Lev Zabeginsky (New York City) - composer, arranger, virtuoso balalaika and domra player, as well as a solid jazzman (playing both double bass and bass guitar) - was born in Moscow, Russia. Lev Zebeginsky started to play Russian folk music at the age of six. In 1952 he had played with The Youth Folk Quartet in Kremlin at the Stalin's birthday concert... He graduated from the St.Petersburg Conservatory in 1970 with master degree in composition.
As a bass player of Roman Kunsman's "Platina" he made an impressive appearence at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1974.
He also had made several USA-CANADA tours with
the Russian-Gypsy superstars such as Alyosha Dimitrievich of Paris and B.Rubashkin of
Vienna among others.
Lev Zabeginsky's CD cover "Live in St.Petersburg".
Petroushka Ball - 2013, The Plaza Hotel, New York City
Russian dance, song and music ensemble Barynya provided Russian folk dancers and live music entertainment for the Annual Petroushka Ball, a traditional Russian ball held annually in New York City. Petroushka Ball (Russian: Бал Петрушка) is the primary fundraising event for the Russian Children's Welfare Society, organization which is dedicated to assisting disadvantaged Russian children to improve their health, education and social welfare. First Petroushka Ball took place in 1965 as a small Tea Dance by a group of descendants of Russian families whose intent was to raise funds to help Russian children. Since then, the Ball has become one of New York Society's most vibrant and anticipated annual events, attracting upwards of 700 dinner and dancing guests. Petroushka Ball-2013 took place at The Plaza Hotel, 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019 on Friday, February 8, 2013. Ensemble Barynya cast included: Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, garmoshka, vocals), Lev Zabeginsky (balalaika), Leonid Bruk (balalaika-contrabass), singer Alexander Menshikov, Sergey Gurbeloshvili (saxophone), Igor Lutsev (drums), Vlad Barskiy (keyboard), Andrei Kisselev (dancer), Yana Volkova (dancer).
The Barynya Balalaika Orchestra and dancers of ensemble Barynya were performing at the Petroushka Balls for number of years: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007.
Ensemble Barynya, Lev Zabeginsky, Mikhail Smirnov, Leonid Bruk, Petroushka Ball 2013, The Plaza Hotel, New York City, USA, Photo credit :: Maike Schultz
Sunday, January 10, 2010, 8:40PM, 9:40PM, 10:40PM,
APAP booking conference NYC Hilton, Morgan Suite, 2 Floor
1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
Solo concert of Barynya ensemble at the huge concert hall in Chihuahua City was stopped in the beginning and delayed. Many people outside of the theatre still wanted to get in to see the show. Finally they put sound monitors and projection screens on the street and let some more people inside. That is a very funny funny video. Because they recorded the concert but failed to record the sound, so they just pulled some music off the internet and put the two together. The sound track is fun in its own way too. Our singer Sasha Menshikov did not like it. Actually he hated this video. But maybe he was overreacting.
Сольный концерт ансамбля Барыня в огромном концертном зале города Чиуауа Сити (Чивава Сити) был задержан на 30 ИЛИ 40 минут. На улице осталось около 1000 человек, которым не досталось билетов, а люди требовали впустить их посмотреть шоу. На улице поставили большие проэкционные экраны, звуковые колонки, и в концов концов мы начали наше выступление. К сожалению, на видео вместо нашего собственного звука местные видеооператор и режиссер, которые сделали нам это видео в подарок, зачем-то "подложили" записи каких-то других русских ансамблей. Но эти записи тоже довольно прикольные сами по себе. А видео с выступления получилось очень красивое. Саше Меньшикову оно, правда, страшно не понравилось. Очень сильно не понравилось. Саша Меньшиков всё принимает слишком близко к сердцу.
Festival International des Rythmes du Monde, Chicoutimi (Quebec), Canada, July 2009
Over 10 thousand people attended Barynya performance during Festival in Chicoutimi. Performers: Leonid Bruk, Mikhail Smirnov, Alexander Menshikov, Yan Khmel, Lev Zabeginsky, Valentina Kvasova, Ilia Pankratov.
Mikhail Smirnov,
Lev Zabeginsky,
Valentina Kvasova,
Natalia Ejova,
Ksenya Hentisz,
Stefan Kuziw,
Mikhail Nesterenko,
Danila Sherstobitov, and
Alexey Maltsev performed three shows during the Fourth Annual Slavic Festival in Eugene, Oregon organized by Slavic Home. On the photo below ensemble Barynya is performing Danila Cooper, the dance of Russian Nobility.
Russian Father Frosts and Snow Maidens. December 2007
Barynya gig for TV Chanel RUSSIA TODAY, New York City
On December 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31, 2007 from 12PM till 4 PM New York based Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya dancers and musicians were leading a group of Russian Father Frosts and Snow Maidens (Ded Moroz and Snegurochka) to greet New Yorkers and promote new TV Channel "RUSSIA TODAY".
To order Lev Zabeginsky Music of the world on the Russian balalaika Live in St. Petersburg album please use PayPal link below. Price is $25 US dollars including US first class or airmail shipping anywhere in the world. Album is usually shipped withing 48 hours of your payment. This compact disk is offered from Barynya website with permission of Lev Zabeginsky himself. There is no other place where you can purchase music of this legendary musician.
Lev Zabeginsky, Zhenya Shevchenko, Alexander Menshikov during ensemble Barynya concert in New York City in January 2008.
Photo by Dalia Bagdonaite. January 2008