Happy anniversary, Maestro! A concert of the Ensemble dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Viktor Eliseev took place

For the team of the Academic Order of Merit in Culture and the Arts of the Ensemble of Song and Dances of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation – 2025 – is special. This year marks 40 years since the Ensemble is headed by Major General, People's Artist of Russia, Hero of Labor of Russia Viktor Petrovich Eliseev. And the maestro himself in 2025 celebrates a wonderful anniversary – 75 years!

The anniversary concert in honor of the artistic director and chief conductor of the Ensemble, Viktor Eliseev, took place on September 5, 2025, in the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory.

Before the concert, the rector of the Moscow Conservatory, Doctor of Art History, Professor, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Alexander Sokolov, spoke. After congratulating the celebrant, he specified that the year 2025 is marked by another “round” date – the 30th anniversary of Victor Petrovich’s work as a teacher at the Conservatory, and for the most part of this period (since 1998) he has been a professor at the Department of Choral Conducting of the Moscow Conservatory. As noted by Alexander Sokolov, students of the Conservatory's Conducting Department gain invaluable experience by working with the choir in the Ensemble led by Victor Eliseev.

True to its long-standing traditions, the Ensemble presented a concert program to its audience today, with the theme of patriotism, the theme of our people's victory in the Great Patriotic War, and the theme of unity among Russians from various generations.

The concert opened with the song "The Holy War" (A. Alexandrov – V. Lebedev-Kumach), which became the anthem of the Fatherland's defense, performed by the Ensemble's choir and orchestra.

It was with deep feeling that all those gathered today in the concert hall of the Moscow Conservatory listened to immortal songs from the Great Patriotic War and works by Soviet composers: "The Ballad of a Soldier" (V. Solovyov-Sedoy – M. Matusovsky, soloist – People's Artist of Russia Vladimir Romanov), "Song of Russian Glory" (S. Babloev-A. Fedotov, soloists - Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania Evgeny Yakhin, Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev, Dmitry Dolgiy, Daniil Marakhin), "March of the Gunners" (T. Khrennikrv-V. Gusev), 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 Kabardino-Balkar Republic Igor Safonov, Honored Artists of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania Mikhail Zaraev and Evgeny Yakhin, soloists of the Ensemble: Konstantin Kuzmin, Denis Khludnev, Alexey Bosykh, Mikhail Mamonov, Viktor Lezhnin),

Performed by Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev were the legendary "Smuglyanka" (A.Novikov – Y.Shvedov) and dedicated to the victory of the Soviet people in the Battle of Stalingrad song "Let's pay tribute to those great years" (A.Pakhmutova – M.Lvov).

The audience was truly delighted with the performance of the Ensemble's soloist, People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva, who performed two songs by Alexander Averkin - "On a Visit goes" (based on poems by Viktor Bokov) and "I want you to Like Me, my Dear" (accompanied by a quartet of Balalaika artists under the direction of Ivan Stepanov), as well as (performed with the chorus a a cappella) of the song "Ural Ryabinushka" (E. Rodygin – M. Pilipenko).

The Ensemble, led by Viktor Eliseev, performs in all genres of music. The ensemble's repertoire includes the best examples of Russian and foreign music, works of world classics, war songs, the works of Soviet composers and poets, songs and dances from around the world, old romances, and contemporary vocal and choreographic compositions. Each concert program of this renowned military music ensemble is designed to resonate with every audience member.

Fans of opera art highly appreciated today the performance by the soloist of the Ensemble – People's Artist of Russia Lolitta Semenina of the aria "Habanera" from the opera by J.Bizet "Carmen", as well as the performance by Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Volzhanin, who performed the aria of Calaf from the opera by G.Puccini "Turandot".

For lovers of Russian romances, today was heard a very popular in the early part of the last century romance "Monotonously rattles a bell" (A. Gurilev – I. Makarov, processing A. Rosenblat, soloist – Honored Artist of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic Alexander Kokhov).

Fans of folk art were delighted with the performance of the Russian folk song "Down the Mother Volga" (arranged  by  V. Belyaev,  soloist  Alexander Starodubrovsky)  and  a  medley  of  Belarusian songs (composed by G. Kardasevich, soloists Alexander Kokhov, Grigory Yakovlev, Maxim Ostatsev, Konstantin Kuzmin, and Alexey Bosykh).

A wonderful gift to the audience was the composition "The Organ Plays" (D. Tukhmanov – M. Plyatskovsky) – a kind of "symbiosis" of classical and pop music. It was performed by the soloist of the Ensemble Evgeny Nasonov.

Performed by the vocal octet of the Ensemble and soloist – Honored Artist of Russia Sergey Bazylko Russian song “I’ll go out in the field with a horse at night” (I. Matvienko – A. Shaganov) in the folk-rock genre and the composition “Argo” (A. Basilaya – D. Bagashvili) from the musical “Argonauts”.

As always, the audience was delighted with the song "Sixteen Tons" ("Sixteen Tons"), which tells the story of the hard work of American miners (music and lyrics by Merle Travis, performed by People's Artist of Russia Grigory Pinyasov).

A touch of humor was added to the solemn atmosphere of the festive concert by the performance of the humorous song "I'm Taking You to the Tundra" (M. Fradkin - M. Plyatskovsky, performed by the Honored Artists of the Republic of Buryatia Ruslan Samozhapov and Norpol Tsydenov).

The "Saber Dance" from A. Khachaturian's ballet "Gayane" evoked a lot of positive emotions.

The Ensemble's artists are confident that their art contributes to strengthening friendship and understanding between nations, people of different nationalities, different cultural traditions, and different generations. The audience's reaction to the brilliant performance of songs such as "The Boys Went on a Party" (music and lyrics by A. Kasiev) and "I Was Born in the Soviet Union" (music and lyrics by O. Gazmanov) (performed by Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev and Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko) is a testament to this.

Solemnity and lyricism, sorrow and joy, pathos and sincerity – all these feelings are combined in “Victory Day” (D. Tukhmanov – V. Kharitonov). Today, as at every concert, together with the Ensemble’s artists and its soloist – Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev, the entire audience sang standing up in a single emotional impulse.

The concert traditionally ended with the performance of the march "Farewell to the Slavonic" (V. Agapkin – A. Fedotov), which is rightfully considered Russia's most recognizable musical composition.

The head of the Ensemble, Viktor Eliseev, on behalf of the entire team, warmly thanked the audience for their warm welcome. He also expressed gratitude to the Director of the National Guard, Army General Viktor Zolotov, for his constant attention to the Ensemble's activities.