Track Listing

1. Russian Folk Songs: Kalinka
2. Russian Folk Songs: Barinya
3. Russian Folk Songs: Ach Ti Slishesh Li (Ah! Do You Hear, My Dearest Fiend)
4. Russian Folk Songs: Na Gorushkye (On Little Mountain, On The Mountain)
5. Russian Folk Songs: Khorovodnaya (Round Dance)
6. Russian Folk Songs: Shto Zatumanilas (Why Have You Misted Over, Clear Sunset)
7. Russian Folk Songs: Ya Vstretil Vas (I Met You)
8. Russian Folk Songs: Ivushka (The Little Window)
9. Russian Folk Songs: Kak Menya Mladu (How Was I, A Tender Young Maiden?)
10. Russian Folk Songs: Kachelniye (Rhyming Song)
11. Russian Folk Songs: Uzh Ti Polye (Ah, You Field)
12. Russian Folk Songs: Shto Bye Belaya Berioza (As Never White Birch Tree)
13. Russian Folk Songs: Ne Slijshno Shuma Gorodskogo (The Noise Of The Town Cannot Be Heard)
14. Russian Folk Songs: Vtyomnon Leyse (In The Dark Forest)
15. Russian Folk Songs: Uzh Kak Pal Tuman (Already The Fog Has Descended)
16. Russian Folk Songs: Ach Vij Sini (Ah, Shady Spot)
17. Russian Folk Songs: Veniki (Birch - Broom)
18. Russian Folk Songs: Vyhozhu Adin Ya Na Dorogu (I Set Off Alone Down The Road)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38353 in Music
• Released on: 1999-10-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 57 minutes

Customer Reviews

a cup half full but still sublime
With his rich and powerful dark honey voice, Dmitri Hvorostovsky is one of the greatest operatic baritones alive, and as an interpreter of Russian music, no singer can top him; his exquisite renditions of folk melodies, as well as the rapturous songs of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff on his other recordings are sublime.
Here he is backed not by an orchestra, but by St. Petersburg Chamber Choir, and together they present a superb collection of traditional melodies.

Unfortunately for those of us who are big Dmitri fans, he only sings on 10 of the 18 tracks, and though the chorus is excellent, his magnificent voice would have made these songs even better; the "chorus only" tracks are 4-5, 8-10, 14, and 16-17.
The popular title track, "Kalinka", has probably been included in practically every film with a Russian theme I have ever seen and is instantly recognizable, and some of the others are rare gems, but all of them will be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates Russian music.

My absolute favorite is the final "Vihaztu adin ya na darogu" ("I set off alone down the road"), which with its beautiful melody and soulful singing is glorious. Dmitri recorded this song for his first CD of folk songs in 1991, with the Ossipov Russian Folk Orchestra, with balalaikas instead of a chorus to back him; both versions are wonderful, but with this one having the edge, as I think he sings it on this recording with more emotion.
Total running time is 56'41.

A wonderful example of the richness of Russian voices
A good selection of folk songs set in both measured and 'up tempo' styles. Unaccompanied by any instruments you are allowed to bathe in the richness of the voices and harmonies. The sleeve also has a translation of the songs (Russian, English and French)which adds greater depth to your understanding of the melodies if you wish to see if your reaction matches the words. All in all this is a recording for lovers of the human voice and should be listened to on a winter's evening in front of a log fire