Hello, Valley!
World-famous jazz stars Al Jarreau and George Duke will come to Dolina's anniversary concerts, which will take place at the State Kremlin Palace. The singer, performing in three parts, will perform classics, jazz and pop, unique scenery will be transformed right before the eyes of the audience...
Rossiyskaya Gazeta : Larisa Aleksandrovna, usually for an anniversary a person sums up some results for himself...
Larisa Dolina : I’m not summing up any results. For me, this is another reason to put on beautiful concerts and shows, enjoy good music, and meet my fans.
RG : But have you thought about the fact that a certain date, a milestone, is coming?
Valley : Time flies quickly. I don't feel my years. I actually have much less.
RG : If you could turn back time, what would you change in your life?
Valley : Nothing. For what? I never regret anything. A bad experience is also an experience. Some things went better, some less so.
RG : Is the anniversary going exactly the way you wanted? Or is the presence of a star like Al Jarreau a surprise for you?
Valley : It’s not just a surprise, it’s a shock. Because he is my idol, I was brought up on his music, and 25 years ago, when I performed his composition Roof Garden in the Anatoly Kroll Orchestra, I could hardly have imagined that the time would come when I would sing it with Al in a duet. This could not even be dreamed of. And even now I can’t believe that everything worked out, and Al Jarreau comes especially to my anniversary concerts. He and legendary jazz musician George Duke.
RG: When you met Al, which, as far as I know, happened during your recent tour in America, when you saw him, was there something like trembling in your knees?
Dolina : Yes, I was very worried before meeting him, but my knees didn’t shake. He immediately put us at ease and after we recorded the duet, we parted as close friends.
RG : Will the video recording of the duet be shown at concerts?
Valley : This will be a video, and I hope the audience will see it soon.
RG : Channel One made a special film for your anniversary. What kind of work is this?
Valley : It will be, so to speak, a documentary-fiction epic (laughs). A beautiful film about me, about my life. I can say that such films have never been made on Russian television. We worked with extraordinary people. Firstly, the wonderful director and producer of the film is Sergei Kalvarsky, the presenter is Sati Spivakova, and secondly, the film was filmed by the wonderful director Olga Bekker and a talented film crew. During the work, many unusual situations arose that had never happened in my films before. For example, a completely unexpected gift for me was... a plane flying Moscow - Odessa, named after me. So I liked everything, and I want to believe that the film will ultimately turn out the way I imagine it.
RG : Many of your fellow countrymen cried when they watched the television film with you from the “Coming Home” series. And you yourself couldn’t help but cry there. What's your favorite place on earth?
Valley : Difficult question. I love coming to Baku. I was born there and lived only two years. But I feel that this is my city. Probably because for many years my mother and I vacationed there every summer. And, perhaps, because I know him well, and I think that he is special in his energy. Have you ever been there?
RG : No. But for me, for some reason, the personification of Baku is the Guzman brothers: Julius and Mikhail.
Dolina : Not bad (laughs). These are the brightest representatives of this city,
RG : And the Baku KVN team.
Valley : These are my friends. Odessa... This is not just a favorite city, but a native one. I don’t even know what other kind words can be found towards him. Odessa is like a mother and a father for me.
RG : When was the last time you were there?
Valley : In April. Every year in the spring I go to the graves of my mother and father. I'll definitely come for a few days. Also just to breathe in the Odessa air and gain strength and energy. Odessa gives me a lot of energy.
RG : Larisa Alexandrovna, you started as a jazz singer, then you began to devote more time to pop songs, then you returned to jazz again...
Valley : I didn’t leave anywhere. Jazz has always been my music, I just haven't done jazz programs for a while. And three years ago, together with Igor Butman’s orchestra, we showed the “Jazz Carnival” program. These concerts were such a success that we went on tour not only in Russia, but also in the USA, Germany, and Israel.
RG : Who came up with the name of the program “Hello, Valley!” By analogy with the famous jazz composition “Hello, Dolly!”
Dolina : That’s what musicians called me back when I lived in Odessa.
“Politicians do their business, and I do mine.”
RG : Some time ago, at a meeting of the Presidential Council on Culture and Arts, you gave a report on the state of our stage, where you sharply criticized performances with a soundtrack, pirates and much more. This report became a real sensation. What do you think about the level of pop music today?
Valley : I think it's pretty low.
RG : So what is happening now deserves the lowest rating?
Dolina : I wouldn’t talk so indiscriminately about everyone. We have quite gifted people, even among young performers. But the bulk of newly minted stars, of course, do not deserve high praise. But I believe that an artist must somehow educate the public. Raise the level of culture at least a little. My concerts are attended by a more or less educated public. And among these people there are many young people - I have recently gained a lot of fans among young people. These people listen to high-quality music, they are thoughtful, well-mannered. In general, what is happening on our stage is the personification of what is happening in our lives. If there is some uncertainty in life, then you shouldn’t expect perfection from show business.
RG : Do you have any ideas on how to get out of this state?
Valley : To do this, an entire generation needs to change. And the situation in the country must change in principle. When people live a little better, earn normal money, they will listen to completely different music, read different books and watch different movies. The intellectual level will rise, and then a way out will be found. But this will not happen soon.
RG : Alla Pugacheva is the star of the “Star Factory”, you were the star of the program “People’s Artist”. Can you draw any parallels?
Dolina : Both at the Factory and at the People’s Artist there are very talented, capable guys. This makes me happy. I wouldn’t draw parallels, because these programs are completely different. They have different tasks. For example, it was a little easier for the “manufacturers” because they first recorded their songs and then presented them to the audience. The conditions for the guys at the People's Artist were more difficult. They had to sing live, with musical accompaniment. It's more complicated. Therefore, and for a number of other reasons, it seemed to me that there were more talented people in “People’s Artist” than in “Factory”.
RG : You are a member of the Presidential Council for Culture and Arts. What is the meaning of your word?
Dolina: If my opinion did not matter, I most likely would not have been included in the Council by a special decree signed by the president.
RG : Can you give me a specific example?..
Valley : I read the report at the Council, it did not go unnoticed. We are waiting for the results.
RG : What is your general attitude towards politics and politicians? Probably, from time to time you receive offers to speak in support of someone?
Valley : Politicians do their business, and I do mine. It's enough.
Kostya Tszyu considers me his talisman
RG : Are athletes a different matter? You performed before the fight of boxer Kostya Tszyu. How did you become friends with him, where did you meet? As far as I know, you also spoke in support of Fetisov.
Dolina: There was an evening dedicated to the departure of Vyacheslav Fetisov from hockey. This was his last game. A special song was written for this game, which I performed in honor of Slava. We have been friends for many years. As for Kostya Tszyu, we became friends after my tour in Australia. He was at my concert and offered to sing a song that had already been written. The first time I performed it was in Las Vegas before his fight, and he won. Last year I came to support Kostya before his fight in Phoenix - and he won again. This year I wasn’t able to come to Manchester for his fight (I was on tour in America, and I couldn’t), and... he lost. He considers me his talisman.
RG : How did you feel about his loss?
Valley : Kostya is a great fighter. For me he still remains a super champion. He even knows how to lose with dignity. I think this is not his last fight.
RG : A few words about your recent American tour. How did they go?
Valley : There were 11 concerts. We performed in all major cities in the US and in Canada - Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. The concerts were brilliant, and I am very pleased with this tour, primarily because I brought my favorite program “Thaw”.
RG : Do you say that about every new program?
Valley : This is truly my favorite program. It so happened that in terms of energy, and in terms of musical material, and in the way this show is structured, this program is special. And in the halls where we work, people go wild.
“I have rarely been lucky in life”
RG : Do you have a daily routine or is every day different?
Dolina : Every day is different for me. I don’t go to work every day in the morning, don’t come back at 7 pm to do laundry, feed my family, and then get up for work again at 8 am tomorrow.
RG: But there are some things without which the day cannot pass? For example, you have a strong voice, maybe you do special gymnastics for it using the well-known Strelnikova system?
Dolina: I've never done it.
RG : You said that you are a talisman for Tszyu. What is a talisman for you in this life?
Valley : I never had any talismans or amulets. Nothing! Whatever God gives, I accept everything. Sometimes luck turns away from me, this black streak goes, and suddenly, something like this happens, and you think: “God sent it. What happiness!” I love waking up healthy, in a good mood, next to my loved one. This is my talisman.
RG : One of your concert programs was called “Little Woman”. Do you feel like this or a strong prima with an iron character who has to do everything herself?
Dolina : In terms of work and business, my character is ironclad, I won’t hide it. Everything that concerns me as a woman, I am different. But this is not for an interview, it is too intimate.
RG : Your early programs were called boldly and sharply “I sing what I want”, “I don’t like myself”, and later ones were much warmer: “Weather in the house”, “Thaw”. Have you changed that much over the course of your life or is it just a coincidence?
Valley : I don't think it's a coincidence. The changes that took place in me did not just happen. Some kind of female wisdom came, I had to go through a lot in life, both bad and good. Learn to live in harmony with yourself. It's quite difficult. And now I know exactly the recipe for how to stay young longer: be less angry and upset. I am the kind of person that sometimes I invent problems for myself, and I deal with them myself. But this happens less and less, I enjoy life, and I like everything that happens around me. I love everyone and love everything. My consciousness changed very sharply and strongly. I changed myself, and accordingly, my repertoire changed along with me. This had to happen because I couldn't stay tough all my life. Because I am a woman and I cannot alienate my viewers who love and expect warmth, kindness, cordiality and mood, i.e. the state of mind that I must give them. Therefore, everything has changed, including the attitude towards the audience. Previously, I didn’t care at all whether my songs were liked or not. I like it, and I thought that was enough. Over the years, I realized that I was wrong. Because I sing not for myself, but for the audience. And everything I do today is for them. And only then - for yourself.
RG : You have changed not only internally, but also externally. If we look at your photographs from different periods, it seems that they are of different women. When did you like yourself most?
Valley : Never.
RG : But when you lost weight, were you happy?
Valley : Nothing. When I go to the mirror, I like it.
RG : You were probably bombarded with questions about diets. Don’t you want to write a book to answer everyone once and for all?
Valley : No. I won't write books. I can’t write better than Dasha Dontsova.
RG : And the book of memories?
Valley : This one will appear by my anniversary. This is a large, unique photo album of my photographs and memories, and it will contain four discs: two with a collection of my best jazz performances and two with a retrospective of my best pop hits. And there will be memoirs coming out.
RG : And when?
Dolina: I'm still young. Memoirs will not appear tomorrow. They have been written for many years.
RG : Throughout your life you have met legendary people, you were lucky...
Valley : (With sarcasm.) I was very lucky. I'm so lucky... You create your own environment. I was lucky that back in Odessa I met those people who saw potential in me and helped me understand which path to follow. In this sense, yes, I was lucky. And then... I was extremely rarely lucky in life. Everything was very difficult, with great difficulty. And that’s why I really appreciate it and take care of it. Because when you go towards your achievements, you stumble, overcome another obstacle, break, break through walls of misunderstanding, mistrust... And when you do this and reach a certain height, the most difficult thing is to maintain this bar. I'm probably one of those who still holds it.
RG : Aren’t you tired of holding her? Don’t you want to stop feeling like a prima and just be an ordinary person?
Valley : What does this mean? Go to the market, buy groceries...
RG : I mean being a carefree woman who doesn't have to fight. It seems like you can already afford it.
Valley : I can't be completely carefree. Then it won't be me.
“I dream of singing a duet with Pavarotti”
RG : Competition arises between prima donnas on stage from time to time. And the falseness that the viewer feels slips through. Does this happen to you?
Dolina : For me personally, never.
RG : So you treat everyone kindly?
Dolina : I have normal, friendly, smooth relationships with everyone. I am a non-conflict person.
RG : You sang a duet with Gloria Gaynor, performed with Weyland Rodd, your videos were shot by a professional who worked with Michael Jackson and Madonna, you recorded in the best studios in the world. It would seem that everything you could dream of. What might surprise you professionally today?
Valley : Everything new: experiment, musician, song. In general, I am surprised by everything and am very glad that I have preserved this trait. Because when a person stops being surprised, he stops living and simply exists. It is very boring.
RG : Do you have a dream?
Valley : Of course there are. I want to record something with Steve Wonder or sing a duet with Luciano Pavarotti. In principle, this is not a utopia. You can do anything if you want. My husband tried to contact Al Jarreau for six months. But everything worked out!
RG : You take part in a huge number of events. How do you choose where to perform? Or do your administrators do it for you?
Valley : I receive about 20 invitations every day. But I very rarely go to such events, which are usually called “parties”. I'm not interested in this, and I don't want to just waste time. As for concerts, what does it mean to choose or not to choose? This is my job. There are tours - when I perform and receive money for a concert, there are charity concerts in which I take part for free. Of course, you have to choose.
"Weather in the house"
RG: Two years ago you released your signature perfume line “Weather in the House”, last year you presented a new collection of fragrances. Do you just put your name on the products or do you have time to be directly involved in everything?
Dolina : We made the perfume ourselves: we went to the factory, worked on the scents, chose bottles, came up with the design... My company did all this. But for this I didn’t need to take a break from my singing career; we combined everything perfectly with touring and creativity. Now my perfumes are sold in many regions.
RG : Is this business successful?
Valley : Quite.
RG : What traits do you find in your daughter Lina?
Dolina : She is a kind girl, very responsive and sociable.
RG : Does it have your intensity?
Dolina: She doesn’t yet have the fortitude that I have. And there is no such willpower. Maybe she needs to live for a while, grow up and experience something in her life, although I don’t want to wish this on her. But, for sure, she will have to overcome some difficulties. Especially with a character like hers. But potentially she is an extraordinary person.
RG : She has this trait - she knows exactly what she wants?
Dolina : For the time being, Lina didn’t know, her attachments were constantly changing: she wanted to become a photographer, then a designer, then a journalist... As a result, she entered the Faculty of Law, completed four courses, now she is in her last year with a diploma. And everything seems to be going pretty well.
RG : And a few words about your producer and husband Ilya Spitsin. What you think is most important. What do you think?
Valley : (With warmth in her eyes). That I love him.
When the number was typed
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the Decree “On awarding the Order of Honor to L.A. Dolina,” according to which Larisa Aleksandrovna Dolina, the soloist and vocalist of the limited liability company “LD Studio,” is awarded for her great contribution to the development of musical art.
Today is Larisa Dolina's birthday (VIDEO)
On September 10, the legendary singer, People's Artist of Russia Larisa Dolina celebrates her birthday. Today Larisa Alexandrovna, the famous jazz singer of Russia, turned 58 years old.
She was born in Baku, but almost all of her childhood was spent in Odessa. There she studied cello at a music school, which she successfully completed. Her creative career began in 1971 as part of the “We are Odessa” orchestra. And since 1985, the Valley has been operating independently. Larisa Dolina is still on stage today, often performs and participates in various television projects.
Larisa Dolina was married three times and has a daughter, Angelina, who not long ago gave her a granddaughter.
She is congratulated not only by her family and friends, but also by thousands of fans from all over Russia and from other countries, as well as some of her colleagues.
“Today is the birthday of the fantastic Russian singer Larisa Dolina. Congratulations from the bottom of our hearts! We wish you good health and new creative successes!” Valeria congratulated the birthday girl.
“Happy Birthday, my dear Larisa Alexandrovna! I love you, may everything be wonderful in your life!” wrote Yulia Nachalova in her microblog.
- Vinokur published a video of what happened outside the hall during the sudden interruption of the concert in Sochi
- Nikita Mikhalkov's wife congratulated her granddaughter Natalya on her birthday and admission to Moscow State University
- The video of the concert Pugacheva gave to her children, husband and friends became a hit online
- Serbian official shamed Zakharova for “humorous post” about their delegation’s visit to the United States
- Yulia Baranovskaya showed a video of how they celebrated the birthday of their youngest son
- Pushkov about Fradkov: “a very reliable person”
- Larisa Dolina named the main difference between Russians and US residents
- Larisa Dolina forgot to apply for a pension
- The Internet is discussing the dramatically younger Valley
- In Russia it was allowed to leave work early on your birthday
- Petrosyan had to urgently interrupt his performance in Sochi
- Lukashenko took up the machine gun again
- Vinokur named the reason for the emergency evacuation during Petrosyan’s speech in Sochi
- Who has the right to kill with impunity?
Become a member of the CLAN and every Tuesday you will receive the latest issue of “Arguments of the Week” with a discount of more than 70%, along with exclusive materials not included in the newspaper. Get premium access to a library of the most interesting and popular books, as well as an archive of more than 700 published issues for FREE. In addition, you will have the opportunity to benefit from free legal advice from our experts for a whole year.
- Enter your email address, then select any convenient payment method for your annual subscription
- Scan the QR. In the Sberbank Online application that opens, enter the annual subscription cost (490 rubles). Then send the confirmation code by email
Or
Stay with us. Add us to your sources and subscribe to our social networks.
Yandex News Google News MirTesen Yandex Zen Twitter Telegram VKontakte Odnoklassniki Facebook Instagram
