FROLOVA, Elena

Elena Borisovna Frolova is a prominent Russian composer, singer-songwriter, and poet celebrated for her deeply emotional contributions to world music, ethnic folk, and the Russian "author song" (bardic) tradition. Born in Riga, Latvia, Frolova began composing her own songs at the age of 12. By 15, she was already performing at competitive music and bard festivals. In 1989, she moved to Moscow, where she became a permanent performer and composer at the prestigious Moscow Theatre of Music and Poetry directed by Elena Kamburova. She is also a recognized member of the Russian Union of Writers. Frolova is distinguished by her striking, versatile vocal control and her use of traditional instrumentation. While she plays the classical six-string guitar, she is one of the rare modern composers and performers to accompany her music with ancient stringed instruments, most notably the gusli (a traditional Russian multi-string zither) and the ancient harp. Her music seamlessly weaves deep-rooted Russian folk scales with complex, contemporary acoustic melodies.