Expensive, very expensive...

From What's on in Kiev:

'Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists in concert, Palace Ukraina, 14 December at 19.00 Arguably the world’s finest viola player, Yuri Bashmet together with his Moscow Soloists orchestra will mark their fifteenth anniversary with a special programme ‘We are Fifteen.’ A conductor, professor, and director of no less than six international music festivals, Bashmet’s reputation is one which truly stretches around the world. Smart dress recommended. Tickets are 80-1200hrv.'

Arguably indeed... you can just imagine the concert - people poshly dressed, there to be seen, applauding in all the wrong places... The ticket prices go up to 3 times the monthly minimum wage in Ukraine. I have heard various performances with Bashmet and his band, ranging from good to indifferent (most recently Nizhny Novgorod, also in Yerevan, Vilnius...). He did give a very highly acclaimed performance of the Schnittke viola concerto, though, at the London Proms this year.

I'll not be rushing to buy a ticket, or to loiter outside the door trying to get in.