A Platform for Ethnically and Culturally Inspired Music
ABOUT
Leonsia Erdenko / The Gypsy Voice of Russia

Leonsia Erdenko is the daughter of the famous Roma singer Nikolay Erdenko and has been performing steadily at concerts since 1987. She entered her musical career with the band "Djang," which was led by her parents, Nikolay and Rozaliya Erdenko. Leonsia devoted herself to intensive study of music, especially playing the piano, dancing, and singing. In collaboration with the composer Gosha Barkin, they recorded the album "The New Gypsy Music" in 1997, which contained well-known Romani melodies in a modern concept. Less than three years later, she and Alexey Bezlepkin formed a new band, Trio Erdenko. Trio Erdenko was the winner of the Second Bulat Okudzhava International Festival in Krakow (Poland) in 2003. Furthermore, she traveled the world with the famous band Loyko, with which she recorded three discs.

Leonsia not only gives concerts throughout the world but also cooperates with various artists in record production (e.g., !DelaDap, Zdob si Zdob, Garik Sukachev) and is also active in the film industry (One Night of Love, Bednaya Nastya, Karmelita). We will see Leonsia at the festival together with six other musicians in the cast: Alexey Bezlepkin on guitar and vocals, Georgy Bezlepkin on violin and dance, Valery Basov on guitar and vocals, Lubov Erdenko on vocals and dance, Nikolay Gusarov on vocals, guitar, and dance, and Nikolay Erdenko on violin, vocals, and dance.

Participation in international projects, joint concerts, festivals: "Rom-Hap"-87 (Belgrade), "Time of the Gypsies" May 2001 (Munich), with participation from E. Redzepova, G. Bregovich, P. de Lucia (Munich), "Kremerata - Festival" by Gidon Kremer (Austria), "No Smoking Orchestra" with E. Kusturiza, "Zdob-si-Zdub" (Russia-Moldova) 2000, "Bratch" (France - Russia), "Khamoro" (Prague) 2002, 2008, the European Gipsy Music Stars show with participation from B. Markovich, K. Balogh, Mitsou, F. Snetberger (Budapest) 2003, "Fjord Music Festival" (Norway) 2003, Agueda Gypsy Festival (Portugal) 2003, B. Okudzhava Songs Festival (Krakow, Poland) 2003, "Ethnic Process Show" by V. Chekasin (free-jazz) (Vilnius-Moscow) 2004-2005, etc., Bal de la Rose 2007 (Monaco) feat. T. Gatlif, B. Lagrene, Chiko & the Gipsies, Fanfare Ciokarlia.

Discography by Leonsia Erdenko:
1992 The Famous Songs of The Russian Gypsies / Nikolay Erdenko & Djang / RCD
1994 Gypsy Talisman / Nikolay Erdenko & Djang /
1995 Moscow-Paris, Tribute to A. Dmitrievich / Nikolay Erdenko & Djang /
1999 Gypsy Songs / Trio Erdenko / Mystery of Sound
1999 The Best Gypsy Songs of the XX Century / Collection
1999 The New Gypsy Music / Trio Erdenko / Mystery of Sound
2000 Russian Gypsy Soul / Collection / Network Medien
2000 Return of the Gypsy Maestro / Loyko
2001 Gypsy Times for Nunja / Loyko / Network Medien
2001 Gypsy Blues / Loyko /
2002 The Rough Guide To The Music of Russia / Collection / World Music Network
2004 Leonsia – Gypsyroad / Mystery of Sound
2006 Dela Paji / DelaDap Group feat. Leonsia Erdenko
2006 The Cherry Has Blossomed / Leonsia Erdenko
2006 Russian Songs / Leonsia Erdenko
2007 Let Me Confess / Leonsia Erdenko
2008 The Gypsy Chanson / Leonsia Erdenko / Studio Soyuz
2009 Taganay / Leonsia Erdenko

2012 Gypsy Wedding / Leonsia Erdenko