Hank: It is hard to put in words. There is very beautiful Dutch music. Maybe it is because we all know our music, sing our songs, starting from childhood and learn our songs at school. And your music is unknown to us. But this special harmony of music itself, it is in all the Russian music – in Bortnyanskiy’s, Chaikovskiy’s works – in the works of every Russian composer and in folk music. And it is marvellous to hear and sing.
Pit: Exotic language also plays its role here and adds the charms.
Edu: Russia remained a closed country for all Western influence for a very long time. With all differences, Western music has something in common, but Russian music opens something absolutely different to us. This is what makes our choir unique.
Russian music is very popular in the Netherlands, for example, the Russian choir of Don Cossacks – they sing a capella and come here very often.
Pit: They always gather the house and all the tickets are sold out for their performances. Surely enough, advertisement has a great role here.
Edu: In addition, it is a professional choir, all its singers have finished conservatory. We are amateurs, none of us is an educated musician. Our work is 100% enthusiasm and still, we see tears blurring the eyes of our listeners at every concert.
Pit: And storms of applause after every concert.
We Have Performed Almost Everywhere
– You perform regularly.
Edu: On average, we have 8 concerts a year, it was up to 14 earlier. It is because of the economic crisis, it has not only involved us, but everyone in the sphere of culture. This year, we have planned six concerts.
– Do you perform abroad?
Edu: We give concerts during our study trips to Germany, for example at a Coptic church. It is the oldest Christian church in the world, rising up from Egypt. It is very similar to Catholic Church. Certainly, they were charmed by Russian music, because it praises the God, as their church does.
Hank: Отче наш (Our father in Russian)!
Pit: We performed in Bad Bentheim, there is a very beautiful old monastery – Maria Münster. We sang there during the Mass.
Hank: We have visited the Annual Folk Choir Festival in Middelburg twice; 20-30 choirs from all over the country come there. They hold performances around the city there – in temples, in the streets, on squares – stages are made all over the town. We sang in a church and there was a massive flow of people, who came to listen to us. The church was packed…
Edu: Just jammed! There was no room to swing a cat in, people were standing!
Pit: In 2013, we were invited to a 200-year celebration of freeing Utrecht from the French by Cossacks. Napoleon occupied the Netherlands in 1795 and the French stayed here until 1813. We had a concert in Willibrordkerk. Many were awaiting to see Cossacks in furry hats, tall boots, cloaks, with cavalry swords and were amused when they saw us coming in. There was the burgomaster with his spouse present at the festival, Russian representatives. But something went wrong with power supplies in the town that day and the burgomaster had to solve the problem urgently.
Hank: Power was out all over the town and he was afraid people would not find the church (laughs).
Pit: We also had a performance at the Hermitage museum in Amsterdam that year, at the opening of an exhibition dedicated to Peter the Great. The Queen came to see it.
Edu: We have performed almost everywhere – in temples, castles, at festivals, once we were invited to a business-club in Amsterdam.
Pit: Even at funerals.
–?!
Edu: A couple of years ago my friend’s children called me and said that their fathers last wish was a Russian Cossack choir, singing at his funerals. We had to gather and prepare in two days. But when we started singing “Gospodi, pomilui” – it was a very emotional moment. Many said it was incredibly beautiful, strong and vivid. But it is very difficult to sing at your friend’s funeral. But we tried as best as we could and everything went well. Afterwards people said that it was the most beautiful part of the ceremony.
Biggest Dream – Trip to Russia
Pit: We are now very busy preparing our trip to Belarus – we want to perform in a country, where people speak Russian. Our biggest dream is to travel to Russia, but it is very expensive.
Hank: We are now trying to get a grant from our municipality. It is not that easy, as hundreds of organisations are hoping to get support for their projects, but it is impossible to finance everyone. We are now filling in some applications and forms.
Arkadiy: We are planning to spend three days in Minsk with a guided tour and a concert and three days in Gomel – it is my hometown. Also a guided tour, a concert and some rest. It will be the best present for the anniversary.
