St. Petersburg Trio

St. Petersburg Trio

play Russian folk music

■ The St. Petersburg Trio will give the first concert of the fall season at The Theatre in Washington, Virginia, on Saturday, September 30 at 8 p.m. The evening will be devoted to traditional Russian folk music and popular classics arranged for the TYio’s distinctive instruments.

The Trio was formed in 1992 when its members graduated from Russia’s eminent musical conservatory, the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg.

Balalaika player, Andrey Saveliev is a former member of the Andreyev Balalaika Orchestra. He came to the United States in 1995 and has been the principal balalaika soloist of the Washington Balalaika Society Orchestra since 2001.

Svetlana Nikonova plays the domra, or Russian Mandolin. She, too, is a former member of, and musical arranger with, the Andreyev Balalaika Orchestra in St. Petersburg. She has performed extensively in Europe with her husband, bayan player Vladimir Zakharevitch, who is the third member of the Trio. | For a couple of song sets, the Trio will be joined by soprano Anya Titova, who has long been a favorite of the Theatre's audience. ; The classical music chosen for the concert is well known and lively. It includes, from the Strauss family, the Blue Danube Waltz, the Pizzicato Polka and Trie Trac Polka; Mozart’s Rondo a’ la Turca; a Slavonik Dance by Dvorak; and one of Brahms’ Hungarian Dances, as well as music by Scott Joplin and Nikonova’s own arrangement, “Classic Non Stop”. The Russian folk music will include the everpopular “Kalinka,” “Those Were the Days,” and “Bright AJoon” among less well known pieces. In fact, the Trio promises, in their own words, “Russian folk songs best efer.” J For reservations for the concert on September 30, or to obtain a copy of The Theatre’s current schedule, contact The Theatre by phone at (540) 675-1253 or by email to TheatreVA@aol.com or by mail to The Theatre, 291 Gay Street, PO. Box 322, Washington VA 22747. The website is www.Theatre-WEishington-VA.com