Vivat, Andreyev!

On January 15, 2026, the musical world marks the 165th anniversary of the birth of Vasily Vasilievich Andreyev — a visionary whose devotion to Russian folk music grew into a national cultural legacy. A virtuoso balalaika performer, tireless researcher, and passionate innovator, Andreyev gave the world a unique phenomenon: the Imperial Great Russian Orchestra, which forever transformed the perception of folk instruments on the concert stage.

To honor this milestone, two ensembles proudly bearing his name come together for a celebratory concert entitled “Vivat, Andreyev!”:

The State Academic Russian Orchestra named after V.V. Andreev — a legendary ensemble whose history began with the very first balalaika circle founded by Andreyev himself. Today, it stands as a global benchmark of performance excellence, preserving and expanding the traditions laid down by its founder.

The V.V. Andreyev St. Petersburg Children’s Music School — a nurturing ground for young talent, where students are introduced from their earliest years to a love of folk music and to the spirit of artistic innovation bequeathed by Andreyev.

The tribute concert will take place on January 15 at 6:00 PM at the V.V. Andreyev St. Petersburg Children’s Music School (Address: 108 Moskovsky Prospect, St. Petersburg).

The anniversary program will be conducted by Dmitry Khokhlov, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Andreyev Orchestra, People’s Artist of Russia.

“Vasily Vasilievich Andreyev was, without exaggeration, a figure who shaped the course of Russia’s national orchestral culture. His energy, artistic courage, and belief in the potential of folk instruments laid the foundation for what we now perceive as a natural part of Russia’s musical landscape. To lead an ensemble that bears Andreyev’s name is not only an honor, but also a constant inner responsibility to preserve and develop his legacy. We strive to remain worthy of this great tradition while opening new artistic horizons. Today the orchestra is stable, creatively flexible, and confidently engaged with both repertoire and audience. We continue the work Andreyev began — and that, I believe, is the highest form of remembrance.”
— Dmitry Khokhlov

Concert Program
V. Andreyev — Polonaise No. 2; Dreams
E. Derbenko — Many Years
V. Konov — Naigrysh
N. Fomin — Scherzo from Symphony No. 1
P. Tchaikovsky — Dance of the Buffoons from the music to A. Ostrovsky’s spring fairy tale The Snow Maiden
M. de Falla — Spanish Dance
E. Petrov — AstorTango
V. Belyaevsky — Fantasy on the Russian folk song “Khodila mladeshеньka”
V. Boyashov — The Tsar’s Procession and A Feast for the Whole World from the suite The Little Humpbacked Horse
Russian folk songs (“A Cossack Rode Beyond the Danube,” “The Dashing Merchant Went to the Fair,” “By the River, by the Bridge,” “Flowers Were Blooming,” “The People Blame Me”) in arrangements by A. Shalov, V. Motov, and B. Troyanovsky

Soloists
Oleg Gafarov — balalaika, Andreyev Orchestra
Veronika Karpova — domra, St. Petersburg Arts Lyceum
Ekaterina Andreyeva — gusli, Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory
Maxim Belnik — balalaika, Mussorgsky St. Petersburg Music College
Students of the V.V. Andreyev Children’s Music School:
Igor Lutaenko, Vladimir Skvortsov, Dmitry Karpushin (balalaikas)
Supervisors: I. Petrov, A. Bagautdinova
Zvonnitsa Gusli Ensemble — Director: T. Barkanova
Domra Trio — Director: O. Akhunova

This concert is more than a festive occasion. It is a dialogue across eras and generations — between acclaimed masters and those just beginning their musical journey. It is a living thread connecting the past, present, and future of Russian musical culture.

We invite you to join us in celebrating this occasion and to pay tribute to Vasily Andreyev — the man who inspired the world to fall in love with the sound of the Russian soul.

Admission is free. Seating is limited.