A musical symbol of the nation: how the balalaika reflects Russia’s history and soul
The balalaika, like other national symbols of Russia — the flag, the coat of arms, the Volga River, and the birch tree — unites generations, evokes pride in the country and reflects the richness of the nation’s spiritual culture. This was the idea stated during the session "Balalaika: Three Strings of the Russian Soul" held on 2 November at the National Centre RUSSIA as part of the "Peoples of Russia and the CIS" International Festival under the auspices of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.
"Symbols are not just images. They are what hold our culture together. Today we will talk about one of these symbols, the balalaika. Its name comes from the verb balakat’ (‘to chatter or playfully talk’). One study suggests that a musical composition containing three chords typical of the balalaika will always resonate with a Russian audience. Our genes and our historical memory cannot be deceived," said the session moderator, journalist, TV presenter, and Head of the PR agency MSPR, Maria Shakhova.
Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation, Professor, and Artistic Director of the L.G. Zykina State Academic Russian Folk Ensemble "Russia", Dmitry Dmitrienko, noted that the balalaika embodies the collective image of Russian self-awareness. This instrument has become an inseparable part of everyday life. However, as he reminded the audience, its history was not without hardship: in 1685, all instruments were destroyed as part of a campaign for piety and spiritual salvation. At that time, music and dance were believed to lead people into idleness and alcohol consumption.
"The true reformer not only of the balalaika’s destiny but of Russian national instruments as a whole was Vasily Andreyev. In 1888 he revived the balalaika and created the first club of enthusiasts devoted to playing it. Soon, the First Great Russian Orchestra, founded by Vasily Andreyev in the late 19th century, gained immense worldwide recognition," continued Dmitry Dmitrienko.
Film director and member of the Russian Guild of Film Directors Olga Akatieva also highlighted Vasily Andreyev’s contribution to turning the balalaika into a national symbol. She announced the upcoming release of the film "Three Strings", which will premiere in 2026 — a biopic about the outstanding musician.
"Six years ago, on 7 June 2019, at 12:35, I received the script, and that was when our work began. I could not imagine how many difficulties we would face, but the story was so rich in both literature and music that all the challenges eventually disappeared. It is a story about how, at the end of the 19th century, when Italian art was at its peak, a young musician from Saint Petersburg, Vasily Andreyev, decided to recreate the balalaika — almost lost to history — and make it a true symbol of Russia. The film is about how faith, multiplied by perseverance, can lead to the best results and influence world culture," said Olga Akatieva.
The session also featured a performance by Andrei Mayorov, a student of the Gnessin State Musical College and pupil of Andrei Gorbachev, who played the composition "Vanya" on the balalaika.
The International Festival "Peoples of Russia and the CIS" runs from 31 October to 5 November at the National Centre RUSSIA, the World Trade Centre and the Moskino Cinema Park. The programme includes educational and cultural events, expositions, and masterclasses aimed at uniting representatives of government bodies and the expert community.
The festival is organised by the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs (FADN of Russia) in coordination with the Security Council of the Russian Federation, the Presidential Executive Office of Russia, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, with the participation of the Ministry of Culture of Russia, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Moscow Government, Moskino, Gazprom-Media Holding, RUTUBE, the Russian society Znanie, the Russian Geographical Society, ROSKINO JSC, the Regional Film Support Foundation, and the Internet Development Institute.
Event photobank
The programme opened with several major cultural and educational events.
The 20th anniversary of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, the "Peoples of Russia and the CIS" took place this week.
Seven film screenings at once were held at the National Centre RUSSIA as part of the film forum of the "Peoples of Russia and the CIS" International Festival.
