Moscow Dance Duo's Review Centre

SARAH Harrison and Igor Outkine of the Moscow Dance Duo are ...

5 stars - Moscow Dance Duo are Highly Recommended
Scotsman R booked Moscow Dance Duo for their event

“SARAH Harrison and Igor Outkine of the Moscow Dance Duo are real troupers, to use an old-fashioned expression, but they're also real musicians. She extracts fine tone, gypsy passion and snappy swing from her violin while he, a sort of Russian Rick Wakeman of the button accordion, switches from a conventional instrument to a Midi accordion – a veritable Tardis of an instrument, much more than it appears, from which he coaxes everything from guitar tones and saxophone solos to a James Brown back-up band. And he sings, with all the earthy passion of a Russian tenor – but he's not above a quick rendition of I Feel Good. Despite the "in cabaret" label, they're on stage and the audience are in rows – a real café table set-up would have been nice for this act, but no-one was feeling short-changed about it and the duo frequently brought the house down. They are hugely entertaining, she a deadpan English foil to his Russian effusiveness, but musically they couldn't be tighter, and their repertoire ranged engagingly. They opened and closed with impassioned Hungarian and Romanian gypsy material, including the classic The Lark played with great brio, with its stratospheric trills and birdcalls. There was also all the strut of an Astor Piazzolla tango and some "Hot Club" style gypsy jazz, Harrison's fiddle singing sweetly over snappy accordion chording. Outkine gave us an operatic aria with bel canto extravagance, then reverted to Russian and called upon his electronic box of tricks to sound as if he had half the Red Army Choir concealed backstage. He also ranged, tongue in cheek, through the back catalogue of popular music, from All of Me to a burst of James Brown and even a snappy tribute to the recently departed with Billie Jean. And all of it with a mischievous twinkle, but underpinned by consummate musicianship.”

There they are, just about getting away with Sarah Harrison ...

5 stars - Moscow Dance Duo are Highly Recommended
HERALD N booked Moscow Dance Duo for their event

“There they are, just about getting away with Sarah Harrison acting as Igor Outkine's Russian-to-English translator, when Outkine "inadvertently" and briefly reverses the roles. As becomes only too clear, Outkine's English is fine, although after a decade or so in London, he has lost none of his native musical ability on accordion or as a bel canto tenor. The duo's irreverence, including introducing Harrison's virtuoso violin flourishes as if playing at the Queen Vic, and sundry comic turns, help give their musical sketches a real sense of pace. Yet for all their larking around, when the music demands gravitas and expression, it's there in spades. Their programme is as packed as it is varied - with opera commingling with tango, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and impressionistic pieces - and there are almost as many different numbers as there are commercials for their CD. Oops, there goes another one. Rob Adams”

Edinburgh Fringe - Review It feels strange to hear the achi...

5 stars - Moscow Dance Duo are Highly Recommended
METRO; N booked Moscow Dance Duo for their event

“Edinburgh Fringe - Review It feels strange to hear the achingly glamorous, sweepingly romantic music made by violinist Sarah Harrison and tenor/accordion player Igor Outkine during the day. Their divine collection of Russian and gypsy, tangos and cabaret tunes should be played after dark, in a smoky late-night dive, where their heady sounds would soundtrack reeling heads and fluttering hearts. Both are classically trained musicians and it shows, also not at the expense of their music’s soul. Their technical ability never gets in the way of entertainment. Harrison in her fabulous frocks provides drama and comedy; Outkine adds earthiness, fun and even some head banging. Rather then evoke wild, stirring passion, Moscow Dance Duo have a warmly emotional sound, and the connection between the two is apparent. Their music feels like a dazzling escape into a world where people dance on tables with roses between their teeth. Tina Jackson”