QUÉBEC CITY * OTTAWA * MONTREAL * TORONTO

Tickets ON-SALE to the Public on Friday, April 8, 2011!

Whether you know them as the Red Army Choir, the Soviet Army Chorus, or the Alexandrov Choir, one thing rings true: The Russian Alexandrov Red Army Choir and Ensemble is the most renowned and prestigious military ensemble in the world. With breathtaking precision, their pure, harmonically rich sound brings to life a wide range of repertoire from Russian folk tunes to church hymns, operatic arias and popular music. This remarkable chorus, orchestra, and dance troupe have dazzled enthusiastic and appreciative audiences in over 40 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. This summer, The Russian Alexandrov Red Army Choir returns for a prestigious Canadian Tour that includes stops at Québec City’s Grand Théâtre de Québec, salle Louis-Fréchette on Tuesday, August 23^rd and Wednesday, August 24^th; at the National Arts Centre, Southam Hall in Ottawa on Tuesday, August 30^th, followed by a four-night residency in Montreal at Place des Arts, Théâtre Maisonneuve from Thursday, September 1^st through to Sunday, September 4^th; the Ensemble will give a final performance at the newly refurbished Sony Centre For The Performing Arts in Toronto on Thursday, September 8^th. Tickets are on sale to the public Friday, April 8^th, 2011. Please see tour schedule below for full details.

The Russian Alexandrov Red Army Choir and Ensemble is the official army choir of the Russian armed forces. They are widely regarded as the foremost artistic ensemble of its kind, twice earning the Order of the Red Banner and Red Star, the highest military decoration recognizing civilian service. Their Canadian tour will feature an astonishing 125 musicians and performers, consisting of soloists, a male choir, and dancers, together with a full orchestra performing with a mixed composition of Russian traditional and western instruments, including the balalaika, the domra, the bayan, the double bass, woodwinds, brass and percussion instruments. Their acclaimed performances offer a rousing selection of spirited dance presentations such as the classic and lushly colourful Zaparozhtsi Dance, Dance of the Cossacks, and Soldier's Dance.

The company bears the name of its founder and first director, Alexander V. Alexandrov, an esteemed composer, conductor, and professor of the Moscow Conservatory who notably composed the National Anthem of the Russian Federation. The first Ensemble, consisting of 12 people — a vocal octet, two dancers, and two musicians, first took to the stage on October 12, 1928, and by the mid-1930's, the Ensemble had already grown into a large performing group, becoming a large male choir with the orchestra and dance group. The first great success abroad came in 1937 at the Paris International Exhibition. The group became more widely known internationally in the 1950’s, in particular with a visit by the 200-member Ensemble to London in 1956 where they gave popular concerts that aroused immediate critical enthusiasm. Following the founder’s death in 1946, the Ensemble was taken over by Alexander Alexandrov′s son, Boris Alexandrov. During his forty-year tenure, the Ensemble gained fame outside the Soviet Union, making extensive tours worldwide.

Today the Russian Red Army Choir and Ensemble is at the top of its class and hailed as the military Band in the world. A full tour schedule follows below. For tour information please visit www.fimmq.com/choir.