Plus: Kazakh band A Studio to play in Kyiv; Ukrainian prima donna Olga Basystiuk to sing classics at the House of Organ Music; Otpetye Mosheniki to perform songs from their new album at Zair
39; under the Melody Records label.
Before forming A Studio, all the group members worked with famous Kazakh singer Roza Rimbaeva, with whom they recorded three albums and in 1983 became winners of 7th Union Competition of Artists in Moscow. In the mid-1980s, the band's music was a weird mix of Kazakh folk melodies and elements of new wave or funk.
Incidentally, when Russian pop diva Alla Pugacheva hear the song 'Julia,' she invited the musicians to work in her theater. That's how A Studio entered the big-time.
In 1991 A Studio worked in London with Greg Walsh, a well-known British producer. The band recorded three demonstration songs in his studio under the Polygram Record label. A Studio plans to team up with Greg Walsh in future while mixing the album Unloved and recording the album Sin passion.
A couple of years ago A Studio celebrated its 10 year anniversary with some soul concerts both in the Moscow Theatre of Pop and in Almaty, the band's homeland. Recently the band released a CD of their greatest hits and re-mixes of such songs as 'Julia,' 'White river,' 'Rain Season,' 'Soldier of Love' and 'Unloved.' Now A Studio plays romantic soul music, and tries to fill it with modern elements such as acid jazz and rave, which is most effective during their live concerts.
A Studio. Dynamo Lux. June 30, 11 p.m. Hr 60-Hr 120.
Basystiuk to sing classics
Ukrainian prima donna Olga Basystiuk will perform a solo concert at the House of Organ Music on July 1. For more than 25 years, Basystyuk has been an unsurpassable soprano singer and a prize-winner of many contests and festivals. Olga Basystiuk was the first recipient of Ukraine's most prestigious state award for her contribution to culture, the Yaroslav Mudry order in 1995.
Olga Basystiuk now makes about 10-12 concerts a year at the House of Organ Music, which is usually packed when she is singing. This time Basystiuk will sing Albinoni, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Schubert, Grieg and Villa Lobos with organ accompaniment by Valery Korostelyov.
Olga Basystiuk. House of Organ Music. July 1, 7 p.m. Tickets from Hr 20.
Otpetye Moshenikito play at Zair
The name of this band, Otpetye Moshenniki, means inveterate swindlers.
Otpetye Moshenniki formed four years ago and their first hit song 'Quit smoking – Start skiing,' immediately drew the attention of Pelican Records, which recorded the band's debut album Iz Tsvetnogo Plastilina.
Otpetye Moshenniki is known for group members outrageous behavior onstage. They acknowledge that they are just a bunch of hooligans – not real stars. In Zair Moshenniki will sing songs mostly from their new album No Limits.
Otpetye Moshenniki. Zair. June 30, 11 p.m. Tickets from Hr 50.
U.S. Independence Day events
The 4th of July picnic organized annually by the American Chamber of Commerce will be held on July 1 this year because organizers wanted the party to be on a weekend to get a better turn out.
For this year's picnic, the American Chamber of Commerce is bringing in the Chuck Wagon Gang – a group of Texans will prepare a real Texas barbecue, complete with beans and coleslaw ($5). There will be plenty of cold beverages and ice cream.
For the first time this year, the Fourth of July picnic will culminate with fireworks. Bring a football, Frisbee and other picnic activities.
All proceeds will go to charities.
On July 3 the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Roger McMurrin, will perform a tribute to in honor of American Independence Day.
Fourth of July picnic. Spartak Stadium, 105 Frunze. July 1. 4 p.m. Entrance $3. Kyiv Symphony Orchestra. National Opera. July 3. 7 p.m.
