Compilations and classic songs that put you in mind of Russia

200 km/H in the Wrong Lane, t.a.T.u.
The English-language debut of the sexy pseudo-lesbian duo t.a.T.u. earned the Moscow natives the devotion of sugar-sweet pop-lovers around the world.

Best of Alla Pugacheva, Alla Pugacheva
Often compared to Barbara Streisand, this best-selling diva has seduced several generations with her heart-wrenching ballads.

The Best of the Red Army Choir, Red Army Choir
The two-disc album uses classic folk songs and a few Soviet gems to show off the impressive vocals of Russia’s celebrated choral group.

Eto Bylo Tak Davno (That Was So Long Ago), Mashina Vremeni (Time Machine)
This recording by Moscow musicians Mashina Vremeni (Time Machine) made the legendary group the tsars of “russky rock,” a reign that endured throughout the 1990s.

Horowitz in Moscow, Vladimir Horowitz
Both emotionally moving and musically magnificent, this live recording showcases the performance of world-renowned pianist Vladimir Horowitz when he returned to his homeland after many years away.

Le Monument, Vladimir Vissotski
As much poet as musician, Vladimir Vysotsky was the best of the bards who played on the streets of Moscow in the 1960s.

Mergers & Acquisitions, Mumiy Troll
The insightful Ilya Lagutenko leads Moscow band Mumiy Troll in this 2005 album, providing sharp commentary and social criticism.

Moscow, Valery Kipelov
The live album of heavy metal rocker Valery Kipelov, who once fronted the group Aria, known as the “Russian Iron Maiden.”

Peter & the Wolf, Sergei Prokofiev
Each character in this children’s classic is represented by a particular instrument and musical theme. Sergei Prokofiev wrote the masterpiece in 1936, after he returned to Moscow to live out his final years.

Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Wolfgang Sawallisch, and the Philadelphia Orchestra
Tchaikovsky’s most celebrated ballet premiered at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre in 1877, starring ballerina Pelagia Karpakova. This interpretation by the Philadelphia Orchestra is considered one the best audio versions of the classic.

Classic Songs

From classical composers to russky rockers, Moscow has long been a source of inspiration for music-makers:

1.    “Back in the USSR” by The Beatles


2. “Moskau” by Genghis Khan


3. “Stranger in Moscow” by Michael Jackson


4. “Moscow Nights” by Red Army Choir


5. “All-Night Vigil” by Sergei Rachmaninoff


6. “Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov


7. “Moskow Diskow” by Telex


8. “1812 Overture” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky


9. “Kremlin Dusk” by Utada


10. “Moscow” by Wonderland