Studio theater "Arabesque", Kharkiv Klezmer Band, Serhiy Zhadan. Radio shanson: visim istoriy pro Juru Zoyfera. /brochure+CD/. (Radio Chanson: Eight Stories of Jura Soyfer)

...if we could hear what we say – probably, we would keep silent. But – we do speak. And what is then left for our words but for the echo of our pace? What is then left for our eyes but for memory? And who are we then if not prophets? – for we walk in a circle, that is why we as though know everything in advance. And only from time to time we step with our both feet in clear water of death – only then we see clearly that circles spread, and we stay...
It somehow reminds radio plays of the times when TV was not yet so ubiquitous – happy times, however – but, at the same time, it elusively differs from them. To a great extent – due to lyrics by one of bright modern Ukrainian poets and prose-writers, Serhiy Zhadan. Grotesque and phantasmagoria interlace with naturalness of so minor details that they resemble violent fantasy – it is one side. And freshness, sharp piercing of thoughts and observations, some indescribable tenderness together with the ability to look right into the eyes of truth – it is the other side. Tense-and-relaxed internal rhythm, which sometimes transforms into external rhythm – rhymes. This is as if a charcoal drawing – only meaningful details against the empty background. Add here two flows that are not less interesting. One is voices of actors of the Studio Theater "Arabesque". You do not feel any decorations, any actorship in them, everything is true. And this must be not easy. And the second – music by Kharkiv Klezmer Band, which is considered one of the best Klezmer collectives of the world. It not frequently goes to the forefront. But, instead, fills dusks with all the riches of shades of wisdom somewhat sad in its smiles, which is inherent in this music.
...and even if we do not see each other, but only our reflections in the eyes of the interlocutor – that's ok. When they are clear, we will see in the end – circles spreading...

Anton Yozhyk Leyba (Hedgehog)

Mykhaylo Barbara – music, voice
Stanislav Rayko – violin
Yuriy Khainson – accordion
Artem Kolenchuk – double bass
Hennadiy Fomin – clarinet
Natalia Tsymbal – voice
Valeria Poljanskova – voice
Pavlo Savel‘jev – voice
Yuriy Chebotar‘ov - voice