Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, garmoshka, vocals) and Elina Karokhina (balalaika virtuoso) are playing at the Anyway Cafe in Brooklyn twice a month. Exact address of the venue: Anyway Cafe 1602 Gravesend Neck Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11229. For more info contact Mikhail, Elina, or call Anyway Cafe's phone directly: (718) 934-5988.
Musicians of ensemble Barynya are playing in Brooklyn on Saturday, May 6th, 2023 from 9pm to midnight. Performance will be taking place in colorful Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Southern Brooklyn. Venue: Anyway Cafe and Bar, 1602 Gravesend Neck Road, Brooklyn, New York 11229. Musicians: Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, vocals, garmoshka), Elina Karokhina (domra, mandolin, balalaika, back vocals). No cover for the music. Repertoire: world music, classical, contemporary.
Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov at the Anyway Cafe Brooklyn, 05-06-2023, Saturday, May 6th, 2023
В субботу, 6-ого мая 2023-его года для жителей города и туристов в колоритном бруклинском районе Шипсхед-Бей (южный Бруклин) в исполнении виртуозных музыкантов ансамбля "Барыня" - Элина Карохина (балалайка, домра, мандолина), Михаил Смирнов (гитара, гармошка, вокал) - будет звучать живая музыка. Начало в девять часов вечера.
Ансамбль Барыня (www.barynya.com) в 2021-году отпраздновал свой 30-летний юбилей.
01-23-2020. Performance with Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Gaillard Center, Charleston, South Carolina
On Thursday, January 23rd, 2020 two musicians of Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina, and musician, singer, guitar, garmoshka player Mikhail Smirnov performed joined concert titled "FROM RUSSIANS WITH LOVE" with Charleston Symphony Orchestra led by Yuriy Bekker. Program of performance: Dmitri Shostakovich Festive Overture, Op. 96, Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky “ Polonaise ” from Eugene Onegin, Sergei Rachmaninoff's Vocalise, Modest Mussorgsky, (arr. Nikolai Rimsky - Korsakov) Night on Bald Mountain, Stravinsky's Firebird Infernal Dance Berceuse Finale, Aram Khachaturian's “Sabre Dance“ from Gayane, Nikolai Rimsky - Korsakov “Flight of the Bumble Bee” from Tale of Tsar Saltan, Russian Folk Song "Oche Chiornie" (Dark Eyes), arr. Carmen Dragon, Lionel Bart, arr. John Bachalis “ From Russia With Love “ from James Bond: From Russia With Love, Maurice Jarre, arr. Bill Holcombe “Laura’s Theme” from Dr. Zhivago, Russian Folk Song "Kalinka", Russian Folk Song "Kamarinskaiya", Russian Folk Song "Valenki", Russian Folk Song "Korobushka", Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky “Finale” from Symphony No . 4 in F minor, Op. 36. All instrumental numbers were performed by Elina and MIkhail on guitar, and the traditional Russian instruments balalaika and garmoshka. After the performance conductor Yuriy Bekker, tenor Edward Brennan, Mikhail and Elina stepped into the lobby of the beautuful Charleston Gaillard Center to sign concert posters and take photos with people who attended the performance. Exact address of the venue: 95 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401.
Balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina is number 1 balalaika player in the United States. She was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia and began her formal training at the Mussorgsky Music College of St. Petersburg and continued her training at N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, earning a degree as an Orchestra Soloist. She continued her training at the Conservatory, which included a brief residency in Germany. After, she returned to her native St. Petersburg and completed her education, earning a Doctor of Musical Art degree in the Balalaika. Following her graduation, she began working as a musician, both as a teacher and as a performer, teaching balalaika. Elina Karokhina served in the Russian Army in the Military Ensemble in the Northwest Order of Red Stars. As a balalaika soloist Elina has toured all over the world. When she moved to the United States in 2009 she was hired as a musicial director and soloist with the biggest professional Russian music, song and dance ensemble Barynya. In January 2015 Elina Karokhina was selected to perform the balalaika part with Mariinsky Theatre directed by famous Russian conductor Valery Gergiev in Rodion Shchedrin's opera The Enchanted Wanderer at the Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York. In May 2016 she was hired to play six concerts at the Carnegie Hall in New York City as a part of "The Orchestra Rocks" production. In September 2016 he appeared at the Carnegie Hall again as a part of Moscow Gypsy Army representing rich musical culture of Eastern Europian Roma people. In January 2017 Elina was hired to play Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh" Suite at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. with the National Symphony Orchestra. All four performances were under direction of world-famous conductor Sir Mark Elder. In 2018 Elina was invited to perform as a Honored Guest Artist at the Balalaika and Domra Association of America 40th Jubilee Convention in Philadelphia. In October 2019 Elina was invited to perform during Emirates-Russian Week at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Mikhail Smirnov was born in Moscow, Russia. Mikhail is an artistic director and founder of ensemble Barynya, author of many articles about traditional Russian dance, music and instruments in English and Russian. Mikhail received his Master's degree from the Moscow State University of Culture and Arts. As a child, he was a member of the famous "Moscow Boys Chorus" - one of the most prestigious all-male choirs in Russia. Before coming to the United States in 1991, Mikhail was a soloist in a several Russian folk dance and music groups including the Moscow State Center for Russian song, "Russkaya Pesnya", under the direction of Nadezhda Babkina. In January 2009 Mikhail Smirnov and dancers of ensemble Barynya were featured on national TV, NBC's "SUPERSTARS OF DANCE" - breathtaking international dance competition led by executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance). This prestigious dance competition hosted by Michael Flatley ("Lord of the Dance") and Susie Castillo, a former Miss USA. Mikhail Smirnov was one of eight judges to decide which country will win. The show premiered on NBC network. Ensemble Barynya is a world renowned group that enjoys exalting stature as the premier Russian folk ensemble outside of Russia. Under direction of Mr. Smirnov ensemble Barynya has become the most requested Russian dance, song and music show outside of Mother Russia.
August 13, 2022. Wedding at the Asbury Hotel, Asbury Park, New Jersey
On Saturday, August 13th, 2022 around 9pm Mikhail and Elina performed a short segment during wedding reception at the Asbury Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey (210 Fifth Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712). Program of the show included just a few songs: песню Вероники Долиной "А хочешь я выучусь шить", Валенки, Хава нагила, Чардаш, Московские окна и Деспозито.
August 6, 2022. Ukrainian wedding ceremony at the Drumore Estate in Pequea, Pennsylvania (Martic Township in Lancaster County)
On Saturday, August 6th, 2022 around 4pm Mikhail and Elina performed during Ivan and Andrea Ukrainian wedding ceremony at the Drumore Estate in Pequea, Pennsylvania - Lancaster's popular wedding venue located in Martic Township of the Lancaster County. Exact address: 331 Red Hill Road, Pequea, PA 17565. Requested music included Kolomeyka, Lemko Wedding Song, Yellow by Coldplay, Rainbow by Kasey Musgraves, and other selections.
On Friday, December 4th, 2020, from 6:30 to 9:30pm Mikhail Smirnov and Elina Karokhina played Russian, Gypsy, classical and contemporary music at the Anyway Cafe in New York City. Exact address of the venue: Anyway Cafe NYC, 34 E 2nd St, New York, NY 10003.
12-01-2020. Virtual performance for San Antonio, Texas
On Tuesday, December 1st, 2020 Elina Karokhina (balalaika) and Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals) provided brief virtual performance for Musical Bridges Around the World Facebook Live for Giving Tuesday! Mission to support and bring multicultural performing and visual arts in San Antonio, Texas and beyond. Musicians performed two Russian winter songs and answered a few questions.
Elina Karokhina (balalaika), MIkhail Smirnov (guitar, vocals) provided music, songs and entertainment (fun trivia) during Russian-Gypsy style Birthday party celebration in Northern New Jersey (Mahwah, NJ, Bergen County) on Saturday evening, December 7th, 2013.
08-07-2012, Morristown Green, Morristown, New Jersey
Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, and dancer Valentina Kvasova performed during international festival at the Morristown Green in Morristown, New Jersey on Tuesday, August 7th, 2012 from noon to 1:15pm.
10-29-2011. Temple Israel, JCC of the Greater Five Towns, Lawrence, NY
On Saturday, October 29th, 2011, from 8:30pm to 9:45 members of Barynya Balalaika Duo Mikhail Smirnov & Elina Karokhina provided music during Jewish event at the Temple Israel on Long Island. Exact address: JCC of the Greater Five Towns, 140 Central Avenue, Lawrence, New York 11559. Program included Jewish Klezmer music as well as Russian, classical and contemporary pieces.
Live Music Balalaika Band - Wedding Tasting Room & Taphouse at Mount Ida Reserve - in Scottsville, Virginia - October 8, 2022
DJ Alisa, bilingual MC-Tamada Mikhail and eight piece live music band provided music and entertainment for mixed Russian-Jewish-American wedding reception in Scottsville, Virginia on Saturday, October 8th, 2022. For their venue newlyweds selected Tasting Room & Taphouse at Mount Ida Reserve, 5600 Moonlight Dr, Scottsville, VA 24590.
