Red Star Red Army Chorus and Dance Ensemble at Centre East: Incarnations of this gifted song and dance troupe stirred patriotic passion in Soviet troops and civilians for several decades. But ever since the end of the Cold War, this anachronistic group’s international shows have become much more about stirring cross-cultural respect and nostalgia in emigres. Stiffly encased in green and red military uniforms, the disciplined chorus nevertheless unleashed waves of emotion Saturday on sure-fire crowd pleasers like Raisa Gorbachev’s fave “Moscow Nights,” the bouncy ode to a snowball tree “Kalinka” and the heart-wrenching “Dark Eyes.” Also well done, if oddly timed, was a bag of Christmas numbers that included “Carol of the Bells,” the Russian yule tune “Kalatka” and, weirdest of all, “White Christmas.”
While this Russian troupe didn’t dazzle with the kind of fancy toe work and mysterious floating motions displayed by the gorgeous Georgians who played Symphony Center earlier last week, they more than made up for it with humor, boundless energy and stunning acrobatics. From the fabulous Ukrainian Hopka to the show-stopping Yarmolka finale (complete with Easter candy-colored costumes) the dancers provided a vibrant foil to their drably attired singing counterparts.
Nostalgic remembrance may have been the big draw for this largely Russian-American crowd, but oddly enough, it was the opening “Star-Spangled Banner” and encore “God Bless America” that earned the evening’s two standing ovations.