New York balalaika orchestra

May 2007. Russian Nobility Ball-2007 in New York City

Ensemble Barynya @ Russian Nobility Ball 2007 photos

BARYNYA BALALAIKA ORCHESTRA PETROUSHKA BALL 2007

RCWS started in 1965 by a group of descendants of Russian families whose intent was to raise funds to help to Russian children. Since then, the "Petroushka Ball" has become one of New York Society's most vibrant and anticipated annual events, attracting upwards of 800 dinner and dancing guests.

Barynya Balalaika Orchestra at the "Petroushka Ball 2007"
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City. 2 min video

People loved to dance waltzes, tangos, karkovyaks, polkas and Russian folk dances with accompaniment of domras, balalaikas, and Russian accordions of the Barynya Balalaika Orchestra.

2 min 20 sec video clip. Russian music ensemble "Barynya" showcase at the booking conference on September 29, 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland. Alexander Menshikov - percussions, Mikhail Smirnov- classic guitar, Vadim Kolpakov-Russian Gypsy 7-string guitar, Ruslan Khain - balalaika contrabass, balalaika solo - Alex Siniavski

2 min 20 sec video clip. Russian music ensemble "Barynya" showcase at the booking conference on September 29, 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland. Alexander Menshikov - singer, Mikhail Smirnov-guitar, Vadim Kolpakov-Russian Gypsy 7-string guitar, Ruslan Khain - balalaika contrabass, Alex Siniavski-balalaika, Gypsy guitar

Petroushka Ball 2006, Warldorff Astoria, New York City, USA

The Orchestra has been found by Mikhail Smirnov, director of Russian folk dance and music ensemble Barynya from Brooklyn, New York, founder of Barynya Entertainment website, first online Russian entertainment database in the United States.

PETRUSHKA Ball @ Waldorff Astoria

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT OUR ORCHESTRA

March 6, 2006

On February 10, 2006, the Russian Children's Welfare Society celebrated its 80th year by holding its 41st Annual Petroushka Ball at the Grand Ballroom, and the adjacent Jade Room, of the famed Waldorf-Astoria in New York. Approximately 800 people attended this event which was a fabulous success thanks in large part to Mikhail Smirnov and his "Barynya Russian Balalaika Orchestra". They were fabulous and kept the attendees singing and dancing until 3:00 AM. We have had several Balalaika groups over the years, but none were better than BARYNYA. We hope to have them back for many, many years. These musicians are extremely talented. One of our Board members wrote to me: "The after 10PM event with 'Barynya' was almost the “insider” more hip part of the evening. It was the place where we old fogies were letting our hair down what little we have left. The festiveness was more intense than prior years. You have created a new event within an old tired one. The Ball has taken on a whole new energy that is taking root in a new generation who are making it an important annual event on their social calendars. I think we can expect it to continue to grow as long as you are at the helm and your passion continues to ignite the best in all of us.
LET THE FLAMES SPREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!
BRAVO! BRAVO!"

Sincerely,
Vladimir P. Fekula
President
Russian Children's Welfare Society

photo by Vladimir P. Fekula

The leading balalaika player of the Barynya Balalaika Orchestra is Alex Siniavski, acclaimed balalaika virtuoso, former first balalaika of the world known State Andreeev's Balalaika Orchestra from St. Petersburg, Russia, author of the first BALALAIKA TUTORIAL ON DVD.

The leading singer is famous singer Gari Nova. Gari is a legend of Russian immigration in the United States known as "The Russian Crooner". He has made many appearances throughout the United States and Europe, in places such as Lincoln Center in New York City, and The Palace in Gstadd, Switzerland.

Alex Siniavski

Irina Zagornova, Svetlana Mikhol

Gari Nova

THE BARYNYA BALALAIKA ORCHESTRA INSTRUMENTS

The "Barynya" Balalaika Orchestra plays Balalaika, Bayan, Domra, guitars, Garmoshka (Russian button accordion), Balalaika Contrabass, cello and drums.

THE BARYNYA BALALAIKA ORCHESTRA MEMBERS

All members of the orchestra are conservatory graduates, the best Russian professional musicians available in New York area of the United States. Some of the musicians performing with the Orchestra: balalaika virtuosos: Alex Siniavski, Lev Zabeginsky, balalaika prime Simon Lemberskiy, balalaika-sekunda Alexander Ressetar, Russian Bayan virtuoso Gennady Gutkin, violin virtuosos Sergey Ryabtsev, Alexadre Tseyitlin, Russian garmoshka player Mikhail Smirnov, Contrabass Balalaika player Leonid Bruk, contrabass Ruslan Khain.

Best in the United States singers are performing with the Orchestra: Natalia Smirnov, Irina Zagornova, Victoria Pichurova, Gari Nova, Alexander Menshikov, Sergei Pobedinski.

THE BARYNYA BALALAIKA ORCHESTRA PROGRAM

Russian, Ukrainian, Gypsy and Klezmer music, songs and dances: Kalinka, Hopak, Devochka Nadya, Barynya, Sailors, Dark Eyes, Chubchik, Moscow Nights, Volga Boarman, Korobushka (The Peddler), Odessa, Marusechka, Zemlyanka, Dark Night, Katyusha, Smuglyanka, Two guitars, Chastushki, Cheremshina, Chervona Ruta, Tango Dark Eyes, Put'-Dorozhka, Polyushko, Marusya 1,2,3, Serdtse, Along Petersburg, Murka, Goro-gori, By the long road, Tzar Nikolai, Sergey Gusarov, Konfetki-baranochki, My Gypsies, Stakanchiki Granyonye, Shto mne gore, Ural'skaya Ryabinushka, Kayone, Pri Luzhke, Ne budite, Po Dikim Stepyam Zabailaliya, Vesyoloi Shumnoyu Tolpoyu, Zlaty Kolechiki, Subboteya, Quadrille, Pidmanula, Varenichki, Chardash, The Moon Is Shining Brightly, Birch-tree, Rucheyok and more.

DANCING WITH THE BARYNYA BALALAIKA ORCHESTRA

From "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy. On photos below people are dancing with THE BARYNYA BALALAIKA ORCHESTRA at the Petrushka Ball. Waldorff Astoria Hotel, New York City 2006. more pictures

And indeed everybody in the room looked with a smile of pleasure at the jovial old gentleman, who standing beside his tall and stout partner, Marya Dmitrievna, curved his arms, beat time, straightened his shoulders, turned out his toes, tapped gently with his foot, and, by a smile that broadened his round face more and more, prepared the onlookers for what was to follow. As soon as the provocatively gay strains of Daniel Cooper (somewhat resembling those of a merry peasant dance) began to sound, all the doorways of the ballroom were suddenly filled by the domestic serfs- the men on one side and the women on the other- who with beaming faces had come to see their master making merry.

"Just look at the master! A regular eagle he is!" loudly remarked the nurse, as she stood in one of the doorways.

The count danced well and knew it. But his partner could not and did not want to dance well. Her enormous figure stood erect, her powerful arms hanging down (she had handed her reticule to the countess), and only her stern but handsome face really joined in the dance. What was expressed by the whole of the count's plump figure, in Marya Dmitrievna found expression only in her more and more beaming face and quivering nose. But if the count, getting more and more into the swing of it, charmed the spectators by the unexpectedness of his adroit maneuvers and the agility with which he capered about on his light feet, Marya Dmitrievna produced no less impression by slight exertions- the least effort to move her shoulders or bend her arms when turning, or stamp her foot- which everyone appreciated in view of her size and habitual severity. The dance grew livelier and livelier. The other couples could not attract a moment's attention to their own evolutions and did not even try to do so. All were watching the count and Marya Dmitrievna. Natasha kept pulling everyone by sleeve or dress, urging them to "look at Papa!" though as it was they never took their eyes off the couple. In the intervals of the dance the count, breathing deeply, waved and shouted to the musicians to play faster. Faster, faster, and faster; lightly, more lightly, and yet more lightly whirled the count, flying round Marya Dmitrievna, now on his toes, now on his heels; until, turning his partner round to her seat, he executed the final pas, raising his soft foot backwards, bowing his perspiring head, smiling and making a wide sweep with his arm, amid a thunder of applause and laughter led by Natasha. Both partners stood still, breathing heavily and wiping their faces with their cambric handkerchiefs.

"That's how we used to dance in our time, ma chere," said the count.

Dancing with "The Barynya Balalaika Orchestra"
photo by w. fekula

April 2007. Beck Center for the Arts, Lakewood, Ohio

Gop So Smykom literally "Hop With A Violin Bow", an untranslatable slang nickname of a criminal character, roughly "High-Spirited Hop". In the opening stanza he introduces himself: "Gop So Smykom happens to be me, Listen well, friends. For my trade I've chosen theft. I am hardly ever out of prison, and when I am, the prison misses me. But whatever prison I may be in, not a minute passes without me singing. I stick my hands in my pockets, And walk around, singing out of boredom... read more

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More Russian traditional music ensembles for hire

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Black cats dressed in Russian folk costumes with balalaikas