After 12 years of taking my place within the glorious Los Angeles - St. Petersburg Russian Folk Orchestra (LASPRFO - also known as Russian Strings in Concert), on November 3, 2007, my point of view was from the balcony!

It was Emanuel "Misha" Sheyknman who in 1994 first described LASPRFO as "glorious". The organization was in its infancy - the "gloriousness" if any was just a dream of Misha's and a few local lovers of Russian folk music. Misha was our first music director and at rehearsals never failed to address the "glorious bass players" or the "glorious domra section" during his commentary.

Misha's vision of a truly remarkable ensemble has become a reality under the musical direction of Iryna Orlova and Anatoliy Mamalyga. What Misha began in 1994 just a few months before his untimely death has, in my opinion, become an important contribution to Los Angeles culture.

November 3rd, the concert hall was packed. The program was quite different this time. In years past, the program rarely deviated from the Eastern European roots of the instruments. The common variances were in tempo (the waltz, the marches), or the style (folk and classical). November 3rd's program was global. Billed as an "International Tour", Iryna, Anatoliy and the Orchestra took the audience around the globe through Austria, Rumania, Manchuria, Israel, Ireland, Russia, Ukraine, Africa, Siberia, France, Thailand, Finland and Mexico featuring all the Russian folk instruments (domra, balalaika, guisli, bayan) plus vocal, dance, violin, bassoon, clarinet, oboe, flute, trombone, trumpet, and lots of drums.

Iryna Orlova and Anatoliy Mamalyga started the virtuoso spotlight with Suboteya and Faithful Friends dedicated to their dear friend, Nina Protschenko. Familiar melodies from Russia and Ukraine were sung by Leonid Smetannikov and Boris Zhaivoronok. Unusual was the Irish Washerwoman featuring 11-year old Fiona Feder on violin and domra; the McKinley School African Drum Ensemble didn't miss a beat–ten young drummers playing African drums; the Balalaika Waltz and Little Siberian Polka featuring Vladimir Sedykh on balalaika; a French Waltz and the ever popular Karelian Finnish Polka featuring Vadym Khavrun on bayan; a medley of Mexican melodies featuring Jason Gamer on trumpet. In addition, six colorful members of the Russian Souvenir Dance Company performed - some flying high to the audience's delight.

And so, Misha Shyenkman, rest well. The view from the balcony is indeed GLORIOUS!