In the past, when a Russian athlete was honored at the Olympic Games and the Russian national hymn was heard, the little Belgian boy Helmut Lotigiers was enchanted by it and sang along with all his heart. After musical wanderings through Africa, South America, classical and pop music, Helmut Lotti felt matured enough to interpret the melancholic and tragic Russian music. On the album From Russia
… With Love, the Flemish tenor sings world-famous Russian melodies arranged for Cossack choir and orchestra. In addition, some compositions inspired by Russia will be heard. With his warm voice, Lotti sings with a lot of feeling in Russian or English, among others Ej Ukhem (the song of the Volga dragons), Kalinka, the jazz classic Moscow Nights and Lara's Theme from the film Doctor Zhivago. The melancholic and romantic album starts with Lotti's own composition From Russia With Love and, very appropriately, ends with the compelling Russian national hymn. (SvdP)more
