Customer Reviews

Balalaika: Russia's Most Beautiful Songs

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A fabulous, and rousing musical CD by the Stars of St. Petersburg. They use the traditional instruments to play all the songs with the histories of the instruments in the CD jacket. An excellent CD to get to know the balalika and the wonderful music that it can bring to one's ears. The songs flow into each other to further the enjoyment of this CD. Highly recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys the Balalika or Russian music.

This is an excellent album all on folk instruments. All the artists have incredible technique. A real treat well worth buying.

There are a lot of perennial Russian folk favorites in this selection that seem to be revitalized by the "Stars of Saint Petersburg" balaika arrangements. I bought this CD a few weeks back and have not tired of listening to it. A refreshing edition to any world music collection.

This is a lovely collection of iconic Russian music! It contains some soulful sad songs and some wildly feisty songs. If you are looking for something to listen to while you cook borscht or read Lermontov, or just want a small taste of the 'sound' of this beautiful country, this will put you in the mood.

This is a great CD. I was blown away by the dexterity of the playing. I am not an expert on Balalaika, but I have heard this instrument both live and on other CDs. I have never heard it so well played as on this CD. The musical selections were exciting.

I bought this album for my husband after he watched home videos of his Russian side of the family set to the Russian folk songs he remembered hearing in his grandparents house while growing up. I searched a long time to find an album that has that quintessential Russian sound - this one definitely does not disappoint. He loves it so much, he bought it for his mother for her birthday...brought tears to her eyes with all the many wonderful memories of her parents who have now passed on.

While visiting an annual Bazaar at a Russian Orthodox church in Hartford, CT, on November 4, 2007, I heard this music playing in the background, and was compelled to inquire about the CD. It is absolutely gorgeous to listen to, and some of the songs I recognized very well. What I heard is beautifully played, with all the emotion one could hope for in listening to this type of music. I'm not inclined by ancestry or in any other way, to be favoring it
--just know something good when I hear it.

Here's a collection like no other. I have a lot of Russian music... It's generally an ensemble. The music is huge! I rather love and prefer "Balalaika" because it is not "Huge". There's the perfect measure of instruments and orchestration to make it pleasant, exciting and you can sing to it! Learning the words in Russian can be (IS) daunting. You have a sound that could be heard in Russian taverns, folk festivals etc.

You'll be educated too! Is this their version of "Blue Grass"? The Balalaika comes in 3 sizes that I am aware of. The little one reminds you of our mandolin, The middle one like our banjo and the contra bass sounds like our stand up bass. Their button accordian is much richer than our squeeze box and adds great warmth and elegance. They have the same guitar sound as ours. You'll not notice the extra string. They do have a couple of woodwinds that take some getting used to. They play wooden spoons quite skillfully. You'll have a Slavic good time shouting "Hey!" especially with "Quadrille".

Comparable to the unconventional beauty of the Russian people, Their music is beautiful and exciting like them. Read all the reviews you want... The proof is in the hearing. There are half dozen songs I loved at first hearing. "Midnight in Moscow" (Padmoskovnie Vechera)is on there... My first love in Russian. Others grew on me with time.

Your appreciation of the Russian culture can only grow. Nothing in the world sounds like Russian music... And Balalaika is THE great tribute and offering of it.

GOD, I LOVE THIS CD!! I recently purchased several different CDs of Russian folk music, a number of which were quite good--but this one shines out above all the others. Extremely lively, energetic, delightful renditions of classic folk songs, with virtuoso performances on the balalaika, accordion, and other traditional instruments. I have small collections of folk music recordings from various traditions, including Irish, Scottish, Spanish, Latin American, South African, etc., which include some blisteringly good CDs. This one is the equal of any of them. It is one of those rare CDs that is unrelentingly excellent and sparkles and crackles with energy all the way through. Only a dead person would not enjoy this CD. [Or maybe dead people would, too?]

I am very pleased with this CD. It includes musical selections I have heard while visiting friends in the past and is very soothing and comforting to listen to during a long day of work.