To Gorby With Love

Mikhail Gorbachev is celebrating his 80th birthday with style. As long as "style" means an opulent event hosted by Kevin Spacey and Sharon Stone, featuring a mixed bag of performers ranging from Paul Anka or Melanie C (from the Spice Girls) to Valery Gergiev, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Katherine Jenkins. Ouch, that hurt, writing those names in the same sentence. To be fair, it is a charity event in support of the Macmillan Cancer Support. On the other hand, it is a bit trying to see my favourite baritone, my favourite conductor and an excellent orchestra (London Symphony) share a podium with pop stars at what seems to be a snobbish event.

The names of political personas who have promised attendance won't surprise anybody with a little insight into international political scene: Arnold Schwarzenegger, who recently paid a visit to Moscow and gave a huge shout-out to the Russian industry. Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, a country now closer to Russia diplomatically than Ukraine geographically. Sir John Major and Shimon Perez will be there, too. Bill Clinton and Dmitry Medvedev will only be shown on pre-recorded congratulatory messages.

A waspish article from The Telegraph is HERE.

Official website http://www.gorby80.com/