Since the end of World War II, the song has been popularized by Alexandrov Ensemble, the official army choir group of the Russian Armed Forces.
The refrain of the song refers to the kalinka, which is the snowball tree (Viburnum opulus).
Kalinka is considered one of the most famous Russian folk and folk-style songs in Russia, and all over the world.
[3][4] It appeared in the 1953 film Tonight We Sing, performed by Italian-American operatic bass and actor Ezio Pinza.
Pinza's recording was included on the 10-inch LP soundtrack album release of the same year, coincidentally from RCA Victor.
[7] In the video game Payday 2, released in 2013, "Kalinka" is sometimes sung by Vlad after completing the Four Stores heist.
As the player progresses throughout the different civilization eras, additional complexity and layers are added.
[10] "Kalinka" has been played during the closing ceremony of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia by Russian soprano singer Aida Garifullina, featuring the famous former football player Ronaldinho.
[11][12] The arrangement of Kalinka which is traditionally performed by the Alexandrov Ensemble turned the frivolous song into an operatic aria.
The first ensemble soloist to perform this was Pyotr Tverdokhlebov, but the first to earn the title of Mr. Kalinka was Viktor Nikitin at the Berlin peace concert in August 1948, where he sang three encores of the song.
[13] The title is unofficial and awarded by the audience and journalists present at successful ensemble concerts where Kalinka earns numerous encores.
[15] Since then there have been several Mr. Kalinkas, including Vasily Ivanovich Shtefutsa and Vadim Petrovich Ananyev.