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| Voronezh is the heart of Russia. This ancient city is
situated in the region of middle current of the Don river on the fertile soil of the
Central Black-Earth area. The moderate landscapes of the Middle-Russia Hills are
associated with the words of ancient unknown poet: "0, Russian Land, You're Beyond
the Hills Already!". It was precisely in Voronezh that the following lines appeared:
"You're Worthy, Mighty Russ, to Be Loved and to Be Called Mother ... " Voronezh
is 400 years old, but its roots go far-off when there was a small patrol fortress
mentioned first in the Ipatyev chronicle of 1177. Voronezh went into Russian history due
to Peter I, who built there the first Russian shipyard in 1695-96 and then made the Azov
fleet there. During the civil war Voronezh was an outpost of struggle with Denikin forces
and during Great Patriotic War it was the place of great battles with Hitleric invaders.
Today Voronezh is a granary of the Soviet Russia and a big industrial centre of the
Black-Earth Area. |
| Voronezh is the city of fine culiunil traditions
inherited from Russian democratic intelligentsia of [he 19th century. The Voronezh region
is the motherland of Pyatnitsky (founder of the folklore chorus). poets Koltsov, Nikitin,
writers Stankcvich, Bunin, painter Kramskoi, poet and translator Marshak. The source of
folk talents the Voronezh region is famous for genuinely Russian folk traditions being
passed from generation to generation. It isn't mere chance that in the severe time of war
in 1942 the Voronezh Russian Song and Dance Ensemble was founded on the basis of the best
peasant choruses. As the Ensemble appeared in the forward area right from the outset it
was lightly connected with hard soldier life at the war. More than once the Ensemble
appeared in the fighting units of the generals Rusianov, Selivanov, Golikov. Ycrcmcnko.
Belov. On the initiative of Komsomol members the tank Russkaya Pcsnya (Russian Song) was
built on the artists' personal savings which with a guard unit travelled from Don to
Danube and took part in liberation of Vienna from the fascist invaders. The members of the
Ensemble possessing from childhood the Voronezh manner of singing quickly formed a
harmonious ensemble. Their repertoire featured wedding, choral, humorous, drawling songs
and ditties. The first large concert took place on May Day in liberated Voronezh. Since
then the Ensemble became famous and one of the most favourite in the country. A talented
composer, a great connoiscur of folklore, Konstantin Iraklievich Massalitinov, USSR State
Prize-winner. People's Artist of the USSR, was the founder and the first artistic director
of the Ensemble. |
| What is the artistic manner of the Voronezh Ensemble
noteworthy for? It is based on the vocal traditions of the Southern Russia songs,
extremely original in their wide chant, polyphonic choral material, rich melodic patterns
and rhythms. The Voronezh singers were always remarkable for these features combined with
special sonority. Strong alto sounds are heard in all scores of the Ensemble. Exactly by
low deep sounding of female voices filled with soft velvet timbre the Voronezh Ensemble is
famed for. Thanks to its chants the Chorus can't be mixed with any other company. By
restoring old and genuinely folk forms of the collective artistic activity, the Ensemble
widely uses all genre diversity of the song folklore of the Voronezh region. It reveals
melodic wealth of the existing folk songs. Old tunes of died out songs began sparkling by
new brilliance. Such are, for instance, the songs: "0, How This Stone Appears",
"A Historic Song About Peter I". Except old songs the contemporary programmes
include the combination of songs with dances, with scenic acts of the ritual character.
This is "Bylina About Ilya Muromets", wedding round dance "Dove Has a Gold
Head", "Kalinka" (staged by M, Chernyshov), "What Is Ringing",
"I'm Sitting on the Stove", "Spring Games" (staged by Yu. Kopytin). As
most of the songs bear the character of plays, members of the dance group work much at
scenic choreography. The dance group is distinguished by its amalgamation with the whole
ensemble. Dances are created on the basis of the Voronezh regional dance folklore. But
they can't be considered purely ethnographic as they were arranged by a
balletmaster-producer. Thus the contemporary dances developing on good old traditions
transformed into more dynamic, masterly and bold ones. Except colourful and harmonic
sounding of the choral group and mastership of dancers, the success of the chorus was
gained thanks to the orchestra that makes great contribution. The musical repertoire
features folk melodies - round dances, dance and game songs. Members of the orchestra use
the unique folk instruments: round lyre, zhaleika, brelok, pipe and others. Ditties occupy
an important place in the Ensemble's repertoire and are very popular because of their
laconic, understandable, simple and topical character. M. Mordasova, People's Artist of
the USSR, Hero of Socialist Labour, and Ye. Molodtsova, Honoured Artist of the RSFSR, are
best performers of ditties. The bright and original programmes of the Ensemble acquaint
the audience with genuine folklore gems. During many years the Ensemble's repertoire
features remarkable works created by the art masters which became "a gold fund"
of many folk companies of the country. They are cantata "Rus" by K. I.
Massalitinov, suite "Don't Rustle, Rye" (music by A. Mistyukov, staged by M.
Chernyshov), wedding round dance "Dove Has A Gold Head" staged by M. Chernyshov,
songs "Thanks to Party" by K. Massalitinov, "Glory to the People of
Labour" by F. Maslov, "We'll Conquer Amur and Baikal" by V. Rudenko,
ditties by M. Mordasova, and many others. |
| The real creative atmosphere reigns in the company. The
professional competitions of young performers are organized, the folklore group actively
creates new songs, ditties, love songs. The talented directors and performers played
important part in making and professional development of the Ensemble. Most of them were
awarded high honorary titles. They are conductor Konstantin Iraklievich Massalitinov,
People's Artist of the USSR, USSR State Prize-winner, chief chorus master Vladimir
Yefimov, Honoured Art Worker of the RSFSR, balletmasters Mikhail Chernyshov, People's
Artist of the RSFSR, and Alexander Shostak, Honoured Artist of the RSFSR, composers Pavel
Shmatko, Ivan and Vladimir Rudenko, Alexander Konishchev, Honoured Artists of the RSFSR,
singers Maria Mordasova, People's Artist of the USSR, Yulia Zolotareva, People's Artist of
the RSFSR, Yevdokia Osipova, Lyubov Avdeyeva, Grigori Gorelov, Nikolai Denisov, Yekaterina
Molodtsova, Ludmila Karnaukhova, Lidiya Strukova, Honoured Artists of the RSFSR, dancers
Lidiya Bogatyreva, Anatoli Skabelkin, Nina Lobanova, Dina Dolgaleva, Ivan Spiridonov,
Tamara Drobysheva, Honoured Artists of the RSFSR. The rapid growth of the performing
maturity made it possible for the Voronezh Russian Song and Dance Ensemble to become a
prize-winner of many festivals and competitions. Already in 1944 at the All-Russia
competition of Russian folk songs in Moscow the Ensemble turned out to be the best company
and headed the list. In the 50s the Ensemble gained an international recognition. At the
Vienna Youth and Students Festival it was conferred the highest award-Grand Gold Medal and
the title of a Laureate of the International Competition. In 1949 the Ensemble's leader K.
I. Massalitinov was awarded the USSR State Prize for the group's concert activities. In
the jubilee year of 1967, the 50th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution,
the Ensemble became a Prize-winner too. In 1968 the company was awarded an Honorary
Diploma of the Presidium of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet for their contribution in development
of the folk musical art. In jubilee year of the Lenin centenary the Ensemble became a
prize-winner of the All-Union Review of new festival programmes. The Voronezh regional
Komsomol organization highly appreciated the Ensemble's work and conferred on it an
Honorary title - a winner of the Vasili Kubanev prize for active work in aesthetic
education of youth. For the great contribution to the development of the Soviet art the
Voronezh Russian Song and Dance Ensemble in 1986 was conferred an Honorary title
"Academic". Today the Ensemble is led by artistic director V.N. Pomelnikov,
chief balletmasterYu.V. Kopytin, the orchestra is directed by conductor I. M. Belenov. The
Ensemble has toured extensively and visited over 35 countries. Everywhere it was
enthusiastically received and supported by appreciative audience and evoked sincere
sympathy for the Soviet Union. |
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