Dobranotch Duo

Dobranotch’s sound is a vibrant fusion of klezmer with Russian, Romani, Middle Eastern, Ukrainian, and Caucasian folk traditions. Contemporary rhythms are woven into the music, yet it remains firmly rooted in the raw, acoustic spirit of a traditional klezmer wedding orchestra. Originally founded in Saint Petersburg and now based in Germany, Dobranotch has been active for over 25 years and is widely regarded as a leading force in the klezmer revival of the former Soviet Union.

In recent years, this rich musical legacy has found a more intimate expression in Dobranotch Duo. The duo was formed in the spring of 2020 by spouses Germina Gordienko and Mitia Khramtsov, during the pandemic lockdown, when concert life came to a sudden halt and they found themselves isolated in a forest cabin. With time to reflect and create, they developed a new program together and Germina even mastered a new instrument during this period.

Dobranotch Duo brings klezmer’s vibrant sound world to life through violin and cimbalom, a classic early klezmer pairing. As wind instruments later came to dominate klezmer ensembles, the violin lost its leading role and the cimbalom largely disappeared from the tradition. It was only with the klezmer revival of the 1980s that this distinctive sound re-emerged. Dobranotch Duo keeps it alive today with energy, warmth, and exceptional musicianship.

Violinist Mitia Khramtsov is the founder of Dobranotch and an internationally acclaimed figure in the klezmer scene. Germina Gordienko, who now plays the cimbalom, began her musical career as a drummer in Afro, reggae, and Latin bands. In 2018, she discovered klezmer through the poyk (klezmer bass drum), performing with the Shpil Klezmer Band at the Great Choral Synagogue of Saint Petersburg. During the pandemic, she took up the cimbalom, and since 2023 she has been performing with Dobranotch, enriching the duo’s sound with the instrument’s deep, resonant tones.