“Spirit of St. Petersburg” Duo coming to Florida
Two outstanding performers of Russian folk music are coming to St. Petersburg, Florida from St. Petersburg, Russia. Svetlana Nikonova is an accomplished domra player (an instrument similar to the balalaika) and her husband Vladimir Zaharevich is an outstanding bayanist (a Russian version of the accordian). Together they form the dynamic duo, “The Spirit of St. Petersburg.”
They will be performing in concert at the St. Petersburg Nights Restaurant on St. Pete Beach (6800 Sunset Way) on Thursday evening, November 5 at 7:00 pm. Also on the program will be the Russian Dancers of the Academy of Ballet Arts. These dancers are well known in the area for their lively and artistic performances of Russian folk dances. Tickets for this concert are only $10, $5 for students.
Svetlana, a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, began her musical journey at age six when she began taking domra and piano lessons. She attended a prestigious music school in St. Petersburg, and then went on to the St. Petersburg Conservatory where she continued to excel as a player and soloist on the domra. She also studied conducting and arranging of music for orchestra. While at the Conservatory she met her future husband, bayanist Vladimir Zakharevich.
Soon after graduation she was invited to join the prestigious St. Petersburg Andreyev Balalaika Orchestra, one of the top orchestras for folk instruments in all of Russia. She spent the next seven years as a domrist and arranger for the orchestra.
Svetlana and Vladimir will also be performing at the SPIFFS Folk Fair on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. You don’t want to miss these outstanding performers. For more information, call (727) 867-9148.