Recordings

RUSSIAN FOLK ORCHESTRA of Saint-PETERSBURG UNIVERSITY (2005)

Music by Vassili Andreyev, Anton Arensky, Vadim Bibergan, Jules Massenet, Roman Zapatrin

Conductor: Alexey DOLGOV

This compact disk is the first full-size professional recording of the Orchestra. We did our best to make it an overview of the modern life of the Orchestra. That is why the disk's content is a bit manifold in terms of epochs, styles, and genres. It includes the "golden repertoire" of the Russian folk music, songs, as well as adaptations of the classical, modern, and cinematographic music. The "Solemn polonaise" by Vassili Andreyev opens the disk has come be the calling card for the Orchestra. The "Fantasy for piano and orchestra" by Anton Arensky (the Russian romantic composer, the teacher of S. Rahmaninov and A. Skrjabin) takes a special place in the repertoire. It was originally written for piano and symphonic orchestra on the themes of the folk narrator Ivan Rjabinin. This version is a superior sample of an adaptation for the Russian folk orchestra.

There are pieces composed by the orchestra players (e. g. "The Russian Soldier's Song"). One of the immutable traditions of the Orchestra is to finish all performances with the "Peddlers" song.

We dedicate our disk to the 280th anniversary of our University (it was founded by Peter the First in 1724). We would like to thank everybody who provides our Orchestra with a continuous support: Mrs. A. B. Stepanova, Mrs. A. S. Shchavinskaya, our friends and colleagues in Scandinavia, and all the others who helped us to make this compact disk a reality.

Tracks:

1. V. ANDREYEV (1861-1918) Solemn Polonaise
2. G. KITLER. Waltz "Expectation"
3. A. ARENSKY (1861-1906) Fantasy on themes by I. Ryabinin for piano and orchestra, op. 48
4. E. DERBENKO (1948) Russian Song
5. J. MASSENET (1842-1912) Elegy
6. V. ANDREYEV. Waltz "Recollections of Gatchina"
7. V. BIBERGAN (1937) Aria
8. L. KNIPPER (1898-1974) Steppe Cavalry Song ("Poljushko-Pole"), arr. I. Shitenkov
9. "Summertime Waltz," Finnish folk song, arr. A. Dolgov
10. "Autumn Leaf," Russian folk song, arr. A. Shalov
11. P. PICCIONI (1921-2004) "The Pilgrim," arr. M. Sheinckman
12. R. ZAPATRIN (1958) The Russian Soldier's Song
13. C. VELASQUEZ (1924-2005) "Besame Mucho," arr. Terem-Quartet
14. A. SHALOV (1926-2001) Country Quadrille
15. V. KUPREVICH (1925-1990) Journey to Mosalsk
16. "The Peddlers," Russian folk song, arr. M. Dorfman

Soloists:
Georgy Blagodatov (piano) - 3, 7
Elena Ospishcheva (domra alt) - 5
Andrey Dolgov (balalaika prima) - 10, 14
Roman Dominov (balalaika double-bass) - 12
Alexander Pudovkin (balalaika prima) - 14

© Russian Folk Orchestra of Saint-Petersburg University Recorded live at the Twelve Collegium Hall, May 2004 Mastering: S. A. D. Studio Sound engineers: Alexey Degtjarev, Evgeniy Zhitkov Artist: Elena Galerkina Photo: Andrey Utkin Manufactured by the Ural Electronic Plant (Russia)