If You Don't Have an Aunt

Sergey Nikitin is one of the most beloved figures of the Russian bard tradition — a singer-songwriter, composer, and guitarist whose work has shaped generations of listeners. Trained as a physicist and holding a Candidate of Sciences degree in physics and mathematics, Nikitin pursued music alongside an academic career, beginning in his student years by setting the poems of renowned Russian poets to music.

For most of his artistic life, Sergey performed in a celebrated creative and family duo with his wife, Tatyana Nikitina. Together, they became known for their thoughtful interpretations of poetry, sophisticated ensemble arrangements, and distinctive sound, shaped in part by Sergey’s masterful playing on the seven-string Russian guitar, tuned in the traditional “Gypsy minor” style.

Over the decades, the Nikitins' creative partnership earned enduring admiration from audiences and helped introduce countless listeners to some of the finest works of Russian poetry. Sergey Nikitin’s music has also reached millions through film: he composed songs for numerous popular movies. Sergey Nikitin has become not only a distinguished composer and performer, but also one of the foremost ambassadors of Russian poetic song.