“Kings of Double Basses” is a duo of two main ‘heavyweights’ – the one of symphony orchestra, the other of folk music orchestra. It means: double bass and bass-balalaika.

Two virtuosi, Artyom Chirkov (winner of international competitions, the concertmaster of double basses group of St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra) and Mikhail Dzudze (Honored artist of Russia, the world’s only bass-balalaika soloist) show how two twin instruments from different genres can complement each other and how diverse their repertoire can be.

With equal success, The Kings play classical pieces, baroque, jazz, and even pop-rock and experimental music, using the whole range of expressive means including electronica.

The programme presented in zaryadye can be regarded as one of a kind, since for such combination of instruments an established repertoire doesn’t actually exist. The programme is the result of efforts of talented contemporary composers – it was them who wrote those sophisticated arrangements of Bach, Vivaldi, Liszt, Bartok, Ennio Morricone etc. Some new pieces were written especially for the duo.

The concert features special guest appearances of violinist Lev Klychkov of Academy symphony orchestra of St. Petersburg fame, ensemble of soloists of the Orchestra, pianist Mavzhida Gimaletdinova, and soloists of folk orchestra “Terema”.