By Ulrike Granögger

TV talent shows are popular, and the “Got Talent” format has spun off to over 60 countries worldwide. Like most countries, Russia has a number of its own versions of variety shows and reality TV, among them Ну-ка, все вместе! Хором! (Altogether Now! In Chorus!), an offshoot of “All Together Now!” which like the “Got Talent” series is a British TV show franchise.

Uniquely Russian is the idea to feature only musical ensembles and choirs (including classical, folk, and contemporary/pop groups) as opposed to solo performers. A large panel of 100 music experts called “The Wall”—constituted from singers, composers, producers, and educators—evaluates the performances. Choirs perform well-known songs in new arrangements, aiming to get as many of the 100 experts as possible to stand up and sing along.

The semifinals of the March 2026 season featured a rare 100/100 score. All of the jury members stood up—visibly moved and stunned by the beauty and depth of the choral performance of nothing less than one of the most pious prayers of the Orthodox tradition, presented by the Chelyabinsk Episcopal Men’s Choir “Axios.”

It is probably only in Russia that a public TV entertainment could turn into an experience of unashamed spiritual catharsis. Everybody felt the palpable presence of what can only be termed a divine blessing and healing of the soul. Switch on the subtitle feature to follow the revealing comments from the experts and witness the genuine humility and mission of the singers.

It is somewhat ironic that Russia has become the bogeyman of Western ideologies, given that few other societies have such depth of faith still alive in all strata of the population.