Job Discussion Forums

[Deats]

1) Zenit
2) SKA

Ah, it's been a good year and I've been lucky enough to attend almost every game. Shame both seasons are now over, but at least they both ended perfectly

[Sashadroogie]

Sport? That's it? : (

[Deats]

3) Architecture
4) Friendliness
5) Police (they never stop you here)
6) Canals
7) Suburbs
Finski Bay
9) Proximity to Europe (a couple of hours to the Finnish border)
10) My wife

[Phillip Schofield]

Are you suggesting that we come to SPB for your wife?

[Sashadroogie]

3. Plenty of architecture in Moscow too. Some of it even...older.
4. Friendly. Can't say I have noticed any real difference in levels of rudeness/friendliness.
5. Police keep denizens safer in Moscow : )
6. Canals have a function in Moscow.
7. Some horrible suburbs in SPB. Sorry.
8. True. No bays in Moscow.
9. Both SPB and Moscow are already in Europe.
10. Wives abound in Moscow too.

Now, as for Moscow, have a look at cultural events listings, like Afisha, and compare the range on offer here to the supposed cultural capital... : ) Both quantity and quality reign supreme here.

Hic!

[Foma87]

I agree with Deats, ppl in SPB are much more friendly, or rather just more open minded and less nervous and insecure than your typical Muscovite. I like that the ppl there are less obsessed with brands and careers. I love that the craft beer scene has taken off recently, too. I also love that the city is a fan of jazz. Comparing the women is a bit unfair, as the Neva capital is much more conducive to love and romance than Moscow.

Moscow certainly has a more diverse array of cultural offerings, superior venues, as Sasha notes, incomparably great parks with great beer and shashlik scene. Tons of opportunity. More business-minded. That is, they both have their pluses.

I think I prefer SPB, but I've only ever lived there 6 months and to study, not work. I go to the city quite frequently, as my gf lives there, though. So, yea, my opinion is a bit skewed. If you're interested in the whole SPB vs Moscow debate, I recommend taking a look at a book by Lev Lur'e (Лев Лурье) called "Without Moscow" (Без Москвы). It's in Russian but provides a brilliant overview of the SPB vs Moscow theme.

[Sashadroogie]

Cheers for the reference. But does this book say that St Petersburg is clearly better than Moscow? : )

[Foma87]

No, not really. The book is about how St. Petersburg came to see its place in Russia after Moscow replaced it as capital. It gives many examples about how St. Petersburg is somehow unique; that, as the author puts it, how it is part of its own civilization separate from Moscow and the rest of Russia. It's quite abstract and, admittedly, I only read fragments of it. He's one of the city's leading intellectuals and many, if not all, his books deal with St. Petersburg in one way or the other and are therefore considered kind of modern classics of Petersburg studies (Петербурговедение).

[Sashadroogie]

Thanks for that. Sounds like a good if heavy read.

Solomon Volkov's 'Cultural History of St Petersburg' might be of more interest to the more general reader, though. Except for cultureless nanny goats perhaps.

[Foma87]

Yes I've dabbled in Volkov's Cultural History. It's not very highly rated and I understand why. The prose is rambling and tangential, difficult to get a grasp of. This is true of many cultural histories, though.

Volkov's claim to fame is his intimate knowledge of Shostakovich. He is a classical music buff, so if that's your thing, then yea, Volkov may prove worthwhile. Unfortunately there's very little in English that captures well the true genius and beauty of St. Petersburg. I thought Fige's chapter on European Russia in Natasha's Dance (another cultural history, but of Russia generally) wasn't bad, but still lacking.

Another example of a great Petersburg writer is Nikolai Antsefarov (Николай Анциферов), one of the greats of the Silver Age. His Soul of Petersburg (Душа Петербурга), which Volkov himself admires, is far superior to anything written in English on the city.

There are also many great histories of the city in Russian. One English-language history of the building/architecture of the city, which was actually translated into Russian, is worth taking a look at. It's called Palmyra of the North (a name for the city coined by Antsefarov) and written by Christopher Marsden. Difficult to find in English. Although the Russian translation is on the shelves of the Dom Knigi on Nevsky.

[Sashadroogie]

Some great information there. Thanks again.

You are right about Volkov. He is a music chap. But even his best known work, 'Testimony', is not universally well-regarded. Lots of academics simply reject his claims that his work reflects the composer's views, or that he used real primary sources. Still, for all that, I found it enthralling. But scepticism is needed.

Rambling style. Certainly. Sometimes annoying. But usually an ejoyable romp. I know I shouldn't, but I have a soft spot for his output.