Osipov Folk Orchestra - Fantasy on Two Folk Songs

Balalaika Favorites. From the liner notes:
One of Mercury's "first ever" recordings made in the Soviet Union by non Soviet technicians and musical staff, using equipment brought in especially for the sessions. This unique recording event was made possible through the extensive cooperative efforts of top authorities in Moscow as well as officials in the U. S. A.
The first exploratory correspondence to this venture began as early as 1958. In spite of the continuing display of interest by both Mercury and representatives of the Soviet recording industry, progress toward the actual realization of the project was slow until the end of 1961.
The go-ahead signal for a series of recordings to be made in the Soviet Union by Mercury was flashed from Moscow in the spring of 1962, and the huge task of sending four and a half tons of recording equipment with recording staff from New York to Moscow was put into motion.
The specialized nature of the equipment involved (all housed in Mercury's special mobile recording van) made it necessary to obtain innumerable special permits for shipment both in and out of the Soviet Union. At least five different organizations of the Soviet government were involved in arranging the numerous artistic and technical aspects of the sessions.
At all times and in all circumstances, the Soviet organizations were unfailingly cooperative and helpful. Compromises came about easily; both sides were aware of the magnitude of the project and perceived the necessity for continual minor adjustments.
The recording sessions themselves were a source of great interest to the Soviet engineers and technicians, as was the technical installation brought in by the visiting Americans. They were frank in their admiration for the advanced technical procedures used by the Mercury personnel, and the Mercury people were equally gratified by excellence of the musicians and the acoustical qualities of the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. And everyone was impressed with the give-and-take conditions and friendliness which had made this international cultural exchange finally possible.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 33RPM
• record
• historic
• Osipov
• Russian
• folk
• orchestra

[CAnative64]

Thanks so much for posting your copies of this album. As luck would have it, I recently purchased an sealed/unused copy of this on CD, recorded onto disc in 1990 under Philips Classics Productions / Polygram Classics. This is [imo] BY FAR the best balalaika music recording ever. I love that you posted it here for all to listen to. Bravo.

[TonofRecords]

Wow! I'm humbled. Thank YOU.

[Schmidtah]

Its beautiful. Thank you TonofRecords!

[TonofRecords]

Thank YOU.

[jodimest]

Thank you for posting all of these songs. As far as I've seen you're the only person on youtube, or maybe even the internet to host this wonderful collection. It's a joy to listen to.

[TonofRecords]

Thank YOU.

[strawberryShaker420]

THANK YOU LOADS FOR UPLOADING THIS !<33

[1946Johnchip]

Fantastic regional Balalaika Folk Music from Russia

[wollestoncraft]

Thank u so much 4 this! I grew up hearing this music, as my mother's parents were from Russia, & she loved it. I was lucky enuf 2 get a cd also, but I think the sound from your LP is richer. Best wishes 2 u.

[hevidt]

thank you so kindly for posting this ever so exciting russian folk songs. i grew up listening to them.

my old "the osipov balalaika orchestra" album is in very poor condition, it has scratches everywhere. i cannot listen to it.

balsho'ye spashibo. ;-)

[wollestoncraft]

Thank u so much! My mom used to play this 4 us as children, I looked 4 this 4 a long time.

[linglingtwirly]

beautiful