Search - Vasily Agapkin, Lev Konstantinovich Knipper, Russian Anonymous :: Red Army Choir

Martial melodies and classic folksongs

Chapulina R | Tovarischi Imports, USA/RUS | 10/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You don't need to understand Russian to enjoy the outstanding voices and magnificent melodies of the Red Army Choir. Not all the tracks on this splendid CD are martial, but I especially love the World War ll era songs. My personal favorite -- "Svyaschennaya Voina", or "Sacred War" -- is a stirring call to fight for the Motherland:"Vstavai, strana ogromnaya! Vstavai na smertniy boi
S fashistskoi ciloi tyomnoyu; S proklyatoyu ordoi!
Poost' yarost' blagorodnaya, Vskipaet kak volna --
Idyot voina narodnaya, Svyaschennaya Voina!"(Arise, colossal land! Stand for mortal war
With fascist forces sinister; With the accursed horde!
Let avenging anger surge, Our noble anger soar --
This war is a people's war, It is a Sacred War!)The rousing words were written by Vasiliy Lebedev-Kumach the day following the Nazi invasion. They were set to music by Gen. Aleksandr Aleksandrov, founder of the original Red Army Ensemble. Rushed onto the airwaves, the song created an immediate emotional response. The defiant lyrics are empowered by the melody which ascends and descends majestically in a minor key to a march rhythm in a unique 3/4 time. Listen to Amazon's sample track and see if it doesn't make your heart beat faster! This is the signature song of the Red Army Choir. The rest of the CD is equally wonderful."

Not for everybody, but...

evanmc | Warren, PA | 06/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...if it is for you, you'll like it. If you are into Russian folk music, good choral music, or heavy duty "power" music (some of these tracks truly are songs to invade Czechoslovakia by), then seriously consider adding it to your collection. As I said, this music is not for everyone, but if it is, you could do a lot worse than this CD. There are tracks from czarist times, the period of the Revolution, and the Soviet era that followed (as explained by the liner notes), though it's missing patriotic staples like the Partisan Song and the National Anthem. The hair-raising performance of Volga Boatmen is worth the price alone."

A Trip to Soviet Russia

Timothy Kearney | Hull, MA United States | 03/18/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the 1970's, it seemed that defectors from the USSR made headlines in American newspapers every day. When a dancer defected, it was always believed that artistic freedom was the cause. When writers defected, it was due to the controversy surrounding their works. Athletes were usually viewed as wanting a taste of the good life, but when the Red Army Choir defected, it was a sweet victory for the west. These people were the symbol of all the USSR stood for and sang anthems praising the Soviets, yet they longed for freedom. We loved it when they defected.Even though many of the songs performed by the ensemble praised the virtues of the Soviet Union, western audiences love the group. No it was not due to be soft on Communism. The group had a sound that was addictive and possessed terrific musical gifts, all of which can be found in this recording.Listening to this recording is almost nostalgic now that the Soviet Union is no longer, but the recording has a certain appeal. It includes all the favorites including Meadowlands (Polyushku pole), Dark Eyes, Moscow Nights, and the Volga Boatman's Song, probably the best piece on the recording. The ensemble performs well together, the band give the music a distinct sound, and while the soloists are not perfect, the imperfections somehow seem appropriate. There are more expensive recordings by this ensemble, but this budget CD is not just well worth the price, it is actually one of the best available."