Review of Moscow Dance Duo

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