The Red Army Choir sings traditional and orthodox Christmas songs here, and those listening to these recordings for the first time might smile at the choice of titles in this typical "concept album" with a programme of carols taken from what some used to call the “international pop” genre. Not so: the precision of the ensemble’s sound reveals the full mastery of the Choir’s vocal skills combined with a unique feeling for these carols’ arrangements, reminding you exactly why the Red Army Choir was the great artistic symbol of the Soviet era. Patrick FRÉMEAUX & Laura BÉNICHOU Like the Bolshoi Ballets, the prestigious choir founded under the name of The Red Army Ensemble is a cultural reflection of traditional Russia. The extraordinary impression of power emanating from the choir and its virtuoso soloists allowed this Ensemble to reach international fame in a domain half-way between great popular entertainment and the classical orchestra. Frémeaux & Associés is now reissuing the recordings made by the son of Alexander Alexandrov, the founder of the choir’s most famous ensemble. These recordings, first made available in France by André Bénichou (7 Productions), testify – quite independently from any ideology – to one of the most important popular expressions of the 20th century. Michel COLOMBINI