Kalinka (Калинка) - EPIC Soviet/Russian Instrumental Song

Kalinka (Калинка) is a Russian song written in 1860 by the composer and folklorist Ivan Larionov and first performed in Saratov as part of a theatrical entertainment that he had composed. Subscribe!: Twitter: Soon, the song was added to the repertory of a folk choral group. The refrain of the song refers to the kalinka, which is the snowball tree. It has a speedy tempo and light-hearted lyrics. The main refrain (Kalinka, Kalinka ...) increases in tempo each time it is sung. One of the best-known singers of this song was Evgeny Belyaev (1926–1994). The arrangement of Kalinka which is traditionally performed by the Alexandrov Ensemble (. The Red Army Choir) turned the frivolous song into an operatic aria - and is by far the most famous and recognizable version of the song. The first ensemble soloist to perform this was Pyotr Tverdokhlebov, but the first to earn the ceremonial title of “Mr. Kalinka“ was Victor Ivanovich Nikitin at the Berlin peace concert of August 1948, where he sang three encores of the song. The title is unofficial and awarded by the audience and journalists present at successful Ensemble concerts where Kalinka earns numerous encores. A definitive recording of Kalinka was made in 1963 at the Abbey Road Studios, London by the lyric tenor Evgeny Belyaev, with the Alexandrov Ensemble, under the direction of Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov.