"Sheer heaven - stirring, passionate and highly entertaining” *****The Three Weeks review, Edinburgh Festival
“Their music feels like a dazzling escape into a world where people dance on tables with roses between their teeth."
***** Tina Jackson, Metro
“The duo's irreverence, including introducing Harrison's virtuoso violin flourishes as if playing at the Queen Vic, and sundry comic turns, help give their musical sketches a real sense of pace”. **** Rob Adams, The Herald
Mazaika Duo present a lively programme of music from around the world and across the ages, from Baroque to the Beatles, From Russia to the USA. They have over 25 years experience of delivering this material in a wide variety of settings from concert halls, cabaret venues to music clubs, community centres and village halls, summer festivals, private events, street performances, arts and folk festivals and educational projects.
Mazaika are known for their dazzling virtuosity, wild passion and spontaneous, unscripted theatricality and humour.
Juxtaposing the ancient with the modern, they can delight the purist with pure acoustic authenticity, ‘a voice that comes to us from the heart of Russia’ L’echo de St Agreve’ then turn everything upside down, thrashing out Smoke on the Water and Sweet dreams on raw acoustic instruments and then tearing furiously through Vivaldi’s Summer Storm with all the orchestral power midi technology can provide! Their haunting Russian folk songs and wild gypsy fiddle tunes are very likely to be accompanied by a folk band summoned from Igors magic midi accordion, once described as “a veritable Tardis of an instrument from which he coaxes everything from guitar tones and saxophone solos to a James Brown back-up band”
Despite their wide ranging repertoire Sarah and Igor are no Jacks of All trades! Everything that goes into their sizzling multicultural melting pot is infused with their own unique style, informed by years of sitting in hot club jazz sessions, shedding with folk and gypsy fiddlers and with argentine bandoneonists, strolling with Neapolitan singers and Mexican Mariachis, touring with Russian dancers and balalaika players and even learning to dance Tango, Salsa and Swing!
We also offer a family/child friendly show taking children round the world and across the ages with a selection of tuneful Classical and World music presented in an entertaining and informative way. Includes Vivaldi four seasons , Mozart Turkish Rondo, Flight of the Bumblebee, Kalinka, Volga Boat Song, and other Russian favourites, The Lark, Czardas and other dazzling balkan and gypsy showpieces, Vivaldi four seasons , Mozart Turkish Rondo, Irish jigs and reels, Orange Blossom Special, Italian Tarantella, La Bamba and a rollicking shanty singalong.
Private Events
Mazaika have brought joy, romance and a touch of the unexpected to hundreds of weddings, parties and special occasions. Whatever the celebration no venue is too eccentric, no destination too remote. For weddings they seamlessly move from timeless ceremony music and elegant jazz for the drinks reception to dance floor favourites that span generations and cultures with a repertoire of beloved pop classics and international dance music. They are also a great choice for birthdays, anniversaries, dinner parties, Bar mitzvahs, christenings and christmas parties and pretty much anything else you wish to celebrate! As one client put it…’I would highly recommend Mazaika as they are able to and open to playing anything and everything you like. So you can customize your special event to make it as YOUnique as you want it to BE!
They also perform for corporate functions and Charities. Venue include the Ritz, The Savoy, The Waldorf, the Hilton, The Sheraton Grand where they were invited to organise all the music for the Austrian Ball and other hotels and hospitality venues too numerous to name. Clients include Mari Vanna, Mosimanns, Cartier and Caviar House, Chanel, The Orient Express, The Red Cross, The Rotary Club.
Testimonials:
"They were absolutely fantastic and way exceeded anything we could have dreamed for the evening. Truly unique performers with enormous talent. Without question would book them again" Laura & Russell Brand x
"They were incredible. They learnt new songs to cater for our playlist (and in another language) they both brought amazing energy. Everyone was up on the dance floor. We would recommend Mazaika to anyone. They made our day special for us and unique for our guests!" Will M
"Very high quality, very professional and nice people very easy to get along with." Kevin C
"They read the room and entertained all guests Russian or not. The music was fantastic, energy was high, and can’t wait to book them for our next event.
Our wedding would not have been the same without them! " Justin T
"Sarah and Igor were brilliant and quite simply made our wedding" Antony N
"Our guests could not get enough of the musical entertainment. We also had guests from different cultural backgrounds and I am every single time so impressed on how diverse Mazaika’s music interpretation stretches…..Many of my friends then went on to have Mazaika at their private birthday or dinner parties." Alice S.
Sarah and Igor are very kind, creative people who both love to make music and are willing to add their magic to any sort of party you want to create. Margit M.