Juliana & PAVA is a vocal ensemble performing ancient Russian folk songs. Beautifully harmonized, these songs have been integrated into the fabric of rural life for centuries, carried on from generation to generation only by the oral tradition. Some of the songs are performed a cappella, while others are accompanied by authentic folk instruments, such as the Russian hurdy-gurdy, balalaika, various flutes or percussion instruments.
Performance by Juliana & PAVA is much more than just a concert – it’s a journey many years back into the life of a typical Russian village. Some of the songs refer to celebrations like Easter, weddings or funerals, while others relate to the cyclical rituals of the year, like harvest or midsummer.
The singers wear eye-catching, colorful, authentic costumes that were actually worn in the villages. These costumes, some of which are over 200 years old, contribute to evoking an atmosphere and an image of a culture that all at once seems very exotic and yet not all that foreign to the Western world.
