The ensemble's tour dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the band's founding ended with a concert in Kazan

The anniversary tour of the Academic Ensemble of Song and Dance of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation, led by the artistic director and chief conductor, People's Artist of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev, is coming to an end in the cities of the Republic of Tatarstan. The artists of the renowned ensemble, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, have already received applause in Naberezhnye Chelny, Nizhnekamsk, and Yelabuga. This is a fitting conclusion to the ensemble's anniversary tour in the cities of Tatarstan. The concert took place on June 20, 2023, in the capital of the republic, Kazan.

Located at the confluence of the great Russian Volga River and its tributary, the Kazanka River, Kazan is a city with a thousand-year history, unofficially known as the "Third Capital of Russia." Since ancient times, Kazan has been renowned as a city where East and West meet, where people of different nationalities live in friendship and harmony, and where a multitude of national cultures thrive.

The State Great Concert Hall of Saidashev, where the concert of the Rosgvardia Song and Dance Ensemble took place today, is the main concert stage in Kazan. It hosts world-class bands and soloists, as well as concerts by opera stars, famous conductors, and virtuosos. It also regularly hosts various festivals, competitions, and world premieres.

Not a single one of the 700 seats in the Saidashev State Concert Hall was empty today. Among those in the hall were combat veterans, employees of the National Guard troops, residents and guests of Kazan. It was a great honor for the Ensemble's artists to be visited by high-ranking guests, including the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Alexey Pesoshin, Head of the Administration of the Raisa of the Republic of Tatarstan Asgat Safarov, Minister of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Tatarstan, Lieutenant General Artem Khokhorin, Minister of Civil Defense and Emergency Situations of the Republic of Tatarstan-Head of the Main Department of the EMERCOM of Russia for the Republic of Tatarstan, Lieutenant General of the Internal Service Rafis Khabibullin, Head of the Department of the Federal Service of National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation of the Republic of Tatarstan, Major General of Police Rustem Gumerov, Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Tatarstan Rafail Gilmanov, First Deputy Head of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Republic of Tatarstan Colonel of Justice Pavel Oleynik, Head of the Main Department of the Federal Bailiff Service for the Republic of Tatarstan-Chief Bailiff of the Republic of Tatarstan, Lieutenant Colonel of the Internal Service Anvar Zakirov, Deputy Head of the Administration of the Raisa of the Republic of Tatarstan – Head of the Department of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan for Domestic Policy, Ruslan Mukharlyamov, Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Head of the Secretariat of the State Councillor of the Republic of Tatarstan, Oleg Glebov, former Deputy General Director of KAMAZ PJSC, former Director of the KAMAZ PJSC Representative Office in Kazan, Anatoly Samarenkin, First Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for Military Scientific Work, Colonel General Valery Baranov.

The theme of patriotism, love for the Motherland, and responsibility for the fate of Russia, as well as the theme of labor heroism and heroism of the working class, is close and understandable to all Russians, regardless of their age or nationality. For the residents of the city of Kazan, these concepts are not just words. During the Great Patriotic War, Kazan became one of the most important rear centers of the country, with 70 military and civilian enterprises evacuated from frontline areas. For many Soviet citizens, Kazan became a second home.

The song "You, My Russia" by the soloist of the Ensemble, People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva, composed by Serafim Tulikov and set to the lyrics of Sergei Ostrovoy, set the solemn mood for the entire concert.

The audience listened with special feeling to the performance of patriotic works: "March of the Gunners" (T. Khrennikov, V. Gusev), "Song of War Correspondents" (M. Blanter, K. Simonov; soloist – Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko), "Soldier's Suite" arranged by A. Kukharenko (soloists: Honored Artist of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria Alexander Kochov, Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Igor Safonov, Honored Artists of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Mikhail Zaraev and Evgeny Yakhin, Konstantin Kuzmin, Alexey Bosykh, Viktor Lezhnin), "Smuglyanka" (A. Novikov, Ya. Shvedov; soloist-Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev), "Russia free" (A. Novikov( soloist – Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Volzhanin), "Valor and Honor" (author – A.V. Zaitsev; soloist – Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev), "For the Donbass" (S. Voitenko, A. Ganichev; soloist – Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko).

The repertoire of the Rosgvardia Song and Dance Ensemble is very diverse. Along with war-time songs and songs by Soviet composers, each concert program also includes folk songs, old romances, and modern vocal and choreographic compositions. Today's performance was no exception-the audience warmly received the lyrical song "Give me a handkerchief" (G. Ponomarenko, M. Agashina; soloist-People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva), the song " I'll go out in the field with a horse at night "(I. Matvienko, A. Shaganov), performed by the vocal octet of the Ensemble (head – Honored Artist of the Republic Ingushetia Sergey Bazylko), as well as choreographic compositions: "Home with Victory" (staged by the Honored Artist of Russia A. Safronov, musical arrangement by A. Zarkov), " Golden Khokhloma "(staged by the Honored Artist of Russia Peter Kovalev), vocal and dance composition " Gypsy Fantasy "(arranged by I. Golubev and I. Kadomtsev, soloists: People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva, Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev, Evgeny Nasonov), variations on Russian-Tatar themes (Balalaika quartet; director-Ivan Stepanov).

The Ensemble's soloist Ruslan Abdrafikov gave the audience a lot of positive emotions by performing the unofficial anthem of the Tatar people, "Min Yaratam Sine Tatarstan" ("I Love You, Tatarstan"), in the Tatar language (A. Andreev, R. Rekypov).

The concert traditionally ended with the "Farewell to the Slavonic" march (V. Agapkin, V. Lazarev) performed by the Ensemble's choir and orchestra.

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

The audience in the Saidashev Grand Concert Hall burst into thunderous applause, expressing their gratitude to the Ensemble's artists for their artistry and dedication to their homeland.

At the end of the event, the artistic director and chief conductor of the Academic Ensemble of Song and Dance of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation, People's Artist of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev, addressed the audience. He thanked everyone in the hall for their sincere interest in the work of the ensemble he leads. Viktor Eliseev also expressed his gratitude to the leaders of the Kazan Administration and the Republic of Tatarstan for their excellent organization of the concert and warm welcome.

"This is not the first time we have performed concerts in Tatarstan," said Viktor Petrovich. "Each of our performances is a true celebration for us. The people of Tatarstan are a wonderful audience, deeply sensitive and understanding of art. The people of Tatarstan are hardworking people who love their homeland and do everything they can to make it prosper. Our anniversary tour of Tatarstan's cities was a great success. We received applause in Naberezhnye Chelny, Nizhnekamsk, and Yelabuga. Today's concert in Kazan, in one of the best concert halls in the country, the Saidashev Grand Concert Hall, was the final chord of our tour. We have included the best performances we have prepared over the years in today's concert, which is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Ensemble. We look forward to seeing you again!"