Nikolai Balalaika: Toronto Busker Friendly

Balalaika Virtuoso Nikolai Tichtchenko: Balalaika Player

Photo © Oksana Shlakhter
Uploaded on October 14, 2006

Notes & Impressions:

Most everyone has seen a busker, these fiercely independent musicians who earn a living of sorts playing music at random spots in Toronto’s subway stations and busy street corners.

A friend of mine decided to speak to one of them, to see what makes a busker.
We talked to Nikolai Tichtchenko. Or Nicholai "Balalaika", after the musical instrument he carries with him wherever he goes, a small, guitar-like instrument which is a vital part of Russian folk music.

It is his life and joy, an instrument which he has played since the tender age of 6.
Nicholai is from the Ukraine. He graduated from the Soviet State conservatory and belonged to the musical group of the Kiev Circus in the former Soviet Union.

Their group was contracted to perform in Canada for a year however the contractor unfortunately ran out of money and before the year was out everyone in the musical group had to fend for themselves. Like Nicholai most decided to remain in Canada and are now legal residents here.

While his former colleagues have taken up other professions to secure a steady income, Nicholas remains a balalaika player to this day. As he put it, he and his instrument are inseparable.

Besides Russian folk music Nicholai also plays other types of music. A die-hard musician and hard-working busker!

He performs in shows or other events, and has been in one movie with Robin Williams and Danny DeVito "Death to Smoochy".

An earnest and courteous man, Nicholai’ formal training in music enables him to also offer guitar lessons when required.

2007 © Olivia

links:

Blog: Balalaika Virtuoso Nikolai Tichtchenko

Torontoist: Subway Idol
This is Nikolai Tichtchenko. From Kiev, Mr. Tichtchenko plays a guitar/mandolin-like Balalaika - which requires a lot of strumming. Also received high marks...


TheStar.com - GTA - Notes from the underground

What Ashifa Kassam, staff reporter of The Toronto Star and Carly Jones, cast member of this summer's hit musical Evil Dead: The Musical said about an annual audition to be buskers for the TTC. Nikolai Tichtchenko was among 169 musicians from arond the GTA area trying out this year competition.

Nikolai Tichtchenko

Instrument: He’s been playing the balalaika, a three-stringed, triangular version of the guitar, for 47 years

Day job: This is it — he’s a full time balalaika player

He says about busking: “I am from Ukraine, but my instrument is from Russia.” He’s not too worried about not getting a licence — he’s got plenty of work playing his balalaika at parties, restaurants and festivals.

Carly Jones’ Evil Take: “His hands are moving so fast you can’t even see them. What he needs is a troupe of five modern dancers behind him, doing a dance to whatever he’s playing, all dressed in pastels. It’s the only thing that could make this any better for me — it’s awesome.”

Where Jones wants him: “Downsview subway station because he needs to be around the intellectual university crowd there. Only they would truly appreciate him.”

Aug 18, 2007 04:30 AM
Ashifa Kassam
Staff Reporter
Credit: Toronto Star

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All About MSN Live Earth's 24 hours of Music on 7 Continents

Live Earth Fact Sheet

The Concert for a Climate in Crisis

Credit: MSN

ABOUT LIVE EARTH
Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series of 7/7/07 that will bring together more than 150 music artists and 2 billion people to inspire a global movement to "Answer the Call" and combat the climate crisis.

WATCH LIVE EARTH on MSN
MSN will stream the Live Earth concerts LIVE from all seven continents starting from Sydney, Australia and continuing geographically and chronologically across the globe. Log on tonight -- Friday, July 6th -- at 9:15pm (ET) / 6:15pm (PT) (since it's tomorrow already in Australia) for the start of what is destined to be an incomparable 24 hours.

OFFICIAL CONCERTS AND SCHEDULE

Cities_______Local Start___E.D.T. Start
Sydney_______11:10am (7/7)___9:10pm (7/6)
Tokyo________12pm (7/7)_____11pm (7/6)
Shanghai______7pm (7/7)______7am (7/7)
Hamburg______2pm (7/7)______8am (7/7)
London_______2:30pm (7/7)____8:30am (7/7)
Johannesburg___6:00 p.m. (7/7)__12:00 p.m. (7/7)
New York______2:30pm (7/7)___2:30pm (7/7)
Rio de Janeiro___4:00pm (7/7)___3:00pm (7/7)

Live Earth Sydney 11:10 a.m. 7/7 9:10 pm 7/6:
http://www.liveearth.msn.com/concerts/Australia

Live Earth Tokyo 12:00 p.m. 7/7 11:00 p.m. 7/6:
http://www.liveearth.msn.com/concerts/Japan

Live Earth Shanghai 7:00 p.m. 7/7 7:00 a.m. 7/7:
http://www.liveearth.msn.com/concerts/China

Live Earth Hamburg 2:00 p.m. 7/7 8:00 a.m. 7/7:
http://www.liveearth.msn.com/concerts/Germany

Live Earth London 1:30 p.m. 7/7 8:30 a.m. 7/7:
http://www.liveearth.msn.com/concerts/UK

Live Earth Johannesburg 6:00 p.m. 7/7 12:00 p.m. 7/7 :
http://www.liveearth.msn.com/concerts/SouthAfrica

Live Earth New York 2:30 p.m. 7/7 2:30 p.m. 7/7:
http://www.liveearth.msn.com/concerts/US

Live Earth Rio de Janeiro 4:00 p.m. 7/7 3:00 p.m. 7/7
http://www.liveearth.msn.com/concerts/Brazil

Keep in mind that the Live Earth 24/7 concert series is just the beginning of a multi-year campaign led by the Alliance for Climate Protection.

National Ballet of Canada: The Life of a Ballet Dancer

Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
The National Ballet of Canada presents The Life of a Ballet Dancer

2007 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

The Life of a Ballet Dancer
Thursday, June 14, 2007
12 – 1 pm
The National Ballet of Canada Senior Ballet Master Peter Ottmann presents a lecture-demonstration that will guide the audience through the life of a dancer. The program will feature details of their extensive training and auditioning process, demonstrations of basic ballet exercises as well as the creation of characters with makeup and wigs.

Credit: Canadian Opera Company

A View from the Other Side of the Earth

I was brought up in the country where everybody recognized ballet as a possession of the state and was pride of it. It seemed that I knew everything about it.

But... Last performance "The Life of Ballet Dancer" changed my vision of it. The Senior Ballet Master (Peter Ottmann) and choreographers of National Ballet of Canada met with those who usually visited popular free midday concerts in the downtown Toronto. They spoke so naturally and friendly that gained confidence of us immediately.

For me it was as a new look at an old naphthalized staff. I realized that my knowledge was academic, and there I touched real lively ballet. During an hour I could watch a dancer doing her make-up, take some knowledge of the meaning of gestures in ballet, listen to voices of 'speechless' dancers and etc. It was marvelous!

I want to express gratitude to everybody who makes such a performance available.

2007 © Ira

links:

National Ballet of Canada: Class on Stage and We Mean It

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Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre

Four Seasons Cenre for the Perfoming Arts
The National Ballet of Canada presents The Life of a Ballet Dancer
2007 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

permanent link:

National Ballet of Canada: The Life of a Ballet Dancer
http://artjunction.blogspot.com/2007/06/national-ballet-of-canada-life-of.html

Toronto Free Events: Four Seasons Centre

Free concerts in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

Tuesday, June 19, 2007
12 – 1 p.m.

The Musicians in Ordinary presents
Not One Lady Failed to Shed a Tear: The Birth of Opera

Thursday, June 21, 2007
12 – 1 p.m.

Claudia Moore
Tedd Robinson, choreographer present
How to be Older and Reckless

Details:

Not One Lady Failed to Shed a Tear: The Birth of Opera Concert for Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies & Canadian Opera Company
A program of early 17th-century Italian Baroque music. The new affective Baroque style sought to make even the rocks weep. Contemporary descriptions of performances by singers such as Adriana Basile and Francesca Caccini tell us that the people in the audience were so moved. The new style has the power to entrance and enthrall. Composers to be heard will include Monteverdi (Lamento d’Arianna), Giulio and Francesca Caccini, Stefano Landi, Alessandro Picininni and others.

Presented in collaboration with the Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies, Victoria University in the University of Toronto, on the occasion of the Renaissance Spring Festival 2007.

How to be Older and Reckless
Claudia Moore is one of Canada's most celebrated senior dance artists. She trained at Canada's National Ballet School and has performed with The National Ballet of Canada, Toronto Dance Theatre and Desrosiers Dance Theatre. For the past 10 years she has been the artistic director of Moonhorse Dance Theatre. Ms Moore continues to be "older and reckless" as an artist and has teamed up with celebrated choreographer Tedd Robinson to create this brand new solo. Claudia will reveal the process of dancing alone and on the edge—and invites you to join her in this journey. ". . . One of the most beautiful and expressive bodies in Canadian dance." Dance Connection
The performances of young Canadian artists in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre are made possible by a generous donation from Massey College through the Bernard Ostry Cultural Foundation fund and the Fellows’ Fund endowed by Vincent Massey Tovell, O.C.

Toronto Cultural Festival Russian Carousel 2007

Russian Carousel Cultural Centre presents

6 Annual Cultural Festival
Russian Carousel 2007
6 РУССКИЙ ФЕСТИВАЛЬ

When: Sunday, June 10, 2007
Time: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Where: Earl Bales Park, 4169 Bathurst Street, Toronto
Location: East side of Bathurst Street, South side of Sheppard Ave West
Google Maps >>>

Entrances and Public Transit
Vehicles can enter Earl Bales Park from Bathurst Street, south of Sheppard Avenue, and from Don River Boulevard. Vehicles can also enter the former Hinder property from Bathurst Street, north of Sheppard Avenue.
Public transit to both parks includes the Sheppard West 84 and the Bathurst 7 buses. Pedestrians and cyclists can also reach the paved trail at the south end of Earl Bales Park from Westgate Boulevard.

Admission is FREE

Phone: 416-398-5522
Web: http://www.russianfestival.ca/

Everyone is welcome to the festival!

links:

The Arts Junction: Toronto: Welcome to the Russian Carousel Festival

Dance, Music, Etc. Featured in Russian Heritage Festival
"The 5th annual Russian Heritage Festival-- a month-long celebration of the arts and culture in the New York metropolitan area's vast and vibrant Russian-speaking community -- will take place throughout the month of June in New York City, starting with the enormously popular "Together in NY Community Festival" Sunday, June 3, 2007 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Asser Levy Park (Ocean Parkway &Surf Ave.) in Brooklyn."
Posted: May 18, 2007 by BWW News Desk

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A brand-new ROM and Ancient Peru Unearthed - A Must-See!

"Welcome to the Crystal Age!"
The public opening of ROM’s new Michael Lee-Chin Crystal extension
designed by Daniel Libeskind in Toronto, Sunday, June 3, at 0:30 am.
The ROM opened its doors for free access for public, throughout the night and into the following day.
2007 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

Notes & Impressions:
Sunday, June 3rd 2007

The Royal Ontario Museum re-opened its doors last week-end and to celebrate its renovated interiors plus the installation of the Lee-Chin Crystal the public were invited to join the celebrations. I was among the crowds who were able to appreciate the new ROM first-hand at its opening last Sunday.

The exhibition that most interested me was the Peruvian treasures excavated from an ancient tomb, a temporary exhibit on loan to the ROM. I headed directly for it as I may just not have another chance to see it.

On the way I saw the interiors behind the Lee-Chin Crystal structure which allowed visitors to have a panoramic view of Toronto through the glass panels, especially on the higher floors. Innovative and refreshing, a change from the “old” ROM I knew. Many new features have also been added such as large, silent elevators and steel-mesh bridges connecting the new crystal-wings to the main building.

I had the urge to visit all the sections at once- so many things to discover! But I maintained my original plan and with the help of museum staff I found the entrance to the collection of treasures from Peru. I did expect to be amazed but what I saw blew me away! It was quite a large collection of artifacts that had been buried together with an ancient Indian tribal Lord from the Northern coast of Peru, many made of solid gold, attesting to the sophistication and skill of the goldsmiths and other craftsmen of the day. Such fine work, worthy of today’s goldsmiths who use precision tools. Other artifacts were equally spectacular in terms of minute and precise detail. We have to thank the organizers of the exhibit for the extraordinary detail and attention they gave in preserving and presenting the exhibit to enable the visitor not only to admire, but to understand the significance of each item and the civilization to which it belonged.

I took my time, and thoroughly enjoyed learning about this ancient culture.
A spectacular exhibit, go and see it before it leaves! By the time I finished viewing it closing time had approached. I plan to return and see the rest of the New ROM, a Must!

2007 © Olivia

Ancient Peru Unearthed: Golden Treasures of a Lost Civilization
At the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Toronto, ON, Canada until August 6, 2007
Discover what was uncovered in an undisturbed, gold-filled tomb in this intriguing look into the mysterious pre-Inca Sicán civilization from northern Peru.
Credit: ancientperu.ca

links:

ROM News Release: Toronto Welcomes Michael Lee-Chin Crystal on its Opening Weekend

Image Gallery : Blogger's Preview

The ROM WebCam Live: from the roof of the downtown Park Hyatt Toronto

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A brand-new ROM and Ancient Peru Unearthed - A Must-See!
http://artjunction.blogspot.com/2007/06/brand-new-rom-and-ancient-peru.html

New York New York Frank Carozza Exclusive Photo Reflections

e-vite: Photo Exposition “New York, New York" by Frank Carozza

I was pretty excited to read an invitation from Frank Carozza to the opening of his fourth photo exhibition "New York, New York".

Our congratulations to Frank for another big achievement.

New York, New York
Photography by Frank Carozza
June 1 - June 30, 2007
Location: Cantine: Italian Bistro
Address: 138 Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario
South West Corner of Avenue Rd & Davenport
Opening: Sunday June 3, 2007
4pm - 6pm

From a very young age, photography has always interested me. But it wasn’t until I traveled to Peru and various parts of Europe that it became my real passion.
Documenting the places I’ve been and capturing those images & details on film has proven to be a life changing experience.

Having shared my photos with family and friends I was strongly encouraged to create a photography exhibit to showcase some of my work. This was an amazing experience and to date, I have held 3 successful exhibits, selling over 80 photos.

My 4th exhibit, entitled “New York, New York” is scheduled for June 3rd, 2007 at Cantine, 138 Avenue Road and will showcase photos taken during a visit to New York City in the summer of 2006.

I would like to extend an invitation to you and hope that you are able to attend. Photos will be on display from June 1 to June 30, 2007.

Regards,
Frank Carozza

You are cordially invited!
Enjoy the exposition!
Ciao, New York!

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New York New York Frank Carozza Exclusive Photo Reflections
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National Ballet of Canada: Class on Stage and We Mean It

Ballet a La Carte
The creative idea was inspired by the National Ballet of Canada “Class on Stage"
luminaTO’s event and lunch at the Hosu Bistro.
2007 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

Class on Stage
Saturday June 2, 2007
1:00 pm – 2:15 pm
Watch the National Ballet’s dancers take class on stage at the Four Seasons Centre. Artist-in-Residence Rex Harrington will lead the dancers in their daily training routine while Senior Ballet Master Peter Ottmann provides insightful commentary. The event is part of Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts & Creativity 2007 and is free of charge. Doors open at 12:00 pm - arrive early, seating is limited.

Credit: LUMINATO: Toronto Festival of Arts & Creativity 2007

Notes & Impressions:
Saturday, June 2nd 2007

When Olga rang to tell me that the COC was hosting a ballet show called “Classes on Stage” at first I had my doubts, but agreed to come anyway.
I imagined a bunch of sweating dancers in tights doing warm-up moves with one hand clutching a long horizontal bar. As it turned out that was the beginning of the show, so I found myself dozing off.
Then they removed the bars! I set up, when I saw the dancers started to do their leaps and bounds into air like so many flying gazelles. It was a quite a treat seeing them giving their best performance, and repeating some of the more difficult steps for us. And Rex Harrington, NBC’s main dancer, kept the atmosphere relaxed and everyone of good humor.
All in all it was a show worth seeing and so graciously given.

2007 © Olivia

National Ballet Back Stage

When you watch ballet, you are amazed at how they make it look so easy. You take it for granted. You think it’s all their second nature. Part of it, certainly, is. But the rest is hard work day in and day out.
To spend almost two hours just to warm up BEFORE daily rehearsals and then hours of rehearsing, sounds like an excruciatingly painful daily routine. I’ve just watched one such routine – National Ballet’s Class on Stage in the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, and appreciated the hard work the performers put into their art for us to enjoy.
Thank you NBC!

2007 © Enhee

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National Ballet of Canada: Class on Stage and We Mean It
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What's on TV Tonight? Eugene Onegin and Hermitage-niks

Google Search: Hermitage & Eugene Onegin
Palace Embankment
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Is it a coincidence what's on tv tonight?
Eugene Onegin and the Hermitage.
Sounds like Russian Ark?
Sokuroviana, the Metropolitan Opera?
It is the best treat for me
In Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
It's Русский Ковчег, Russkiy Kovcheg

channel tvo: 10:00pm

Hermitage-niks: A Passion for the Hermitage
Episode: Empty Frames
Olga (76) is head of museum maintenance. This unofficial czarina of the Hermitage runs her department with a firm hand and is forever marked by the Second World War when she and the Hermitage-niks saved the artworks from the mortality of war. But art was also their savior in times of hunger and cold.

channel wned: 8:00pm

Great Performances at the Met: Eugene Onegin
Tchaikovsky's “Eugene Onegin,” starring Renée Fleming as Tatiana, a young Russian who's rebuffed by the object of her affection, Eugene Onegin (Dmitri Hvorostovsky). Years later, after she has married a prince (Sergei Aleksashkin), the two meet again.

artjunction links:

Hermitage-niks by Aliona van der Horst

Canadian Friends of the Hermitage: Winter Lectures

Experience the Met live at Your Local Movie Theatre

Megobrebi Means Friends: Torontonian Georgian Singing Groups Performance

Megobrebi Poster

Come celebrate Georgian Independence Day with
MEGOBREBI
a Toronto Women’s Georgian Singing Ensemble
in a Concert of Beautiful Georgian Vocal Harmonies
Saturday, May 26, 2007 at 3 pm
Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Cathedral
823 Manning Avenue (at Follis)
The Church is located between Bloor and Dupont and Christie and Bathurst;
close to the Christie Subway Station
Tickets: $10
For further information, contact megobrebi@gmail.com or
416-656-5858
Other Torontonian Georgian Singing Groups Performing:
KUNDZULI, MACHARI

Credit: Megobrebi

Megobrebi - Toronto Women's Georgian Singing Ensemble
Bie Engelen, chunir

Visiting the Republic of Georgia – in downtown Toronto

This was my first experience attending a concert of a choir singing Georgian folk songs. The extraordinary thing about the event was the choir singers were all Canadians! It was there too that I learned there were four different Georgian choral groups in Toronto, and all of their singers are Canadian!
So many Georgian folklore enthusiasts in Canada! The question that begs to be asked: Why isn’t there any Georgian involved? Hmm…
The concert, interestingly enough, was held in a Russian Orthodox Church, and the MC turned out to be Father Oleg Kirilov of that Church.
Quite an unusual afternoon, worth repeating one day. Hopefully in the near future.

Olivia

Trio Kundzuli

Georgia’s Independence Day in Toronto

Toronto is indeed a multicultural city. Where else can we find ourselves in a Russian Orthodox Church listening to Georgian songs performed by a Canadian choir? To commemorate Georgia’s Independence Day? And not just any Georgian songs, but Georgian folk songs ranging from lullabies to wedding cheers that are being enthusiastically preserved by world music lovers in Toronto.
Appreciation of different cultures is what brings us together, through songs, music and other arts. Perhaps the most direct, efficient, and certainly, most pleasant way.
Toronto is a great place to be to learn about the world…

Enhee

Megobrebi in a concert of beautiful Georgian vocal harmonies May 26, 2007

ucxoelebi mgerian qartulad
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wi4RgUu7xzM
26 maiss torontoshi gaimarta qalta ansambli "MEGOBREBI"-s koncerti.
by kggj
Credit: georgian blog www.chveneburi.co.nr

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Megobrebi Means Friends: Torontonian Georgian Singing Groups Performance
http://artjunction.blogspot.com/2007/05/megobrebi-means-friends-torontonian.html