European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 6, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Characterize russian Folk dancing. Soloist Merab Mcgreil left and choir members sing a variety of songs including International favourites and Christmas carols during the program. Performance amaze the audience with their talents. The men almost seem weightless As they soar higher and higher giving the appearance they just might Fly then they squat Down arms folded at the Chest and kick their legs Back and Forth Back and Forth faster and faster. Such strength endurance skill a even or. America s a Muscles would t be up to this. /. Kozachok As this dancing is Cabied has become synonymous with russian Folk dancing. Like much of the entire performance at the group s premiere at Theale oper in Frankfurt Germany last week the dancing is Fuji of spirit Energy a and soul. Even the russian soldiers songs have a vitality an 7 emotional Force. The master of ceremonies dressed like the other members of the choir in military uniforms from. The czarist Era said Quot if Russia we have a saying there is no Soldier without music Quot Sergei Konstantinovic Nazarko the program s musical director says it s the Quot russian soul Quot that makes the music and dance universally popular. Quot our music is so expansive so demonstrative you can express everything through music especially through this Folk  the audience an almost full House representing All Ages loved it and wanted More. They clapped and. Clapped for an encore the performers returned to the stage. Appearing unsure of what to do they started \ clapping too. They were clearly not prepared for another number. The master of ceremonies took charge thanked the audience and said they d see everyone again next _ a  Quot the reception Here is much better than in the soviet Union Quot said Nazarko Quot in the soviet Union they know  _ _ \ since Mikhail Gorbachev Glass nose and perestroika taking such shows on the Road has become easier. It s also become easier to perform All kinds of music in the soviet Union Nazarko said. Quot there s More music Iri the soviet Union now. Christmas had been suppressed forgotten. But this year Christmas is permitted Quot the group s tour is called Quot russian Christmas Quot and includes religious Holiday songs. The red army choir was founded in the 1930s by Boris Alexandrow. Back then All  amp members were  photos by l Emmett Lewis or the program for the event states that Alexandrow s arrangements Are credited with Quot developing Folk songs into an Art form military marches into symphonic marches and the Kozachok into a Symbol of russian dance  the exuberance and vitality of the performance May seem somewhat incongruous considering the _ monumental problems in the soviet Union today. However Nazarko speaking through an interpreter said the situation in the country is not As bad As is described by the press a group of his colleagues stood by and frequently interrupted adding their input to his a comments Quot we have troubles with food and drink Quot Nazarko said. Quot that s the negative part of our system. We Hope we can destroy what we be had for the past 70 years. Quot throughout history we have had Many difficult problems. Yet we have overcome every crisis. We Wilt overcome this one. Our program shows this. It shows our soul and our soul will . / a december 6, 1990 stripes Magazine 7 m