Director, Video edit, Postproduction: Vlad Zhukov

Music by Alex Maev

Lyrics by Sergei Khovansky

Mixed by Alexey Kindikov (Affective)

Young He: Konstantin Lobachov

Old He: Mustafa Abduzhalilov

Ever young She: Inna Tkachuk

Ph 1: Konstantin Sokolsky

Ph 2: Mike Ledovskikh

MUA: Alla Davydova

The idea for the ballet belongs to St. Petersburg businessman and philanthropist, Doctor of Sciences Vyacheslav Zarenkov. A man of diverse interests, Zarenkov has made a name for himself not only in academia but also in the cultural sphere. The socio‑cultural project "Creating World" he founded, together with the charitable foundation of the same name and the Kilize Theatre, support large‑scale cultural initiatives. Zarenkov is also the author of literary works and ballet librettos, one of which served as the basis for The Three Masks of the King.

Smekalov endowed the original fairy‑tale libretto with philosophical depth, emphasising that people are forced to put on various "masks" according to the circumstances of life. Essentially, this is a given – something that accompanies each of us throughout our lives and without which human existence in society is inconceivable. Thus the genre of the future performance took shape: a ballet‑parable without any specific temporal or geographical reference.

The production offers audiences plenty of surprises. The dominant element of its set design is a huge mask. Throughout the action, it constantly transforms, changing its configuration, breaking apart, and essentially shaping the characters' environment. The characters, with their makeup and costumes, resemble either inhabitants of ancient Egypt or extraterrestrial beings.

Thanks to the harmonious combination of the lighting score (lighting designer Irina Vtornikova) and the meticulously crafted video content – 3D projections (artist Victoria Zlotnikova) – the stage action turned out vivid and spectacular.

The orchestra's sound is also unusual, as a layer of computer music (sound producer Vlad Zhukov) is superimposed on the live playing. The orchestration was done by young composer Daniil Pilchen, a postgraduate student at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. At the same time, Maestro Evgeny Khokhlov managed to achieve an exceptionally balanced and synchronous blend of live orchestral sound and the computer soundtrack.

We all wear masks. When we wake up, we put on the mask of a child or a parent, a husband or a wife. We want to appear kind, angry, funny, serious, beautiful, pitiful, smart, ignorant, independent, or enslaved. Hiding our true thoughts and feelings becomes the norm for us. We do not acknowledge lies, although we constantly deceive not only others but also ourselves. What is sincerity and open virtue? Is not this form of behaviour also a mask?

Varvara

2022 - 2026

Sameba ft. Mzetamze - Deda mogik'vdesa (2022)

Music by Sameba (based on georgian folk song "Deda mogik'vdesa"). Lyrics (chorus of the song) by Madina Serebryakova-Karbeli

Director: Vlad Zhukov
Director of Photography: Alexey Urban (St. Petersburg)
Director of Photography: Artur Martirosian (Tbilisi)
Executive Producer - Michael Mateshvili
Director's Assist - Sasha Gridneva

Actors: Elene Pichkhaya , Ekaterine Lagvilava , Natali Tvaliashvili
Montage & postproduction by Vlad Zhukov
Produced & mixed by Vlad Zhukov
Voice recording by Jesus Leon "Lyon music records" https://lyonmusicrecords.com/
Mastered by Yury Shcherbakov
Special thanks to Tornike Janashvili

Sameba ft. Mzetamze - Deda mogik'vdesa

Let your mother die for you, your mother my son,
Your mother is dying of sorrow for you,
Your mother is dying of sorrow for you.
Your black horse with its black saddle,
I send to the sun above the sky.
Your black shirt torn on the chest
I embroider with winds and bury in the night.

My child, your horse with the black saddle,
I unlash and set free to the forests and fields.
I unleash and set free to the forests and fields.
Let your mother die for you, your mother, my son!
Your mother is dying of sorrow for you.
Your mother is dying of sorrow for you.

Your black horse with its black saddle,
I send to the sun above the sky
Your black shirt torn on the chest
I embroider with winds and bury in the night
Your black horse with its black saddle,
I send to the sun above the sky
Your black shirt torn on the chest
I embroider with winds and bury in the night

The "Sameba" project, rooted in Georgian ethnic music, rhythms, and aesthetics, was released in Tbilisi in 2001. It held leading positions on the music charts of many radio stations and remains popular in Georgia to this day. The album of the "Sameba" project combines folk instruments (percussion, duduk, panduri, chiboni, accordion), archival vintage samples, and the famous Georgian polyphonic singing with modern electronic music. It is worth noting that this is not just an adaptation of folk songs, but to a large extent an original work, as much of the material was written right in the studio in Tbilisi together with singer Madi Serebryakova. The "Sameba" project, created, produced (with the support of Mikhail Tatevosov), and recorded over the course of a year at Tbilisi’s "Saint Sound Studio" by Vlad Zhukov (a well-known sound producer and musician in Russia), became the breakthrough discovery of 2001 in Georgia. Six songs from this album were featured in the American film Power Trip, which was nominated at international film festivals. The project was re-released in Russia in 2005, and the song "Gelino" was included in ethnic music compilations in Germany. Songs from this album continue to be played on the radio, in advertising, and not only in Georgia. In 2013, the track "Sameba - Anagurelo" was used in a tourism advertisement for Georgia on CNN. All tracks are based on Georgian folk music, yet they are original material written, produced, and mixed by Vlad Zhukov with the participation of Madi Serebryakova.

2022 - 2026

Sameba ft. Mzetamze - Deda mogik'vdesa (2022)

Music by Sameba (based on georgian folk song "Deda mogik'vdesa"). Lyrics (chorus of the song) by Madina Serebryakova-Karbeli

Director: Vlad Zhukov
Director of Photography: Alexey Urban (St. Petersburg)
Director of Photography: Artur Martirosian (Tbilisi)
Executive Producer - Michael Mateshvili
Director's Assist - Sasha Gridneva

Actors: Elene Pichkhaya , Ekaterine Lagvilava , Natali Tvaliashvili
Montage & postproduction by Vlad Zhukov
Produced & mixed by Vlad Zhukov
Voice recording by Jesus Leon "Lyon music records" https://lyonmusicrecords.com/
Mastered by Yury Shcherbakov
Special thanks to Tornike Janashvili

Sameba ft. Mzetamze - Deda mogik'vdesa

Let your mother die for you, your mother my son,
Your mother is dying of sorrow for you,
Your mother is dying of sorrow for you.
Your black horse with its black saddle,
I send to the sun above the sky.
Your black shirt torn on the chest
I embroider with winds and bury in the night.

My child, your horse with the black saddle,
I unlash and set free to the forests and fields.
I unleash and set free to the forests and fields.
Let your mother die for you, your mother, my son!
Your mother is dying of sorrow for you.
Your mother is dying of sorrow for you.

Your black horse with its black saddle,
I send to the sun above the sky
Your black shirt torn on the chest
I embroider with winds and bury in the night
Your black horse with its black saddle,
I send to the sun above the sky
Your black shirt torn on the chest
I embroider with winds and bury in the night

FDA ft. In Progress — Another Day (Affective rmx)
Produced by Affective & Vlad Zhukov
https://itunes.apple.com/ru/album/another-day/id1228067949?l=en

The full original version: https://youtu.be/wEB7fEFAZuA

FDA ft. In Progress — Another Day
(Music by Vlad Zhukov & In Progress, lyrics by Pro'fit)

Video:
Directed by Vlad Zhukov (2016)
Filmed in Georgia & St. Petersburg (Russia)
Actress — Inna Tkachuk

Vlad Zhukov — camera operator
Inna Tkachuk — camera operator
Michael Paritskiy — camera operator
Webra — camera operator, drone operator
Arseniy Kan — camera operator (drums recording session)
Montage & postproduction by Vlad Zhukov

Special thanks to:
Roman Shustrov, Leonid Gerkus, Tanushka Mironenko, Nastya Samsonova, Oleg Shagapov, David Webb

FDA — Welcome To My World (Part 1)
Full version: https://youtu.be/wEB7fEFAZuA
https://itunes.apple.com/ru/album/another-day/id1228067949?l=en

1. FDA — Welcome To My World
(Music & lyrics by Vlad Zhukov)

Vlad Zhukov — vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion & additional programming
Dmitriy Pavlov — guitar
Pavel Vovk — bass
Sergey Kivin — drums
Recorded & mixed by Vlad Zhukov & Kolya Bichan

Video:
Directed by Vlad Zhukov (2015)
Filmed in Georgia & St. Petersburg (Russia)
Actress — Inna Tkachuk

Vlad Zhukov — camera operator
Inna Tkachuk — camera operator
Michael Paritskiy — camera operator
Webra — camera operator, drone operator
Montage & postproduction by Vlad Zhukov

Special thanks to:
Roman Shustrov, Leonid Gerkus, Tanushka Mironenko, Nastya Samsonova, Oleg Shagapov, David Webb

FDA ft. In Progress — Another Day (Part 2)
Full version: https://youtu.be/wEB7fEFAZuA
https://itunes.apple.com/ru/album/another-day/id1228067949?l=en

2. FDA ft. In Progress — Another Day
(Music by Vlad Zhukov & In Progress, lyrics by Pro'fit)

Vlad Zhukov — vocals, guitars, acoustic guitar, additional keyboards, additional programming
In Progress — keyboards
Nina Zayac — violin
Pavel Vovk — bass
Sergey Kivin — drums
Recorded & mixed by Vlad Zhukov & Kolya Bichan

Video:
Directed by Vlad Zhukov (2015)
Filmed in Georgia & St. Petersburg (Russia)
Actress — Inna Tkachuk

Vlad Zhukov — camera operator
Inna Tkachuk — camera operator
Michael Paritskiy — camera operator
Webra — camera operator, drone operator
Arseniy Kan — camera operator (drums recording session)
Montage & postproduction by Vlad Zhukov

Special thanks to:
Roman Shustrov, Leonid Gerkus, Tanushka Mironenko, Nastya Samsonova, Oleg Shagapov, David Webb

FDA - I'm Not In Love (10CC cover)

Produced by Vlad Zhukov

https://itunes.apple.com/ru/album/another-day/id1228067949?l=en

Vlad Zhukov — vocals, acoustic guitar, guitar, keyboards
Oleg Belov — keyboards
Pavel Vovk — bass
Sergey Kivin — drums

Mixed by Vlad Zhukov & Kolya Bichan

Vlad Zhukov — camera operator
Arseniy Kan — camera operator

Produced by Vlad Zhukov (2014), St. Petersburg (Russia)

FDA — I'm Not In Love (10CC cover).

Recording keyboards with Oleg Belov.
https://youtu.be/DSd2o8KuVis

I wanted to say thank you to all these wonderful musicians (and not only) with whom I've had the good fortune to collaborate at different times on various projects of mine: Alex "Sanches" Nekrasov (INFO, Poliusa, Lazy Killer, Manizha)–guitar, Viktor Sankov (Poliusa, Kolibri, Dikajee, Seti, Ligands)-bass, Sergey Kivin (Animal ДжаZ, Selfieman)–drums, Oleg Belov(Welcome To The Club, Frukty (Vecherniy Urgant), Ivan Urgant's band, Chizhik‑Jazz‑Quartet)–keyboards, Viktor Savich (Symphonic Kino, Chizhik‑Jazz‑Quartet, B. Grebenshchikov,Non Cadenza, A. Kondakov, JD Walter, David Morin)–bass, Sergey Poznyakhovsky (Pro'fit) – rap, Dima Pavlov (Poliusa, Megapolis, Zventa Sventana, Obe Dve, Therr Maitz, Zemfira)–guitar, Yury Zaslonov (Kis‑Kis, PRAVADA, Skoty) – guitar, Pavel Vovk (Mumiy Troll, Poliusa, Optimystica Orchestra)–bass, Igor Belenko (Poliusa, Torba‑Na‑Kruche)–drums, Kolya Bichan (SoHm Project, Auktyon, Aquarium, Orkestr Vermishel, Poliusa, WTTC)–guitar, keyboards, Ilya Razin (Poliusa)–guitar, Denis Sladkevich (Volkovtrio, S.P.O.R.T., PEP‑SEE)-drums, Sviatoslav Kurashev (Volkovtrio)–guitar, Vladimir Volkov (Volkovtrio)–double bass, Sergey Starostin–vocals, flutes, Boris Istomin,Yury Shcherbakov,Alexander Dokshin–sound engineers, Vadim Chernyshev–bass, Nugzar Pantsulaia-guitar, Sergey Davidov–vocals, Eduard Davidov–drums, Robert Nersesov–keyboards, Dato Aduashvili – percussion (New Discipline), Madi Serebryakova (Sameba)–vocals, Mikhail Paritsky(Sameba)–virtual duduk, Merab Sanodze (Sano) (Sameba)–percussion, Alexey Kindikov (Affective)–keyboards, Pavel Radko (In progress)–keyboards, SATOB Theatre named after D.D.Shostakovich, Gulya Naumova (INFO, Symphonic Kino)–violin, Nina Lipatova (Zayats) (Duet Dolce)–violin, Dmitry Evdomakha (Forward, Savoyary, Zemlyane, DDT, Michael Ogodorov Band)–drums,Igor Rozanov (Spitfire, Prepimaki, Optimystica Orchestra, Preztizh)–drums, Vitaly Lapin–guitar (Nom, Pep‑See), Vitaly Istomin–keyboards, Pavel Asafiev – bass (PEP‑SEE), Tatyana Larina, Arseny Kan–camera operator, Alexey Urban–camera operator,Mikhail Antykov–camera operator, Vitaly Kremenetsky–camera operator, Andrey Mesnyankin COLORKITCHEN)–colourist, Inna Tkachuk–my muse The video uses footage from the music video Vlad Zhukov and Friends – Day by Day (2011), ft.: Vladislav Zhukov (senior), Sergey Kivin (Animal ДжаZ), Andrey Kulemin, Andrey Reznikov "Ryzhik" (Billy's Band), Stepan Ledkov (Marseille), Andrey Samsonov, David Webb, Viktor Savich, Oleg Belov, Ilya Razin (Polyusa), Mikhaylych (Animal ДжаZ), Filipp Belikov "Dj Feel", Natasha "Miusha", Lera Masskva, Nikolay Bichan and Olga Melnik, Sergey Poznyakhovsky (Pro'fit), Zara, Alexander Nuzhdin (radio Maximum), Anna Sashina, Anastasia Devyatykh, Anna Nova.

Vlad Zhukov — Don't Wanna Pretend Anymore (2009)

https://music.apple.com/ru/album/virtual-life/1273204112?l=en-GB
https://music.yandex.ru/album/4629711

Vlad Zhukov — director, producer, production designer, editor
Arseny Kan — director of photography
Fyodor Kan — editor, production director
Andrey Mesnyankin — color grading
Vasily Ryzhov — focus puller
Anton Lykov — production designer
Alisa Kharms — stylist
Vladislav Zhukov (Sr.) — production designer
Vyacheslav Mogildya — video engineer (FRP studio)
Diana Panteleeva — production manager
Anastasia Malysheva — makeup artist
Mitya Tarasevich — extras coordinator
Pasha Gusev — shareholder
Vanya and Anton — lighting technicians

Cast:
Vlad Zhukov — vocals
Nikolay Bichan — guitar
Alisa Kharms — bass
Sergey Kivin — drums
DJ Feel — cool guy (pimp)
Pro'fit — rapper 1, Igs Brook — rapper 2,

Daria Solomina, Kristina Belaya, Irina Rosenberg

Special thanks to:
FRP Company and personally Andrey Udovichenko, Russian World Studios and personally Maria Averbakh,
Postproduction.ru and personally Andrey Mesnyankin, A&T Trade Professional North-West* and personally Sergey Smorodinsky and Andrey Makoveev,and personal gratitude to Ilya Razin and Igor Belenko, to the photographers: Vasily Korolyov, Olga Melnik, Natalia Smirnova,
as well as Damir Kabyshev, Alexey Tulin, Sergey Burenkov, Ivan Sviridov, Snow, Anastasia Shikarnaya, Olga Molchanova, Anna Mironova, Sveta Mironova, Maria Vasilyeva, Nina Zayats, Oksana Sotnikova, Katerina Noskova, Ekaterina Ezavskikh, Andrey Lavrentyev, Eduard Klyagin, Zhanna Ukraintseva, Maria Enenko, Karina Rushkevich, Evgenia Maksimova, Alina Ivanova, Egine Muradyan, Maria Okolichnikova, Ksenia Shevtsova, Irina Kostina, Konstantin Chernetsky, Anastasia Vikhrova, Vlad Grozdinsky, Alyona Levkina, Ivan Kalinin, Dmitry Ermakovich, Stas Kachkovsky, Frau Sorokina and others...

Vlad Zhukov & Friends – Day by Day (2011)
https://music.apple.com/ru/album/virtual-life/1273204112?l=en
https://music.yandex.ru/album/4629711

Appearing and singing in the music video:
Vlad Zhukov, Vladislav Zhukov (Sr.), Sergey Kivin (Animal Jazz), Andrey Kulemin, Andrey Reznikov “Ryzhik” (Billy’s Band), Stepan Ledkov (Marsel), Andrey Samsonov, David Webb as Harry Potter, Viktor Savich, Oleg Belov, Ilya Razin (Polyusa), Alexander Krasovitsky “Mikhalych” (Animal Jazz), Philipp Belikov “DJ Feel”, Natasha “Miusha”, Lera Masskva, Nikolay Bichan and Olga Melnik, Sergey Poznyakhovsky (Pro’fit), Zara, Alexander Nuzhdin, Anna Sashina, Anastasia Devyatykh, Anna Nova, Alisa Kharms

Vlad Zhukov – director, production designer, cinematographer, editor
Arseny Kan – director of photography
Fyodor Kan – editor, camera operator
Lera Masskva’s footage was shot by Pasha Chekhov

Thanks to Andrey Udovichenko and FRP Studio for their help with lighting equipment.
Thanks to Borya Istomin for mastering.

Dedicated to my beloved dad… R.I.P.

Audio:
Vlad Zhukov – vocals, bass, bucket, faemi, children’s toy, programming, sound design, etc.
Pro’fit – rap
Nikolay Bichan – panduri, Native American solo, maracas, beatbox
Olga Melnik – kalimba
Andrey Reznikov – auto-harp
Andrey Kulemin – accordion

Vlad Zhukov — Nothing (2010)

https://music.apple.com/ru/album/virtual-life/1273204112?l=en

https://music.yandex.ru/album/4629711

Vlad Z production and Kan Brothers studio,

with the participation of FRP studio, present 

Vlad Zhukov — director, postproduction

Arseny Kan — director of photography

Second camera operator, director — Fyodor Kan

Editing — Fyodor Kan, Vlad Zhukov

Video engineer — Vyacheslav Mogildya (FRP)

Makeup artist — Natalia Mayorova

Postproduction: Postproduction.ru 

Vlad Zhukov — the vampire

Alisa Kharms — the vampire's victim 

Special thanks to Andrey Mesnyankin (Postproduction.ru), Andrey Udovichenko (FRP), and many others

All tracks by the band Polyusa in which Vlad took part in various capacities:

2009 — EP “Choza Music” — tracks: “Pulya” (“Bullet”), “Opoznavatel’nye znaki” (“Identification Marks”), “Pesnya pro pertsa” (“Song About Pepper”) (arrangement, keyboards, backing vocals, programming, mixing, sound production).

2010 — Album “Dalshe” (“Further”) — tracks: “Pulya”, “Opoznavatel’nye znaki”, “Na batareyakh solnechnykh” (“On Solar Batteries”), “Umet’ zhdat’” (“To Be Able to Wait”), “Dikie rasstoyaniya” (“Wild Distances”) (arrangement, keyboards, backing vocals, programming, mixing, sound production).

2011 — Album “Telefonnye razgovory” (“Telephone Conversations”) — track: “Iz skazok i snov” (“From Fairy Tales and Dreams”) — keyboards.

2012 — Album “Tochka nevozvrata” (“Point of No Return”) — “Bezrazmernaya” (“Sizeless”) (Vlad Zhukov remix).
Tracks: “Kino” (“Cinema”), “Delay menya zhivym” (“Make Me Alive”), “Mne nuzhen robot” (“I Need a Robot”), “Bezrazmernaya”, “Anatoliy”, “V kruge sveta” (“In the Circle of Light”), “Severnaya skazka” (“Northern Tale”), “Dym” (“Smoke”) — backing vocals.
Tracks: “Na spine u kita” (“On the Whale’s Back”), “Mne nuzhen robot” — keyboards.

2017 — Album “Tochka nevozvrata” Remastered (“Point of No Return” Remastered).
Tracks: “Kino”, “Delay menya zhivym”, “Mne nuzhen robot”, “Bezrazmernaya”, “Anatoliy”, “V kruge sveta”, “Severnaya skazka”, “Dym” — backing vocals.
Tracks: “Na spine u kita”, “Mne nuzhen robot” — keyboards.

2024 — Single “Sever ne otpuskaet” (“The North Doesn’t Let Go”) — track: “Sever ne otpuskaet” — keyboards, programming.

2026 — Album “Nashe nichego” (“Our Nothing”) — tracks: “Privet iz zhyoltogo dubaya” (“Hello from Yellow Dubai”), “Nashe nichego”, “Ne bolee togo” (“Nothing More”), “Pesnya o rybake” (“Song About a Fisherman”), “Nogi na stol” (“Feet on the Table”), “Znay, znay, znay!” (“Know, Know, Know!”), “Na raznykh yazykakh” (“In Different Languages”), “Udlinitel’ dney” (“Extension of Days”), “Katrin”, “Po pustyakam” (“Over Trifles”), “Smotret’ na korabli” (“Watching the Ships”) — keyboards, backing vocals, pandur, banjo.

While working on the mini-album Metki ("Marks"), Andrey Mashnin collaborated with several musicians — each with their own area of responsibility:

Svyatoslav Kurashov (also known from VolkovTrio) — was responsible for guitar parts and generally acted as sound producer.

Vlad Zhukov — handled electronics and arrangements. Incidentally, Mashnin later recorded another joint EP with Vlad — Nechego nadet na tantsy ("Nothing to Wear to the Dance").

Neiz (Andrey Andreevich Mashnin, the musician's son) — took part in two tracks: "Soplezhuy" and "PSPSS" (these songs are marked as feat. Neiz on the release).

Mashnin himself noted in interviews that this release turned out to be quite experimental: he moved away from the guitar-driven hardcore typical of Mashninband towards a more electro-acoustic sound.

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Larisa Lusta is a St. Petersburg singer and actress known for her powerful, classical vocals and unusual blend of genres: from classical and romance to rock and chanson. She is often called the diva of Russian crossover, and her repertoire seamlessly blends various musical styles.

Kolibri, Volkov Trio, Vlad Zhukov (2001 - TriOI) (EP)

Produced by Vlad Zhukov

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