Traditional: Danse ukrainienne – Tschastuchki – Je vous ai rencontrée – Karavode – Dmitri KABALEVSKI: Les clowns – Vasily Vasilievich ANDREYEV: Polonaise No. 1 – Traditional: Le petit arbre dans la tempète – Gopatchoc – Modest MUSSORGSKY: Gopak – Traditional: Soir de Moscou (Le temps du muguet) – Petite pomme – J’étais dans le verger – Fantaisie pour domra – Nikolai BUDASHKIN: Je suis seul – Traditional: Trépak – Bessarabianca.

The Kalinka Orchestra

THE KALINKA ORCHESTRA

The Kalinka Orchestra is probably the only ensemble of popular Russian instruments whose members have no direct or distant ties to Slavic countries. Nonetheless, the technical and musical prowess of its musicians has elevated this small group to the ranks of the finest ensembles in the Western world. The Kalinka Orchestra has performed on shows like the Hit Parade alongside artists such as Nana Mouskouri and Marcel Amont, and had the privilege of accompanying Soviet soloists on Western tours, including the virtuoso balalaika player Nicolai Prochko from Minsk.

Unlike other Russian folk ensembles in the West, Kalinka’s musicians are all professionals who have received higher-level musical training.

The domra, the Russian cousin of the mandolin, is played by Danielle Meyer, who is also a soloist in the National Orchestra of Plectrum Instruments and regularly performs with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and the Chamber Orchestra of Lausanne for mandolin parts.

The balalaika is played by Pierre Glardon, a student of Nicolai Prochko. In addition to conducting the Kalinka Orchestra, he divides his time between choral conducting, music teaching, and completing his own studies.

Yves Pointet plays the bayan (accordion) and is regarded as one of the top specialists in the instrument today. Among his many achievements is his victory at the International Competition in Lisbon in 1974.

The guitar is played by Pierre-Alain Magni, a pupil and assistant to the renowned guitar master Dagoberto Linhares.

Finally, the bass is played by Patrick Zemp, a talented student of M. Marcellin, who is currently preparing for his final certification.