Abaton Book Company is pleased to announce the release of 'From St. Petersburg With Love', the debut CD by singer/songwriter Julia Vorontsova. This CD release contains 24 original songs all sung in Russian and includes a 12 page booklet of English commentary and drawings by the artist. Julia Vorontsova was born in St. Petersburg Russia in 1982. After studying violin and piano for three years at St. Petersburg State Music School she started composing her own poetry and songs while teaching herself guitar. She grew up listening to underground 'Bard' folk singers such as Bulat Okudzhava, Yuri Vizbor and Veronika Dolina. 'The Singing Poets' In a medieval sense, Julia is a true 'singing poet' and the singing poets of Russian are called bards. They like to stick their heads over the necks of guitars and sing their poetry. The great three singing poets in Russia are Alexander Galitch, Bulat Okudjava and Vladimir Vyssotsky. Julia's mentor, Veronika Dolina is 'universally considered in Russia as the only singing poet who approaches the talents and the status of these three'. Through Dolina, Julia Vorontsova is in direct disciplic lineage to this group of poets. Julia understands the artform, the subject matter, and most importantly has the voice and talent to present the genre in her own unique way. She is undoubtedly the most recent link to these bards of the Soviet era.