Dedication to Vasily Vasilyevich Andreyev

This gala concert celebrates the 165th anniversary of Vasily Andreyev, founder of the Great Russian Orchestra, now known worldwide as the Vasily Andreyev State Academic Russian Orchestra. The evening is both a celebration of traditional Russian instruments and a tribute to the genius who transformed the balalaika into a symbol of national culture with global resonance.

The programme offers a journey through Russian and international musical heritage — from refined polonaises and folk tunes to dazzling fantasies and vibrant dance pieces. Works by Andreyev himself, folk song arrangements, and compositions by Russian and European composers will be performed by soloists and ensembles. The performers include students and graduates of the Andreyev Children’s Music School, students of leading music colleges and conservatories, and acclaimed professional musicians.

The first half opens with Andreyev’s festive Polonaise No. 2. It continues with Derbenko’s “Many Years”, performed by the gusli ensemble of the Andreyev Children’s Music School, and Andreyev’s lyrical Dreams, played by the school’s domra ensemble. The balalaika ensemble follows with Vladimir Konov’s lively Naigrysh. Solo balalaika pieces include Shalov’s arrangements of “A Cossack Rode Beyond the Danube” and “The Dashing Merchant Went to the Fair.” A highlight is the folk song “By the River, by the Bridge” (arr. Motov), featuring bayan solo. The programme also includes the energetic Scherzo from Fomin’s First Symphony and Troyanovsky’s “Flowers Were Blooming” and “Naigrysh”, performed by Oleg Gafarov. The deeply lyrical romance “They Blame Me Among the People” (arr. Shalov) will be performed by domra soloist Veronika Karpova. The first half concludes with Tchaikovsky’s festive Dance of the Skomorokhs.

After the intermission, the second half opens with Glazunov’s Russian Fantasy, followed by Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic Scherzo. Petrov’s passionate AstorTango will be performed by balalaika soloist Maxim Belnik, followed by Khachaturian’s Serenade. The Spanish theme continues with de Falla’s Spanish Dance and Leoncavallo’s Fandango, while Rustam and Maria Gafarov present Frolov’s Spanish Fantasy. The concert concludes with excerpts from Boyashov’s suite The Little Humpbacked Horse — “The Tsar’s Procession” and “A Feast for All the World.”

This evening promises to be a vivid musical journey through Russian and world traditions, embodied in the unique sound of national instruments, and a worthy tribute to the legacy of Vasily Vasilievich Andreyev.

Conductor:
People’s Artist of Russia Dmitry Khokhlov

Soloists:
Oleg Gafarov, balalaika — Andreyev Orchestra
Veronika Karpova, domra — St. Petersburg Lyceum of Arts
Ekaterina Andreyeva, gusli — Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory
Maxim Belnik, balalaika — Mussorgsky St. Petersburg Music College
Rustam and Maria Gafarov, balalaika and domra — Andreyev Orchestra
Students of the Vasily Andreyev Children’s Music School