(Baonghean.vn) - On the flight on December 25, on the Tu-154 plane taking off from Sochi city, members of the Alexandrov Song and Dance Troupe were among the 84 passengers, scheduled to go to Russia's Hmeimim military base in Lakatia (Syria) to perform for Russian soldiers on the occasion of Christmas and New Year. 64 outstanding artists have passed away forever on the Black Sea.
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| The Alexandrov Military Song and Dance Ensemble, whose full name is the Alexandrov Russian Military Academic Song and Dance Ensemble, formerly the Red Army Choir, was founded on October 12, 1928 and is considered one of the five most famous Russian folk song and dance ensembles. |
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| The ensemble is named after its founding director, composer, people's artist, and composer of the Russian national anthem Alexander Alexandrov. |
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| The first performance was on October 12, 1928, at the stage of the Central Theater of the Red Army with only 12 people. Starting in 1979, this song and dance troupe received certification as a professional group, classified as "academic". |
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| During the Great Patriotic War the Alexandrov Army Song and Dance Ensemble became a bastion of the struggle against the Nazi occupation. It represented the army more than 1,500 times. |
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| The Alexandrov Army Song and Dance Ensemble is considered one of the best male choirs in the world. With a history of nearly 90 years, it has toured 70 countries with 7,000 performances, performed in the most famous concert halls in the world and achieved success everywhere by bringing the best melodies and dances of Russian culture to the world. |
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| Two special venues where the troupe has performed are at the Vatican in the presence of Pope John Paul II in 2004 and at NATO headquarters. The troupe has also been present in many hot spots around the planet. |
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| The artists of the troupe possess the harmony and purity of a successful choir, while at the same time having the brightness and spontaneity inherited from the tradition of performing folk music. |
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| The Alexandrov Army Song and Dance Ensemble received many prestigious awards during its service. In 1935, the ensemble received the Order of the Red Banner. In 1949, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its founding, the ensemble received the Order of the Red Banner for the second time, in addition to many other international awards. |
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| Among the dead was Lieutenant General Valeri Khalilov, the troupe's artistic director. The soloist, People's Artist of Russia Vadim Anenhev, 57, was lucky to survive because his wife had just given birth to a son. He asked permission to stay home and did not fly to perform with his teammates. Russia lost 64 outstanding artists, but the legend of the Alexandrov Military Song and Dance Ensemble will live forever, in the hearts of the Russian people. |
America and Russia
(According to Ria Novosti)
