Leonid & Friends have built a loyal worldwide following by recreating brass-heavy rock classics with striking precision. For Valentine’s Day in 2026, the group released a standout live performance of Chicago’s signature ballad, “If You Leave Me Now.” Featuring vocalists Mikhail Puntov and Ksenia Buzina at the front of the stage, the upload has found an enormous audience, drawing more than 8.6 million views. It proves once again that lush, vintage soft rock still has serious pulling power.
Pulling off a ballad originally defined by Peter Cetera’s unmistakable high tenor is never simple. Rather than stripping the arrangement down, the group brought in a live string ensemble to play alongside their signature horn section. With production and recording help from Longneck Productions, the performance balances acoustic warmth with sweeping orchestral dynamics. Every player locks into place, setting up a rich showcase of musicianship that lets the melodies breathe.
Chicago released the original track back in 1976 on the chocolate bar-sleeved Chicago X. As Cetera later remembered it, the song was almost an afterthought, added to the album simply because the tracklist needed one more cut. That spontaneous addition became Chicago’s first number one single on the Billboard Hot 100, spent three weeks at the top of the UK charts, and took home a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus.
For bandleader Leonid Vorobyev, reviving those complex arrangements is a labor of love that started in Moscow back in 2014. A trained choir conductor and producer, Vorobyev personally transcribes every instrumental hook and vocal harmony by ear. The band had previously recorded this particular Chicago standard for their Chicagovich II album, but revisiting it in a concert setting allows the group to display the organic energy that made its reputation. Leonid & Friends tackled “If You Leave Me Now” alongside guest French horn player Arkady Shilkloper and a full string section.
The unvarnished sound and the chemistry between the two lead singers resonated with listeners. In the comments, one viewer pointed out that “Michael and Ksenia’s voices are incredible together.” Another praised the live orchestration, noting that “the cherry on the top is the real strings.” For older fans feeling nostalgic for the golden era of 1970s radio, the organic recording offered a welcome alternative to heavily processed modern pop.
That dedication to craft has earned the ensemble direct recognition from Chicago’s original members, including Robert Lamm and Danny Seraphine, who have visited their concerts over the years. By treating classic songwriting with genuine care and letting a live string section enrich the arrangement, Leonid & Friends keep timeless material sounding vibrant. They remind us why these intricately arranged love songs connected so deeply with people in the first place.