«Post-Soviet pop collides with russian klezmer in the electrifying music of "OPA!", Russia’s hottest new world music party band»,

— Toronto Star

OPA! was a legendary Russian orchestra active from 2004 to 2022, becoming one of the most recognizable acts on the European world music festival scene. The band's story began during the heyday of St. Petersburg's disco bars, where the musicians played for people dancing on tables, performed at weddings, and gradually developed their own unmistakable sound. Disco, klezmer, brass band traditions, Balkan rhythms, and Soviet exuberance merged into music that was at once virtuosic, ironic, and irresistibly danceable. Over the course of eighteen years, OPA! performed hundreds of concerts, touring extensively throughout Europe as well as Canada and the United States. The band became a sought-after guest at international festivals, concert halls, clubs, and city celebrations. Their music could be heard on Russia's 2×2 television channel, in a synagogue in Kraków, aboard marshrutka minibuses in Chișinău, and on dance floors in Istanbul. During its career, the band released ten albums, composed music for film and television, collaborated with artists from a wide range of musical backgrounds, and continually experimented with new sounds while remaining true to its guiding principle: turning every performance into a genuine celebration. Although OPA! came to an end in 2022, its musical legacy lives on. The band's recordings continue to reach new audiences, while its vibrant and unmistakable style remains an important part of contemporary European world music culture. The band's founder, drummer, composer, and principal songwriter, Evgenii Lizin, now lives in Germany, where he continues his active artistic career through new international musical projects.