Bibs Ekkel / Balalaika Orchestra

Bibs Ekkel, prima balalaika soloist, is one of the top masters of the instrument outside Russia. His style elevates the balalaika to the stature of concert instrument while retaining close ties with the instrument’s folk heritage. He has entertained Royalty as well as ordinary folk with his extensive repertoire in settings ranging from cabaret to symphony hall. His song and dance company, “Tziganka”, as well as his folk group “Russian Tornado”, regularly tour and he has performed as soloist throughout the world – with TV appearances in Russia, Poland, China, Britain, the US and Canada.

Live performances include:

Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Ball; Last Night of the Proms – 2006; Elton John’s Charity Ball; Andreyev Balalaika Festival, Vyshnii Volochek, Russia 2007; Jerry Springer Show; National Lottery; World Cup 2004; Hall of Columns, Moscow; Orpheum, Vancouver; Tchaikovsky Hall, Moscow; Purcell Room; Queen Elizabeth Hall; U.S. & Canadian tours; BBC Welsh Orchestra; London Philharmonic Orchestra; Melody Maker Outstanding performance prize; Theatre Royal, Bath; All-Russian Folk Festival, Yaroslavl; Miss World Contest, Royal Albert Hall; Wigmore Hall, London; BBC Radio “Friday Night is Music Night”; Bermuda Music Festival; Moscow TV-1; King’s Royal Hussars Officers’ Banquet ‘08

Movie Soundtracks:

“Eastern Promises”; “The Man Who Knew Too Little”; HBO “Comrades Of Summer”; “Onegin”; “Riley, Ace Of Spies”; “Anna Karenina”; “Crime & Punishment”; Gulag”; “Englishman Abroad”; “Alice In Wonderland”; “Yasha The Liar”; “The Saint”; “Amie Foster (Swept From The Sea)”; “Last Night Another Dissident”; “Professional Foul”.

Recordings:

“Romantic Sound Of The Balalaika” Decca

“The Russian Balalaika” B &C Label

“Sounds Of Russia” De Wolfe Library Music Series

“Blue Skies Of Russia” Russkiy Disk, Moscow

“Beyond The Volga” Decca

Also “Russian Tornado”, “Across The Russian Steppes”, “Sleep Poor Soul”, “Songs Of Russia’a Gypsies”

Books:

“The Complete Balalaika” – Mel Bay Inc., USA

Society Parties / Soirees:

Lord & Lady Aldington; Lady Lennox-Boyd; Lady Castell; Lady Carolyn Townsend; Princess Yuri Galitzine; Princess Helena Gagarin Moutafian; Lady Shawcross; Countess Benkendorf; “War & Peace Ball”; “Russian Monarchists’ Ball”; “St. Petersburg Ball”; Disney’s “Anastasia” film premiere; Annabelle’s; Rudolf Nureyev Birthday Party; Count Bismarck; Count Tolstoy… etc

Hotels:

Dorchester; Grosvenor House; Cafe Royal; Intercontinental; Hilton; Landmark; Inn on the Park; Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo; Savoy etc.

Other instruments:

Russian button accordion (two-row), domra, gusli, guitar, piano, alto and contrabass balalaikas

Balalaika Orchestra

Just what it says on the packet! Available in a variety of sizes, as are the balalaikas.

The Balalaika is probably the most recognised and well-loved of Russian folk instruments and is seen by many to be the epitomy of the ‘Russian Soul’.