Russian Folk Song. Выйду ночью в поле с конём. I Shall Leave for the Field Tonight on My Horse. Peresvet Male Chamber Chorus

A beautiful folk song sung by the Peresvet Male Chamber Chorus. The first 35 seconds feature the soloist singing alone, unaccompanied, then the chorus gradually breaks into full harmony. This video is of a live performance in April 2008 in Podolsk, the soloist is Vladislav Kosaryov. Get a load of those LOW Russian basses! Dreamy…

Franz Schubert. Ave Maria. sung by Peresvet Male Chamber Chorus

This is an a cappella rendition of the beloved old Schubert standard by the Peresvet Male Chamber Chorus in a live concert video from Podolsk in April 2008. The soloist is Yuri Barkov. 

Aleksei Venetsianov. Self-Portrait. 1811

Self-Portrait (Aleksei Venetsianov, 1811)

Aleksei Venetsianov (1780-1847) is probably best known for his paintings of peasants and peasant life done primarily in the 1820s and 30s. His reputation rests on these works, and a selection follows below.

Aleksei Venetsianov. A Portrait of M. A. Venetsianova. 1810s

A Portrait of M. A. Venetsianova (Aleksei Venetsianov, 1810s)

In case one was wondering… this is a portrait of the artist’s wife and is probably a companion piece to the above self-portrait, probably, executed at the same time.

Aleksei Venetsianov. A Portrait of Princess V. S. Putyatina. second half of the 1810s

A Portrait of Princess V. S. Putyatina (Aleksei Venetsianov, second half of the 1810s)

Aleksei Venetsianov. Spring Ploughing. beginning of the 1820s

Spring Ploughing (Aleksei Venetsianov, beginning of the 1820s)