of 1990, an unpleasant event for the Soviet Union took place in the waters of the Red Sea: the fishing vessel Cuff was seized by rebels opposing the legitimate rule of Somalia. The captive crew, who hunted for lobsters and lobsters under a license from the Somali authorities, spent almost a month on board their ship, waiting for the negotiations of the rebels with the diplomatic representatives of the USSR to end
Each country has its own national tree. If you say palm, you represent a hot country. But when they say "birch", everyone understands that we are talking about Russia. This is a tree of stunning beauty, with light bark and delicate green leaves, which in ancient times was considered in Russia as a coastal tree, protecting the family from adversity. Birch is a kind of symbol of purity, it has been valued and revered from century to century. Poets wrote poetry about her, musicians created songs, and the most famous Russian
In October 1993, an event took place in the Ukrainian city of Kirovograd that, it seemed, could not interest the general public: the 72-year-old electrician of the RES, Alexander Ilyin, died of a stroke. In narrow circles, this man was known as a skillful restorer and bookbinder, but he always lived very modestly. A couple of months later, a sensation occurred - a unique collection of works of art and old books was found in the dilapidated house of a former electrician. According to experts, it turned out to be
Usually, when it comes to searching for hidden treasures, one immediately sees the wreck of huge ships at the bottom of the ocean or the explorers who have finally discovered the legendary golden city of El Dorado. It turns out that even ordinary people can find countless treasures almost anywhere in the world, literally "under their feet", in the most ordinary places
In the 70s in the USSR, Stanislav Mikulsky was called the Polish Stirlitz, and viewers of all ages enjoyed watching all the films with his participation. Particular attention and love was enjoyed by the 18-episode series about the Polish intelligence officer - "The Stake Is Greater Than Life", where the actor played the main role. Literally with the release of the first episodes on the screens of this film, he became the idol of a multimillion audience. Due to his charming appearance, the actor was considered by many to be a hero-lover and womanizer. He was credited with novels with many