The ensemble gave a concert in Nizhny Novgorod

As part of the tour of the Academic Order “For Merit in Culture and Art” of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation, under the direction of the artistic director and chief conductor, People’s Artist of Russia, Hero of Labour of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev, concerts were successfully held in Uglich and Kostroma in late August 2026, and on the very first day of September the ensemble performed for the residents and guests of Nizhny Novgorod.

The residents of Nizhny Novgorod carefully preserve the historical memory of the city’s heroic past — the people’s militia led by Minin and Pozharsky in 1612, the militia of 1812, and the heroic labour efforts of the townspeople during the Great Patriotic War. Thanks to its favourable geographical location — at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers — Nizhny Novgorod became the country’s main trading hub as early as the 19th century, a “bridge” between Europe and Asia. The city’s residents are proud of the names of their great compatriots – the inventor Ivan Kulibin, the writer Maxim Gorky, the mathematician Nikolai Lobachevsky, the pilots Valery Chkalov and Pyotr Nesterov, the actor Evgeny Evstigneev, and many others. Nizhny Novgorod is also called the capital of sunsets (this brand was officially registered by Rospatent in 2026).

The most important center of the city’s musical and spiritual life is the Nizhny Novgorod State Opera and Ballet Theatre named after A. S. Pushkin. On that day — September 1, 2026 — a vivid performance unfolded in its stage space: The Ensemble of Song and Dance of the National Guard of Russia presented the audience with a synthesis of vocals, choreography, and orchestral sound.

The concert program traditionally featured patriotic works. From the stage of the Nizhny Novgorod State Opera and Ballet Theater named after A. S. Pushkin, the following songs were performed:" We serve the Motherland " (music by S. Kardaeva, sl. N. Smirnova, soloists-Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania Evgeny Yakhin and Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko), songs: "Flag of my State" (music by D. Maydanov, soloists-Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania Evgeny Yakhin and Roman Nepomnyashchikh), "Smug Girl" (music by A. Novikova, music by Y. Shvedova, soloist-Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev), "I was Born in the Soviet Union" (music by O. Gazmanova, soloists-Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev and Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko), " Rodina "(music by S. Trofimova, soloists-People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva, Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev, Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko, Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Danila Korenev and Denis Tumanov) and Fantasy on the themes of songs by the Lyube group performed by the Balalaika quartet (consisting of: laureates of international competitions Kirill Lavrushkin, Ivan Pivovarov, Rifat Akchurin and the head of the quartet Ivan Stepanov).

Vocal and choreographic compositions were very popular with the audience: "Home with Victory" (staged by Honored Artist of Russia A. Safronov, arranged by A. Zarkov, soloist – People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva), " When we were at war "(music by V. Stolyarov, sl. D. Samoilov, soloist-Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Igor Safonov), "Guards of Music" (music by A. Melnikov, staged by Honored Artist of Russia Ivan Zhelnov, soloist-Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania Artem Melnikov) and "Soul Open" (music by Ya. Dronova, soloist- Anton Baibakov).

The audience received the folk songs very warmly – the Russian folk song “Down the Mother Volga” (arranged by V. Belyaev, soloist – Alexander Starodubrovsky) and a medley based on themes from Belarusian songs (composed by Gleb Kardasevich, soloists – Honored Artist of the Kabardino‑Balkarian Republic Alexander Kokhov, Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev, Viktor Lezhnin, Konstantin Kuzmin, Alexey Bosykh), as well as the song “Where are you running, my dear path?” (music by E.Rodygin, lyrics by A. Prishelts, performed by a balalaika quartet, soloist – People’s Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva), which features Russian and Ural folk melodies, and the old romance “The bell rings monotonously” (music by A. Gurilyov, lyrics by I. Makarov, arrangement by A. Rosenblat, soloist – Honored Artist of the Kabardino‑Balkarian Republic Alexander Kokhov), the creators of which drew on the traditions of Russian folk song.

The song “The Lake Sleeps” by the 19th‑century German composer Heinrich Pfitzner was performed a cappella by the ensemble’s choral group.

The solemn atmosphere of the concert was somewhat diversified by the performance of a medley on the themes of songs from the repertoire of Leonid Utesov (composition by Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Mazanov, soloists-People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva, Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev, Honored Artists of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Pavel Pushshkin and Mikhail Zaraev, Mikhail Mamonov and the Ensemble quartet: Honored Artist of Russia Sergey Bazylko, Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania Mark Novikov, Nikolai Alifanov and Vitaly Lansky), comic songs: "The Boys Went on a spree" (music by A. Kasiev, soloists-Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev and Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko), "I'll take you to the tundra" (music by M. Fradkin, music by M. Plyatskovsky, soloists-Honored Artist of the Republic of Buryatia Norpol Tsydenov and Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Alexander Buzganov) and the sparkling "Gypsy Fantasy" (composition and arrangement by I. Golubev, I. Kadomtsev, choreography by Artur Bogdanov, soloists-People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva, Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev, Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev).

The concert concluded with the chorus “Glory” from Mikhail Glinka’s opera “A Life for the Tsar” (“Ivan Susanin”) — a monumental work that vividly embodies the image of the great victorious Russian people.

The concert was hosted by an Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation, an Honored Artist of Russia, an Honorary Employee of the National Guard of Russia, Colonel Igor Shustikov.

After the concert, the Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Sergey Polovnikov thanked the Ensemble’s artists for the wonderful performance and awarded the group with a Letter of Appreciation from the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. Letters of Appreciation were also presented to the Ensemble’s solo vocalist, People’s Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva, the concertmaster of the orchestral group Danila Korenev, and the orchestra’s artists Ivan Stepanov and Denis Tumanov.

The deputy commander of the Volga Order of Zhukov District of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation, Colonel Vyacheslav Morozov, presented the head of the Ensemble, People’s Artist of Russia, Hero of Labour of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev, with a letter of gratitude from the district commander, Colonel‑General Sergey Prosyanik, for his outstanding professional performance skills, for his contribution to cultural, artistic and patriotic education, and for maintaining the moral, political and psychological state of the personnel.

On behalf of the mayor, Yuri Shalabaev, Commendations were presented to the Artistic director and Chief Conductor, People's Artist of Russia, Hero of Labor of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev, Chief Choreographer of the Ensemble, People's Artist of Russia Oleg Artamonov, artist-vocalist of the Ensemble's choral group Alexander Kokhov, head of the Ensemble's Orchestra, Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Mazanov, and artist-to the vocalist of the Ensemble's choral group Grigory Yakovlev.

In his response, the artistic director and chief conductor of the Ensemble, People’s Artist of Russia Viktor Eliseev, on behalf of the entire team, thanked the residents of Nizhny Novgorod for the warm welcome and wished them great success in their work, family well‑being, and all the best.