#005 Alexandrov Ensemble, Albert Hall, London, Live 1963: "You Are Always Beautiful"

This is the actual performance by Belyaev that was described by The Times critic as "perfect".

Evgeny Mikhailovich Belyaev (Евгений Михайлович Беляев) sings "You Are Always Beautiful" (Всегда ты хороша). It's conducted by Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov, recorded live at the Albert Hall, London, 1963. The music was written by Boris Mokrousov; words by N. Gleizerov (Б.Мокроусов Н.Глайзеров).

As far as I know, the usual 1963 recordings of this, repeated on most CDs, were made at the Abbey Road studios in London, but this recording of the live Albert Hall concert itself is rarely heard. This recording was put onto tape, then vinyl for sale in Russia, then later digitalised in Russia, so it has come on a long journey to us here on Youtube.

The Albert Hall was the only indoor space big enough for the Ensemble in 1963. It's a huge and very high circular space, holding at least 5,500 people - and it was full at that concert. The acoustics are famously so difficult that the audience up in the "gods" hear the music long after they see the conductor wave his baton, or the drummer beat his drum. Yet this recording is, I think, more satisfying than the studio recordings.

Summary of lyrics:
"Happy or sad, my beloved, you are always beautiful. Beautiful as a song, as a Russian soul! Though the northern evening is cold, with you it is warm! Our wedding day dawns soon; happiness will be ours, and you will be my life's companion, my beloved."

The photographs were taken during or before 1967, and probably in the USSR. The family photos are of Belyaev, his wife and sons. One of the sons became a professional pianist. The row of singers, that you see when the choir is singing, is taken from a 1965 performance at the Tchaikovsky Hall, Moscow, when all the soloists lined up at the front of the stage to sing the finale, "Long Live Our Power" (on LHaritonov's channel). Far left is Nic Gres, second left is Belyaev, then Ivan Didenko, Vladimir Shkaptsov, and Ivan Bukreev on the right. In the photo of Belyaev in front of the choir, you can see Konstantin Lisovsky in the front row of the choir on the left of the picture (just above the head of the bayan player at the front).

Застольные песни » Всегда ты Хороша - текст песни
Всегда ты Хороша

Слова Н. Глейзарова.
Музыка Б. Мокроусова

Зажглась заря вечерняя
Над речкой голубой,
Прохладен вечер северный,
А мне тепло с гобой-

Припев: Веселая и грустная,
Всегда ты хороша,
Как наша песня русская
Как русская душа!

С тобою годы долгие
Без горя проживешь,
С тобою, синеокая,
Нигде не пропадешь.

Припев:

Погоним скоро улицей
Мы свадебных коней.
Ты станешь в жизни спутницей
И песнею моей.

Припев:

Зажглась заря вечерняя
Над речкой голубой,
Прохладен вечер северный,
А мне тепло с тобой

Припев: Веселая и грустная,
Всегда ты хороша,
Как наша песня русская,
Как русская душа
------------------------------------------------

Albert Hall 1963 playlist:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=D085B99B40D5F4AA

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Alexandrov
• Ensemble
• Albert
• Hall
• London
• Live
• Evgeny
• Mikhailovich
• Belyaev
• you
• are
• always
• beautiful
• 1963
• Евгений
• Михайлович
• Беляев
• КАППСА
• red
• army
• choir

[fikamar27]

Evgeny Belyaev is sooooo sweet!! by the way after hearing this several times, I want this song being my wedding song someday *whoops I'm still 16* ;)

[riverhouse2007]

@fikamar27

Glad you enjoyed it!

[dhmosquito]

This song is always beautiful!

[riverhouse2007]

@dhmosquito

I agree!

[mymyn69]

This is one of my favourite song for a long time! His voice is so beautiful...

I had some information about Yevgueny Belyaev from the artists of the Alexandrov Ensemble themselves...

I'm very glad to see at last this great singer, after listening to him since 35 years!

In the 90s he sung with the Red Star Red Army chorus and unfortunately he died of a heart attack in 1994 during a tour in the USA with this ensemble.

[riverhouse2007]

@mymyn69

Thank you so much for this information. I shall add it to the Wikipedia page (English version). I am surprised that this information is not well-known in the West, since it happened in the USA. I would be interested to know what his personality was like. Some of his songs show a great and witty sense of humour - including "You are always beautiful".

[ulik888]

Припев: Веселая и грустная,

Всегда ты хороша,

Как наша песня русская,

Как русская душа

[mayatatyana1]

Perfection! Thank you for posting. Are lyrics available? Thank you

[zeeneea]

quelle voix quelle grandeur d'âme merci Belyaev

[mymyn69]

Riverhouse2007, from which country are you?

I'm french, but I'm fond of Russian culture, my father often listened to the Alexandrov Ensemble, that's why I also like them very much...since chilhood.

[mymyn69]

Yevgueny Belyaev had more self-confidence, a strong personality and a lot of vitality in relation to his present colleagues due to the fact that he fought against the Nazis very young (he was 17-19 years old), and he survived this terrible war.

I have to say too, that I prefer their former uniform...they had more imposing bearing!

Now I try to have more information about Victor Nikitin thanks to my friends in the Alexandrov Ensemble and I will also write to Mr Kharitonov, the son.

[dhmosquito]

Lovely!