Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Riccardo Muti performed in Moscow last week, for the first time since 1990.

The U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul spoke to the crowd in Russian as part of the program, and held a press conference with Muti.

McFaul is a Stanford 1985 graduate, Rhodes Scholar and son of a high school music teacher, from Montana.

He uses Twitter to promote his ideas and those of his fellow travelers; he has 24,000 followers.

“Was a magical concert last night” he did tweet. He also reposted a link to an NPR story on same topic. That report says the heart of the show was Shostakovich Symphony #5.

Good luck and mazel tov to Professor McFaul who I’ve been following by various lower tech methods — I read a lot of newspapers — since about 1981 or so.

I was born in the Windy City – -and took a weird visit their via film and “Scarface” movie last week at Stanford Theatre — but I don’t think I have ever heard in person CSO, but hope to. They are in Russia until April 28, it says.

edit to add: See also, 1955 “The Muses are Heard” by Truman Capote, and Beth Custer “My Grandmother” showing in Saratoga next month. It was first published in The New Yorker October 27, 1956; a twist on a statement “when the canons are silent the muses are heard”.