Attendance of Russian-speakers was quite good, but still less than Zulya hoped for, so she provided the commentary on the program in English.
And it was dreamy, warm and touching.
It is not easy at best of times to explain to an Australian things which Russians get instantly, without any explanations.
However, surprisingly Zulya's comments didn't go to to waste on us either.
There also should be a separate commendation for an interesting video sequence illustrating the whole program.
Aw, but of course we have to speak about the songs.
Well, everyone who has grown up in Russia know those songs. The Counterplan by Shostakovich, the hugely popular Arlekino by Alla Pugacheva and Aleksandra Pakhmutova's Tenderness. Or the iconic At the Black Sea, the unofficial anthem of Odessa soulfully sung by Leonid Utesov.
Zulya and her musicians endowed them with new bright shine and blew us away by talented arrangements, each being a small masterpiece.
And of course, like always at Zulya's concert, there had to be a cheeky number in Tartar language. As the songstress is proud of her heritage.
The program contained many unexpected surprises. One of them was the choice of song illustrating the spirit and the tragedy of the Great Patriotic War. It was the musically challenging excerpt from the cantata Alexander the Nevsky by Sergey Prokofiev, executed brilliantly.
As Zulya said in prior to the concert the interview to SBS Russian program, Children of the Underground play together for about 15 years.
No wonder that during this time they have achieved a faultless ensemble. Each of musicians contributs to the interpretation of the Russian and Soviet classics, and also newer works - such as in iconic song The Blood type by Victor Tsoi .
The remarkable version of Boogie-Woogie Every Day organically topped this concert program. It was a remake by the early post-Soviet band called Zero on the tune of revolutionary march Varshavyanka.
And at the very end Zulya treated her fans to an old Gipsy romance Not An Evening.
Bravo, Zulya! And thank you very much
