Since the first balalaika orchestra founded by Vassily Andreev in 1888 many orchestras were formed mainly in Russia but also throughout the world: France, USA, Finland... These are the most famous

National Academic Orchestra Ossipov (Moscow, Russia)
НАЦИОНАЛЬНЫЙ АКАДЕМИЧЕСКИЙ ОРКЕСТР НАРОДНЫХ ИНСТРУМЕНТОВ РОССИИ имени Н.П. Осипова

Created in 1919 by Boris Troianovsky (balalaïka) and Piotr Alekseev ( domra) both soloists in the Andreev Orchestra. At its foundation it comprised 17 musicians, now the orchestra is made up of 70 musicians, all virtuosos of their instruments. It bears the title of  "Ossipov Orchestra" in homage to Nicolas Ossipov who was its chef from 1940 to 1945, who enlarged the orchestra`s repertoire and increased its size with the addition of traditional instruments like the gouslis and the bayan. Several great conductors followed, including Guenady Rojdestvensky, Victor Doubrovsky, Vitaly Gnoutov, Nicolai Kalinine. Since 2005 the Ossipov Orchestra has been directed by Vladimir Ponkin. It is laid out according to the model of symphony orchestras. Strings: 9 prima balalaïkas, 6 secunda and alto balalaïkas, 6 bass and double bass balalaikas, 11 domras, 1 piccolo domra, 9 alto domra, 6 bass domra, 2 gouslis (type of horizontal harp); Percussion: 5 percussionists; Wood: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 5 bayans (Russian accordion); Brass: 4 traditional wind instruments. The balalaïka soloists are Anatoly Tikhonov and Igor Cenine.
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Created by Vassili Andreev in 1888, it was then called "the Circle" and included 8 musicians. Now it counts for 50 musicians and since 1921 has carried the title of Balalaika Orchestra Andreev in homage to its creator. Since 1986 the Andreev Orchestra has been directed by Dimitri Khokhlov, graduate of the Leningrad and Moscow academies, who formerly worked for the Leningrad philharmonic orchestra and the orchestra of the Kirov Opera. Since its creation the orchestra has carried out many tours; including one of France during the winter of 2004.

Academic orchestra of Russian Traditional Instruments of radio-television of Moscow (Russia)
Академический оркестр русских народных инструментов Всероссийской Государственной телерадиокомпании

The Moscow Orchestra radio-television was founded in the summer of 1945 just after the second world war by former Andreev Orchestra domra soloist : Piotr Alekseev, who was its first chef. The first musicians of the orchestra were soldiers who were members of various ensembles of the Red Army who during the war played to give moral support to the troops. For a long time conducted by Vladimir Fedosseev, the orchestra is now led by Nicolai Nekrassov, it addresses a wide repertoire: traditional recordings, original compositions and traditional Russian inspirational works.
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Saint-Georges Balalaika Orchestra (Paris, France)

Based in Paris, it brings together twenty-three musicians who share six registers for six sizes of instruments (piccolo, prima, secunda, alto, bass, contrabass). The originality of the orchestra is that it only consists of the balalaika family, which is a rare phenomenon, even in Russia. The Saint-Georges Orchestra was created in 1995 by Pétia Jacquet-Pritkoff who is its conductor. The repertoire consists of traditional russian works (kalinka, two guitars, evenings of Moscow...) and of traditional classical pieces arranged by the conductor. The orchestra also accompanies singers interpreting works of the Russian repertoire. The Saint-Georges Orchestra performs mainly in France, but also in Moscow, february and november 2006.
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Skaz Quartet (Moscow, Russia)
Квартет Сказ

Atlanta Balalaika Society (USA)

Established in 1981, this orchestra comprises professional and amateur musicians. Its mission is to preserve the Russian and Eastern European repertoire in the United States of America. The orchestra is headed by David Cooper and is one of the greatest orchestras outside of Russia.

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