"Always on Guard" – a great concert by the Ensemble at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall

Every year, on the days of the Great Victory celebration, the Academic Order of Merit in Culture and Arts Ensemble of Songs and Dances of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation, led by its artistic director and chief conductor, People's Artist of Russia, Hero of Labor of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev, presents unforgettable concerts to the audience.

Every concert of the Ensemble is a tribute to the heroic deeds of our people, a sincere declaration of love for our Motherland, and gratitude to the heroes who gave us peace.

"Always on Guard" was the name of the Ensemble's festive concert held on May 5, 2026, at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.

The concert opened with a patriotic song by S. Tulikov on the lyrics of S. Ostrovoy "You are My Russia" in a heartfelt performance by the soloist of the Ensemble, People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva.

The theme of patriotism occupies a central place in the Ensemble's work. The artists of the renowned military ensemble speak about patriotism without using loud words, but rather through the language of music and dance. Through their heartfelt conversations with the audience, they evoke a deep love for their native land, respect for its traditions, and gratitude towards those who have always stood guard over its peace.

The audience, who came today to see the art of the Ensemble, received with deep feeling the performance of patriotic works – "The Flag of my State" (music by D. Maidanova, soloists-Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania Evgeny Yakhin and Roman Nepomnyashchikh), "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), medley on the themes of soldiers ' songs (composition by A. Kukharenko, soloists-Honored Artist of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic Alexander Kochov, Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Igor Safonov, Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Evgeny Yakhin, Honored Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan Ruslan Abdrafikov, Konstantin Kuzmin, Alexey Bosykh, Dmitry Dolgiy, Viktor Lezhnin), "Smuglyanka" (music by A. Novikova, sl. Ya. Shvedova, soloist - Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev), "I was Born in the Soviet Union" (music and sl. O. Gazmanova, soloists-Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev and Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko), "Rodina" (muz. 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), "Let's Bow to the great years" (music by A. Pakhmutova, music by M. Lvova, soloist – Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev), "Victory Day" (music by D. Tukhmanova, music by V. Kharitonov, soloist-Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev).

Performed by the quartet of balalaika players (it includes the winners of international competitions Kirill Lavrushkin, Ivan Pivovarov, Rifat Akchurin and the head of the quartet Ivan Stepanov) performed brilliantly "Fantasy on the themes of songs of the war years" and the lyrical song "Give me a handkerchief" (music by G.Ponomarenko, lyrics by M. Agashina, soloist – People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva).

The power of vocal mastery and the expressiveness of dance are harmoniously combined in the vocal and choreographic compositions brilliantly performed by the Ensemble's artists. The concert program "Always on Guard" includes the audience's favorite numbers: "Home with Victory" (staged by Honored Artist of Russia A. Safronov, arranged by A. Zarkov, soloist – People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva), "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), Dance with sabres from the ballet by A. Khachaturian "Gayane "(staged by the Honored Artist of Russia Pyotr Kovalev, soloist – Honored Artist of Russia Yevgenia Smolnikov), "Soul open" (music and music by Ya. Dronova, soloist – Anton Baibakov), Sailor's dance " Yablochko "(Russian folk song arranged by M .. Press, production of Honored Artist of Russia Yu. Gerasimov), "Gypsy Fantasy" (composition and arrangement by I. Golubev and I. Kadomtsev, choreography by Arthur Bogdanov, soloists: People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva, Honored Artist of Russia Aleksey Dmitriev, and Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev).

Folk art occupies a special place in the Ensemble's repertoire. Through folk songs, the Ensemble's artists convey the unbreakable connection between generations, celebrating Russia's cultural heritage. The festive concert featured the Russian folk song "Down the Mother Volga" (arranged by V. Belyaev, soloist - Alexander Starodubrovsky) and a medley of 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).

The Rosgvardia Song and Dance Ensemble is known in the world of musical art as a guardian of the traditions of Russian and foreign classics. In the Ensemble's work, classical music serves as a bridge between different eras, allowing centuries-old musical traditions to take on a contemporary twist through the virtuosity of its performers.

Honored Artist of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic Alexander Kochov performedin concert a work of vocal lyrics of the XIX century, considered a classic of Russian romance - " The Bell Rattles Monotonously "(music by A. Gurilev, music by I. Makarov, arranged by A. Rosenblat). Igor Safonov performed the Russian romance "Not for Me" (N. Devitte — A. Molchanov).

The Ensemble's repertoire includes the best musical works from various historical eras, both by Russian and foreign authors.

"I love you so much" – this is how the title of Ernesto de Curtis's song "Ti Voglio Tanto Bene" is translated from Italian, which was masterfully performed by the Ensemble's soloist, People's Artist of Russia Lolitta Semenina.

The audience enjoyed the song "The Lake Is Sleeping" by the German composer Heinrich Pfeil (performed a cappella) and the song "Echo" by the 16th-century Flemish composer Orlando Lasso.

The 1949 play "Parade of Trumpeters" by the American composer Leroy Anderson was performed by the Ensemble's soloists, Honored Artist of Russia Dmitry Bogdanov, Vladimir Avilov, and Anton Androsov.

Each concert program of the Ensemble is designed so that the audience leaves the hall in a good mood at the end of the concert. "Zastolnaya" – a composition by Isaak Dunayevsky on the words of Vasily Lebedev‑Kumach, which was first performed in the film "Spring" (1947), is designed to create an atmosphere of joy and unity. In the festive concert, "Zastolnaya" was performed by the soloist of the Ensemble Dmitry Trifonov.

The audience warmly received the song "I'll go out into the field with a horse at night" (music by I. Matvienko, lyrics by A. Shaganova) and the composition "Argo" from the musical "Argonauts" (A. Basilaya - D. Bagashvili) performed by the vocal octet of the Ensemble and the soloist, Honored Artist of Russia Sergey Bazylko.

A lot of positive emotions were aroused 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, Roman Nepomnyashchikh, Daniil Marakhin and vocal quartet of the ensemble: Honored Artist of Russia Sergey Bazylko, Roman Khudyakov, Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania Mark Novikov, Nikolai Alifanov), as well as comic compositions: "I'll take you to the tundra" (M. Fradkin-M. Plyatskovsky, soloists-Honored Artists of the Republic of Buryatia Ruslan Samozhapov and Norpol Tsydenov) and "Boys Went on a spree" (music and sl. A. Kasieva, soloists-Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev and Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko).

The concert ended with the final chorus "Glory" from Mikhail Glinka's opera "A Life for the Tsar" ("Ivan Susanin"), a monumental work that vividly portrays the victorious Russian people.

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

At the end of the concert, the artistic director and chief conductor of the Ensemble, People's Artist of Russia, Hero of Labor of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev warmly thanked the audience for the warm welcome, congratulated those present on the approaching Victory Day, wished everyone a peaceful sky above their heads, health, prosperity and long years of life.