Nicolló Paganini, who doesn't know him, famous by playing the violin. At the age of five, Paganini started learning the mandolin from his father, and moved to the violin by the age of seven. A bit similar started the career of Vladislav Moroz as well.
His mother, cellist Natalia Gutman, is one of the world’s most esteemed musicians, often referred to by audiences and critics alike as the “Queen of the Cello.” Her prestige is reflected in the many distinguished awards she holds: National Artist of the USSR (1991), the State Prize of Russian Federation (2000), “Bundesverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse” of the Federal Republic of Germany (2005), the Shostakovich Prize (2002 and 2013), the Triumph Award (2002), Fellow of the Royal. She started to learn her son playing the violin at a very young age and soon the young Slava could play excellent on his first violin. His mother insisted that he studied many hours a week in order to play the violin like no one else and he did!
Another artistic influence has been his father. Mikhail Moroz born in the Ukraine but later moved to Moscow, was a famous painter. He passed away in 1992 and his mother got acquainted with Oleg Kagan, another icon when we speak about violin players. So is it a coincidence that Slava fell in love with the gorgeous opera singer Olga Djachkovskaya. Olga studied at the "Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst" in Vienna and is a very talented person as well.
The moment we arrived, their dacha is like an hour drive from Moscow, Slava invited us straight away for a glas of wine or a Hoegaarden. I loved to drink some Hoegaarden after two weeks Vodka as you maybe can understand.
Olga works, besides in theaters, also on the theatre school where Vlad used to study and that is where we made our connection.
Olga and Slave are not regular people, the more because they have lived for several years in the states at Woodstock. Over there they played their music on a much more rock style which is smashing!! The band was called In Pravda. But after a few years they returned to Moscow and with In Pravda where they continue to play in this kind of rock style.
While sitting at their veranda we where talking about al these kind of things. No gardening, no Pickles talks and I loved it. In Russia they perform a lot together in a classic form as you can see and hear in the video where they perform the Avé Maria.
The funny thing is that I, at the moment when I was at their dacha, didn’t realize how amazing and popular this whole family is and how kind!
After having some drinks together we talked and we talked and it felt as I already knew them for years. Being an artist with all its ups and downs, with all their pluses and minuses is so similar to my profession. Time flies and around 11 o’clock in the evening Slava said that the banya had heated up. Never a dull moment and time for some more fun.
Above you see straight away how stylish and with what a great taste they decorated the relax room next to the banya. I don’t need to tell you that we listened to beautiful music because in the banya they have surround sound as well. On the left side close to the window you see the Samawarnik where Russians drink tea from. You probably think "only tea", but no worries we drunk a glass of Vodka as well. All in balance. After being in the Banya until 2 o'clock in the night we went to bed.
The next day I woke up early because I wanted to make a shot of the dacha at the time the light would be good. With lots of trees close to the house this wasn't an easy task, my only chance was around 7 in the morning. Woke up and straight away had a look through the window. Damn cloudy! Anyway I needed to give it a try and thank God it did break open a bit. Beng!! Got it.
Have a look how beautiful this dacha is. Have a look at all the details. They brought props from all over the world to their dacha and just these small things are making a big different, outside and inside.
Here the light is peaking through the Ivy, giving a kind of romantic atmosphere on the veranda. On their veranda they have a nice self build oven where we made dinner that evening.The chairs and table are handmade and have a typical style and the whole setting is so atmospheric and interesting.
In our book "With love from Dacha" you will find more stories, images and recipes. We can't wait that it will be summer and we will go after some more dacha's again. Hope that you like our stories as well!
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