Balalaika Favorites (3-Channel and Stereo Hybrid SACD) [Hybrid SACD - DSD]

Nikolai Pavlovich Budashkin (Composer), Russian Traditional (Composer), Pavel Kulikov (Composer), Nikolay Osipov (Composer), Mikhailov-Shalayev (Composer), Vasily Andreyev (Composer), Vasily Pavlovich Solovyov-Sedoy (Composer), Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Yuri Shishakov (Composer), Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (Composer), Vitaly Gnutov (Conductor), Ossipov Russian Folk Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Ossipov Russian Folk Orchestra
• Conductor: Vitaly Gnutov
• Composer: Nikolai Pavlovich Budashkin, Russian Traditional, Pavel Kulikov, Nikolay Osipov, Mikhailov-Shalayev, et al.
• Audio CD (May 10, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B0007YP0UY
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,568 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #32 in Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe > Russia

Track Listings

1. Fantasy on Two Folk Songs for balalaika ensemble

2. At Sunrise

3. The Linden Tree, for balalaika ensemble

4. Kamarinskaya (folk song arrangement)

5. Fantasy on Volga Melodies, for balalaika ensemble

6. In the Moonlight for balalaika ensemble

7. Midnight in Moscow for chorus

8. Under the Apple Tree for balalaika ensemble

9. Dance of the Comedians

10. The Living Room, for balalaika ensemble

11. Vecherny zvon (The Evening Bell), folk song

12. My Dear Old Friend, Please Visit Me

13. Faun, waltz for balalaika ensemble

14. The Flight of the Bumble Bee, musical picture for orchestra (from The Tale

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific sound and fun, June 14, 2009

By 

Roderick Keech (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Balalaika Favorites (3-Channel and Stereo Hybrid SACD) (Audio CD)

I have to confess to being somewhat bemused by the previous reviewer only awarding this disc 4 stars because of the standard CD layer. Those buying this version are paying the extra because they want the 3 channel SACD version, and, as the other reviewer stated, it is glorious.

Recorded on 35 mm film and digitally transferred, it is a great deal of fun, and the sound is in the audiophile category. Maybe not a disc that you would play all the time, but when the mood takes you, it is wonderful. It is a great tribute to the recording techniques used all those years ago that this disc sounds as amazing as it does.

Highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Fine Russian Folk-Style Instrumental Music!, October 5, 2009

By 

James Yelvington "Professor" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Balalaika Favorites (3-Channel and Stereo Hybrid SACD) (Audio CD)

This review is based upon the regular CD version, not this SACD disk. I include it here because most of it should be relevant to the newer high-tech version.

The reviewer who complained about disappointed expectations of hearing mostly balalaika music seems justified. The album title is misleading in that the balalaikas, of which there are many playing nearly all the time, are not always prominent nor clearly distinguishable by ear from the domras. Both the domras and balalaikas have three strings and are played mainly in a tremolo fashion, that is, with notes being struck repeatedly by a finger or pick fanning back and forth rapidly. The differences are (1) the balalaika is usually finger-picked while the domra uses a pick or plectrum, (2) the balalaika usually is strung with one metal and two gut/nylon strings while the domra uses all metal strings, and (3) the balalaika belly is triangle-shaped while the domra's is circular. Despite the differences it often isn't easy to tell them apart by sound. In general, because of the finger-picking and nylon strings, the balalaika has a somewhat softer sound with less brightness than the domra. For this reason in Russian folk groups the domra is more often used to play the melody, leaving the balalaikas to play the accompanying harmonies.

If you want to hear balalaikas without domras confusing things you might want to try the CD "Balalaika: Russia's Most Beautiful Tunes" (Musical Heritage Society 514746X ) played by the Stars of St. Petersburg, which includes no domras, but does have several other instruments including a guitar. Another bet would be to focus on solo balalaika music such as that found on the CD "L'Art de la Balalaïka Classique" (Arion ARN 68118), but be warned that this disk, which features balalaika with piano accompaniment, focusses more on classical-style than folk music. Another possibility is to get the video DVD "Red Star: Red Army Chorus and Dance Ensemble" (Kultur D4051) which includes two balalaika solos, along with lots of great choral and solo Russian singing, a fine band, and spectacular Russian dancing. If you specially want "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago, you can find it on the 2-CD album "Don Cossack Choir" (Brilliant 93094), where it is well sung in Russian by Michael Minsky accompanied by "Balalaika Orkestra, Fedor Astachow."

Regarding the present CD, the name of the performing group is honest enough: the Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra. As such it features several types of Russian folk instruments, along with a few which are more modern and non-folk in character. The program notes briefly describe four of the folk instruments: the domra, balalaika, shepherd's horn (rojok), and goosli. (The rojok is a kind of carved wooden trumpet and the goosli is a multi-stringed instrument something like a zither or autoharp.)

The music on this 35-mm film Living Presence disk is, in itself, truly excellent! If you like Russian folk-style instrumental music, you are just about guaranteed to love what's here: a varied selection of fairly familiar composed and traditional pieces presented with great artistry and authentic Russian spirit

Though recorded in early 1960's stereo (non-digital) sound, this disk will hold its own musically against newer releases, I believe. I wouldn't trade it for anything, and don't hesitate to recommend it heartily!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An audiophile favorite... for a reason, January 18, 2008

By 

FB101 (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Balalaika Favorites (3-Channel and Stereo Hybrid SACD) (Audio CD)

This SACD is an audiophile favorite, so is the LP and for good reasons. With gear up to the task the instruments spread in a wide semi-circle in front of you with all their subtle tone differences clearly exposed. The music is full of energy and verve and dynamic, tonal colours are superb.
The flip-side and reason for only 4 stars is that the CD layer is not capable of providing this level of information and transparency. It is actually quite a let-down with very metallicaly uniform tones and instruments massed on top of each other (maybe not quite that bad but certainly not the wide stage of the SACD of LP).

So only recommended if you have an SACD player up to the task - otherwise get the vinyl.