Goodbye New York, Privet Petersburg!

I am finally here--in one of the most cultured cities, during one of the most cultured music festivals, scrambling through one of the most cultured theaters in the world. This is the White Nights Festival of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg.

It's hard for me (and I suppose, for you, as well) to fathom the opportunities that abound from this day forward. One whole month among the ranks of world-renowned conductors, musicians, opera singers, and prima-ballerinas. Brushing shoulders, translating from the domestic, spoken Russian to the international standard, English, and simply absorbing the artistic flare that embodies the majestic city.

I have an incredible source of insider info at my fingertips, from offstage artist anecdotes to interesting production tidbits that escape the public ear. Don't get me wrong, though. I'm not attempting to pose as an Access Hollywood to the Mariinsky. I'm after something that strikes much deeper. What interests me is the internal mechanism propelling the artistic product to completion--in other words, the muse that brings together the theater's performers, illustrious guests, and production team into a cohesive whole.