Russian Accent | Blog of Nadia Sikorsky

Spirits at Art Genève

Today, the traditional contemporary art fair opens at Geneva’s Palexpo exhibition centre, an event I have followed since its founding in 2012. This year, however, one particular stand is of special interest to me: for the first time, the Barbier-Mueller Museum is taking part in the project.

A Museum of Survival
27.01.2026

By decision of the United Nations, 27 January, the day Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945, is observed as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this occasion, I would like to tell you about the Jewish Museum of Switzerland in Basel, which I visited last week.

“Family Matters”
22.01.2026

This is the theme of the upcoming Yehudi Menuhin International Music Festival in Gstaad, which will take place from 16 July to 5 September 2026.

Jonathan Nott and the “сhildren”
20.01.2026

The contract of the British conductor as Music Director of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande expired at the end of last year. Yet he is already returning to Geneva, this time as a guest conductor, to bring together the OSR and the Orchestra of the Geneva Music Conservatory (HEM Geneva).

Lucerne Impressions
18.01.2026

In just two days at the Le Piano Symphonique festival, I gathered enough impressions for an entire season. Let me share them with you.

A Realm of Darkness Without a Ray of Light
15.01.2026

Today, the novel Return to Ostrog by Sasha Filipenko goes on sale in bookshops across Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Canada. The French translation, by Marina Skalova, has been published by the Lausanne-based Éditions Noir sur Blanc. 

A Violin Obsession
13.01.2026

From January 30 to February 7, the renowned Swiss Alpine resort of Gstaad will host the international Sommets Musicaux festival for the 26th time — a place where everyone is sure to find something to delight their ear.

About the author

Nadia Sikorsky

Nadia Sikorsky grew up in Moscow where she obtained a master's degree in journalism and a doctorate in history from Moscow State University. After 13 years at UNESCO, in Paris and then in Geneva, and having served as director of communications at Green Cross International founded by Mikhail Gorbachev, she developed NashaGazeta.ch, the first online Russian-language daily newspaper, launched in 2007.

In 2022, she found herself among those who, according to Le Temps editorial board, "significantly contributed to the success of French-speaking Switzerland," thus appearing among opinion makers and economic, political, scientific and cultural leaders: the Forum of 100.

After 18 years leading NashaGazeta.ch, Nadia Sikorsky decided to return to her roots and focus on what truly fascinates her: culture in all its diversity. This decision took the form of this trilingual cultural blog (Russian, English, French) born in the heart of Europe – in Switzerland, her adopted country, the country distinguished by its multiculturalism and multilingualism.

Nadia Sikorsky does not present herself as a "Russian voice," but as the voice of a European of Russian origin with the benefit of more than 30 years of professional experience in the cultural world. She positions herself as a cultural mediator between Russian and European traditions; the title of the blog, "The Russian Accent," captures this essence – the accent being not a linguistic barrier, not a political position but a distinctive cultural imprint in the European context.

Events
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Most read
Marisol – Sea and Sun at Kunsthaus Zürich

That is how the name of the artist María Sol Escobar (1930-2016) is generally understood today. The first European retrospective of her work is now on view at Switzerland’s largest fine arts museum. The exhibition has been organised in collaboration with Denmark’s Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and the Buffalo AKG Art Museum in the United States.

“Rodin according to Rilke”

At the Fondation Pierre Gianadda in Martigny, an excellent exhibition organised by the Musée Rodin in Paris is now on view under the patronage of the President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin. Do not miss it.

«Music as an Antidote to Chaos», or Three Days in Gstaad

Very soon, on 16 July, the famous Swiss mountain resort of Gstaad will welcome the opening of the Menuhin Festival. I hope you have already booked tickets for all the concerts that interest you. If not, read on and act quickly. In fact, read on anyway.