“Wolgalied“ (Lehár) Rudi Schuricke 1954 [HQ-78rpm]

“Song of the Volga“ from 1926 by Franz Lehár (1870-1948), with lyrics by Heinz Reichert (1877-1940) and Béla Jenbach (1871-1943); arranged by Helmut Zacharias (1920-2002). Performed by the arranger and his string orchestra; sung by Rudi Schuricke and Waldo Favré’s Choir. Description: song of the Russian Tsarevitch (crown prince) from the operetta with the same name (“Der Zarewitsch“, based on the life of Alexei Petrovich Romanov). Song is also known as “Es steht ein Soldat am Wolgastrand“; although related during WWII to German soldiers fighting in Russia, it is actually not a song about a German soldier; in the song, Tsarevitch simply compares himself to an isolated (Russian) soldier keeping watch on the bank of the Volga river, wondering if the Lord had forgotten him. Note: mono recording, from my 78rpm record collection; not to be used for commercial purposes.