Barynya Balalaika Orchestra led by Mikhail Smirnov provided live music entertainment for 55th Annual Petroushka Ball at the historical Plaza Hotel {768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019} on Friday, February 7th, 2020. Petroushka Ball (Russian: Бал Петрушка) is a traditional Russian ball held annually in New York City at the Plaza Hotel in the beginning of February. It 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 Petroushka Ball has become one of New York Society's most vibrant and anticipated annual events, attracting upwards of 700 dinner and dancing guests. Cast of ensemble Barynya musicians and singers in 2020 included: Mikhail Smirnov (band leader, guitar, garmoshka, vocals), Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Leonid Bruk (balalaika-contrabass), Yaroslav Bell (violin), singer Irina Zagornova, Sergey Gurbeloshvili (saxophone), Igor Lutsev (drums), and Vlad Barskiy (keyboard). The Barynya Balalaika Orchestra led by Mikhail Smirnov performed at the Petroushka Ball for number of years: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006.
During the Petroushka Ball musicians of Barynya Balalaika Orchestra performed many songs including Moscow Nights («Подмосковные вечера»), Katyusha («Катюша»), «Дунайские волны», Ukrainian song «Пiдманула», «Besa Me Mucho», Name Day Waltz («На сопках Манчжурии»), «А вы, сени мои, сени», «В лесу прифронтовом», Burnt By The Sun («Утомленное солнце»), Vengerka («Цыганочка»), Waltz «Ночь светла над рекой», Barynya («Барыня»), Two Guitars («Две гитары»), Tango «Ревность», The Moon Is Shining («Светит месяц»), Waltz «Осенний сон», Tango «Как много девушек хороших», «Yesterday», Those Were The Days My Friend («Дорогой длинною»), Gypsy song «Гори, гори, любовь цыганки», «Стюардесса по имени Жанна», «Вальс Бостон», «Крутится, вертится шар голубой», «Тройка», «Lara’s Theme», Tango Dark Eyes («Ах, эти черные глаза»), Rock-n-Roll «Рок-н-рол», Sailor's Dance («Яблочко»), Dark Night («Темная ночь»), «Где-то на белом свете», Ural Mountain Dance («Уральская плясовая»), «La Kum Parsita», «Московские окна», «Тумбалалайка», «Кадриль с выходом», Tango «Журавли», Ukrainian song «Маруся, раз, два, три», «Рябина кудрявая», Tango «Брызги шампанского», Waltz «Одинокая гармонь», Ukrainian «Гопак», «Живёт моя отрада», «Чубчик кучерявый», «Смуглянка-молдаванка», Tango «Осень - прозрачное утро», Karapet («Девочка Надя»), Dark Eyes («Очи Чёрные»), «Черные брови», Kalinka («Калинка»), «Хороши весной цветочки», Waltz «Мой ласковый и нежный зверь», «Мохнатый шмель», «Счастье вдруг», «Песня про зайцев», «Варенiчки», «Коробушка», «Ухарь-купец», «Д. Шостакович - Вальс №2», and other selections.
Petroushka 2020 schedule of events
5 PM – RTVi crew arrives (4 camera man). Room – Xavier Suite Flower arrangements have to be done by 4 pm. 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Raffle & Silent Auction Prizes laid out on 2-3 tables. 6:00 PM- 7:00 PM – Raffle kids arrive. The dressing room will be Monroe Suite. Water station should be available. Children should be dressed and ready with baskets by 8 pm. Ballroom dancers Denys Drozdyuk and Antonina Skobina arrive. 7-7:45 PM – Dancers rehearsal at the Grand Ballroom 7:45-8:30 pm – RTVi records few interviews in front on step & repeat Photographer Julia will be working at stop & repeat banner till 11 pm 8 PM – Met Opera artists rehearsal at the Grand Ballroom Roman Makhmutov sets up the photo station at Centennial Foyer (the same location as last year) 7:45 PM – Maike Schulz, photographer, arrives with 2 assistants 8:00 PM – Cocktails Served in Centennial Foyer at the 3rd fl Barynya playing the background music in Centennial Foyer at the 3rd fl Kids Folk Club Kaleidoskope arrive 9:00 PM –Guests escorted to the Grand Ballroom. Lester Lanin starts playing. Appetizers are preset. Lester Lanning stops playing 9:10 PM – As soon as the guests are seated, Beatrice Fekula welcomes the guests, acknowledges important guests, thanks Aeroflot, important sponsors, mentions the raffle & silent auction. 9:15 PM Peter Fekula says a few words about the RCWS and introduces the singers. Serena Malfi, mezzo soprano and Ben Bliss, tenor, Metropolitan Opera both accompanied by Jonathan Kelly. “Cruda sorte “ L’italiana in Algeri Rossini (5 min) Serena “Kuda, kuda” Evgeny Onegin Tchaikovsky (6 min) Ben “I’te vurria vasa’” Di Capua (4 min) Serena “No puede ser” Sorozabal (3 min) Ben Duet: “Stranger in Paradise” Kismet Wright/Forrest (4-5 min) Lester Lannin Orchestra continues playing (about 20 min) 9:45 Once the main course is served, Lester Lannin stops playing and Peter Fekula introduces the ballroom dancers - Denys Drozdyuk and Antonina Skobina 1 dance “You and I” 4.5 min. Recorded music. Lester Lannin stops playing. Peter Fekula introduces Barynya and Folk Club Kaleidoskope. 10-10:10 pm Barynia musicians accompanied by dancers from Folk Club Kaleidoskope perform Что-то грустно, взять гитару, Ой. Варенька, Варенька, Светит Месяц, Мохнатый Шмель, Калинка 10:25 pm – Lester Lanin continues playing (stars with social dancing music) Lester Lanin continues playing till 1:00 am. 10 PM Barynia begins playing in the Terrace Room 10:00 pm – dancing guests start to arrive and check in. Russian Standard Vodka station (long bar) is opened. 12 midnight – Russian Folk dancing at the Terrace Room 2:00 – Barynya concludes evening in the Terrace Room.
54th Annual Petroushka Ball (2019), Russian Children's Welfare Society, The Plaza Hotel NYC
Live Music Balalaika Band - Wedding Tasting Room & Taphouse at Mount Ida Reserve - in Scottsville, Virginia - October 8, 2022
DJ Alisa, bilingual MC-Tamada Mikhail and eight piece live music band provided music and entertainment for mixed Russian-Jewish-American wedding reception in Scottsville, Virginia on Saturday, October 8th, 2022. For their venue newlyweds selected Tasting Room & Taphouse at Mount Ida Reserve, 5600 Moonlight Dr, Scottsville, VA 24590.
