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Tania Lukic-Marx now gives the CD reviews a rating system. This system includes a number of stars at the completion of the review, for example 5 stars (*****) means the CD was "brilliant" or "excellent", 4 stars = impressive, 3 stars = good, 2 stars = satisfactory and 1 star = didn't impress.

Title:	Melodies Russes
Artist:	Duo Moskva - Benjamin Oleinikov (bayan) and Alexandre Gervasov (bayan)
Supplied by:	Herbert Scheibenreif
Review date:	August 29th 2003
Tracks:	1. Vivaldi/Bach - Concerto in a minor (3 mov) 2. 2nd movement 3. 3rd movement 4. Chalaiev - Kalina 5. Chalaiev - La tempete de neige russe 6. Oleinikov - Joue ma cornemuse 7. Mendelsson/Bartoldi - Rondo Capricciosso 8. Moussorgsky/Bartoldi - Le marche de Sorotchine 9. Gridin - Couplet Espiegle 10. Russian Folk Song 11. Khatchaturian - La dance du sabre 12. Gridin - gervasov - le petit candar danse le pre 13. Derbenko - Ragtime 14. Russian Folk Song 15. Schubert/Oleinikov - Moment musical 16. Derbenko/Oleinikov - Russian Miniature 17. Vivaldi/Oleinikov - L'hiver des quatre saisons 18. Vivaldi/Oleinikov - L'ete des quatre saisons 19. Tchaikovsky/Gerasov - Final du concerto en re majeur

Benjamin Oleinikov was born in 1960 at Pokrovka (near Volgograd) in Russia, and Alexandre Gervasov was born in 1966 in Tula, also in Russia. They both graduated accordion at the Russian National Music Academy "Gnessin" in Moscow. Benjamin Oleinikov and Alexandre Gervasov formed the "Duo Moskva" in 1990 and have performed extensively in Russia, France, Germany, and Switzerland. This recording is so very much traditional Russian: from the outfits chosen for the cover of the CD (Russian traditional Folk outfit), repertoire, the use of additional typical Russian Folk instruments on some tracks (balalaika and domra), to their performing manner, and most important - the Russian Spirit and wide Soul it is played with!! The performers are without doubt competent musicians and accordionists, but the spirit of their playing is what makes the biggest impact. They play in the best traditions of Russian Folk style: heartfelt, wide, with a lot of passion, fire and sentiment - elements that make any kind of Russian Folk (music, dancing) so appealing to any nation, in my opinion. This style cannot be compared with the style of current accordion trends in Russia and elsewhere - it is not as academic, but has a lot of heart and is very 'soul warming'. I entirely enjoyed it. *****