For all the complexity and contradictions of Y.A. Yevtushenko’s personality, one cannot fail to acknowledge that his work occupies a significant place in 20th-century Russian poetry. He is a magnificent reader of poetry, and not only of his own.
The vinyl records presented here, released in the 1970s and 1980s, illustrate this well. Seven of them feature Yevtushenko reading his own poems and long poems. Four records were digitized and prepared by the release’s author. I feel obliged to note that the record "Citizens, Listen to Me" survived by the time of digitization in worse condition than the others. Where I could, I removed imperfections and defects; where I could not, I ask the esteemed audience’s forgiveness.