This set of ten CDs contains live recordings of Alexander Galich -- one of the greatest Russian "singing poets", or bards. Galich's works, represented on this set at full scale, from early to late ones, are full of hope in changing the world in which he lived, full of hope to be heard. To return. Now the songs are returning, while their author's gone.

Alexander Arkadyevich Ginzburg-Galich was born on October 19, 1919. He started to write poetry in his early youth, and soon he was noted by Edward Bagritsky, well-known poet of elder generation. Galich's studies in Literature Institute weren't finished, as he switched to theatre studio of K.Stanislavsky. During the World War II Galich worked in front-line theatre, and after the war was over he became a professional playwright. Ten of his pieces were on-stage in the Soviet Union, Taimyr Calling is the most famous of them. Besides, Alexander Galich was the script-writer for numerous movies, and cinema was the first medium for his songs.

Soon Galich began to write another kind of songs -- very social and sharp ones, that were unacceptable for Soviet regime. Galich's songs were as dangerous as political rallies and had the same power. The last legal concert of Alexander Galich took place in Novosibirsk in 1968. Then his public concerts were prohibited and repressions came: Galich was fired out of Writers' Union, Cinema Workers' Union, and Literature Fund. Crushing articles appeared in central newspapers, the atmosphere of persecutions was condensing -- and in 1974 Galich had to leave Soviet Union.

In the emigration, working as broadcaster for Radio Liberty in Paris, he continued to write songs and sometimes had performed on the emigrant audience. Died in an accident in 1977, Galich was mourned in Paris.

His songs are simple enough: their melodies are clearly secondary for their lyrics, often Galich used a melodies of folk songs or famous songs. The words, however, shows the poetry at its best, and could be read without music. This great set of CDs is all that left of great poet. Too much and too few.