The Sydney Balalaika Orchestra will perform at The Art House on March 10. The Sydney Balalaika Orchestra is a 28 piece Russian Folk Orchestra, based in Sydney, and is the only Russian folk orchestra in Australia.
It is a not for profit orchestra whose mission is to bring authentic and beautiful folk music from Russia to both Australian and international audiences. The Sydney Balalaika Orchestra performs concerts overseas, in Sydney, at charitable performances, and in mainland cities and regional centres throughout Australia. The orchestra had its beginnings over 40 years ago, when current Musical Director, Mr Victor Serghie, along with, Mr Vladimir Savitsky, and a small group of local Russian musicians, formed the nucleus of what has evolved to become today’s orchestra.
The Sydney Balalaika Orchestra members are a microcosm of Australia’s diverse multicultural society, comprising 28 talented musicians from origins as diverse as Armenian, Belorussian, Serbian, Swedish, Danish, Polish, Ukrainian, American and Chinese, as well as Russian and Australian. Several soloists have acknowledged virtuosos on their instruments. In 2005, the orchestra received what was to be the first of many invitations to perform in Russia, and has since toured four times, visiting and performing in Moscow, St Petersburg and various Far East Russian cities ( Blagoshchensk , Khabarovsk and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk). In September 2016, the orchestra accepted an invitation to perform an 11 day concert tour of Siberia and Far East Russia. The orchestra has also toured China twice, Beijing, Tianjin and Harbin.
They also visited Christchurch, NZ, in 2012, where they performed benefi t concerts in support of the earthquake survivors. These tours are enthusiastically received and often televised. For the Russian audiences, the appeal of this Australian orchestra is found in their strict observance of the traditional folk Russian style, as well as the use of authentic form and harmonies, and performances on original instruments. All the music is scored by Mr Serghie with contributions from Ms Ludmila Voronov. Dynamic, soulful and memorable, the Sydney Balalaika Orchestra, in colourful Russian costumes and playing on authentic Russian folk instruments, has captivated audiences ranging from Moscow, St Petersburg and Beijing to Australian cities and rural towns. The music captures the essence and magic of Russia, with its evocative themes of the countryside, trees, rivers, lakes and of course, love.
Source: Media release, Feb 8 Bruce Barker, Sydney Balalaika Orchestra