Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival is an authentic, cultural presentation of Russian Songs, Balalaika Music and Russian Folk Ballet all equally represented throughout the performance in authentic Russian style, language and costumes. The Company features professional artists, with musicians who are conservatory graduates, professional Russian Dancers, and features Russian Songs, with Nikolai Massenkoff, " World celebrated singer." Songs are from the Tsarist Russia, WWII to present day Russia, including favorite Russian Songs, such as: Kalinka, Moscow Nights, Dark Eyes and Volga Boatmen, all in the original Russian language accompanied by Russian Folk instrument - Balalaika, Domra, and Bayan.
The Russian language is featured, and takes the audience on a tour with Russian melodies, Balalaikas and dances from Russia and neighboring countries, such as Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. At the end of the first act the audience is given a short lesson in the Russian language. They learn how to say a few very important words and phrases, such as “Ya Lublue Vas,”
which means "I love you." The First Act ends with the popular Ukrainian Dance, “Hopak!”
The second part of the program introduces more songs and dances with an accent on Russian Gypsy Songs such as "Dark Eyes," “Two Guitars," and "Dorogoi Dlinnoyou," originally a Russian song that became well known around the world as "Those were the days my friend..."
Virtuoso musicians are featured on Russian Instruments, such as Bayan (similar to accordion) and the Balalaika (best known Russian instrument with three strings and played with the tips of the fingers). The other Russian folk instrument is the Domra which is similar to the Mandolin.
The audience usually requests favorite songs from “Fiddler on the Roof,” and “Somewhere my Love,” from the movie, Dr. Zhivago. Nikolai introduces a song dedicated from all artists and the audience to World Peace! The curtain closes on Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival with the words, "…until we meet again!"
Please watch the video of The Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival which is an abbreviation of a Live Stage performance, followed by a Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival School Performance.
MASSENKOFF RUSSIAN FOLK FESTIVAL LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO
LuCille Tack Center for the Arts in Spencer, Wisconsin, February 11th, 2018
Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival led by Nikolai Massenkoff, world celebrated singer, performed at LuCille Tack Center for the Arts in Spencer, Wisconsin on Sunday, February 11th, 2018. Dancers Simona Zhukovski, Vladimir Nikitin, Serhiy Tsyganok, Dinara Subaeva. Musicians: Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, vocals), Stas Vengelevski (bayan). Exact address of the LuCille Tack Center for the Arts is 400 School Street, P.O. Box 337, Spencer, WI 54479. Program of performance included Kalinka, The Moon is Shining, Russkoye Polye, Korobushka, Metelitsa, Tatar dance, Ural Mountain dance, Tyomnaiya NOch', Katyusha, Tatarskiy Taneyts, Kamarinskaia, Along The Pitersakia, Cossack dance, Valenkee, Gypsy dance, Moscow Nights, Ochee Chorniye, Dorogoi Dlinnoyou, Hopak, If I Were A Rich Man, Barynya, Somewhere My Love, and other selections.
Nikolai Massenkoff and ensemble Barynya Illinois and Missouri tour 2016
Russian folk singer Nikolai Massenkoff and ensemble Barynya were doing a short concert tour in Illinois and Missouri in October 2016. Concerts took place on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, 11am at FREEDOM HALL, 410 LAKEWOOD BOULEVARD, PARK FOREST, Illinois 60466, on Monday, October 24, 2016, 9:30am at Brubeck Arts Center on Campus of Wabash Valley College, 2200 COLLEGE DRIVE, MOUNT CARMEL, Illinois 62863, on Sunday, October 23, 2016, 1:30pm. Brubeck Arts Center on Campus of Wabash Valley College, 2200 COLLEGE DRIVE, MOUNT CARMEL, Illinois 62863, on Saturday, October 22, 2016, 6pm at BELLE STARR THEATER, 112 E. BOONSLICK ROAD, WARRENTON, MISSOURI 63383. Cast of performers included soloist, star, singer inger Nikolai Massenkoff, Leonid Bruk (contrabass-balalaika), Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, garmoshka, vocals), Vladimir Nikitin (dancer), Simona Zhukovsky (dancer).
