Support The Moscow Times!

Kazansky Railway Station Gets a One-Night-Only Makeover

Canadian singer Grimes performing inside the hall of Kazansky railway station.

As the last trains departed from Kazansky railway station, stragglers and latecomers to their carriages were puzzled by the sight of long lines of revelers dressed in 19th-century Victorian outfits forming outside the station's doors.

They had descended upon this unlikely location for a Halloween party with a mid-19th century theme organized by Miller Tonight, which brought in Canadian singer and indie it-girl Grimes for her first Russian performance, alongside French house duo Cassius and British DJ Subb-an.

The train station, built by Alexei Shchusev, in 1864 was given a lavish facelift, with its arches painted and decorated with gold and stucco and its interior given opulent furnishings for a party that recalled the dances of the English gentry.

Guests, which included a host of Russian celebrities and media figures, arrived dressed for the part, with frock coats, top hats, hoop skirts and other elements of Victorian fashion the order of the day.

Undoubtedly the highlight of the evening, Grimes arrived onstage at 2 A.M in a shiny sequined dress and played a 45-minute performance amid a backdrop of video projections, glitter and soap bubbles, though the acoustics in this venue left much to be desired for such a concert.

Still, it was good to watch, especially with the extensively detailed stage and decorations of the venue, that brought out the often-overlooked architectural and ornamental detail of the neo-Russian train station.

Unfortunately for Miller, it now has high standards to live up to, as the party was by all accounts, a success, with many calling it one of the parties of the season.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more