Russian Music Evening of Balalaika and Co

Russian Music Evening of Balalaika and Co

Enjoy the wonderful concert of Russian balalaika on evening of Saturday, February 11th! Performing are Bibs Ekkel (balalaika), Sergey Pushnin (accordion) and this year again – special guest Daria Kulesh (haunting and enigmatic vocal). This event was completely SOLD OUT in last THREE years!!

Bibs Ekkel is regarded as one of the foremost balalaika players in the West – a fact which, along with his being entirely self-taught, makes him something of a celebrity in Russia, where he is regularly invited to perform. His style elevates the balalaika to the stature of concert instrument while never losing close ties with the instrument’s rustic heritage. He has entertained Royalty as well as ordinary folk in a long career covering concerts, cabaret, recordings, films, radio and T.V. appearances in Europe, Russia, Poland, China, the Middle East, the US and Canada.

Bibs Ekkel also plays the Russian 3-string domra, piano, guitar and Russian button accordion and, being a fluent Russian and Polish speaker, has worked as translator, advisor and actor in a number of films. He is also the author of a published comprehensive Tutor for his beloved instrument as well as a songbook for his other passion – Russian Gypsy songs.

Records include: “Blue Skies of Russia” – Russkiy Disk and “The Romantic Sound of the Balalaika” – Decca. Recorded film soundtracks: “Onegin” (with Ralph Fiennes), “Enemy at the Gates”, “The Lost Prince”, “Eastern Promises”. He has performed as soloist at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Hall and Hall of Columns in Moscow, Elton John’s Charity Ball, Last Night of the Proms (accompanying singer Dmitrii Khvorostovsky) and the Andreyev Folk Festival, Vyshnii Volochek, Russia.

Programme
7:00 pm evening opening
concert, traditional Russian drinks and snacks in the interval
9:00 pm end of the evening
Come with friends, share the fun!

Tickets £15 per person inc welcome refreshments and snacks.