hello and welcome to the program today the moscow team are in italy as we continue our exploration of russian culture abroad music from tar koskie all by can do in ski racing creativity has been studied and celebrated for centuries around the world so joe be more to the roots as we take a look at russian influence and connections one of the most beautiful historic and romantic cities in the world florence. russians have been fascinated with italian culture for centuries florence is often compared to st petersburg. with its architecture and classical entertainment see consisting of art music and literature it's easy to draw comparisons to the cultural grand jury of russia's former capital . around the major cities in italy today and you definitely hear the chit chat with excited recent tourists they devour the social scene here and they're exploring what it has to offer now more than ever before. i feel him in florence and my

children in russia does raise studying the culture of the renascence and the principles of humanism and this city is the essence of such cultures. you just are stuck with it you will feel comfortable here it really doesn't even seem like a foreign country and italians are very friendly probably in all my life was an interest it's all an art and russian art nothing else because it's the most may be fancy is the most difficult difficult technique difficult collars. everything else they're all dozens of connections between italy and russia dissociation within the field of arts goes back centuries. we arrived at the russian art academy located in a grand building in the sense of the city it brings together all levels of all ages and nationalities you can almost feel the creativity as you walk in here. many

students have taken sabbaticals to come to florence and learn more about art the school is angled towards classical russian teaching methods and takes individuals back to basics studying the works of old masters. nice work but. class is a taking as part of a full time course we can't or evening classes and a whole range of subjects to study from campus painting too much touring but why come to a russian arts school in florence. because we're kind of training to see fair play when you can get a did you see the years later. our schools around here it's just very focus of spirit affected it actually i never planned there aren't still painting i can't do sculpture but i was convinced by the russian method and all the way that they they teach me my dream and improve the scene as i came here most of the buildings are still authentic show it does give it

a sort of the ideal background for all to make sure. many lines models are used in the conses tools in english russian and italian students take visual photographs with the aim of recreating the image in sketch form. based on consequence additions and values in the modern art world because here is learning about sight size technique. of the training have decided on the basics of technique the use of color and the study of i'm not a made out of portraits most of the changes here offer russia and they bring with them a whole range of classical knowledge and experience having trained at various prestigious universities in moscow and st petersburg are being sent to and say help each student find that expression whatever stand it about very very the school in france

is aware that many of our colleges around the world are opening up to contemporary styles and radical new training methods and on that note to discuss the economy. objective let's meet this week's guest. and as you let me to meet you so tell me about the academy here in florence of a here during two years which is to you as a goal of the start of the film school. into a funeral of all that i did during ten years doing different kind of water. and gold here as i care to man i want to bring a russian academic classic school to share at the european stay with us and of course bring spiritual wired as an artist which is very important you mention european students here you have russian orthodox or italians it's a little international of the students which is a half from belgium or from italy from you glance from america around the world can

anybody come here or they have to be you know a decent artist are not there but you know it's anybody can be here which is a normal students just sending their application form together with the war but after one the year or so of professor choosing if that student will continue a filthier or second there which is a bit don't have an answer or an exam but they would have exam after one year were serious and the tutors are mostly russian teachers that most are russian which is that it's teachers a who are already graduated from russia and who is a professional artist but himself the most time of. war in the russia russian government academy. many of the art schools around the world they focus now on contemporary arts maybe here the training is more strict with this russian roots maybe. balance because our opinion of where giving plastic

foundation school base without foundation a classic school base you can develop your own style a diverse a school the nonprofessional way. which is it's me in our opinion that we're bringing school in the people and. this is cool will develop there. was great to meet you and good luck with it thank you there was a lot but. so what other cultural links is florence have with russia one of the most celebrated filmmakers of the twentieth century person director undertow kosky lived in france in the one nine hundred eighty s. in the capital of tuscany took on his two last films and sacrifice anything pronounced as an honest citizen of florence by its authority as took a skill left italy and nine hundred eighty six and moved to paris where he died the same year now a memorial plate to be seen on the house and via some nicolo but the filmmaker lived and worked. in the beautiful surroundings of florence nestled in the tuscan

countryside as a hotel bearing a russian name the damage of country result is a modern four star hotel then dr the famous person wealthy and influential demetre family from the eighteenth century but themselves had a villa in this part of italy and they definitely chose the location wisely as the views here a spectacular and relaxing. about twenty minutes drive from the center of florence the hotel offers a hundred rooms and suites with all modern comforts absolutely. how the hotel is up there for business and nature changes that the middle family used to enjoy the surroundings many centuries ago and now our guests can enjoy the same nature and the more festive it is to relax. florence is

a sensational city the center is an open air museum itself every corner is a photo opportunity no wonder many famous russian figures came to live here. c.s.k. for example chose florence not only because of its inspiring the true so many other foreigners but many because of the library they contain russian periodicals he wrote the idiot here in january one thousand nine hundred sixty nine after seventeen months of work. another russian legend spent a considerable length of time in italy was the composer tchaikovsky he came to florence in the year eight hundred seventy eight to write quietly in a villa overlooking the city situated on the beautiful street via the sound in another twenty minutes outside the city it has a completely different feel to the center of florence it was stated that tchaikovsky called florence the city of dreams for him it was one of the best locations in the world as he enjoyed the architecture landscapes and soul of the

area he said it was one of the most inspirational places to live and to work he wrote the famous russian opera the queen of spades here in italy in eighty ninety and back in russia to celebrate his beloved city he wrote the piece souvenir to florence. from the art world in florence or oligarchs and their glamorous shots on the island of capri the prison of russian influence and connections in italy and vice versa isn't it too apparent and not just here but it is closer to many european cities than you think is the love affair with all things european shows no signs of slowing down. the punch of the here bridge is a beautiful mediæval landmark not to be missed as a focal point of the city it represents medieval florence in all its glory and

whether you are chinese english american russian the historic landmarks and fantastic cultural world of florence with a long standing. russian italian connections or something everyone should challenge what's an amazing city well unfortunately that's the time we have left on this week's program i'll see you again adds the same time next week until then for me and the rest of the team for now.

move. on.

if you bounce from phones to. stunts on t.v. . it's leaves it's. easy to. see.

islam is when an overwhelming majority of egypt's first parliamentary election since hosni mubarak was deposed the muslim brotherhood took almost a lower house will hold its first session today as. the future of the arab league mission in syria caught between those saying the observers reduce the violence and others slamming it for a lack of progress members meeting in cairo now to discuss whether to extend the monitors work in syria. police clashed with protesters in croatia's capital where hundreds took part in a rally against joining the you ahead of sunday's membership recent surveys suggest

forty percent of the population are joining the block. and. i mean you would sell for more entire austerity anger with protests in romania walks second poorest country leading to the nation's worst wireless and more than a decade thousands have been on the streets demanding the resignation of the government and president of more than a week. it's up next with our sports update stay with us here on r.t. . hello welcome to the sports and here are the top stories. majestic maria chirac of the greeks germany's angry and straight sets to go into the last sixteen of the australian open while they respond to write about and more russians fall on the third day about. while strength to strength defending men's champion novak djokovic cruises to a straight set when aiming to reach the fourth round. also goes through. and

winning ways alexander off schools that were not as elite reached the rocky olympic team to want to reach the final of the friendly match world cup tournament in dubai . but first to tennis and world number four maria sharapova has gone through to the fourth round of the australian open with a comprehensive six one six two victory over an injury but two thousand and eight champion had had limited preparation for the first grand slam of the season but has dropped only five games in three matches so far we are going to talk. going to be before the match so if you prepare yourself well enough and if. you play well enough to win with a comfortable scoreline. so sure up of a wall next space germany's sabine lisicki who came from a set down to knock out russia spectrometer kuznetsova to six six four six two to

find this. wall it's also the end of the road for the erez about a writer who suffered a shock defeat at the hands a fellow russian except that he never got about the next place another uphill challenge in the guise of returning five time champion serena williams the american was in devastating for against the risk to let iran while yet another russia maria kirilenko pulled out with a leg injury to set down that second seed to that of the czech republic the wimbledon champion is looking for her second major title and the chance to leapfrog caroline wozniacki at the top of the world rankings. when i played the first five games. from. our last megalo play. i have but how i played today and hopefully it will be continue. well standing in the way next is what world number one ana event of each the serbian needed just

over an hour or two out missing american banking six three six four sharing three turns to spare you the final for the first time since two thousand and eight. going to be a very tough one i mean by just definitely playing. she is one of the heart this boost of the moment then it's going to be great for me and bode. really had to go our dear and draw my best of her and you know the bathroom. wall over on the man inside reigning champion novak djokovic powered past nicolette move the top notch to a six six one six one victory in just over an hour french studies looking. well taking his situation in matter but looking just over my game was was really really well for. you know from from service to the return of the show it's going to the net so. i'm happy with the way my first first week went here in australia

hopefully i can continue the same way. and also through is form a finalist jo wilfried tsonga the frenchman wasn't easy when they're over portugal's federico after taking three sets by six to school mark. meanwhile fall seed and twice beaten fine is andy murray is also through following a straightforward pummeling a frenchman michael llodra play kazakh and thomas mcculloch pushkin you stave off a brilliant fight back by going one fish to win in three hours and fourteen minutes this is a downward ferrel you became argentina's it nastier challenge in straight sets and next up the game is richelle gas going to france so obviously danko tips are a bitch. football announcing its top scorer alexander gold netted the winner as the russian champions beat the iraki a limpet team two one in the friendly match world cup tournament in dubai just eight minutes in a row man should walk off the set in a long cross but alexander will cart off to open this impinges very excited to

strike at making amends after missing another chance however a quick counter attack early in the second half so the rock is level mohamed abdalla volleying in the equaliser. however fifteen minutes later i was in it found the game winning goal danko last of it chipping in a cross because you go up to knock the ball it's a confused goalkeeper so two one was the way finished goods and it takes a second to buy a spare final to spend between. one elsewhere the transfer saga continues with carlos tevez after the lunch to city and dodging team a striker has reportedly rejected a move to mega rich harry signs among the french media does an ounce don't fight it simply means had reached the deal fell through at the last minute after by science . finance terms and reports of suggested twenty seven of ten more than ten million dollars in. italian giants interland have also targeted the strike i have so far

failed to match that is valuation. cheney insists. using forcible. i don't want to. do that for you is important not to play because it. is true that the n.b.a. . is no good for. me while a crunch they have english premier league football is on sunday we'll see match the man chinese city host in-form title rivals top them while second place manchester united travel to arsenal spurs a thirty five points behind united manager harry redknapp has once again played down his side's championship ambitions. we want to go to a world and come away with from the game but. i've said many choices you know six point seven point eight point lead can evaporate very quickly

can't they will see and it's only two arms over the years so. you know. everybody's still like everything. is really where we want to be we want to get champions league football anything above that is a bonus for. well meanwhile chelsea striker did a drug that has confirmed he will remain at stamford bridge until at least this summer the ivory coast star has scored ninety eight goals in two hundred seventeen league games for the blues and country and strongly linked with in the chinese side trying hard should not trump was contract is set to expire in june said he is free to talk to other clubs the police are reportedly offering these thirty three year olds a twelve month extension and what reportedly set to give the strike a three year deal huge pay for the ivory coast get sit down in equitorial getting on sunday for what could be his last africa cup of nations. to the n.b.a. now overall leader chicago continued their impressive form with

a one hundred fourteen to seventy five when in cleveland to inflict a worst ever home defeat on the cavaliers all the bulls superstar derrick rose was missing his third straight game with a stranger left the top but the bulls barely missed him as you all during the visitors in front twenty seven twenty six at the end. chicago began to pull away in the second round carlos boozer made the score sixty five forty four thirty in the third while in the fourth everything went wrong for the cavs losing the ball giving richard hamilton an opportunity for two easing points there in chicago run out winners by thirty nine points to time may fourteenth victory from seventeen games so far one struck in cleveland the next based eight games against teams who made the playoffs last year. and finally russia's pentasa its all marking one hundred years since the sport came to the country what's with the olympics fast approaching there's little time for the best performers of last year to celebrate

as a bouncer gorski reports. russia has been a powerhouse despairs very good in modern pentathlon the national team winning men's gold with three straight olympic games i'm dreaming of bollywood in the footsteps of sydney gold medal was called ski by reading in athens and then again. in beijing and the man himself knows that nothing short of flawlessness in each discipline will be enough for a third straight. there's not one particular thing to work on as a pentathlete you pretty much have to do well in every discipline if you cannot perform at the highest level in every event you will never be able to become an olympic medalist or a century of shooting swimming fancy equestrian and cross country is being marked in russia london two thousand and twelve looms large amid celebrations of past accolades and while moyes said if it's top of the european and world championships in two thousand and eleven there are plenty of youngsters caught on the thirty two

year old heels only two athletes will represent their country this summer a selection process which will definitely challenge the coaching staff. will have to make a choice based on who gives us the best chance to win but it will be a tough one after this season. champion and runner up medals going for them. past champions so no doubt the selection process is going to be tough. other competitors such as two thousand and ten world champion sergei cannot be ruled out of the qualifying yet another man i know this summer the recently turned twenty four year old knows exactly who he has to be for the spot if he is to achieve that podium feat. we all know who are patients who so the main thing for us is to get selected for the olympic games we've had the first preparation period already starting the second phase of now both of them after that will be entering a series of competitions so i'm going to work hard and hopefully stay injury free.

so plenty at stake for russian what is a historic year for the sport in the country and while there's been no shortage of pentathlon glory during the past decade the pressure is greater than ever for the russians to win their fourth straight uganda gorski our team. and that's all the support for this bulletin i think.

islam is when an overwhelming majority of egypt's first parliamentary election since mubarak was deposed the muslim brotherhood takes almost half the votes. the future of the arab league mission in syria caught between those saying the observers present reduced violence and others slamming the group for a lack of progress. protesters clashed with police in croatia's capital where hundreds take part in a rally against joining the e.u. way ahead of sunday's membership vote. within the e.u. itself more anti austerity anger protests flare up in romania the walks second poorest country leading to the nation's worst violence and more than

a decade. nine pm in moscow i matras are good to have you with us here on r.t. our top story this hour islam is parties are the overwhelming winners in egypt's first post revolution parliamentary elections final results show the muslim brotherhood claiming forty seven percent of the lower house parliament will hold its first session in just two days artie's marie if the notion of reports from cairo the fact that the absolute majority over the first poly meant of new age of to post mubarak age of to be taking some conservative policies means that they just decides he is a secular right now we'll be. strict to really just kind of eden of course this is something people will not be happy with this is something they want to think been fighting.