Piatnitskii Russian Folk Choir

(full name, M. E. Pi-atnitskii Academic Russian Folk Choir), the oldest Soviet professional folk chorus. Organized by M. E. Piatnitskii in 1910, the choir performed in the village of Aleksandrovskoe, Voronezh Province, until 1918, when it was transferred to Moscow. In 1927 it was named after M. E. Piatnitskii. In 1937 it became part of the Moscow Philharmonic Society, and its present name dates from 1940; the honorific “academic” was bestowed in 1968.

In 1938 the choir was reorganized; the choral group was enlarged, and a folk-instrument ensemble and dance group were added. The choir has been directed by Piatnitskii (1911–27), P. M. Kaz’min, V. G. Zakharov, and M. V. Koval’. Since 1962, V. S. Levashov has held the post of musical director.

The choir’s repertoire is diverse, ranging from folk chastushki and refrains to vocal-dance suites and compositions; new works by Soviet composers are constantly added. A folklore department is affiliated with the choir, and in 1970 the country’s first children’s folk chorus was created. The choir has been awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1959).