Classical Songs That Will Remind Every Russian Of Home

Classical music is part of every Russians’ upbringing from a very young age. Russians cherish their musical heritage and sometimes a familiar tune is all you need to feel at home. These are the pieces of classical music that will take every Russian back to their place of birth.

Swan Lake Suite by Pyotr Tchaikovsky

A classic tune from one of the world’s most famous ballets – Swan Lake Suite Op. 20a. In fact the actual composition was not in the ballet, rather it was a combination of the best movements in the ballet, which Tchaikovsky had composed six years previously, combined into one piece – a suite. Six numbers were chosen from the ballet and united under the Swan Lake Suite Op. 20a. Tchaikovsky never lived to see his idea materialise – it was published seven years after his death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52G4F_zg-g0

Dance of the Knights by Sergei Prokofiev

Flight of the Bumblebee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Not the actual name of the piece, but one that has stuck to it for one fairly good reason – the music does in fact sound like a bumblebee in flight. In truth it is a interlude in the opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan, based on the famous fairytale written by Aleksandr Pushkin. It does feature a bee, or more a character, Prince Gvidon, who is turned into a bee by a magical Swan-Bird so that he can fly and let his father know that he is alive.

Great Gate of Kiev by Modest Mussorgsky

‘The Great Gate of Kiev’ is one of the piano pieces in the cycle of works called Pictures at an Exhibiton by Mussorgsky. Each piece in the collection was meant to be like a story on its own, and this particular one was an illustration to the project of a new grand gate in Kiev in old Russian style, that eventually was not completed. The piece transmits the grand opening of what could have been the newly constructed gate, with dramatic chords overlapping with bells tolling in the background, imitated on the piano.

Symphony No. 7 (Leningrad Symphony) by Dmitry Shostakovich

The Leningrad Symphony holds a special place not only in the hearts of Russians, but especially in the hearts of people from St Petersburg, previously called Leningrad. Shostakovich started composing the symphony in the late 1930s and completed it in 1942, when he and his family were already evacuated from Leningrad which was under the siege of the German army – a siege that would last 900 days. And in that same year, a starving orchestra in the besieged city played the symphony, with the recording transmitted live across the city. It became a hymn to the fight and the struggle of the city during the long years of war.

Kamarinskaya by Mikhail Glinka

Glinka’s works were often linked to Russian culture and Kamarinksaya was no different. In fact, this was the first piece of classical music based completely on Russian folk motives. The song is separated into two parts. The first is a bridal song and the second is an instrumental dance that is meant to be repeated until the dancers can’t dance anymore. Glinka’s work influenced many composers after him, but also earned a special place in the hearts of Russians.

The Snowstorm by Georgy Sviridov

A suite written especially for the movie adaptation of Pushkin’s famous story ‘The Snowstorm’ from the Belkin Tales. The story of a young girl who decides to elope with her beloved who is on his way to the church gets caught up in a snowstorm and loses track. Instead, a passing officer decides to pretend he is the groom and marries the unsuspecting young lady. The husband and wife part ways only to meet again under unusual circumstances. An innocent, almost fairytale-like story accompanied by music that conveys the feeling of a Russian winter.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.