The Soviet ensemble was created by F. N. Danilovich, director P. I. Ilyin a… Read Full Bio ↴The Soviet ensemble was created by F. N. Danilovich, director P. I. Ilyin and choirmaster A. V. Aleksandrov. The main organiser and the first musical director of the ensemble was the professor of the Moscow Conservatory named after P. I. Tchaikovsky , later People's Artist of the USSR , composer Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov (1883-1946); he led the ensemble for 18 years.

The first performance of the Ensemble took place in the Central House of the Red Army, October 12, 1928. The team consisted of 12 people: 8 singers, 2 dancers, an accordion player and a reader. The performance was a great success - and after it the decision to create the ensemble was finally approved. October 12, 1928 is considered to be the birthday of the military creative team.

On December 1, 1928, the ensemble was enrolled in the staff of the Central House of Arts and was named the Red Army Song Ensemble of the Central House of the Red Army named after M.V. Frunze .

Since November 27, 1935 it was named the Red Banner Ensemble of the Red Army Song and Dance of the USSR . On this day, the Central Executive Committee of the USSR issued a resolution on awarding the team with the Honorary Revolutionary Red Banner with the Order of the Red Star attached to it . At the same time, the head of the ensemble A. V. Alexandrov was awarded the same order , and 10 participants, the head P. I. Ilyin and 2 organizers F. N. Danilovich and A. S. Gorsky became holders of the Order of the Badge of Honor introduced the day before. By December 1, 1935, the team had grown to 135 people.

One of the distinguishing features of the ensemble is the presence in the orchestra of Russian folk instruments - domra and balalaika .

Nowadays, The Alexandrov Ensemble (also known as the Red Army Choir) is an official army choir of the Russian armed forces.

The Ensemble has entertained audiences both in the Soviet Union 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.

It is named for its first director, Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov (1883–1946). Its formal name since 1998 has been A. V. Alexandrov Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army (Russian: Академический ансамбль песни и пляски Российской Армии имени А. В. Александрова, Akademichesky ensemble pesni i plyaski Rossiyskoy Armii imeni A. V. Alexandrova), shortened to Academic Ensemble (Академический ансамбль, Akademichesky ensemble) on second reference.

On 25 December 2016, its artistic director, Valery Khalilov, and 63 other members of the Ensemble were killed in the Russian Defence Ministry aircraft crash of a 1983 Tupolev Tu-154 into the Black Sea just after takeoff from the southern resort city of Sochi, Russia. The Red Army Choir singers and dancers were en route to Syria to entertain Russian troops there for Orthodox Christmas celebrations.

At the establishment, in 1928, the choir was named Red Army Song Ensemble of the M. V. Frunze Red Army Central House (Ансамбль красноармейской песни Центрального дома Красной Армии имени М. В. Фрунзе). In 1935, it was renamed Red-Bannered Red Army Song and Dance Ensemble of the USSR (Краснознамённый ансамбль красноармейской песни и пляски СССР).

In 1949 the ensemble was officially named the A. V. Alexandrov Twice Red-bannered and Red-starred Song and Dance Ensemble of the Soviet Army (Дважды Краснознамённый ордена Красной Звезды ансамбль песни и пляски Советской Армии имени А. В. Александрова). In 1978 the word "academic" was added to the title (A. V. Alexandrov Twice Red-bannered and Red-starred Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Soviet Army). After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the ensemble received its present name in 1998.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Choir

Rostov's City
The Red Army Choir Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Мы жили в этом городе
Любили в этом городе
Ходили в этом городе гулять
Как шли мы с разговорами
С гитарой, с переборами
Любили мы подружкам напевать

Ростов-город, Ростов-Дон!

Синий звёздный небосклон
Улица Садовая, скамеечка кленовая
Ростов-город, Ростов-Дон!

Пришла война суровая
Зажгла огни багровые
Хлебнули мы свинцового дождя
И, оставляя город наш
Любимый, светлый город наш
Мы в сердце уносили, уходя

Ростов-город, Ростов-Дон!
Синий звёздный небосклон
Улица Садовая, скамеечка кленовая
Ростов-город, Ростов-Дон!

Но вот вернулись снова мы
Давя врага подковами
Сметая каски вместе с головой
Наш город — слава новая
Наш город — жизнь суровая
Идем мы вновь знакомой мостовой

Ростов-город, Ростов-Дон!
Синий звёздный небосклон
Улица Садовая, скамеечка кленовая
Ростов-город, Ростов-Дон!

Ростов-город, Ростов-Дон!
Синий звёздный небосклон

Улица Садовая, скамеечка кленовая
Ростов-город, Ростов-Дон!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Rostov's City" by The Red Army Choir celebrate the city of Rostov, located in the Don River region of Russia. In the first verse, the singers express their love for the city and their fond memories of walking its streets, engaging in conversations, and serenading their girlfriends with guitars. It depicts a joyous and vibrant atmosphere.

The repetition of the line "Rostov-gorod, Rostov-Don!" throughout the song serves as a rallying cry, emphasizing the pride and attachment to the city. It reflects the deep-rooted sense of belonging and identification with Rostov.

However, the second verse takes a somber turn as it acknowledges the arrival of war, which brought devastation and destruction. The vivid imagery of "crimson lights" and "lead rain" symbolizes the violence and hardships faced by the residents. Yet, even as they are forced to leave behind their beloved city, the singers carry its spirit within their hearts, signifying their unwavering love and loyalty.

But the story doesn't end there. The third verse shows the return of the inhabitants to Rostov, this time as victorious soldiers. They crush the enemy under their boots, metaphorically represented as horseshoes. The references to dismantling helmets and heads illustrate the defeat of the opposition and the re-establishment of their city's strength and pride.

The chorus repeats once again, emphasizing the unyielding connection to Rostov and its significance in the singers' lives. It speaks to the city's resilience, as it becomes a symbol of new glory and the harsh realities of life. The closing lines reiterate the familiar landmarks of Rostov, such as Sadovaya Street and a maple tree bench, further reinforcing the sentimental attachment to their hometown.

Overall, "Rostov's City" portrays a journey of love, loss, and triumphant return, encapsulating the enduring bond between the residents and their cherished city, Rostov.

Rostov's CityThe Red Army Choir Lyrics

Chelsja Do Hades

on On the Road

Rostov's City
The Red Army Choir Lyrics