Saturday 9th October

The Coffee Contata

That evening, as the first part of the Culture Program for the Symposium, we are treated to a performance of J. Bach's Coffee Cantata at the Helicon Opera on Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street.

Back into central Moscow in the evening

walking towards the Helicon Opera.

We climb the steps at our destination

the steps and corridoor are adorned with interesting cardboard cutout caricatures of Moscow inhabitants.

Greg didn't believe we were going to a Bach Opera, but sure enough there was an orchestra and singers

And intrigueingly the singers ground coffee beans and boiled water while they were singing..

And when they started pouring cups of freshly made ground coffee, we begin to wonder hopefully if perhaps they were going to incorporate serving the coffee to the audience into the performance..

And sure enough, a member of the cast soon delivers a tray of coffees to one of the dimly lit tables at which we were sitting.

More coffee served by candle light, which is not really bright enough for for my camera.

The finale - The chef's hats have come off, so it looks like this is the end of the coffee...

The lights come on, allowing a quick picture of our table

and the other tables from our group

Emily's table

Peter's table

Then back to the Metro for the trip back to the hotel.

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the steps and corridoor are adorned with interesting cardboard cutout caricatures of Moscow inhabitants.

	Greg didn't believe we were going to a Bach Opera, but sure enough there was an orchestra and singers

And intrigueingly the singers ground coffee beans and boiled water while they were singing..

	And when they started pouring cups of freshly made ground coffee, we begin to wonder hopefully if perhaps they were going to incorporate serving the coffee to the audience into the performance..

And sure enough, a member of the cast soon delivers a tray of coffees to one of the dimly lit tables at which we were sitting.

	More coffee served by candle light, which is not really bright enough for for my camera.

The finale - The chef's hats have come off, so it looks like this is the end of the coffee...