very old events (2009-2005)
Past Events (before we started using Artistdata, that is)
| Date | Project | Venue | Location |
| January 8th, 2009 at 8pm | Frank London Band & Ljova and the Kontraband double bill | Mehanata | Lower East Side, NY |
| February 12, 2009, 10:30pm | BarmaLjova | Small Beast @ The Delancey | New York, NY |
| February 21, 2009, 7pm | The Providence String Quartet with special guests BarmaLjova | The Great Room | Brooklyn, NY |
| February 28, 2009, 7:30pm | Ljova and the Kontraband with Eva Flatscher & Jose Limon Dance Company | Tribeca Performing Arts Center | New York, NY |
| March 5, 2009, 7pm | Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas performs "Sounds of Women". | The Town Hall | New York, NY |
| March 8, 2009, 7pm | Ljova and the Kontraband with special guests Æ | Barbes | Brooklyn, NY |
| March 20 at 8pm | Ljova with Romashka | Hungarian House | Manhattan, NY |
| March 21 at 9pm (possibly 9:30) | Ljova with Romashka | Mehanata | Lower East Side, NY |
| March 28, 2009, 3pm | Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas and music students from NYC Public Schools premiere a new composition by Ljova, "Sugar Hill Bump". See more at the M.U.S.I.C. project page | Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College | New York, NY |
| April 5, 2009, 3pm | Ljova plays chamber music by Brahms & Dvorak, with Soheil Nasserri & Friends | Bargemusic | Brooklyn, NY |
| April 11, 2009, 10 pm | Ljova with Romashka | LPR | West Village, NYC |
| April 27, 2009 at 8:30pm | Ljova and the Kontraband at the Schizoid Music series, with special guests | Cornelia Street Cafe | Greenwich Village, NY |
| April 30 at 8:30 pm | Ljova with Romashka. 113 Ludlow St, $10 cover. | Mehanata (the Bulgarian Bar) | Lower East Side, NY |
| May 4, 2009 | Ljova and the Kontraband at Kennedy Center's Contemporary Music Festival. [watch the performance online] | Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage | Washington, DC |
| May 9, 2009 at 7:30pm | World premiere of Niña Dance, a new song cycle featuring vocalist Sofia Rei Koutsovitis. [buy tickets!] | Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall | New York, NY |
| May 14, 2009 at 7pm | Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas Gala concert | Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center | New York, NY |
| May 20, 2009 at 7 pm | Nigunim Unplugged - Ljova plays with Joey Weisenberg's band (Jake Shulman-Ment, Benjy Fox-Rosen) | Eldridge St Shul | New York, NY |
| May 26, 2009 at 7, 8:15, and 9:30 | RIPFest Screening - THE ONE THAT I WANT an epic 7-minute film musical drama, created in 16 days - with music by Ljova [More info] |
Anthology Film Archives | New York, NY |
| May 30, 2009 at 8 pm | Ljova with THE SHIN "Sound of Georgia" [More info] | DROM | New York, NY |
| July 16, 2009 - FREE | Kronos Quartet, performing 2 of Ljova's arrangements/transcriptions | Prospect Park Bandshell [info] | Brooklyn, NY |
| July 19, 2009 | Ljova with Bangalore Breakdown | Joe's Pub [tickets] | New York, NY |
| July 23, 2009 | Ljova and the Kontraband | The Jewish Museum [tickets] | New York, NY |
| July 26 and 27, 2009 | Ljova with Nina Nastasia and Matthew Szemela | The Hideout | Chicago, IL |
| August 2, 2009 | Alondra De La Parra conducts Ljova's arrangements of two Piazzolla Tangos [ticket info] | Colorado Music Festival | Boulder, CO |
| August 9, 2009 - FREE | Ljova with Romashka | Riverside Park Acoustic Sundays [info] | New York, NY |
| August 22, 2009 | Ljova with Romashka | Eurasia Dance Festival [info] | Glen Spey, NY |
| September 10, 2009 | Ljova and the Kontraband as part of Musicians 4 Harmony | Merkin Concert Hall [info] | New York, NY |
| October 8-10, 2009 | Premiere of "Busk", a collaboration with choreographer Aszure Barton (see a video fragment] | Ringling International Arts Festival | Sarasota, FL |
| October 15, 2009 | Premiere of Tales of Offenbach, a collaboration with choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, Morphoses Dance, and the Dallas Opera | Dallas Center for the Performing Arts (Grand opening) [info] | Dallas, TX |
| October 24, 8pm | Ljova and the Kontraband with special guest Jofre Romarion | Barbes | Brooklyn, NY |
2008 Past Events
| Date | Project | Venue | Location |
| January 5, 2008 | Ljova & the Vjola Contraband, double-bill with the Brooklyn Rider | Joe's Pub | New York, NY | January 19, 2008 | Ljova with Romashka at the Zlatne Uste Festival in New York. | Zlatne Uste | New York, NY |
| January 31, 2008 | Ljova and Inna | Private performance at Ljova's parents 30th anniversary | Moscow, Russia |
| February 23, 2008 | Ljova with Romashka! | Drom | New York, NY |
| March 8, 2008 | Ljova and the Kontraband with Rob Kendt! | Barbes | Brooklyn, NY |
| March 9-15, 2008 | Ljova teaching at the Winter Career Development Residency | The Banff Centre | Banff, Canada |
| April 4, 2008 | Ljova as special guest for CD-Release by Alina Simone | Joe's Pub | New York, NY |
| April 10, 2008 | Ljova performing with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas | The Town Hall | New York, NY |
| April 25-May 3, 2008 | Cupcake premieres, featuring music by Ljova, performed by Ljova and the Kontraband | Tribeca Film Festival | New York, NY |
| May 8, 2008, 1pm | Ljova and the Kontraband | Trinity Wall Street Church (Concerts at One series) | New York, NY |
| May 10, 2008, 9pm | Ljova and the Kontraband | DROM | New York, NY |
| May 18, 2008, 12pm | Ljova and the Kontraband | Philadelphia Book Festival | Philadelphia, PA |
| May 18, 2008, 4pm | Ljova and the Kontraband, double bill with the Yiddish Arts Trio | Princeton Arts Council | Princeton, NJ |
| June 5, 2008, 6pm | Ljova and the Kontraband | Petrushka on the Hudson Benefit | World Yacht, NY |
| June 6, 2008 | Ljova with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas | Avery Fisher Hall | New York, NY |
| June 12-15, 2008 | Ljova and the Kontraband in collaboration with Freefall Dance Company | WalkerSpace / Joyce SoHo | New York, NY |
| June 14, 2008 | Ljova with Romashka | DROM | New York, NY |
| July 11, 2008 | Ljova and the Kontraband | Barbes | Brooklyn, NY |
September 11-13, 2008 |
Ljova with Romashka and Wu Man | Phoenix Symphony World Music Festival | Phoenix, AZ |
| September 25, 2008 | Ljova with Sanda Weigl | Barbes | Brooklyn, NY |
| September 28, 2008 | Ljova and the Kontraband CD RELEASE with Frank London & Uli Geissendoerfer | Joe's Pub | New York, NY |
| October 2, 2008 | US Premiere of "Tokyo!" (feat. Ljova's orchestrations) and the World Premiere of "Only Love" (feat. Ljova's original score) | Woodstock Film Festival | Woodstock, NY |
| October 15 and 16, 2008 | The Knights w/Jan Vogler, cello: Shostakovich (arrangements by Ljova), Hendrix, and Copland and Ljova | Le Poisson Rouge | West Village, NY |
| November 12, 2008 | Ljova arranging for the "Person of the Year" tribute to Gloria Estefan, with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Alondra de la Parra, and special guests | Latin Grammys | Houston, TX |
| November 16, 2008 | Ljova featured on NPR's "All Things Considered." Listen to segment here: ["Ljova: Giving Viola a Chance"] | NPR/Radio | Everywhere! |
| November 17, 2008 | Ljova performs in Frank London's "Green Violin" | The Jewish Museum | New York, NY |
| November 20, 2008, 5:30-7pm | Ljova speaks on a panel about Composing for Films | The Art Institute of New York, 75 Varick, St., 16th floor | New York, NY 10013 |
| December 6 and 7, 2008 | Ljova with The Knights | Bargemusic | under the Brooklyn Bridge, NY |
| December 13, 2008, 8 pm | Ljova and the Kontraband $10 | The Stone. Corner of Ave C and 2nd Ave | Lower East Side, NY |
| December 27, 2008 | Ljova with Romashka | Mehanata | Lower East Side, NY |
| December 30, 2008, 7 pm | Ljova with Johnny Gandelsman | Barbes | Brooklyn, NY |
2007
| December 7, 2007 | World on a String Band | Waltz Astoria | Queens, NY |
| December 6, 2007 | Ljova and the Vjola Contraband, World on a String Band and the Luminescent String Orchestrii | Ukranian East Village Restaurant | New York, NY |
| November 28, 2007 | Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas (dir. Alondra de La Parra) | Kennedy Center | Washington, DC |
| November 25, 2007 | Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas (dir. Alondra de La Parra) | Sala Nezahualcoyotl, UNAM | Mexico City, Mexico |
| November 24, 2007 | Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas (dir. Alondra de La Parra) | Palacio de Belles Artes | Mexico City, Mexico |
| November 20, 2007 | Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas (dir. Alondra de La Parra) | >Myerson Symphony Center | Dallas, TX |
| November 15, 2007 | Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas (dir. Alondra de La Parra) | NYU Skirball Center | New York, NY |
| November 10, 2007 | Ljova with Percusia | Queens Library | Queens, NY |
| November 7, 2007 | Ljova with World on a String Band | Goodbye Blue Monday | Brooklyn, NY |
| October 25, 2007 | Ljova with Rob Kendt | Googie's Lounge, The Living Room | New York, NY |
| October 14, 2007 | Ljova and the Vjola Contraband - double feature with the Parker String Quartet | Barbes | Brooklyn, NY |
| October 4-7, 2007 | Performing in the premiere of Man: Biology of a Fall, an opera by Evan Hause | Kumble Theater | Brooklyn, NY |
| August 3, 2007 | OPEN REHEARSAL with Ljova and Inna and friends | Joe's Pub | New York, NY |
| August 3, 2007 | Ljova and the Vjola Contraband | Barbes | Brooklyn, NY |
| July 26, 2007 | Ljova and the Vjola Contraband | Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) | New York, NY |
| July 12, 2007 | Ljova and the Vjola Contraband | Arium | New York, NY |
| July 6, 2007 | Ljova and the Vjola Contraband | Philadelphia Art Museum | Philadelphia, PA |
| June 22, 2007 | Ljova with Dawn Upshaw, Osvaldo Golijov, and the Andalucian Dogs | Festival Saint Denis | Paris, France |
| June 20, 2007 | Ljova with the Gustavo Santaolalla and Guests | Festival Saint Denis | Paris, France |
| June 13, 2007 | Ljova with Uli Geissendoerfer and Bangalore Breakdown | German Consulate | New York, NY |
| June 12, 2007 | Ljova with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Paquito D'Rivera | Rose Theatre, Lincoln Center | New York, NY |
| June 8, 2007 | Ljova and the World on a String Band | Banjo Jim's | Lower East Side, NY |
| June 1, 2007 | Ljova and the Vjola Contraband | BAMCafé, Sundance @ BAM Film Festival | Brooklyn, NY |
| May 31, 2007 | 2 pm | Ljova and the Vjola Contraband | Soundcheck Live | Live Radio appearance on NPR/WNYC, FM 93.39 |
| May 31, 2007 | 6 pm | Ljova with Romashka | TBD | New York, NY |
| May 22, 2007 | 10 pm | Ljova with the Walter Thompson Soundpainting Orchestra | Bowery Poetry Club | New York, NY |
| May 21, 2007 | 8 pm | Ljova with the SEM Ensemble | Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall | New York, NY |
| April 28, 2007 | Mahavishnu Project | The Forum Theater | Metuchen, NJ |
| April 26, 2007 | Ljova with Ingrid Gordon and Demetrius Spaneas | The Stone | New York, NY |
| April 19, 2007 | Ljova with Uli Geissendoerfer + Group | The Stone | New York, NY |
| April 21, 2007 | Mahavishnu Project | Makor | New York, NY |
| April 20, 2007 | Mahavishnu Project | IMAC Theater | Huntington, NY |
| April 19, 2007 | Ljova with Uli Geissendoerfer | The Stone | New York, NY |
| March 27, 2007 | Ljova plays with Kate Havnevik | Hotel Cafe | Los Angeles, CA |
| March 22, 2007 | Ljova plays with Kate Havnevik | Joe's Pub | New York, NY |
| March 17, 2007 | Ljova performs "Long Island Sound" with Ensemble 212 | Good Shepherd Church | New York, NY |
| March 8, 2007 | Ljova and the Vjola Contraband | Barbes | Brooklyn, NY |
| Feb. 27, 2007 | Recording Ljova's original score for Michael DiPaolo's film | ||
| Dec 13, 2006 |
Ljova with Inna Barmash (vocals) and David Yengibarjan (accordion) - original and folk music |
Spinoza Haz | Budapest, Hungary |
| Dec 11, 2006 |
Kate Havnevnik, Guy Sigsworth |
The Regal Room | London, UK |
| Nov 17-Dec 1, 2006 |
Assistant Composer and Recording for Francis Ford Coppola's film "Youth without Youth" |
Bucharest, Romania | |
| Nov 15, 2006 |
"Ayre" with Dawn Upshaw and the Andalucian Dogs (cancelled) |
The New Crown Festival | Vienna, Austria |
| Sep 20-27, 2006 |
Jay-Z rehearsals and show |
Royal Albert Hall | London, UK |
| Aug 22, 2006 |
Vjola Contraband |
Barbes | Brooklyn, NY |
| Aug 8, 2006 |
Vjola Lounge Duo |
JCC | New York, NY |
| Jul 21, 2006 |
Improvisations with Clifton |
5C Cultural Center | New York, NY |
| Jul 20, 2006 |
Chassidic Jazz Project with Reuben Hoch |
Makor | New York, NY |
| July 12, 2006 |
Ljova & Vjola Contraband |
Joe's Pub | New York, NY |
| Jul 9, 2006 |
Soundpainting |
Bowery Poetry Club | New York, NY |
| Jun 30, 2006 |
Theatro Slovak |
Galapagos | Brooklyn, NY |
| Jun 21-25, 2006 |
Jay-Z rehearsals and show New York, NY |
Radio City Hall | New York, NY |
| Jun 16, 2006 |
Vjola Contraband |
OMFactory | New York, NY |
| Jun 8, 2006 |
Mexican American Orchestra |
Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center | New York, NY |
| May 27, 2006 |
Soundpainting Recording Session |
||
| May 7, 2006 |
Romashka at Tubapalooza |
Zebulon Concert Cafe | Brooklyn, NY |
| May 5, 2006 |
Cassis Recording |
||
| Mar 24, 2006 |
Ljova with Patrick Farrell (accordion), Sarah Alden (violin) |
5C Cultural Center | New York, NY |
| Mar 14, 2006 |
Ljova with Patrick Farrell (accordion), Sarah Alden (violin) |
Via Della Pace | New York, NY |
| Mar 3, 2006 |
Romashka |
Philadelphia Museum of Art | Philadelphia, PA |
| Dec 7 and 9, 2005 |
Ljova in string trio with Donovan |
The Concert Hall at the New York Society for Ethical Culture |
New York |
Ljova - Lost in Kino
|
"Lost in Kino" is the third album from composer and violist Ljova (a.k.a. Lev Zhurbin), focusing on his recent film works. The album's 24 tracks feature a wide range of textures and emotional states, from collaborations with the Gypsy band Romashka, the alt-indie-folk Tall Tall Trees, to cameos from the Hungarian cymbalom virtuoso Kálmán Balogh (playing a cue from Francis Ford Coppola's film "Youth Without Youth"), pipa player Wu Man, among many others, and of course featuring Ljova himself on viola, famiola and fiddle. (See the detailed track list & credits at Bandcamp.) Scroll down to see three videos, featuring music from the new album. Read reviews of "Lost in Kino" in the New York Times, Lucid Culture, Sequenza21, Armchair Critic, Oliver di Place, and MundoBSO.
"[Lost in Kino] makes me feel like i'm in another land, one with knights and princesses, i love that. also made me get up and dance, wanna cry. great passion there." - film director Ry Russo-Young Download and order your copy of "Lost in Kino" today at Bandcamp -- CD orders can be autographed by Ljova upon request. You can also purchase "Lost in Kino" on Amazon.com "Lost in Kino" was released on December 15, 2011, and premiered live in a performance at New York's Lincoln Center, featuring Romashka, Tall Tall Trees, the PubliQuartet, and special guests. |
VIDEOS:
Watch three videos, featuring music from Lost in Kino:
THE COUP - featuring footage by Charles Ludlam
RUSSIAN WINTERLAND - featuring film by Joseph-Louis Mundwiller
WAR THEN PEACE - featuring footage by Roman Khrushch
Thank you all! enjoy.
Ljova in NYTimes / Cupcake at the Atrium / The Girl and Her Trust
Ljova profiled in New York Times -- He Still Plays Weddings: A Musical Polymath’s Quirky Career by Allan Kozinn
Thank you to everyone who joined Ljova and the Kontraband at Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium last week, and filled the room to capacity for our anniversary show! We had a blast.
Below, enjoy "The Girl and Her Trust", D.W. Griffith's 1910 silent film, with a new score by Ljova and Clifton Hyde.
Recorded live at TunnelVision, inside Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel.
(Above - photo of Ljova and the Kontraband performing the score to "Cupcake", live at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center.)
Recap
A quick welcome to readers of the New York Times and new fans - thank you for stopping by!
Here's a brief recap of Ljova's recordings, where you can get them, and how:
VJOLA: WORLD ON FOUR STRINGS - Ljova's debut album, featuring compositions for multitack'ed violas, is available on Amazon.com iTunes, Bandcamp, and other merchants.
MNEMOSYNE - the debut album of Ljova and the Kontraband, is available at Amazon.comas well as iTunes, CDBaby.com.
Both "Vjola: World on Four Strings" and "Mnemosyne" are also available as mp3 downloads from iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp, and many other websites.
SONGS WE SING TO BENJY -- the work-in-progress album of Inna Barmash and Ljova (a.k.a. BarmaLjova), is currently for sale via Bandcamp.com.
For reviews, please see here.
For Ljova's full discography, see here.
Sign up for Ljova's email list|| Follow Ljova on Twitter
Become a fan of Ljova and the Kontraband on Facebook
Thank you all!
4 shows / 1 week
August 8: Ljova and the Kontraband perform at the American Museum of Natural History
August 10: Romashka at the JCC in Manhattan - Rooftop performance and screening of "Black Lamb", a feature film with a score by Ljova, performed by Romashka.
August 12: Ljova and the Kontraband make their Lincoln Center debut at the Rubenstein Atrium, as part of Target Free Thursdays - FREE!
August 14: Ljova and Clifton Hyde create a new score to D.W. Griffith's 1910 silent film "The Girl and Her Trust". Presented as part of Tunnel Vision, inside Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel. (The event is now sold out.)
Join us!
For full details, see:
http://www.Ljova.com/schedule
Niña Dance - live from Carnegie Hall
Now streaming on Carnegie Hall's website -- a live recording of Ljova's song cycle, "Niña Dance", from its premiere on Carnegie Hall's Zankel stage.
Featuring: Sofia Rei Koutsovitis (vocal), conductor Alan Pierson, Ljova and a wonderful ensemble.
Click here to listen & enjoy.
Ljova and the Kontraband AMNH residency
Ljova and the Kontraband perform at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on three dates, as part of "Traveling the Silk Road" exhibition.
Join us May 2, June 6, June 13 and August 8, for 30-minute performances at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30.
For more information about tickets, see the Schedule.
Ljova & My Perestroika at Sundance Film Festival 2010
| Ljova is presently attending the Sundance Film Festival, in support of Robin Hessman's wonderful documentary My Perestroika.
Enjoy three of Ljova's tracks in the film's score: |
|
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| Click here for My Perestroika showtimes at Sundance.
Contact Ljova directly, or click here to request a demo. |
Mnemosyne - Ljova and the Kontraband's first music video
(best enjoyed in full screen / HD)
MNEMOSYNE (It's autumn in the country I remember)
Music by Ljova (2007)
Lyrics by Trumbull Stickney (c. 1902)
Performed by Ljova and the Kontraband
featuring Inna Barmash (vocal)
and special guest, Frank London (trumpet)
Recorded by Peter Karl / Mixed by Anibal Kerpel / Mastered by Steven Berson
from the Kontraband's debut record album, Mnemosyne, available here.
January 12th, 2010: Ljova and the Kontraband / Jofre Romarion New Tango Quartet at Joe's Pub - Sold Out
Thank you to all of our friends and fans who made this double bill sell out in presales - not bad for a 9:30pm show on a school night, in the middle of two major Arts Presenter conferences!
We had a blast - see you next time! Thank you!
--Ljova [and the Kontraband]
P.S. We'll post a few videos from the show soon.
[UPDATE] videos from Joe's Pub 2010 have been added to the Kontraband's growing YouTube Playlist.
Ljova interviewed in CompositionToday
Read an extensive interview with Ljova, at the website CompositionToday.
Busk - collaboration with Aszure Barton & Artists
Aszure Barton & Artists
Directed and Choreographed by Aszure Barton
Music:Lev "Ljova" Zhurbin ("Less", from the album "Mnemosyne")
Lighting:Nicole Pearce
Costumes: Michelle Jank
DP & Editor: Kevin Freeman
Camera Operators: Aubrey Fernandez, Kevin Freeman
"Only Love" wins Best Original Score for Short Film
Ljova's score for Lev Polyakov's short animation "Only Love" won the "Best Original Score for Short Film" award at the 2009 Long Island International Film Expo.
Watch the 3-minute music trailer on YouTube.
toe tapper

Cynhops, for solo viola and dance.
Recorded at White Oak, Florida
The One That I Want
THE ONE THAT I WANT
an epic 7-minute film musical drama, created in 16 days
starring:
Aléna Watters, Amy Verebay, Andrea Gallo, Richard Ugino
Directed by: Sean Gannet
Produced by: Virginia Cromie; associate produced by Jose Venutolo
Writen by: Ethan T Berlin & Eric Bryant
Music by: Ljova
Performed by: Ljova, Steve Tyler, Mathias Kunzli, Jeff Greenwald, Mike Savino & Ron Caswell
Filmed by Sasha Burdett, edited by Steve Tyler, choreographed by Melissa Rae Mahon
Premiering at RIPFEST, along with 5 other brand new shorts:
May 26, at 7, 8:15, and 9:30
Anthology Film Archives
New York NY
[thank you to all who came!]
Ljova on All Things Considered
Ljova was recently profiled on NPR's radio program All Things Considered, in the segment Musicians in Their Own Words. The interview focuses on inspiration for several of Ljova's compositions, relationship to the viola and tradition, and the art of "phoning it in".
Listen to the story -- Ljova: Giving the Viola a Chance.
Ljova at the Latin Grammys 2008
In November, Ljova had the privilege of arranging orchestral music for the "Person of the Year" evening honoring Gloria Estefan, produced by Phil Ramone, featuring performances by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Americas with Alondra de la Parra, and special guests John Legend (pictured above), Patti Labelle, Jose Feliciano, Santana, Kenny G The Miami Sound Machine and others. See the slideshow.
Mnemosyne -- released!
MNEMOSYNE, the debut release by Ljova and the Kontraband, featuring guest apperances by Frank London, William Schimmel, Uli Geissendoerfer, Marcus Rojas, and Alon Yavnai, was released on September 28th, with a special performance at Joe's Pub, in New York.
For reviews, soundclips, and track listing, visit http://www.Ljova.com/mnemosyne
Get your copy of the CD via:
[CDBaby] [iTunes] [Amazon.com]
Thank you all!



