Sokolovsky gypsy choir
The Sokolovsky gypsy choir was founded by Count Orlov-Chesmensky in the 1770s who called on Ivan Sokolov, leader of the gypsies among his serfs, to perform at his estate outside Moscow. The gypsy-serfs were granted their freedom in 1807, and Sokolov became the first in a dynasty of gypsy choir leaders. The choir performed at the prestigious Yar restaurant in Moscow. When his descendant Grigory Sokolov died leadership passed to Nikolai Shishkin. Many staples of the Russian traditional romans song have gypsy origins.
