The Red Army Ensemble - Volume 2 - Recorded Live In London, 1963

The Alexandrov Ensemble was the official army choir of the Russian armed forces. Founded during the Soviet era, the ensemble consists of a male choir, an orchestra, and a dance ensemble.

The Alexandrov Ensemble has entertained audiences both in Russia and throughout the world, performing a range of music including folk tunes, hymns, operatic arias, and popular music. The group's repertoire has included The Volga Boatmen's Song, Katyusha, Kalinka, and Ave Maria.

The ensemble is named for its first director, Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Its formal name since 1998 is Academic Ensemble of Song and Dance of the Russian Army named after A. V. Alexandrov, shortened to Academic Ensemble.

During World War II, the Ensemble gave over 1500 performances at both Soviet fronts, entertaining troops about to go into battle, at gun emplacements, airfields, and in hospitals.

Following the death of Alexander Alexandrov, the Ensemble was taken over by his son, Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov. Under his leadership, the Ensemble gained fame outside the Soviet Union, making extensive tours worldwide.

Boris Alexandrov was a composer, arranger, conductor, music critic, artist and teacher: an important 20th century figure in Russian military music. He saw to the training and promotion of many fine soloists. After World War II, the ensemble, led by Boris Alexandrov, travelled abroad sixty-eight times and was well received in many countries throughout Europe. He carried on the central idea which drove his father: that the choir was central to the ensemble, and that without the choir there would be no ensemble.

Tracklist:

A1		The Courageous Don Cossacks
A2		Beautiful Moonlit Night (Ukrainian Folk Song)
A3		Kamarinskaya (Russian Folk Song)
A4		Ah! Lovely Night (Russian Folk Song)
A5		You Are Always Beautiful
A6		Kalinka (Russian Folk Song)
B1		A Birch Tree Stood In The Meadow (Russian Folk Song)
B2		Song Of The Plains
B3		Poem Of The Ukraine
B4		Annie Laurie (Scottish Folk Song)
B5		Zaparozhtsi Dance (Soldiers' Dance)

                       

Credits:

Chorus Master, Conductor– Colonel Konstantin Vinogradov
Directed By, Conductor– Major Vladimir Alexandrov
Directed By, Conductor [Principle]– Colonel Boris Alexandrov

The Red Army Ensemble - Volume 2 - Recorded Live In London 1963
(192 kbps, cover art included, vinyl rip)