Bolschoi Don Kosaken

The Bolschoi Don Kosaken are an Austrian-based male choir founded by Petja Houdjakov in 1981. They developed from the Don Kosaken von Rostov, which Houdjakov had formed in Berlin in 1979 after taking over engagements left by the dissolution of Serge Jaroff's ensemble. Based in Austria since 1984, the choir draws mainly on singers of Russian origin who live in Western Europe. Its programmes combine Russian folk songs and Orthodox sacred music, with dancers added for some larger productions. Houdjakov has remained its artistic director, while the ensemble has toured widely in German-speaking Europe.