The most prestigious and famous chorus in Russia, the Alexandrov RedArmy Chorus has gained popularity worldwide with its rousing voicesand robust singers – eighty men strong. Founded in 1926 in Moscowand originally named the Russian Red Army Chorus, the choir was thebrain child of Alexander Alexandrov, who also achieved fame as thecomposer of the national anthem of the Soviet Union.
This stunninglyimpressive super-masculine choir, now called the Alexandrov RedArmy Chorus, was once seen as representing the great masses ofRussia and is now the official choir of the Nation’s Armed Forces.Having performed throughout the Soviet Union, from the Arcticsnows to the sands of Tajikistan, the Chorus left Soviet soil to singat an International Exposition held in 1937 in Paris where it won theprestigious Grand Prix. That was the beginning of the AlexandrovRed Army Chorus’s acclaimed global tours.
For many decadesall the singers were army men, but since the 1990s, army womenhave occasionally been included as sopranos. A military dancetroupe has been added with some performances by both menand women; and others, such as the Cossack Cavalry Dance,by men only. The Alexandrov Red Army Chorus’s superb militaryorchestra includes traditional Eastern as well as Western instruments.
