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Russian folk music group Moscow Nights will play and dance the traditional way at Kerr Cultural Center in Scottsdale, Saturday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m.
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Back to the U.S.S.R., and even further

SCOTTSDALE – “Let me hear your balalaikas ringing out ... ” goes the old Beatles song from “The White Album.”

“You’re back in the U.S.S.R. You don’t know how lucky you are.”

Lucky you will be when the ASU Kerr Cultural Center takes you back even further than the U.S.S.R., back instead to old Mother Russia where samovars were steaming hot, winters bitter cold, and folk music authentic. And in this day and age, that means Moscow Nights.

Playing that prima balalaika for Moscow Nights will be St. Petersburg native Yuri Shishkin, whose considerable talent on that instrument is well‑known throughout Europe. His finesse, virtuosity and charming personality make him an indispensable force propelling the traditional folk group.

Sergei Ruksha adds another balalaika to the mix, the contra‑bass. Hailing from a family of musical professionals, Ruksha not only plays the contra bass balalaika but is an accomplished conductor who has toured the world as part of other ensembles and orchestras.

Moscow Nights is an exciting, versatile ensemble of world‑recognized, prize‑winning musicians from Russia. Led by Vitaliy Bezrodnov on bayan (a type of accordion), the group was initially formed under his direction in Kaluga, Russia in the late 1980s.

Also on bayan, Valentin Zaviriukha was born in the Ukraine and began to study accordion under the direction of his father. At the young age of 7, Valentin gave his first public solo concert and later went on to win the prestigious “Grand Prix of the International Competition” in 1994.

In order to create Moscow Nights’s program of predominantly authentic, traditional Russian folk music, Bezrodnov spent considerable time traveling deep into the Russian countryside, interviewing the eldest members of each village in an effort to preserve and resurrect pre‑revolution Russian culture. The group incorporates obscure folk instruments such as percussion “Treshotki” and birch‑bark whistles.

Made up of classically‑trained musicians, Moscow Nights initially gained popularity in Western Europe and is now bringing its old Russian music to North America, establishing itself as one of the most popular folk groups in the United States.

Sounds like it might be fun to see, and hear, why that is. Na Zdorovya!

Moscow Nights performs Saturday, Nov. 4, 8 p.m. at the Kerr Cultural Center, a facility of ASU Public Events, located at 6110 N. Scottsdale Rd. Tickets (reserved $20.00/$19.00, general $16.00) are available at the Kerr box office, ASU Gammage, and through any Ticketmaster outlet. Call (480) 596‑2660 or visit www.asukerr.com, www.russianfolk.com, or www.ticketmaster.com.

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