All the Russias. A Musical Journey 4, 4: Looking East, Looking West ( Simon Broughton, 2002) VOSI

This final programme evokes the love, hate relationship between Russia and her neighbours, oscillating between fear and loathing, envy and imitation. We travel from the edge of the onetime empire from Georgia and the wild mountains of the Caucasus and the remote steppes of Uzbekistan to the heart of Russia and observe the cultural and musical impact of these conflicts has been vast, colourful and searing. Gergiev concludes the series with an impassioned plea to preserve national identity in the face of invasion by Microsoft and Micky Mouse.