Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Russian Balalaika Duo
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On Saturday, February 11th, 2017, 5:45pm to 7:15pm Russian music, dance and song Balalaika Duo (Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov) performed at the Fort Lauderdale Grand Russian Ball 2017 at the Mary Porter Riverview Ballroom, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Southwest 5th Ave, Fort Lauderdale FL 33312.
Black Tie Gala took place to mark the 75th Anniversary of Florida Grand Opera. In the tradition of Grand Opera, the Gala evening began with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and an opulent dinner in the Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom. Following dinner, guests entered the Broward Center’s Au Rene Theater to enjoy Tchaikovsky’s most beloved opera – Eugene Onegin. Following the performance, everyone returned to the Riverview Ballroom for dessert, dancing and greeting the international opera stars. The program of Balalaika Duo's performance included Sabre Dance from "Gayane" by Aram Khachaturian, "Fiddler On The Roof" Medley, "Two guitars", Csardas by Vittorio Monti, Paganini's Caprice No. 24, "The Gypsy Trail" (Мохнатый шмель), Rondo Alla Turca (Turkish March) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, "Dark Eyes", Polonaise No. 13 in A minor, "Pozegnanie Ojczyzny" (Farewell to the Fatherland) by Michal Oginski, "Those Were The Days", J.S. Bach - Suite No. 2 - Badinerie (Joke), Pidmanula (Ты ж мэнэ пiдманула), Waltz for Jazz Orchestra No. 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich, Светит месяц - The Moon Is Shining Brightly, Waltz "Babochka" by V. Andreev, Felt Boots (Валенки), Variations on a Theme of Corelli in the Style of Tartini. Composer, Kreisler, Fritz, Iced House ("Потолок ледяной, дверь скрипучая"), Dr. Zhivago's "Somewhere, My Love" (Lara's Theme), and other selections.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Email msmirnov@yahoo.com | Phone/Text (201) 981-2497
Russian Balalaika Duo, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Mary Porter Riverview Ballroom, Fort Lauderdale, FL
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Russian Balalaika Duo, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Mary Porter Riverview Ballroom, Fort Lauderdale, FL
click image above to see full-size high resolution photo
Russian Balalaika Duo, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Mary Porter Riverview Ballroom, Fort Lauderdale, FL
click image above to see full-size high resolution photo
Elina Karokhina, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
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Elina Karokhina, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
click image above to see full-size high resolution photo
ABOUT PERFORMERS: Elina Karokhina
Elina Karokhina was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia. She 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. Elina 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 Teaching and Performing. Following the Graduation, Elina began working as a musician, both as a teacher and as a performer, teaching balalaika. Mrs. Karokhina served in the Russian Army in the Military Ensemble in the Northwest Order of Red Stars. She is a winner of International Music Competition in Cherepovets and a Holder of the First Place in Troyanovsky's Competition for musicians performing of traditional instruments in St. Petersburg, Russia. As a balalaika soloist Elina has toured all over the world.
She was a soloist of State Concert Russian Orchestra of Saint Petersburg under direction of Honored Performer of Russia Vladimir Popov (Russian: Государственный Русский концертный оркестр Санкт-Петербурга, Художественный руководитель и главный дирижер – Заслуженный деятель искусств России ВЛАДИМИР ПОПОВ.) 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 (New York). In January 2015 Elina Karokhina was selected to perform the balalaika part with Mariinsky Theatre directed by world-famous 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 several concerts at the Carnegie Hall in New York City with symphony orchestra, choir, and opera soloists as a soloist 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 2017 Elina was invited to perform as a Honored Guest Artist at the Balalaika and Domra Association of America 40th Jubilee Convention in Philadelphia (July 2018).
About Mikhail Smirnov:
Mikhail Smirnov was born in Moscow, Russia in 1966. He has been in the business of Russian folk dance and music for more than 25 years. Mikhail is an artistic director and founder of ensemble Barynya based in New York City, 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.
Green Cove Springs Branch Clay County Library, Green Cove Springs, Florida, December 12, 2019
On Thursday, December 12th, 2019 two members of Russian song, dance, and music ensemble Barynya provided one hour performance at the Green Cove Springs Branch of Clay County Library system. Exact address: 403 Ferris St, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. Program started at 6:30pm. Artistic director, singer, garmoshka, and guitar player Mikhail Smirnov announced every number of the show in English. The performance was titled "From Russia With Love - Songs, Music, and Dances Of Old Russia" and included Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Russian Jewish, and Russian Roma Gypsy songs, music, and dances. All instrumental numbers were performed on the traditional Russian instruments balalaika and garmoshka. Music selections included Russian folk song and dance "The Snowstorm" (Вдоль по улице метелица метёт), "Kalinka" (Калинка-малинка моя), "Long Road" (Дорогой длинною), "Two Guitars", "Meadowlands", Andreev's Waltz "Daydreams", Russian folk song and dance "Kamarinskaya" (Камаринская), "Somewhere My Love" from "Dr. Zhivago" movie (Тема Лары из фильма Доктор Живаго), "The Moon Is Shining Brightly" (Светит месяц), "The Peddlers" (Коробейники), "Ural Mountains Dance", "Angry Husband", Russian Jewish Wedding Dance (Еврейский свадебный танец со свечкой), "Dark Eyes" (Очи чёрные), "Gypsy Roma Medley", Shostakovich's Waltz #2, "Valenki" (Felt Boots), Ukrainian folk song and dance "You Tricked Me" (Пiдманула), Russian Tongue Twister song «Шёл я яром, шёл я низом», "Sabre Dance" from "Gayane" by Aram Khachaturian (Танец с саблями Хачатуряна), "Csardas" by Vittorio Monti (Чардаш Монти), ВАЛЬС ДЮРАН (solo by balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina), Russian folk dance Barynya (Барыня), Russian table song "Maroz" (Ой, мороз, мороз), and other selections. After the show Mikhail and Elina took some photos with kids and adults who attended the program.
All photos from the Green Cove Springs Branch in Green Cove Springs, FL
Balalaika Duo performance at the public library in Punta Gorda, Florida
Two members of Barynya ensemble performed one hour show at the Punta Gorda Library, 401 Shreve Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950. Performers: Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, vocals, guitar), Elina Karokhina (balalaika, dancer, vocals). The program took place on Saturday, December 14th, 2019 at 1pm.
All photos from concert at the Punta Gorda Library
CONTACT INFORMATION: Email msmirnov@yahoo.com | Phone/Text (201) 981-2497
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CONTACT INFORMATION: Email msmirnov@yahoo.com | Phone/Text (201) 981-2497
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