London Gypsy Orchestra in Energy Saving Trust TV advertisement

  The LGO is one of the groups that featured in a television advertisement campaign for the Energy Saving Trust,
  shown in November/December 2006, on UKTV and with the programme Monarchy on Channel 4.

  Click here to view:

Translation of the above article from 'Vesti'

(international newspaper for people of the former Yugoslavia, published by Diaspora):

Gypsy Orchestra's Unforgettable London Performance: Balkan souls are entertained by Gypsy Music
 
"Joi de Vivre" in London is alive and kicking. Theatres, studios, galleries & cinemas are truly vibrating this summer.
Recently, Londoners who decided to stay indoors missed out on a unique chance to enjoy themselves at a particularly unconventional party in Dragon Hall, Covent Garden.
 
The London Gypsy Orchestra presented a musical carnival of song and dance from Eastern Europe and the Balkans, which as the night wore on turned into a massive multinational party, continuing into the small hours.
 
The Gypsy Orchestra itself is a special, monumental, almost exotic entity. Virtuoso violinist, German-born Gundula Gruen, created a group with 35 talented musicians from all over the world and passed on to them the passion and skill
for mastering Eastern European and Balkan music.
 
Gundula's Orchestra plays "Nizamski Rastanak" (famous Serbian song) with a real feel for Balkan folk music; and other styles such as "Romanian Magic" in a manner akin to the unattainable talents of Romanian devil violinst Grigoas
Diniku. An English orchestra member plays the trumpet as if she had been born in Guca (Dragacevo); a Japanese mandola player evokes the wilderness of the Eastern European landscape; Scottish musicians produce delicate
Hungarian rhapsodies. The Irish accordionists playing "Moravac" (Serbian trad dance) lack only the "Opanci" (Serbian dancing shoes); the Portugese need only the "Sajkaca" (trad. Serbian hat); and an English soprano sings "Ochi Carnje", and "Jovano Jovanke" in clear Macedonian.
 
There was a true Gypsy flavour to this evening - not only did the whole auditorium sit gypsy-style on the floor (there were no chairs), but nearly the whole Orchestra played barefoot.
 
"A leaf from our fields" (Serbian saying for a National Treasure) was also present - dancer Ljiljana Grkinic. Supported
by the barefoot orchestra, Ljiljana lifted the whole audience to their feet with an extraordinary belly dancing performance. Her amazing skill and artistry reminded one of the best performances of Egyptian star "Nagva Fuad". Ljiljana Grkinic is a master of her craft, and teaches oriental dance in London.
 
The evening at Dragon Hall was a really special event which boasted a unique and unusual ambience with an extravagent Orchestra, and made for real Balkan fun in the centre of London.

Below: from BBC's Ariel magazine, following a guest appearance by members of the LGO on the Rokker Radio programme on BBC Three Counties.