The Washington Balalaika Orchestra is excited to present our fall concert, The Stars Align! The concert opens with Andreev’s stirring “Grand Polonaise,” followed by Ukrainian composer Novikov’s “Raspryagayte, khloptsy, koney.” World-renowned domra player, Ekaterina Skliar, promises to dazzle the audience with a number of classic pieces including a sensual tango by Danish composer Gade, “Jalousie—Tango Tsigane,” and French composer Fauré’s “Après un Rêve.” As always, the spell-binding playing of balalaika virtuoso, Andrei Saveliev, will enchant the audience on several pieces including Shalov’s “Valenki.” The audience will recognize “Por Una Cabeza” by Argentine composer Gardel from Al Pacino’s sensual tango scene in the movie, “Scent of a Woman.” Other pieces include “U Samovara,” a foxtrot by Polish composer Gordon, and a lively Jewish song, “Tzena, Tzena, Tzena,” which was composed by Miron and made famous in this country by Pete Seeger and The Weavers.

The Washington Balalaika Orchestra, founded in 1988, is a community-based orchestra of volunteers who are dedicated to the study, perpetuation, and performance of Russian, Ukrainian, and Eastern European music on traditional folk instruments including the balalaika, domra, bayan and related folk wind and percussion instruments. It is the largest orchestra of its kind in the United States and has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and many other concert venues in the metropolitan Washington area and beyond. The Orchestra is conducted by Svetlana Nikonova, a graduate of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory of St. Petersburg, former member of the acclaimed Andreyev Balalaika Orchestra, and recognized as an accomplished conductor, arranger, domra soloist, and teacher.

Questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at  balalaika@balalaika.org or check out our website at https://www.balalaika.org/ to learn about other upcoming concerts in the DMV!

Purchase tickets at www.balalaika.org

Tickets will also be available at the door.