Russian Balalaika Orchestra

              The Russian BALALAIKA ORCHESTRA

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Redpath




THE BALALAIKA

Balalaika Orchestra

Royal Russian Novelty
THOSE who have kept themselves informed as to recent movements in the musical world know of the furore of excitement and the intense interest occasioned by the announcement that, under the sanction and authority of the Czar, the Imperial Russian Balalaika Orchestra was coming to America for a protracted stay in New York City and a tour of this country.

This great musical organization has for years been maintained for the entertainment of the Royalty of Russia.  It has been in a sense a national institution supported and fostered by the imperial government.  Sixty great artists made up the orchestra.  Many of these were members of the official family of Russia and some were of royal blood.  Their name is derived from the instrument that is so conspicuous in their programs and renders their musical offerings absolutely unlike any other in the world.



$5000.00 for One Concert
Something may be gathered as to the popularity of the Balalaika Orchestra in great music centers when we consider that for their first concert in New York City they were paid $5000.00.  And it was worth the price.  It was a whirlwind success in every way and deserved liberal recognition.

Just then Russia got in trouble and the great orchestra was suddenly called home.  This put an effectual quietus on their plans for an American tour and finally resulted in

ORCHESTRA

giving the orchestra to the Lyceum.  The story of that transition is briefly told.  It is just the recital of another triumph for the Redpath Lyceum Bureau as a reward of alertness and dispatch.  For not all of the great orchestra returned to Russia.  A number of them formed strong likings for America and decided to remain for some time.  From these a new organization was formed and while retaining all the various instruments used by the original orchestra, brass instruments were added to give still greater variety to their programs.  The balalaika remains, however, the dominating instrument.



Russian Peasant Costumes
The company will appear in costumes of the Russian peasantry and make a striking appearance on the platform.  Stenley Machurski, the great orchestra leader, will be musical director and also serve as interpreter for the company.  They are the logical response to the big demand throughout the country for a Foreign Novelty number.  Not one of them can speak a word of English but their music speaks to every soul.



Big Contracts Made
The Balalaika Orchestra is already under contract to render 150 concerts in the United States during the spring and summer of 1912.  It is a big lyceum number that will appeal to the managers of the strongest courses in our territory.

For a Big Number Get The Balalaika Orchestra.






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GRANT HADLEY   TENOR

GRANT HADLEY—Tenor
Soloist with the Balalaika Orchestra
With the Balalaika Orchestra, Grant Hadley, the Tenor, will appear as Soloist on the forthcoming tour of this noted organization.  Mr. Hadley's abilities as a musician are set forth in part in the following enthusiastic comments from well known publications:


Grant Hadley sang in a glorious manner a group of songs by Massenet, White and Chadwick, after which he responded to an encore with Hawley's Good Night.—
Southwest American, Ft. Smith, Ark.


Sonorous Sympathetic Voice

Mr. Grant Hadley Sang an Air by Handel, and songs by Wolf, Kaun, Strauss, Schumann, Hahn and Massenet, all of them except the two French songs familiar to concert goers.  In the Handel number Mr. Hadley who has a sonorous sympathetic voice did some splendid colorative work.  Kaun's Daheim received a very artistic rendition, with a fine working up of a climax.  Mr. Hadley possesses a warm temperament and sings in an artistic and convincing style.—
Milwaukee Sentinel.



Scored an Instantaneous Success

Mr. Grant Hadley was heard last night in Song recital at the May Festival and scored an instantaneous success before one of the largest audiences of the music season.  His first appearance was the occasion for an outburst of enthusiasm, while encores were the rule of the evening.  Mr. Hadley is a consummate artist.  All he sings is stamped with his own poetic individuality and rich temperament.  He has a tenor voice with clearness of tone and eminent sweetness.  At times there was such a peculiarly charming expression that one could not help being moved by it.  Mr. Hadley's program was selected from the better song literature and his interpretation of it must have proved a most valuable lesson to the student and singers present.—
Galesburg Republican.


Mr. Grant Hadley has a voice of much power and a very attractive quality.  His singing throughout was authentic and affective rousing the audience to great enthusiasm.—
Chicago Music News.



Clearness of Enunciation

Beginning with his Lully (1684) composition down thru Handel, Schubert, Brahms, Franz, and Strauss to Henschel and Busch he admirably calculated to exhibit the wide range and expression he commands.  All were sung with fine sonority and with appropriate style.  Another striking feature of his singing is clearness of enunciation and an easy command of the Italian, German and French accent.  Mr. Hadley stands to-day in the first ranks of singing artists, in whose work a brilliant voice and earnest, well grounded musicianship are combined in just proportions.—
Register and Leader, May 26th 1909, Des Moines, Iowa.



Created a Fine Impression

Grant Hadley was naturally the most interesting figure of the evening.  The Choral society has brought here so many singers of both sexes, that we now have a broad basis of comparison.  Every new singer, therefore, comes under a critical view.  Mr. Hadley created a fine impression.  He was encored each time he appeared, and the audience enjoyed every study which he presented.  A noteworthy bit of singing was done in The Eagle.  Mr. Hadley is a man of undoubted musicianly qualities.  His contributions to the pleasure of the evening were of a high order, done in grace of style and spirit, and he will be remembered for them.—
Republican-Gazette, Lima, Ohio.





Balalaika alalaika Orchestra

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These Players Are From The Imperial Orchestra


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