Russian composers contributed greatly to the genre of programmatic symphonic works. Although many were initially attracted to it by Spanish inspirations, one reason for the genre’s eventual massive popularity was that it gave the composers a popular musical form to incorporate not only native Russian tunes and harmonic structures, but also to focus on other […]
The twentieth century was a dynamic period for Soviet composers who often had to work around censorship to create their great contributions to world music. Under the USSR, artists were expected to produce works that glorified the Communist Revolution and the new lives of the new Soviet masses, often while criticizing the capitalistic West. Soviet […]
Отава Ё is a folk music group founded in St. Petersburg, Russia. This popular folk fusion group started in 2003 as the side project of two bands – Reelroad and Tales of the Forest. The two members of Reelroad, Alexey Belkin and Alexei Skosyrev, paired up with two members of Tales of the Forest, Dmitry […]
The Hatters are a gypsy-folk rock band that was started in St. Petersburg, Russia in 2016. The five main members of the band include: Yuri Muzychenko, Pavel Lichadeev, Alexander “Kikir” Anisimov, Dmitry Vecherinin, and Anna Muzychenko. The group of musicians officially formed their band in 2016 when they released their first song, “Russian Style” online. […]
Pyotr Tchaikovsky, a leading Romantic composer from Russia, is beloved for his emotionally charged symphonies and ballets like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Despite initial training for a civil service career, his passion for music led him to the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He gained international recognition for his innovative compositions that blended Russian folk influences […]
Pelageya (the stage name of Pelageya Khanova, Пелагея Сергеевна Ханова) is a Russian singer known for her versions of folk songs of various nations, romances, and other compositions. Occasionally these are arranged with some rock influence, but she sings almost excusively folk songs in what can be considered traditional styles. Pelageya was born into a […]
Irina Dubtsova is a Russian singer known for her energetic pop style, extensive series of collaborations, and strong songwriting ability. Dubtsova was born in 1982 in Volgograd. She grew up with music in both formal and informal capacities. Her father was a musician who instilled a love of music and singing in Dubtsova. At only […]
Little Big has topped charts and headlines with their provocative style of rave music with pop, hip hop, punk, and EDM elements. The group calls itself a “satirical art collaboration” and is known as much for its catchy music as its infectious dancing and shockingly bright, brutalist videos. Often funny, occasionally inflammatory, Little Big is […]
Nikolai Baskov is a prominent Russian tenor known for his opera and pop music stylings. According to his website, Baskov is also the only cross-over artist in Russia, shifting from opera music to pop. He first gained renown in the late 1990s through singing competitions in Russia and abroad. He joined the Bolshoi Theater musical […]
