The Ensemble gave a concert in Kostroma.

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, continues across the cities of the Volga region.

At the very end of summer, on August 30, 2026, the Ensemble gave a concert in KOSTROMA – an ancient Russian city where every stone literally breathes history. The pearl of Russia’s Golden Ring, Kostroma captivates with the harmony of ancient churches, merchant rows, and the expanses of the Volga River.

The main concert venue in Kostroma and the Kostroma Region, the Gubernsky Concert and Exhibition Center, has become a focal point for residents and visitors to the city today. Spectators of all ages, people of different generations, and representatives of various professions attended the Ensemble’s concert, including participants in the special military operation, military personnel, Rosgvardia employees, and members of their families. The honorary guest of the event was the acting head of the Rosgvardia Directorate for the Kostroma Region, police colonel Fyodor Sergeevich Sokolov.

The glorious history of Russia, the heroic deeds of our people in the Great Patriotic War, pride in our country, and the continuity of generations — these themes, which are central to the Ensemble’s work, predominated in the concert program presented to the residents of Kostroma today.

The opening song "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 and sl. D. Maidanova soloists – Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Evgeny Yakhin and Roman Nepomnyashchikh), "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 by O. Gazmanova, soloists – Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia Grigory Yakovlev). 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), Fantasy on the themes of songs by the group "Lyube" 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), as well as vocal and choreographic compositions: "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 expectedly enjoyed the folk songs – the Russian folk song “Down the Motherly Volga” (arranged by V. Belyaev, soloist – Alexander Starodubrovsky) and a medley based on themes from Belarusian songs (composition 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 ensemble’s choir performed the song “The Lake Sleeps” by the 19th‑century German composer Heinrich Pfitzner a cappella. In the early 20th century, it was so popular in Russia that many people even considered it a Russian folk song.

A touch of good humor was added to the solemn atmosphere of the concert by performing 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 quartet of the Ensemble: Honored Artist Russian Federation 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 acting head of the Rosgvardia Directorate for the Kostroma Region, police colonel Fyodor Sokolov, on behalf of all those present, thanked the ensemble’s artists for the wonderful concert, which became a notable event in the cultural life of Kostroma. He emphasized the importance of musical art in educating young people in the spirit of patriotism and loyalty to their Fatherland, in shaping the civic stance and moral guidelines of the younger generation.

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 Kostroma for the warm welcome and wished them success in their work and personal happiness.