Dmitri Hvorostovsky

Home , Ballad of a Soldier, Constantine Orbelian, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Konstantin Simonov, Like a Star in the Night

WAIT

Constantine Orbelian Novaya Opera Orchestra

DE 3475 1 0 13491 34752 3

WAIT FOR ME

1. Goryachii sneg • Hot Snow (3:26) 11. Chernoglazaya kazachka • Dark-eyed Music: A. Pakhmutova; Lyrics: M. Lvov Cossack Girl (3:03) 2. Zhdi menya • Wait for Me (4:53) Music: M. Blanter; Lyrics: I. Selvinsky Music: M. Blanter; Lyrics by K. Simonov 12. Oganyok • Glowing Little Light (4:21) 3. Mother’s Arioso from the Cantata Composer unknown; Lyrics: M. Isakovsky Nam Nuzhen Mir • We Need Peace (3:11) 13. Solovyi • Nightingales (6:37) Music: A. Petrov; Lyrics: G. Roublev Music: V. Solovyov-Sedoy; Lyrics: A 4. Kak sluzhil soldat • The Soldier Served Fatyanov (5:17) 14. Pushki molchat dalnoboinye • Long- Music: M. Blanter; Lyrics: K. Simonov range Cannons are Silent (2:47) 5. Maya lubimaya • My Beloved Girl (2:02) Music: M. Blanter; Lyrics: M. Matusovsky Music: M. Blanter; Lyrics: Y. Dolmatovsky 15. V lesu prifrontovom • In the Woods 6. Alyosha (4:16) Near the Front (4:53) Music: E. Kolmanovsky; Lyrics: E. Vashenkin Music: M. Blanter; Lyrics: M. Isakovsky 7. Minuti tishiny • Moments of Silence 16. Ekhal ya iz Berlina • On My Way from (2:53) Berlin (2:21) Music: A. Petrov; Lyrics: M. Matusovsky Music: I. Dunaevsky; Lyrics: L. Oshanin 8. Dunai Goluboi • The Danube is Blue (3:59) Total time: 63:43 Music: A. Dolukhanyan; Lyrics: S. Smirnov 9. Ballada o soldate • Ballad of a Soldier (5:24) DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY, Baritone Music: V. Solovyov-Sedoy; Lyrics: M. CONSTANTINE ORBELIAN, Conductor Matusovsky NOVAYA OPERA ORCHESTRA 10. Zhdi menya • Wait for Me (3:19) STYLE OF FIVE ENSEMBLE Music: N. Gorbenko; Lyrics: K. Simonov MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS CHORUS

Arrangements by Evgeny Stetsuk

2 ne evening in the summer of 2001, this album. At the time we were making Delos founder Amelia Haygood the recording, we had no idea how many and I were relaxing with Dmitri people around the world would soon be OHvorostovsky and Constantine Orbelian experiencing some of the feelings expressed in a Moscow restaurant after a recording in these songs.” session for Dmitri’s Verdi Arias album (DE 3292). Dmitri and Constantine began American Record Guide summed up the describing some of their favorite popular response to Where Are You, My Brothers, Russian songs written during WWII and and encouraged us in our plans for Moscow in the war’s aftermath. They had both Nights: “Hvorostovsky’s dark, lyrical, grown up with these songs, Dmitri in burnished baritone treats this material Siberia and Constantine in San Francisco. as if it were among the great Russian art As they took turns singing phrases to songs… and Orbelian gets a good deal Amelia and me, we all began to recognize of soul out of them… I was stirred by a recording plan taking shape: Where these songs, and hope Hvorostovsky and Are You, My Brothers? — Songs of the War assisting forces are planning a follow-up.” Years (DE 3315) and, two years later, its sequel, Moscow Nights (DE 3339). Moscow Nights became a favorite Delos title as well, and I can only wish Amelia were When the first of these two albums, “Where still with us to experience the poignant Are You, My Brothers?” was ready for release, songs presented here in Wait for Me, the Amelia described it as “an emotionally third album in this unique series. charged program… something so special that I know my description won’t do it justice. I didn’t grow up knowing these – Carol Rosenberger songs, as Dmitri, Constantine and all of the other performers did, but I grew up knowing the sentiments expressed so poignantly, and I know that handkerchiefs will be appropriate gear when listening to

3 n the summer of 2001, Russian bari- hidden from the public has made the tone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, known for story of the war and the people in it much his gorgeous baritone voice and great darker and more complex, the image and Iopera performances – and American con- symbolism of the war — and especially ductor Constantine Orbelian, then music the victory — still has the ability to unite director of the Moscow Chamber Orches- and uplift the general public. tra – came up with the novel idea of a recording of songs written during the Sec- ond World War. There was plenty of great, The arts were particularly important in musically rich material to draw from. keeping the memory and the inevitable mythology alive. Songs – hundreds of When the German Army crossed the them written, performed and broadcast border of the (then) Soviet Union, the during the war – became an important war had become for its citizens the part of the war legacy. They were the Great Patriotic War. Its four years of strongest emotional document of the war enormous loss, destruction, sacrifice, times. For example, consider «Wait for suffering and heroism had huge and Me,» the album’s title song. What more lasting consequences for the country. poignant and universal wartime emotion The experience was forever imprinted in could there possibly be than that of a the psyche of those who went through soldier asking his sweetheart – again and it. The memories of this period have again, almost as if in prayer – not just been carried on through generations as a to wait for his return, but to keep faith shining example of a country and people that he is alive, thus saving him from the who came together in a heroic struggle dangers of war. But as the Great Patriotic for freedom, and as proof of human War moved into the past, the best of the strength, nobility, patriotism and other war songs acquired a more universal great qualities. and timeless meaning. They have never vanished into obscurity, and continue to be an important part of the nation’s Even now, when the publication of many culture. memoirs and of documents previously 4 Meanwhile, the collection of “war songs” cluding one at Red Square; many were kept growing after the war: numerous televised. The musical public had always war movies were produced, almost all admired Hvorostovsky as an operatic artist featuring elaborate musical scores and and classical singer. Now, in a matter of beautiful songs; and yearly national cele- months, he acquired the status of a pop star brations of the Victory Day have added for all generations in Russia and abroad. still more new songs. This success inspired Hvorostovsky and Growing up in the Soviet Union, Hvoro- Orbelian to dig deeper into the Soviet era stovsky knew and loved these songs. But song repertoire, creating the “Moscow they had been made famous (and deeply Nights” album (2006). Now, nearly a dozen revered) mostly by famous actors or pop successful projects later (including concerts singers. How, then, would the public react and recordings with Renée Fleming, Son- to an entire album of its favorites, sung by dra Radvanovsky and Anna Netrebko), an opera singer, in a more classical style? Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Constantine Orbelian have created this new CD with yet another group of war songs. It appears on In the summer of 2002, in partnership the eve of the 70th anniversary of the end with Moscow Chamber Orchestra, The of the Second World War. Spiritual Revival Choir of Russia and the folk instrument ensemble Style of Five — all conducted by Constantine Orbelian Not unlike the first collection, this one — Hvorostovsky made the recording. In consists of songs written either during the 2003, the CD was released: Where are You, Second World War—or in later years, but my Brothers? — Songs of the War Years. still connected to this painful and heroic period. Some initially appeared in movies: for example, “Moments of Silence” or “Hot Little did Hvorostovsky and Orbelian know Snow” (both 1974) or “Ballad of a Soldier” what a hit it would become! Concerts (written not for the internationally known featuring the same songs followed, in- film of the same title by Grigory Chukhrai, 5 but for a different one from 1961.) “Alyosha” For a special film-concert to be shown on (1966) was inspired by a monument in the front, the popular jazz-band leader Plovdiv, Bulgaria, honoring an unnamed and singer Leonid Utesov recorded a Russian soldier. song setting the poem by Novosibirsk composer Nikolay Gorbenko in 1942. Better-known composer Matvey Blanter “Mother’s Arioso” is part of a 1954 cantata, wrote another setting for the movie Wait We Need Peace. The cantata is largely for Me, inspired by the poem (1943). forgotten, but this sincere and passionate More songs on the same text followed, song immediately gained popularity and including the one by Shlomo Drori based has been in the repertoire ever since. on a Hebrew translation; this version of the song is still popular in Israel. Two songs are based on the poem, “Wait for Me ,” by Konstantin Simonov. A writer, Except for a few light-hearted, fast paced poet and war correspondent, Simonov songs (like the post-victory “On my way wrote the poem as a personal note to his from Berlin” or the 1966 “Dark-eyed lover, actress Valentina Serova, during Cossack Girl” and heroic ones (“Ballad the first days of the war. Simonov did not of a Soldier”), most of the songs are intend to publish it, but this soldier’s plea deeply lyrical, and tell personal stories. to his beloved to wait for his return from Their often intimate, melancholic, and the war struck a chord with everyone meditative tone — embodied in touching who happened to see or hear it; so a few and soulful melodies, sometimes with months later, under pressure from friends, a hint of sentimentality — makes them the poet changed his mind. While the deeply appealing to this day, and is poem was initially rejected by editors as very well-suited to Hvorostovsky’s dark, too lyrical and not at all uplifting, it was brooding vocal timbres and his unique finally published in Pravda in January breathing technique. 1942, after which it became the favorite poem of the war years. – Maya Pritsker 6 1. Goryachii sneg – Hot Snow U doma – vishni zatsveli. A u menya v glazakh navek – Klubilis yarosno meteli Goryachii sneg, krovavyi sneg. Po stalingratskoi no zemle. Dymilis potnye shineli, The blizzards spread up fiercely I shli soldaty po zole. All around Stalingrad. I tank f sugrobe kak v bolote, Overcoats wet with steamy sweat I byut snaryady po brone, As the soldiers went through the ashes. Snezhinki tayali f polyote, Tanks in snowdrifts and swamps, Kak vetki s listyami v ogne. The shells falling on armored steel. I padal v bitve chelovek Snowflakes melt as they fly, V goryachii sneg, f krovavyi sneg. As leafy branches burn in the fire. And in the battle, people fell – Smertelnoi bitvy etoi veter, In the hot snow, wet with blood. Kak by rasplavlenyi metal, I zhok, i plavil fsio na svete, This deadly battle’s wind, Shto dazhe snek goryachim stal. Like molten metal, I za chertoi poslednei, strashnoi, Burned and melted everywhere Sluchalos, tank i chelovek So that it made the snow hot. Fstrechalis f skhvatke rukopashnoi, And the final deadly blow I prevrashchalsya f pepel snek. Brought men and tanks together Khvatal rukami chelovek In hand-to-hand fighting, Goryachii sneg, krovavyi sneg. Making ashes of even the snow. Soldiers grasped the hot snow, Opali belye meteli. Wet with blood. Tsvetami stali po vesne. Bolshie gody proleteli, White snowstorms, as winter faded, A ya fsio sertsem na voine, Turned into spring’s flowers. Gde otpevali nas meteli, Decades may have passed, Gde v zemliu mnogie legli. But I’m still there – at the war; …A doma mamy posedeli. Where blizzards sang a funeral song, 7 Where the best of us lay dead. Vypiut gorkoe vino Back home, our mothers have gone gray, Na pomin dushi… And the cherry trees are in full bloom. Zhdi. I s nimi zaodno But before my eyes, there is forever Vypit ne speshi. The hot snow, wet with blood. Zhdi menya, I ya vernus, 2. Zhdi menya – Wait for me Fsem smertyam nazlo. Kto ne zhdal menya, tot pust Zhdi menya, i ya vernus, Skazhet: - Povezlo. Tolko ochen zhdi. Zhdi, kagda navodyat grust Ne ponyat, ne zhdafshim im, Zholtye dozhdi, Kak sredi agnya, Zhdi, kagda snega metut, Azhdaniem svaim Zhdi, kagda zhara. Ty spasla menya. Zhdi, kagda drugikh ne zhdut, Pozabyf fchera. Kak ya vyzhil, budem znat Zhdi, kagda iz dalnikh mest Tolko my s taboi. Pisem ne pridyot. Prosto ty umela zhdat Zhdi, kagda ush nadaest Kak nikto drugoi. Fsem, kto vmeste zhdiot. Wait for me, Zhdi menya, I ya vernus, And I’ll be back. Ne zhelai dobra But please, just wait. Fsem, kto znaet naizust Wait, when sadness comes Shto zabyt pora. With the yellow rains; Wait, in a snowstorm; Pust poveryat syn I mat Wait, when it’s hot; F to, shto net menya, Wait, even when others don’t… Pust druzya ustanut zhdat, Their yesterdays forgotten. Siadut u agnya,

8 Wait, when there’s no news from afar. 3. Mother’s arioso from the Cantata Wait day and night, and believe in me! Nam Nuzhen Mir • We Need Peace Wait for me, and I’ll be back. Don’t listen when they say, Fse liudi spyat. That it’s no use; that No mat ne spit sichas. I won’t come back to you. I ne smykaet mat ustalykh glas. Byla vaina. Let my son and my mother Byl sin ubit v baiu. Believe that I am no more. Let my friends tire of waiting, Pred nim atkryto bylo sto darog – And sit down by the fire, On byt uchyonym mok. And drink bitter wine On stat paetom mok. For the peace of departed souls. A noch temna. But you: wait – No verit mat I zhdyot – Don’t drink with them. Razdastsa v dveri stuk, I syn vernyotsa vdruk. Wait for me and I’ll come back; Death won’t take me now. Fse liudi spyat. Those who didn’t wait, No mat ne spit sichas. Let them say: “Lucky man!” I lyutsa sliozy iz ustalykh glas. They will never understand, I mnoga dnei, I mnoga let Even as battle rages around me, Ana fsio syna zhdiot That you, just by waiting, A syna net…. Will have saved me. Everyone is slumbering. How I survived, But mother doesn’t sleep now. Only you and I will know: She can’t close her weary eyes. You, like no one else, There was a war. Knew how to wait! Her son was killed in combat; He gave his life for his motherland. 9 So many paths were open before him: Posmotrel soldat na zhenu svayu, He could’ve become a scientist, I skazal soldat slovo gorkoe: He could’ve become a poet. The night is dark, “Vidno ty, zhena, khorosho zhila, But mother still hopes and waits Khorosho zhila – ne sostarilas…” To hear a knock on the door, Kak v otvet s kryltsa govorit ona, And her son will be back. Govorit ona, sama plachetsya:

Everyone is slumbering. Ne zhena tvoya ya zakonnaya, But mother doesn’t sleep now. A ya doch tvaya, doch sirotskaya. Tears drip from her weary eyes. A zhena tvaya piatyi got lezhit For many days, and many years, Vo syroi zemle, pod beryozinkoi.” She has been waiting for her son. Kak voshol v izbu, sel za stol soldat, But he is not alive… Zelena vina prikazal podat. Pyot fsiu noch soldat, po sedym usam 4. Kak sluzhil soldat – The soldier To l vino techyot, to li slozynki. served Kak sluzhil soldat sluzhbu ratnuyu. Kak sluzhil soldat sluzhbu ratnuyu. Sluzhbu ratnuyu, sluzhbu trudnuyu. Sluzhbu ratnuyu, sluzhbu trudnuyu. Dvatsat let sluzhil da eshchyo pyat let… Dvatsat let sluzhil da eshchyo pyat let… General-anshef emu otpusk dal. General-anshef emu otpusk dal. The soldier served in the army; Kak prishol soldat vo rodimyi dom – His military service was very hard. Fsia to grud f krestakh, ves sedoi, kak lun. Twenty years he served, plus five more. Na kryltse stoit moloda zhena – The chief general granted him leave. Dvatsati godof slovno ne bylo. The soldier returned to his native home, Ni morshchinki net na shchekakh yiyo, Wearing all his war medals; his hair gone Ni sedinki net f kosakh devichiikh. gray.

10 On the porch, his young wife welcomes 5. Maya lubimaya – My beloved girl him, As if twenty years had not passed at all. Ya ukhodil togda f pakhot F’surovye kraya. No wrinkles on her cheeks, Rukoi vzmakhnula u vorot Not a single gray hair in her braids. Maya lubimaya. He looked up at his young wife, And his words were bitter. Vtoroi strelkovyi khrabryi vzvot Teper maya semya. “It looks like you had a very good life, Privet-paklon tebe on shliot, So good that you didn’t grow old…” Maya lubimaya. And his wife replied, standing on the porch, Shtob vse mechty mai sbylis Tears flowing as she told him: V pakhodakh i bayakh, Izdaleka mne ulybnis “I am not your wife, whom you married; Maya lubimaya. I am your daughter, and an orphan. We buried your wife five years ago. V karmane malenkom mayom She’s in her grave, under the birch tree.” Est kartochka tvaya. Tak znachit my fsegda vdvayom, Into the hut he went, and sat at the table. Maya lubimaya. He asked her to bring him new wine. All night long he sat, drinking, I went to the war, Both wine and tears dripping from his To a troubled region. face. A hand waved to me From my beloved girl’s gate. The soldier served in the army; His military service was very hard. The second infantry platoon Twenty years he served, plus five more. Is now my brave family. The chief general granted him leave. They all send their regards

11 To my beloved girl. Emu ne saiti s vysaty. Tsvetof on ne darit defchatam, For all my dreams to come true Ani emu daryat tsvety. As battles and campaigns rage, From so far away, send me a smile, Privychnyi, kak sontse, kak veter My beloved girl. Kak sontse I veter, Privychnyi, kak sontse I veter In my little pocket, Kak v nebe vechernem zvezda. I keep your photo. Stait on nad gorodom etim, For me it means Nad gorodom etimю We are always together, Kak butta nad gorodom etim My beloved girl. Vot tak I stayal on fsigda.

6. Alyosha Beleit li f pole porosha Il gulkie livni shumiat Beleit li f pole porosha Stoit nad garoyu Alyosha Il gulkie livni shumiat Balgarii russkii soldat. Stoit nad garoyu Alyosha Balgarii russkii soldat. Whether first snows cover the field, Or rains are loudly drumming, I sertsu po-prezhnemu gorko, Alyosha will stand on the mountain Shto posle svintsovoi purgi Alyosha: a Russian soldier of Bulgaria. Is kamnya evo gimnastyorka, . Is kamnya evo sapogi. The heart feels bitterness That after a terrible snowstorm Nemalo pat strashnayu noshei His uniform shirt is made of rock Leglo bezymyannykh parnei. And so are his boots. No to, shto vot etot – Alyosha, There are many nameless men Izvesno Baolgarii fsei. Lying there under the mountain. K dalinam, pakoem abyatym, But this one – Alyosha –

12 Is known to all of Bulgaria. Gde v okoshkah ogni zazheny. I v zemlyankakh v dni voiny He will never step down Dyshat mirom nashi sni. From the heights into the peaceful valley. He will never give flowers to the girls – Kak predvidet naperyot They will bring flowers to him. Trudnyi put strelkovykh rot, Kto daidyot do blizhaishei perepravy, As familiar as the sun or the wind – Kto do samoi pabedy daidyot? Like a star in the night sky – Kak predvidet naperyot, He will rise and stand over this city, Shto tebya na svete zhdiot? As he has always stood: Familiar – like the sun, like the wind. Kak ni stranno, v dni voiny Est minuti tishiny, Whether first snows cover the field, Kagda boi zatikhaet ustalo Or rains are loudly drumming, I razryvy pochti ne slishny. Alyosha will stand on the mountain I staim my v dni voiny, Alyosha: a Russian soldier of Bulgaria. Tishinoi oglusheny.

7. Minuti tishiny – Moments of silence Strange as it may seem, Moments of silence happen in wartime. Kak ni stranno, v dni voiny When the fighting dies down Est minuti tishiny, And explosions can hardly be heard. Kagda boi zatikhaet ustalo In these days of war, we are there, I razryvy pochti ne slishny. Stunned by deafening silence. I staim my v dni voiny, Tishinoi oglusheny. It happens so that in the days of war, Lying in entrenchments, we dream at Tak byvaet v dni voiny - night. Nam v okopakh snyatsa sni, In these dreams, we see our villages – Snaytsa nam dovoennye syola, With lights in the windows.

13 In the trenches, in the days of war Matrosy s “palundroi” v ataku idut! We see the peaceful life of our dreams. Nam pesnya tverdila: Dunai – goluboi, A my evo krasnym vidali s taboi. Who can foresee what will happen Along the rifle company’s path? Zarnitsy boya f chas nochnoi, Who will get to the nearest crossing, I krof meshaetsa s volnoi. Who will get the victory? I boi, tyazholyi, kak va sne, How can one foresee I beskozyrka na volne. What will happen to him? Dunaiskie volny, rechnoi parakhot Strange as it may seem, Vesyolykh turistof na zapad vezyot… Moments of silence happen in wartime. Na palube vmeste staim my s taboi When the fighting dies down I vidim fpervye : Dunai – goluboi. And explosions can hardly be heard. In these days of war, we are there, Golubiznoi blesnyot volna, Stunned by deafening silence. A nam pripomnilas vaina. I boi, tyazholyi, kak va sne, 8. Dunai Goluboi - The Danube is blue I beskozyrka na volne.

Dunaiskie volny, matrosskii pakhod – From the Danube’s waves, the sailor’s Doroga k pobede na zapat vidiot. campaign, Nam pesnya tverdila: Dunai – goluboi. The road to victory leads westward. A my evo serym vidali s taboi. The song tells us: the Danube is blue. But what we saw was gray. Shli tuchi serye nad nim, I s beregof pazharishch dym. Gray clouds flew over the river, I boi, tyazholyi, kak va sne, And the smoke of fires from its banks. I beskozyrka na volne. And in the hard battle, as in a dream, A sailor’s cap floats on the waves. Dunaiskie volny, moskofskii saliut, Waves of the Danube, Moscow salutes

14 The sailors with “Watch out,” and attack! Shol bes privala, The song tells us: the Danube is blue. Shol fpiriot soldat. But what we saw was red. Shol on nochami grozovymi, The fires of battle fire light up the night, V’dozhd i grat. And blood mixes with the waves. Pesniu s druziami frontovymi And in the hard battle, as in a dream, Pel soldat. A sailor’s cap floats on the waves. Pel soldat, glotaya sliozy, Pel pro russkie beriozy, Waves of the Danube, a river steamer Pro kari ochi, Now carries happy tourists westward ... Pro dom svoi otchii On deck, we stand together with them, Pel f puti soldat. And for the first time we see: the Danube is blue. Slovno priros k plechu soldata Aftomat – The waves will shed shining blue light Fsudu vragof svaikh zaklyatykh As we recall the days of war, Bil soldat. And in the hard battle, as in a dream, Bil soldat ikh pot Smolenskom, A sailor’s cap floats on the waves. Bil soldat f posyolke enskom, Pul ne shchitaya, 9. Ballada o soldate – Ballad of a Glas ne smykaya, soldier Bil vragof soldat.

Polem, vdol berega krutova Polem, vdol berega krutova Mimo khat, Mimo khat, F seroi shineli ryadovova F seroi shineli ryadovova Shol soldat. Shol soldat. Shol doldat, pregrat ne znaya, Shol soldat, sluga Otchizny, Shol soldat, drusei tiraya, Shol soldat vo imya zhizni, Chasto, byvalo, Zemliu spasaya,

15 Mir zashchishchaya, Not closing his eyes, Shol fpiriot soldat. The soldier struck the enemy.

Through the fields, by the steep river Through the fields, by the steep river bank, bank, Past the huts, Past the huts, In a grey overcoat, In a grey overcoat, The soldier went on. The soldier went on. He went on; no barriers could stop him. The soldier went on, He went on, as his friends fell. A servant of his Fatherland. Often, he went without halting, He went on, in the name of life. Ahead he went. Saving his land, defending peace The soldier went ahead. He went on through stormy nights, In rain and hail. 10. Zhdi Menya – Wait for me With his brother soldiers (see text on page 8-9) He sang the song. Swallowing tears, he sang the song. 11. Chernoglazaya kazachka – Dark- He sang about birch trees, eyed Cossack girl About dark eyes. The soldier sang of his home Chernoglazaya kazachka As he went on. Potkovala mne konya. Serebro s menya sprosila As if rooted to his shoulder Trut nedorogo tsenya. Was his gun, Kak zavut tebya, molotka? As on his way he went. A molotka govorit: He struck his enemies. Imya ty mayo uslyshish He struck them near Smolensk; Is pot topota kopyt. He struck them in other towns. Not counting the bullets,

16 Ya po ulitse poekhal, She replied: “You will hear my name Po doroge poskakal. From beneath your horse’s shoes.” Po tropinke mezhdu burykh, Mezhdu serykh, mezhdu skal. I rode down the street, galloped along Masha, Zina, Dasha, Nina? the road, Fsio kak butto ne ona. On narrow byways, between grey rocks. Katya, Katya vysekayut Masha, Zina, Dasha, Nina – Mne patkovy skakuna. None of these names are hers. But the horseshoes knock out her name: S toi pory khot shagom edu, Katya, Katya. Khot galopom poskachu, Katya, Katya, Katerina, Since then, as I ride or gallop my horse, Neustanno ya shepchu. “Katya, Katya, Katerina,” - I whisper Shto za bestoloch takaya – constantly. U menya zh drugaya est! What a stupid fool I am: I already have a Nu a Katiu, slovno pesniu, girlfriend. Iz grudi, brat, ne izvest. But Katya, as a never ending song, Cannot be removed from my heart. Chernoglazaya kazachka Potkovala mne konya. A dark-eyed Cossack girl shod my horse. Serebro s menya sprosila Her asking price was very small. Trut nedorogo tsenya. “What is your name, young girl?” Kak zavut tebya, molotka? She replied: “You will hear my name A molotka govorit: From beneath your horse’s shoes.” Imya ty mayo uslyshish Is pot topota kopyt. 12. Oganyok – Glowing Little light

A dark-eyed Cossack girl shod my horse. Na pozitsii devushka Her asking price was very small. Provozhala boitsa. “What is your name, young girl?” Tyomnoi nochiu prostilasya

17 Na stupenkakh kryltsa. Za sovetskuyu rodinu, I poka za tumanami Za rodnoi oganyok. Videt mok parenyok, Na okoshke na devichiem The girl saw her soldier off to the front; Fsio gorel oganyok. In night’s darkness, she bade him fare- well Parnya fstretila slavnaya On the steps of her porch. Frontovaya semya. So long as he could see it through the Fsiudu byli tovarishchi, fog, Fsiudu byli druzia. A little light shone from the girl’s window. No znakomuyu ulitsu Pozabyt on ne mok: At the front, the boy met his comrades: “Gde zh ty, devushka milaya, His new war family. Gde zh ty, moi oganyok?” All around him Were his companions and friends. I padruga dalyokaya But he couldn’t forget the familiar street: Parnu vestochku shliot., “Where are you, my dear girl, Shto liubov eyo devichia Where are you, my little light?” Nikogda ne umriot. Fsio, shto bylo zagadano, And his girl, from afar, F svoi ispolnitsa srok, - Sent a message to him: Ne pogasnet bez vremeni That her love for him would never die; Zolotoi oganyok. That everything they’d hoped Will come true in time. I prostorno, I radosno, The little light won’t burn out before Na dushe u boitsa. then. Ot takova khorosheva, Ot eyo pismetsa. This letter fills the boy’s heart I vraga nenavisnova With joy and happiness. Krepche byot parenyok, And he fights the enemy even harder,

18 For his Soviet motherland; A zafra snova budet boi – for his little light. Ush tak naznacheno sudboi, Shtob nam uiti, nedolubif, 13. Solovyi - Nightingales Ot nashikh zhon, ot nashikh nif, No s kazhdym shagom f tom boyu Solovyi, solovyi, ne trevoshte soldat, Nam blizhe dom v rodnom krayu. Pust soldaty nemnogo pospyat, Nemnogo pust pospyat. Solovyi, solovyi, ne trevoshte soldat, Pust soldaty nemnogo pospyat, Prishla i k nam na front vesna, Nemnogo pust pospyat. Soldatam stalo ne do sna – Ne potomu, shto pushki byut, Nightingales, nightingales, A potomu, shto vnov poyut, Don’t disturb the soldiers; Zabyv, shto zdes idut boii, Let the soldiers get a little sleep, Poyut shalnye solovyi. Just a little bit of sleep.

Solovyi, solovyi, ne trevoshte soldat, Spring has come to us on the front, Pust soldaty nemnogo pospyat, Making the soldiers forget about sleep. Nemnogo pust pospyat. Not because the guns keep firing, But because, despite the battles, No shto voina dlya solovya! The nightingales, like mad, U solovya ved zhizn svaya. Keep singing their song. Ne spit soldat, pripomniv dom, I sad zelyonyi nat prudom, Nightingales, nightingales, Gde solovyi fsu noch poyut, Don’t disturb the soldiers, A v dome tom soldata zhdut. Let the soldiers get a little sleep, Just a little bit of sleep. Solovyi, solovyi, ne trevoshte soldat, Pust soldaty nemnogo pospyat, But what is the war to a nightingale? Nemnogo pust pospyat. The nightingale has a life of its own.

19 The soldier, sleepless, recalls his home Plamya vo ves gorizont. And the green garden by the pond, Nasha voennaya molodost – Where nightingales sing through the Severo-Zapadnyi front. night; Where his family waits for him. Gde zh eti parni bezusye, S kem v sorok pervom godu Nightingales, nightingales, Gde-to pat Starayu Russayu Don’t disturb the soldiers, My zamerzali vo ldu. Let the soldiers get a little sleep, S kem po zhare i po kholodu Just a little bit of sleep. Shli my upriamo fpiriot. Nasha voennaya molodost – Tomorrow looms another battle - Severo-Zapadnyi front. Our destiny has been To leave our wives and homes Slavoi soldatskoi povituyu And deprive them of our love. S tekh nezapamyatnykh dnei, But each moment of the battle Zemliu, s bayami otbituyu, Brings us closer to our native land. My polubili silnei. Roshchi, odetye v zoloto, Nightingales, nightingales, Reki, proidyonnye vbrot. Don’t disturb the soldiers, Nasha voennaya molodost – Let the soldiers get a little sleep. Severo-Zapadnyi front.

14. Pushki molchat dalnoboinye - Pushki molchat dalnoboinye, Long-range cannons are silent Zalpy davno ne slyshny. Shto zh mne nochami spokoinymi Pushki molchat dalnoboinye, Snyatsa trevozhnye sny? Zalpy davno ne slyshny. Molniei nebo raskoloto, Shto zh mne nochami spokoinymi Plamya vo ves gorizont. Snyatsa trevozhnye sny? Nasha voennaya molodost – Molniei nebo raskoloto, Severo-Zapadnyi front.

20 The long-range cannons are silent, 15. V lesu prifrontovom - In the woods The volleys have not been heard for some near the front time. Why are my dreams are so disturbed S biroys neslyshen, nevesom, On these peaceful nights? Sletaet zholtyi list. The sky above me is split by lightning; Starinnyi vals “Asennii son” The flames burn away to the horizon. Igraet garmonist. Our wartime years of youth – Vzdykhaut, zhaluyas, basy, Northwestern Front. I, slovno v zabytii, Sidyat i slushaut baitsy – Where are those young fellows, Tavarishchi maii. With whom, back in ‘forty-one, Somewhere near Staraya Russa, Pad etot vals vesennim dniom We were freezing on ice. Khodili my na kruk; …With whom, in heat and in frost, Pad etot vals f krayu random We stubbornly moved ahead. Liubili my padruk. Our wartime years of youth – Pad etot vals lovili my Northwestern Front. Ochei liubimykh svet; Pad etot vals grustili my, Our land, glorified by the soldiers; Kagda padrugi net. Our land, won back from the enemy – We treasure and love it even more, I vot on snova prozvuchal Since those unforgettable days. V lesu prifrontovom, Groves in golden colours; I kazdyi slushali i mechtal Rivers, waded across – O chom-to dorogom; Our wartime years of youth – I kazhdyi dumal o svaei, Northwestern Front. Pripomnif tu vesnu. I kazhdyi znal – doroga k nei Vedyot cherez vainu.

21 Pust svet i radost prezhnikh fstrech An old waltz, “Autumn dream.” Nam svetyat f trudnyi chas. Low voices sigh as if complaining, I kol pridyotsa v zemlu lech, And, as if unconscious, Tak eto sh tolko ras. The soldiers, my friends, No pust i smert v agne, v dymu Sit and listen to the song. Boitsa ne ustrashit. I shto polozheno komu – On spring days, we went to the circle Pust kazhdyi sovershit. To the sound of this waltz. Back at home, we loved our girlfriends Tak shto sh, druzia, kol nash cheriot, To the sound of this waltz. Da budet stal krepka! We looked into our sweethearts’ eyes. Pust nashe sertse ne zamriot, We were sad, to the sound of this waltz, Ne zadrozhit ruka. When our girls weren’t with us. Nastal cheriot, prishla pora, - Idyom, druzia, idyom. And here, we heard it again, Za fsio, chem zhili my fchera, In the woods near the front. Za fsio, shto zafta zhdiom. And everyone listened, and dreamed About something dear to him, S biroys neslyshen, nevesom, And everyone thought of his girlfriend, Sletaet zholtyi list. Remembering that bond. Starinnyi vals “Asennii son” And everyone knew that the road to her Igraet garmonist. Leads through the war. Vzdykhaut, zhaluyas, basy, I, slovno v zabytii, Let the joyful light of those times Sidyat i slushaut baitsy – Shine for us in our hour of need. Tavarishchi maii. And, if we are to die … It will happen only once. A yellow leaf, soundless, weightless, But let death, amid the fire and smoke, Drifts down from the birch. Not frighten the soldier. The accordion is playing

22 And whatever he must do, Tam gde russkaya slava Let him do it. Fse tropinki proshla.

So, friends, it’s our turn now. Ei, fstrechai, Let the steel be strong, S pobedoi pozdravliai, Let our hearts not fail us, Milymi rukami Let our hands be firm. Pokrepche obnimai. Out time has come, Come on, my friends, come on: Ochen dalnie dali We fight for all that was dear to us, My s’druziami proshli. And for all that lies ahead. I nigde ne vidali Luchshe nashei zemli. A yellow leaf, soundless, weightless, Nashe solnyshko krashe, Drifts down from the birch. I skazhu, ne taya: The accordion is playing Luchshe devushek nashikh An old waltz, “Autumn dream.” Net na svete, druzia. Low voices sigh as if complaining, And, as if unconscious, Ei, fstrechai, The soldiers, my friends, S pobedoi pozdravliai, Sit and listen to the song. Milymi rukami Pokrepche obnimai. 16. Ekhal ya iz Berlina - On my way from Berlin Za vesennie nochi, Za rodnuyu stranu, Ekhal ya iz Berlina Da za karie ochi Po doroge priamoi, Ya khodil na voinu. Na poputnykh mashinakh Vy tsvetite pyshnee, Ekhal s fronta domoi. Zolotye kraya. Ekhal mimo Varshavy, Ty tresui goriachee, Ekhal mimo Orla – Dorogaya moya.

23 Ei, fstrechai, My sweetheart. S pobedoi pozdravliai, Milymi rukami It’s for those spring nights, Pokrepche obnimai. For my native land, For those dark eyes, I drove from Berlin That I fought in the war. Directly, all the way, Prosper and flourish, In bypassing cars, My beloved land. Back home from the front. Kiss me with passion, Along the way I passed by Warsaw; My sweetheart. I passed by Oryol, Where the glorious Russian troops Hey, here I am – Advanced along all routes. Congratulate me on our victory. Embrace me tightly Hey, here I am – My sweetheart. Congratulate me on our victory. Embrace me tightly, My sweetheart. COMPOSER BIOGRAPHIES:

We may have gone far away, Matvey Blanter (1903-1990) was born My friends and I. in Kursk, Russia, where he studied pia- But nowhere did we see no and violin. In 1920-1921 he studied A fairer land than ours. composition in Moscow. Blanter worked Here the sun shines brighter, as music director in theaters, wrote songs And, friends, it’s true to say, and operettas and gained national fame Our girls are the most beautiful. in the early 1930s, when his new songs about heroes of the Russian revolution Hey, here I am – and the civil war had become instant hits. Congratulate me on our victory. A prolific songwriter, he created hun- Embrace me tightly, dreds of songs, many considered classics;

24 he was highly decorated as the people’s later music theory – in Kharkiv, where he artist, hero of socialist labor, and was also worked as a violinist and leader of awarded a state prize. the local big-band orchestra. His successful conducting career led him to Mos- Alexander Dolukhanian (1910-1968) was cow, where he ran the Hermitage Theatre, born in Tbilisi (Georgia, then part of the known for its variety shows. He moved Russian empire) into an Armenian family. on from there to Leningrad, where he He composed and studied piano from the became director and chief conductor of age of five. He graduated from Tbilisi State the city’s music hall (1929 - 34); he was Conservatory and completed his studies also one of the first proponents of jazz both in piano and composition at the Len- music in Russia. His career flourished ingrad and Moscow conservatories, in- during the Stalin era: from the 1930s to cluding studies with Nikolay Miaskovsky, the ‘50s. The energetic and optimistic one of the leading Russian symphonists. tone of his songs made some of them His musical activities ranged from piano emblems of Soviet life; they projected recitals to performing with music ensem- an image of a happy people in a hap- bles during the war, as well as recording py land: the image that the government and studying folk music. A talented com- wanted to present to the world. Howev- poser in classical genres, including piano er, they reflected the Soviet people’s true concertos, he became best known for his enthusiasm for the bright future of their lyrical and heroic songs. homeland. Dunaevsky combined great melodic talent with serious knowledge of Isaak Dunayevsky (1900-1955) was the jazz and symphonic music. He composed Soviet era’s most distinguished composer “Song of the motherland” (Pesnya o ro- of popular songs (80) and operettas (14) dine), the Soviet Union’s most famous – also music for films (42) and theater and uplifting patriotic song. In terms of (88); he was one of the creators of Soviet its role, impact and popularity, it can be musical film-comedy. He was born into a compared to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless Jewish family in a small town near Polta- America” in the USA. va (now Ukraine); he studied violin – and

25 Eduard Kolmanovsky (1923-1994) was Alexandra Pakhmutova (b. 1929), whose born into a Jewish family in Mogilev, Be- songs have been famous internationally lorussia. He studied in Moscow, first at since the 1960s, still continues to write the prestigious Gnessin College and then them (mostly with her husband and at the Moscow Conservatory, with Vissa- long-time collaborator, poet Nikolay Do- rion Shebalin, one of the leading Russian bronravov). She remains one of the most composers. After working for five years popular and prolific Russian composers, as the senior musical editor at the state whose portfolio includes more then 400 radio, he immersed himself in writing songs, as well as symphonic scores and mostly incidental and film music, be- film music. Born near the city of Stalin- coming one of the favorite composers of grad (now Volgograd), she spent most the 1970s and ‘80s. of her life in Moscow, where she studied piano and composition at the Moscow Anatoly Novikov (1896 –1984) came from Conservatory, completing her postgrad- the small provincial town of Scopin, and uate studies with Vissarion Shebalin. first studied choral singing and conduct- Throughout her creative life, she has been ing. After the October Revolution of 1917, admired not only by the public – which he worked as a music director of amateur immediately responded to her original workers’ and soldiers’ groups and as a mu- melodies and made them a part of their sic teacher, while studying at the Moscow everyday life – but by state officials as Conservatory with prominent composer well, who have always valued the sincere Reinhold Glière. His oeuvre – besides cho- patriotism, youthful enthusiasm and op- ral compositions and a few musical com- timism of her songs and showered her edies – consists mostly of popular songs with the highest awards, medals, titles of various kinds, from patriotic marches and positions. to lyrical reveries. Like most composers of popular patriotic songs, he was highly Andrey Petrov (1930-2006) belongs, like appreciated and richly decorated by the Pakhmutova, to the generation of Sovi- Soviet government. et-era born and classically trained composers that came of age during Khrus-

26 chev’s thaw. A native of St. Petersburg he later played it in the White House (then Leningrad), he decided to become for President Ronald Reagan and Soviet a composer at the age of 14, after seeing leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The Great Waltz. After graduating from the Leningrad Conservatory, he quickly became a successful composer of ballets, ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES: operas, symphonic compositions (some were performed internationally) and es- Internationally acclaimed Russian bari- pecially music and songs for about 80 tone Dmitri Hvorostovsky was born and films made for the silver screen or TV. An studied in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. In 1989, he intelligent and tolerant man, he served won the prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of for many years as the head of the Len- the World Competition. From the start, au- ingrad (and later St. Petersburg) chapter diences were bowled over by his cultivated of the Union of Composers, helping his voice, innate sense of musical line and natu- colleagues to navigate the waters of Sovi- ral legato. After his Western operatic debut et bureaucracy. at the Nice Opera in Tchaikovsky’s Pique Dame, his career exploded to take in regu- Vasily Soloviev-Sedoi (1907-1979) was lar engagements at the world’s major opera born in St. Petersburg, where he became houses and appearances at renowned inter- a pianist-improvisor on local radio and national festivals, including Royal Opera graduated from the city’s conservatory House, Covent Garden, New York’s Met- in 1936; he wrote first of his three bal- ropolitan Opera, Paris Opera, Bayerische lets in 1940. During the war, he served Staatsoper Munich, Salzburg Festival, La as the director of a front-line theater. He Scala Milan, Vienna State Opera and Chi- composed 10 operettas, but became best cago Lyric Opera. known for his songs. The most famous A celebrated recitalist in demand in ev- of them is “Moscow Nights” (Podmos- ery corner of the globe--from the Far covnuye vechera), written in 1957. It East to the Middle East, from Australia was performed by Van Cliburn in Russia, to South America – Dmitri has appeared and quickly became his favorite encore; at such venues as Wigmore Hall, London; 27 28 Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh; Carnegie Hall, thousands of people to commemorate New York; the Teatro alla Scala, Milan; the soldiers of the Second World War. the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, Moscow; Dmitri’s extensive discography spans re- the Liceu, Barcelona; the Suntory Hall, citals and complete operas. He has also Tokyo; and the Musikverein, Vienna. starred in Don Giovanni Unmasked, an The singer performs in concert with top award-winning film (by Rhombus Media) orchestras like the New York Philhar- based on the Mozart opera, tackling the monic and the Rotterdam Philharmonic, dual roles of Don Giovanni and Leporello. and conductors, including James Levine, Recently Dmitri has established a new Bernard Haitink, Claudio Abbado, Lorin collaboration with the Russian popular Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Yuri Temirkanov composer Igor Krutoi, with very success- and Valery Gergiev. ful concerts in Moscow, St Petersburg, Dmitri retains a strong musical and per- Kiev and New York. sonal contact with Russia. He became the Recent CD recordings include “In This first opera singer to give a solo concert Moonlit Night” (lieder by Tchaikovsky. with orchestra and chorus on Red Square Mussorgsky & Taneyev); “Rachmaninov in Moscow; this concert was televised in Romances” (both with pianist Ivari Ilja); a over 25 countries. Dmitri has gone on to choral recording “The Bells of Dawn” (Rus- sing a number of prestigious concerts in sian Sacred and Folk Songs); a DVD star- Moscow as a part of his own special se- ring Dmitri alongside Renee Fleming in a ries, “Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Friends.” film set in St Petersburg and a DVD record- He has invited such celebrated artists as ing “Live from Red Square Moscow” with Renée Fleming, Barbara Frittoli, Sumi Jo, Anna Netrebko as well as the “Il Trovatore” Sondra Radvanovsky, Jonas Kaufmann, from the Metropolitan Opera; all have been Marcello Giordani, Ildar Abdrazakov and met with much critical acclaim. Ramon Vargas. In 2005, together with conductor Constantine Orbelian, Dmitri The 2014-15 season will include appear- made an historic tour throughout the cit- ances at the Metropolitan Opera, Royal ies of Russia at the invitation of President Opera House Covent Garden, Wiener Putin, singing to crowds of hundreds of Staatsoper and Opera de Paris. 29 30 “Constantine Orbelian stands astride tours. In January 2004, President Pu- two great societies, and finds and pro- tin awarded Orbelian the coveted title motes synergistic harmony from the best “Honored Artist of Russia,” a title never of each.” (Fanfare) For over 20 years the before bestowed on a non-Russian citi- brilliant American pianist/conductor has zen. In May 2010, Orbelian led the open- been a central figure in Russia’s musical ing Ceremonial Concert for the Cultural life — as Music Director of the Moscow Olympics in Sochi, Russia — the first Chamber Orchestra and the Philhar- event setting the stage for Russia’s host- monia of Russia, and as frequent guest ing of the Olympic Games in 2014. In conductor with other illustrious Russian 2012, Orbelian was awarded the Rus- orchestras. In 2013 he also became Chief sian Order of Friendship (ROF) Medal, Conductor of the Kaunas City Symphony the highest Russian award bestowed on Orchestra. He tours with American stars non-Russians whose work contributes to in Russian and European music centers, the betterment of relations with the Rus- and with Russian stars in North Amer- sian Federation and its people. ican music centers, and extends these splendid collaborations to tours in Eu- “Orbelian has star quality, and his or- rope, UK, Japan, Korea, and other music chestra plays with passion and precision,” capitals throughout the world. The Audio Critic wrote of his acclaimed series of over 30 recordings on Delos. Orbelian’s appointment in 1991 as Music Among his recent concert and televised Director of the Moscow Chamber Or- appearances are collaborations with chestra was a breakthrough event: he is stars Renée Fleming and Dmitri Hvo- the first American ever to become music rostovsky, and with Van Cliburn in Cli- director of an ensemble in Russia. This burn’s sentimental return to Moscow, the “American in Moscow” is well known as great pianist’s last performance. Opera a tireless champion of Russian-Ameri- News calls Orbelian “the singer’s dream can cultural exchange and international collaborator,” and commented that he ambassadorship through his worldwide conducts vocal repertoire “with the sen-

31 sitivity of a lieder pianist.” Orbelian’s fre- age of 11. After graduating from Juilliard quent collaborations with Hvorostovsky in New York, he embarked on a career as include repertoire from their Delos re- a piano virtuoso that included appear- cordings “Where Are You, My Brothers?” ances with major symphony orchestras and “Moscow Nights,” featured on many throughout the U.S., U.K., Europe, and tours and telecasts. On several occasions Russia. His recording of the Khachaturi- he has conducted historic live telecasts an piano concerto with conductor Neeme from Moscow’s Red Square, the latest of Järvi won “Best Concerto Recording of which took place on June 19, 2013, with the Year” award in the United Kingdom. Hvorostovsky and Anna Netrebko. From his 1995 performance at the 50th Recently Orbelian has turned to film Anniversary Celebrations of the United to create more of his unique American/ Nations in San Francisco, to his 2004 Russian collaborations. His first film performance at the U.S. State Depart- production, “Renée Fleming and Dmi- ment commemorating 70 years of dip- tri Hvorostovsky: An Odyssey in St. Pe- lomatic relations between Washington tersburg,” was filmed in St. Petersburg’s and Moscow, and a repeat State Depart- most glorious palaces, and features the ment appearance in 2007, all with the two superstars in opera scenes and arias. Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Orbelian The film is in some ways a culmination continues to use his artistic eminence of Orbelian’s efforts in St. Petersburg, in the cause of international goodwill. since he is founder and Music Director He and his orchestras also participate of the annual Palaces of St. Petersburg in cultural enrichment programs for International Music Festival. young people, both in Russia and the U.S. In 2001 Orbelian was awarded the Born in San Francisco to Russian and Ar- Ellis Island Medal of Honor, an award menian emigré parents, Constantine Or- given to immigrants, or children of im- belian made his debut as a piano prodigy migrants, who have made outstanding with the San Francisco Symphony at the contributions to the United States.

32 “An excellent sense of taste and propor- ner’s Tristan und Isolde (the first Moscow tion” – “entrancing, breathtaking beauty production), Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of of orchestral sound” – “truly world-class Spades, Martynov’s The School for Wives, professionals” … these remarks are typ- the DIDO project (Nyman’s Dido - The ical of what the press has said about the Prologue and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas), Novaya Opera (NO) Orchestra. Britten’s The Turn of the Screw and Mo- zart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. In addition to The high standards of the orchestra’s per- opera performances, the orchestra collab- formance were set by the Novaya Opera’s orates in recitals of Novaya Opera soloists founder, Evgeny Kolobov. After his death, and performs symphonic programs. Its the position of chief conductor was held concert repertoire includes major sym- by other prominent musicians, until phonies by Shostakovich and Mahler, as maestro Jan Latham-Koenig assumed the well as various works by composers like position in 2011. Liszt, Strauss, Janáček, Gershwin, Weill, Milhaud and Walton, among others. The NO orchestra feels equally secure performing music of various genres, peri- Over the years, this highly versatile orches- ods and styles. In recent years its theater’s tra has collaborated with many prominent operatic premieres have included Wag- conductors: Gennady Rozhdestvensky,

33 Vladimir Fedoseyev, and Yuri Temirkan- an, in Moscow (Barvikha Luxury Village ov, to name but a few. It has worked with and the State Kremlin Palace) and in To- international opera stars like Jose Cura, bolsk (during the Summer in the Tobolsk Mario Frangoulis, Matti Salminen, Son- Kremlin Festival). Dmitri has also given a ya Yoncheva, Lyubov Petrova, and Olga concert on the Novaya Opera main stage Borodina; also instrumental soloists such as part of the World Opera Stars cycle. as pianist Nikolay Petrov and cellist Nata- lya Gutman, among many others. The orchestra actively collaborates with a num- USA Today wrote of the Russian folk instru- ber of leading ballet companies, and its ment ensamble Style of Five, “They are so members have enthusiastically taken part good at what they do that one wants to go in chamber concerts. to Russia and listen to them again and again.” Audiences on almost every continent have enthusiastically applauded the NO orches- Style of Five was established in 1994, when tra. Most recently, it performed on tour at leading soloists of St. Petersburg came to- the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv in October gether to develop musical programs that 2013, and at the English National Opera in explore fresh applications of Russian folk London in April 2014. For years, an import- instruments. The group’s unique distinc- ant aspect of the orchestra’s overall mission tion is that, apart from using traditional has been the presentation of concerts and Russian instruments – gusly, domra, bayan operas in various theatres and concert halls (accordion), double-bass, and balalaika – in Moscow and on tour throughout Russia. the ensemble uses electronic instruments as well. Another unique characteristic of The Novaya Opera Orchestra began its the ensemble is that its accomplished mu- collaboration with legendary opera star sicians are able to perform in many dif- Dmitri Hvorostovsky back when Evgeny ferent configurations: solo, duet, trio and Kolobov, the theater’s founder, was still quartet. alive. It was renewed in 2014 with performances of this program of wartime The ensemble’s high degree of collective songs, conducted by Constantine Orbeli- and individual mastery has earned them 34 35 top prizes in All-Russia as well as inter- (bayan-accordion), and Sergey Rouksha national competitions. Its members – all (balalaika, contrabass). graduates of the St. Petersburg Conser- vatory – are able to perform almost ev- The all-male Ministry of Internal Af- ery kind of musical composition. Their fairs (MIA) Chorus is the pride of the touring activities have won the hearts of Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of audiences across Russia, as well as at top the Domestic MIA Forces of Russia: the halls in Great Britain, Sweden, Germany, first (and one of the biggest) professional France, Japan and the USA, among other Army artistic teams in Russia. Found- nations; they remain in steady demand ed in 1973, the ensemble’s director and at leading international festivals. Unless conductor since 1985 has been Major you’ve heard them, you’ll hardly believe General Viktor Eliseyev, who began his the virtuosity, imagination or sheer joy career with the organization as a soldier. and fun of their programs. Over the years, its 39 varied programs have been presented in 8,000 concerts The group has long been associated with before audiences totaling over 25 million superstar baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky. people. The ensemble was awarded the In addition to touring with him exten- distinctive rank of “Academic” in 1993, sively in highly visible concerts – includ- and was honored in 1998 with an en- ing a 15-concert series celebrating the graved plate in the Square of Stars. One of 60th anniversary of Russia’s victory in Russia’s most visible cultural institutions, WW II – they have collaborated on three it represents its nation like few others. of his CDs for Delos. The label has also released a separate CD of their unique The members of the chorus are all gradu- and charmingly idiomatic playing. ates of Russia’s finest cultural academies and conservatories. The choir commands a Style of Five’s musicians are Evgeny Stet- broad repertoire, to include classical works syuk (piano, composer/arranger), Na- by Chesnokov, Bortniansky and Rach- talia Shkrebko (domra), Irina Ershova maninoff; music by more modern com- (gusli, alto domra), Victor Semenkin posers, and a wealth of patriotic and folk

36 material. Its participation in festivals and competitions worldwide has gained the group tremendous international respect.

The broader ensemble – including in- strumentalists and dancers – takes part in many official government-sponsored ceremonies and events, such as inau- gurations, important national and local (Moscow) anniversaries, WWII victory celebrations, and Olympic Games (1980). It participates regularly in important cultural festivals, competitions and charita- ble events, as well as cultural exchange activities. Its touring activities have taken the group to many dozens of nations and major cities on every continent.

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DE 3292 DE 3365 38 Recorded at the Mosfilm Tonstudio, Moscow, July 10-14, 2014 Recording Engineer: Gennady Papin Editing/mastering: Elena Sych Executive Producer: Carol Rosenberger Booklet editor: Lindsay Koob Art design/layout: Lonnie Kunkel Photo Credits: Pavel Antonov

Special Thanks to Nikolai Gulevich and to Marina Ter Mikaelian and Maya Pritsker for their invaluable help in the production of this recording.

This CD is lovingly dedicated to our parents — Alexander and Ludmilla Hvorostovsky, Vera Voznesenskaya Orbelian, and to the memory of Harry Orbelian. These four re- markable people lived through all of the horrors of war and personally experienced all of the emotions expressed in this collection of songs. — Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Constantine Orbelian

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