Photo credit: unification.com.au
The concert of the Balalaika orchestra has gathered the full hall of the Sydney Russian club. Most of the spectators who came to listen to Russian folk music did not speak Russian and only five of 30 musicians from the group knew the language. It does not stop them, though, from playing and loving Russian melodies, the Edinenie newspaper reports.
The unique Balalaika orchestra was created more than thirty years ago. Over the years, the team, which has never changed its style and repertoire, has gained great fame in Australia and beyond. Balalaika toured many times in New Zealand, China and Russia. The Australian orchestra presented its art in Moscow, the Far East and other regions of the country.
According to the head of the orchestra Victor Sergiy, Balalaika tours a lot in the Australian outback and is warmly welcomed by rural residents. Russian Ambassador to Australia Alexey Pavlovsky, who attended the Balalaika final concert, noted the internationality of Russian music. “The way they perform Russian music, Russian songs - it does not need translation, it is close and understandable to everyone,” he said.
According to the musicians, their love of Russian song brought them together. A native of China, accordion player Alex Dzhao heard Russian melodies while studying at a music school, and they sunk into his soul. Bruce Biker, president of the orchestra and bass player, joined the band in the 1980s. According to him, Swedes and Scots were among his ancestors but when he first heard the Russian folk song, he immediately understood: this was his music.
Now the Balalaika Orchestra is preparing for a tour in the USA.
Russkiy Mir
