About the Recording

Reminiscences of Russia moves between musical landscapes and personal reminiscences. Forests, rivers, and echoes of Russian folk tradition meet intimate tributes to beloved composers and cherished memories of the past.

Recorded for Naxos and produced by Norbert Kraft, the album brings together works by Konstantin Vassiliev, Sergey Rudnev, and Viktor Kozlov, including several world première recordings. Their music reveals the many faces of the Russian guitar tradition: poetic and passionate, nostalgic and vibrant, deeply rooted in folklore yet unmistakably personal.

Official Music Video – Konstantin Vassiliev

Konstantin Vassiliev (b. 1970)

Three Forest Paintings (1999)
1. The Old Oak
2. Snowdrops
3. Dance of the Forest Ghosts

Swan Princess (2010)
~ WORLD PREMIÈRE ~
(Dedicated to Irina Kulikova)

Three Lyric Pieces (2003)
1. Elegie in memoriam Sergey Rachmaninov
2. Reminiscence in memoriam Agustín Barrios
3. Mogiana in memoriam Heitor Villa-Lobos
~ WORLD PREMIÈRE ~

Sergey Rudnev (b. 1955)

The Old Lime Tree (1978)

Between Steep Banks – Improvisation (1980)
~ WORLD PREMIÈRE ~

Viktor Kozlov (b. 1958)

Dedication to the Russian Land (1990)

Flying Dutchman (1993)

Ballade for Beautiful Elena (1994)

Album notes

“The guitar came to Russia in the 1780s and 1790s towards the end of the reign of Catherine the Great. Over the following decades there was a considerable influx of foreign musicians into the country, including professional guitarists.”

Read the complete album commentary by Graham Wade in the official companion booklet via the Naxos Music Library.

Credits

Recorded at St John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada (October 3–6, 2013)

Producers: Norbert Kraft and Bonnie Silver
Audio Engineer & Editor: Norbert Kraft

Booklet Essay/Notes: Graham Wade

Irina Kulikova plays a 2007 Simon Marty cedar guitar with Savarez Alliance Cantiga strings. She wishes to thank Savarez for their generous support for this recording. Thanks also to Norbert Kraft for bringing these reminiscences to life.

Irina dedicates this album to her father Anatoly Kulikov, mother Vinera Kulikova, brother Pavel Kulikov, sister-in-law Valery Kulikova, niece Sofia Kulikova and grandmother Anisa Nakipova. “Love knows no distance.”