New Live DVD from St. Petersburg features the great baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky singing favorite Russian romances and songs.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky, “one of the voices of the century,” (Opera News) has become the foremost champion of Russian Soul in song form. “The mutual love between Dmitri and his Russian public is now legendary,” says Constantine Orbelian. “Since 1994, he has carried the title of the People’s Artist of Russia — and the title is not merely a formal one. He is the People’s Artist.”

Every summer the great Siberian baritone interrupts his international opera and concert schedule to return to Russia and embrace his own people with concerts of their favorite Russian romances and songs. Dmitri is uniquely able to raise to the highest artistic level these popular classics all Russians know and love.

On Friday evening, September 15, 2006, Dmitri appeared at the Oktyabrsky Hall of St. Petersburg before just such a live and adoring audience in just such a program. The entire event is captured vividly on this DVD.

Twelve memorable songs, romantic and tender, will be familiar to Hvorostovsky fans worldwide from his beautiful Delos albums “I Met You, My Love”(traditional Russian romances, DE 3293) and “Moscow Nights,” (classic Russian popular songs in elegant new arrangements by Evgeny Stetsyuk, DE 3339).

Between the groups of songs, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra under Constantine Orbelian, accompanied by Style of Five, Russia’s premier folk ensemble, plays five instrumental favorites, including Shostakovich’s “Spanish Dance” from “The Gadfly” and Khachaturian’s “Waltz” from the “Masquerade Suite.”

Three contrasting encores begin with an emotional “O Sole Mio,” and a tempestuous “Dark Eyes.” The final encore is the touching “Evening Song — Leningrad,” also from Dmitri’s album ”Moscow Nights.” This moving tribute to the spirit of the heroic Leningraders who defended their city in the Second World War is the emotional climax of the concert. The camera captures members of the audience, deeply moved, many in tears, as Dmitri eloquently recalls their sacrifices and love for their city.

This all goes to make up a most felicitous late summer night event, and the audience response is tremendous: cheers, bows, much love and lots of flowers. Dmitri is his usual charismatic self in radiant voice, a truly gracious artist.

During November/December 2007 Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Constantine Orbelian, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and the Style of Five toured Europe, Mexico, Canada and the USA in a program that has much in common with this new DVD, featuring Russian classic and popular music.

New Live DVD from St. Petersburg features the great baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky singing favorite Russian romances and songs.

• The White Acacia’s Fragrant Flakes
• Misty Morning
• Do not Awaken Memories
• Tapestry
• Bright is the Night
• Only Once
• In Memory of Sergei Esenin
• The Lonely Coach Bell Rings
• Troika
• Do not Hurry
• I’m Grateful to You
• Spanish Dance from the Film "Gadfly"
• Tenderness
• The Whisper of Birches
• Waltz from “Masquerade Suite”
• You Are My Melody
• How Young We Were
• ‘O Sole Mio
• Dark Eyes
• Evening Song - Leningrad