Master of Ceremonies - Dimitry Koronko. (Large jpg - 31K)
Hilarious, tragic, laconic and definitely poignant sums up one of the best evenings of entertainment to be had for a long time.
At the Otkryty Theater on Vladimirskaya Ulitsa, a group of talented musicians regularly perform a collection of romantic ballads from the turn of the century and contemporary songs from the Russia of the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Although they sing in Russian, the theatrical way in which the artists perform ensures that the English speakers among the audience are not left mystified and senseless in the stalls.
It is hard to say exactly what style of music is performed because what is performed by these musicians is unique and rare nowadays. These songs belong to the youth of a different generation and reflect in their comic and ironic quips and quiddities the frustrations of Soviet life.
It was Anton Chekov who said, "The public loves theatrical suprises; if you throw in something theatrical they don't expect alongside the songs, they'll pay twice as much."
Well, you won't have to fork out more than the 7,000 roubles for an entry ticket to two hours of music which is unexpected to say the least.
The first half of the show is a mixture of jazz romances given by a curious and talented master of ceremonies dressed in a bizarre bright green felt suit and matching Stetson.
I am talking about an incredibly talented actor and singer called Dimitry Koronko who within the space of one song can appear sad and reflective, almost hopelessly depressed -- and then suddenly jumps up with a shriek, waving his arms about with wild gesticulations much to the rapture of the audience.
The members of the audience nod in agreement and empathize with his poignant statements about the stresses of modern life and seem to see themselves in his songs which are interspersed with jokes which have everybody laughing and clapping and cheering "bravo."
The second half is devoted to modern Russian popular songs sung by Boris Vishnevsky to the accompaniment of the guitar. This singer had the ladies in the audience swooning and when he completed his act he was showered with roses and carnations from every which way.
The orchestra, which is made up of folksy-looking violinist Olga Chek-novitzer, pianist Anatoly Alperon, drummer Alexander Evtikov, double-bassist Ilya Mukin, Sergei Yancon on the accordion and Leonid Kutsar on the harmonica Their blend of sounds echoed the music which accompanied the great French chansonniers and that feeling of something that might have emerged on the cabaret circuit in Berlin in the 20s.
It's like a side show, a carnival act, but then in the words of Alexander Blok, "When the carnival show ends the girl and boy begin to cry." This show must and will go on!