(This article first appeared in OPEN on May 1, 2021)
- On a chilly October night in 1913, the eldest son of Leo Tolstoy, Sergey decided to head over to Maxim, a famous cabaret, along with two of his friends-Symbolist poet Vyacheslav Ivanov and opera singer Feodor Chaliapin. As was the case in Paris, Berlin and other great European cities, the cabaret scene was thriving in Moscow in the years leading up to the First World War. The trio would have expected the usual amateur acts poking fun at bourgeoisie society followed by contemporary European music that loud patrons would enjoy over glasses of champagne. It was a pleasant shock that awaited them, however. They watched three Indian men perform Hindustani classical music, and were enchanted by the musicians…