The Vermicelli Orchestra, which has been packing local clubs recently, will expand its horizons and play an ambitious experimental concert this weekend. The instrumental crossover band, which combines rock, classical and folk elements, will be joined by a classical string ensemble for a program called "Concerto Grosso for Vermicelli and Orchestra."

The Vermicelli Orchestra was formed in 1995 and is fronted by accordionist Sergei Shchurakov, who spent about 10 years playing with Boris Grebenshchikov in both Akvarium and the BG Band. Vermicelli's first stable lineup came together during the recording sessions for its debut album, "Anabasis," which came out in 1997.

Over the years, however, the band has undergone many permutations with about 30 musicians having passed through the ensemble. The inspiration, however, remains Shchurakov, whose early listening experience included both classic rock like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin and classical music. Beethoven is his favorite composer, "the composer of composers," as Shchurakov says.

"There was a period back in my 20s when I was listening to Akvarium a lot," Shchurakov said. "I was impressed by a lot of things [in Akvarium's music], so impressed that I ended up joining the band and staying with them for quite a while."

Shchurakov says he was introduced to Akvarium in 1987 by Seva Gakkel, the band's cellist, during the Ravnodenstviye (Equinox) album sessions.

"I sense deep within myself that the old Akvarium, despite its lack of professionalism, is an unrepeatable phenomenon for me. Even now it seems to me that nobody has reached "Day of the Silver" and "December's Children" [Akvarium's albums from 1984 and 1985, respectively]," Shchurakov said. "I believe that no group in Russia has achieved the creativity that Akvarium did then."

Shchurakov credits Gakkel, who managed the alternative TaMtaM club until it folded in 1996, for pushing him toward alternative approaches.

"I was always resisting somewhat because I felt we were already doing different things," Shchurakov said. "But now I see that [Gakkel] turned out to be right. We are an alternative band ... although we had no intention of becoming one. It happened de facto because we didn't want to go with the mainstream."

Shchurakov studied composition formally both in school and at the Mussorgsky College of Music, from which he graduated in 1980 with a degree in folk music. He is the Vermicelli Orchestra's composer and principal arranger, although all members are free to pitch in ideas during rehearsals.

Despite the Vermicelli Orchestra's early failures and false starts, it is now an integrated band, with its members sensing one another effectively and working together tightly. As a result, audiences are anything but bored. Although Shchurakov considers concert halls to be the appropriate venue for the band, audiences don't hesitate to take to the dance floor when the group plays the clubs.

In addition to Shchurakov, the ensemble now includes his sister, Maria Shchurakova, on mandolin; Mikhail Ivanov on bass; Ilya Rozovsky on acoustic guitar; Timur Bogatyryov and Julia Antipenko, both on flute; Julia Rychagova on cello; Dmitry Veselov on percussion; and Pavel Ivanov on drums. Artyom Tamazov, described as the band's "producer" and serving as manager and sound engineer, also makes a significant contribution to Vermicelli's sound.

Gakkel, who has played with the band in the past but took a long break, started playing with Vermicelli as a guest cellist last month and will participate in Friday's concert. "I consider him an extremely creative person," Shchurakov said, "and that is why I feel good when he is playing with us."

In addition to "Anabasis," which was re-released earlier this year, Vermicelli's other album is "Byzantium," released last year on Moscow's Boheme Music label.

"I don't know what style [we play]," Shchurakov said. "I can't define it. In general, I am against definitions. I like people to indulge in fantasies."

"We are an orchestra. We have written scores and defined parts," says Shchurakov. "With a rock band, it is bass, guitar, drums and vocals, which leaves a lot of room for self-expression because the instruments don't intersect much. But for us, everything must be reduced to a common denominator, so we need coordination."

Friday's performance will be something new for the group. It will consist of two sets of Shchurakov's compositions. For the second set, the Vermicelli Orchestra will be joined on stage by a double string quartet, creating an even deeper and more complexly layered sound. Shchurakov says that if he is satisfied with this experiment, he will use this broader lineup for still more ambitious concerts in the future.

"Concerto Grosso for Vermicelli and Orchestra" will be at the Concert Hall (near the Finland Station), 13/1 Arsenalnaya Nab., M: Ploshchad Lenina, 542-0944, at 7 p.m., Dec. 14. Check out the Vermicelli Orchestra's bi-lingual Web site at www.vo.org.ru.

By Sergey Chernov, staff writer
© The St.Petersburg Times #730, Friday, 14 December, 2001
http://www.sptimes.ru/archive/times/730/features/a_5371.htm