Ensemble "Barynya" information, news and updates

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Puerto Rico International Festival of Cultures. December 2007

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Roswell Cultural Arts Center. Roswell, Georgia. October 2007

"Kazanka"

"Nanaysky"

video recorded on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forest Street, Roswell, Georgia during joined concert with Atlanta Balalaika Society. Dancers: Natalia Ejova, Andrij Cybyk, Musicians: Alex Siniavski (balalaika prima), Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, vocal), David Cooper (balalaika contrabass), Alexander Menshikov (vocal, tambourine).

Slavic Cultural Festival Sept 29, 2007 McLean, VA

view photos provided by K.P. Vereshchaka

Mikhail Smirnov, Victoria Pichurova, Valentina Kvasova, Olga Chpitalnaia, Natalia Ejova, Mikhail Nesterenko, Stefan Kuziw, and Roman Lewkowicz photos from Slavic Cultural Festival that took place on September 29, 2007 at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA. Ensemble Barynya shared the stage with the Kazak Family Trio of Belarus, the Bandura Tells of Ukraine, and local organization, the Washington Balalaikas Society Orchestra.

Folklorama 2007 Russian Pavillion Winnipeg Canada

View photos and video from Folklorama 2007 Russian Pavilion

Artistic Director of the Barynya ensemble Mikhail Smirnov was invited to play gusli, balalaika, garmoshka and sing Russian tongue twisters at the FOLKLORAMA 2007 (the largest and longest running multicultural festival of its kind in the world) festival held annualy in Winnipeg, Canada.

July 11-28, 2007. Performance series in Ohio communities

view photos from Ensemble Barynya Ohio summer tour 2007

Ensemble Barynya was touring the state of OHIO as part of the Ohio Arts Council’s Summer International Music and Performing Arts in Communities Tour (IMPACT). Barynya performed many shows, Russian & Ukrainian dance workshops from July 17 to July 28, 2007. Performance locations included Lakeside, Warren, Marietta, Jackson and Grandview Heights. All performances were free and open to the public.

July 9-15, 2007. The Balalaika and Domra Association of America 2007 Decorah, Iowa

Ensemble Barynya's singer Alexander Menshikov and Artistic Director and garmoshka player Mikhail Smirnov were invited as guest artists and teachers of Russia Gypsy traditional music to the annual conference of The Balalaika and Domra Association of America. To see pictures from this wonderful Festival of Russian music click the image above.

ENSEMBLE BARYNYA PERFORMANCE AT THE Lions Clubs International 90th Convention in Chicago, IL at the Hilton Hotel for the Russian Evening Event on Sunday, July 3rd, 2007. On the photo from left to right: dancer Natalia Ejova, Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka), Jim Cox (contrabass), Alex Siniavski (balalaika), and dancer Andrij Cybyk... view full size picture

One of the final events of the Russian Heritage Festival 2007 was a "Spirits of Russia" evening at the Copacabana Club (560 West 34 Street in Manhattan) on June 27... view pictures

The Russian Nobility Association in America annual Spring Russian Nobility Ball took place at the luxurious "Pierre" Hotel on May 11, 2007 in New York City. Musicians and dancers of New York based Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya (full company) provided music for coctail hour and thirty minute music and dance program during the dinner. "Barynya" performed popular Russian Gypsy pieces: "Two Guitars", "Kay One", "Vingerka", "3 lines", Russian favorite balalaika arrangement "The Moon is shining brightly" and Cossack song and dance "Varen'ka".

April 2007. Fairmont Chicago Hotel, Chicago, IL Sunday, April 29, 2007 from 8 to 11pm. “Gorodissky & Partners”, Ltd. reception at Fairmont Chicago Hotel, 200 N Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60601. Musicians: M.Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals), Alex Siniavski (balalaika, Gypsy guitar), Stefan Kuziw (tambourine), and Richard Armandi (contrabass)

March 2007. George Washington University

Slavic Spring Festival in Washington, D.C. pictures, video

January 2007. Penn State University tour

                       

February 2007. Embassy of Russia in Washington, DC
Ensemble "Barynya" provided music and dancing for the MASLENITSA at the Embassy of Russia in Washington, DC. It was a long drive from Brooklyn for all Barynya members: dancers Valentina Kvasova and Vitaly Verterich, singer Victoria Pichurova, musicians Alex Siniavski (balalaika, Gypsy guitar), Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar), violinist Alexander Tseytlin and Ruslan Khain (c-bass). Photos from inside of Embassy of Russia

Ensemble Barynya in Eugene, Oregon, January, 2007

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October 2006. John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Ensemble "Barynya" (full company: six dancers and four musicians) performed six shows in Wisconsin. Rouslan Khaine (contrabass and balalaika contrabass) was not able to fly and drove all the way from New York. Final concert took place in wonderful auditorium of John Michael Kohler Arts Center (608 New York Avenue, Sheboygan, WI). Some friends of ensemble Barynya drove for over two hours just to see our performance.

Ensemble Barynya promo video 2006

5 min 25 sec video promo 2006 John Michael Kohler Arts Center

September 2006. Baltimore, Maryland
2 min 20 sec Russian Gypsy folk song and dance "Those were the days" video. Folk singer Alexander Menshikov and Russian music ensemble "Barynya" showcase at the booking conference on September 29, 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland. Mikhail Smirnov-guitar, Vadim Kolpakov-Russian Gypsy 7-string guitar, Ruslan Khain - balalaika contrabass, Alex Siniavski-balalaika, Gypsy guitar. view more Barynya videos

August 2006. Reno, Nevada
Alexander Menshikov and Mikhail Smirnov are performing as "GYPSY BOYS" at the "Starlight Serenade" concert presented by the Sierra Nevada Balalaika Society at the Bartley Ranch Amphitheater, at 7:30 pm on Saturday, September 2nd. The Sierra Nevada Balalaika Society is dedicated to the perpetuation of music written for the balalaika, domra, and related instruments.

July 2006. Akron, Ohio
The annual conference of The Balalaika and Domra Association of America took place in Akron, Ohio. Barynya's singer Alexander Menshikov and director Mikhail Smirnov went to Akron, Ohio to teach Russian folk singing and Russian folk chorus and to perform for 160 attendees.. view photos

JUNE 2006. PEPSICO WORLD HEADQUARTERS. Purchase, NY
Eight Barynya Dancers provide Cossack dance with amazing acrobatic tricks at the Pepsi-Cola. In the end of the show we recieved well deserved standing ovation from huge croud of more than a thousand people. view photos

JUNE 2006. WORLD YACHT PRINCESS, NEW YORK CITY Barynya musicians play aboard World Yacht's " Princess" at Pier 81 (West 41st street at the Hudson River) in New York City at the Russian Children's Welfare Society event "Petroushka on the Hudson".

MAY 2006
United Nations Association event in Lighthouse International over on EAST 58th street in New York City. Barynya performes with two dancers, two musicians and singer... read recommendation letter

APRIL 2006
Maslenitsa at the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC.

MARCH 2006
Barynya musicians are playing at the New York's landmark The Waldorf's Astoria Hotel at the Benefit Concert "Petroushka Ball" for The Annual Fundraiser of the Russian Children’s Welfare Society... more pictures

FEBRUARY 2006
Barynya performance at the World Champions exhibition and skating event in Locust Valley, New York. On the picture ensemble Barynya musicians with the gold medalists of the 2004 World Figure Skating Championships in Ice Dancing Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov. From left to right: Tatiana Navka, Mikhail Smirnov, Roman Kostomarov and Alex Siniavski

JANUARY 2006
Russian folk dance and music ensemble Barynya at the Slavic Festival in Eugine, Oregon... read more, see pictures

SEPTEMBER 2005
Buckley Recital Hall at Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts ensemble Barynya invited Legend of Russian immigration Gypsy singer ZHENYA SHEVCHENKO.

OCTOBER 2005

Ensemble Barynya performed at the Opening Gala of special exihibition RUSSIA! in Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York City). RUSSIA! is the most comprehensive and significant exhibition of Russian art outside Russia since the end of the Cold War. Including more than 250 artworks...

SEPTEMBER 2005
Ensemble Barynya entertained lavish party celebrating the American launch of Imperia Vodka with with 100 pounds of caviar and a 10,000-pound ice bar paid for by Russian billionaire Roustam Tariko at the Liberty Island. Scores of glass lanterns hung from the treetop canopy to create an ethereal atmosphere, while Russian belly dancers, fortunetellers, storytellers, and traditional musicians entertained. Later, guests noshed on such decadent Russian delicacies as carved whole roasted sturgeon with dill caviar cream, juniper-scented roast suckling pig, and beef Stroganoff at the dinner buffet. Tentation’s meal was followed by a 20-minute fireworks display by Grucci and a dessert of strawberries and chocolate, as well as an hourlong show from Duran Duran, who performed on a barge just off the island. read more pictures

JULY 2005
Russian folk music and dance ensemble Barynya participated in 2005 Balalaika and Domra Association of America conference in Madison, WI. We were proud to perform at the gala concert with Judy Sherman (vocal), Victor Gorodinsky (balalaika contrabass) and Greg Harbar (accordion).

June 21, 2005
Performance at Biotechnology Industry Organization's (BIO) 2005 Annual Conference. Gala Reception was held at Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of Philadelphia's most prestigious venues for entertainment. This reception took place outside on the terrace amidst the grand architectural setting of the museum and panoramic views of the city. Barynya was performing at the main stage. Many street performers were creating small cells of entertainment virtually everywhere: unicyclists, jugglers, caricaturists, street magicians, mimes, fire-eaters, musicians and dancers.

May, 2005
Real Russian Nobility celebrate with ensemble "Barynya" when they need Russian dancers and music. Pictures were taken and video recorede at the Russian Nobility Ball in Grand Ball Room of "The Pierre Hotel", Fifth Avenue at 61st Street, New York City, New York, USA on Friday, May 13th, 2005.

more pictures from The Russian Nobility Ball 2005

April, 2005

Television and radio commercials recorded for Brooklyn Russian Steam Bath "Sandoony USA" for New York Russian Radio and TV station VSE in New York
www.radio620am.com
15 seconds MP3 and 30 seconds MP3

February, 2005

When The Best in entertainment business need true Russian flavor they call "Barynya" . Ensemble participated in Discovery Channel show "The Party Planner with David Tutera". The theme of the party was "Doctor Zhivago Russian Palace". David Tutera impressive client list includes Barbara Walters, the John F. Kennedy Center, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Tommy Hilfiger, and film premiere and celebrity parties, including the 1998 and 2003 official post-Grammy Awards parties in New York. David is also a regular entertaining expert on ABC's popular morning show The View.

"Barynya" performing live on show "Party Planner with David Tutera"
Discovery Channel, 1 minure 30 seconds MPEG videoclip (7,86 MB)