Photos: provided by PR-service of Christina Orbakaite
Kristina Orbakaite about the profession of an artist, about how to be the daughter of a great mother, and about women's destiny.
Kristina Orbakaite in all her way embodies femininity and tenderness. Therefore, her evening at the “Russian Seasons” in Dubai was saturated with femininity - an exotic installation by Kenzo flaunted in the spotlights, Devji Aurum diamonds shone, and Christina herself gracefully sent hundreds of kisses to the choir-singing hall gracefully.
When the next day we met for an interview, Christina in a romantically fluttering chiffon dress dined with her husband, businessman Mikhail Zemtsov and son Denis on the terrace of the Mina A'Salam hotel. But as soon as we retire, from soft and family she instantly transforms into an Artist with a capital letter with an iron character. And not a hint of a "super diva." "An artist should always be" ready "- this is the complexity of our profession.
No matter how you feel - your temperature or something in your personal life - you have to play. All negativity, like a backpack behind your back, must be left behind the curtains, "she instantly changed to a serious wave, she explains." If you are a true professional, you have no right to show your dissatisfaction, weakness. This is the law of the scene. In fact, the scene heals - someone calls the scene a drug, someone - an analgesic. And if something bothered you, after you went on stage - everything passes, even the temperature. "
What do you have to do with Dubai?
I was in Dubai eight years ago when we shot a video for the song “Just Love You” with Abraham Russo. And I was amazed how much the city has changed during this time. I was very pleased to come here with a concert in the framework of "Russian Seasons" by Evgeny Morozov.
And your black flying dress was somehow inspired by oriental abaya?
No, it just coincided! This is my concert costume.
How do you choose your stage style and what do you wear every day?
I don’t have a specific designer to dress with. To be honest, for me to go to the store is not entertainment, but a workflow. It is one thing to choose something comfortable for life, and another for the scene. It should be something as spectacular and not restrictive of movements. Mostly I buy costumes in America. I come there twice a year and can devote time to "reasonable shopping."
There are designers in America - Philip Lim, Alexander Wang - I like them because they are original and suitable for the scene. And I like to perform classical songs in dresses in which you feel like a diva of the 1940-50s.
Christina, what is it like to be the daughter of such a great mother?
Wonderful! Because my mother is just a brilliant woman! Wise, smart and beautiful. Of course, being a child of famous people is not easy. My children and the children of many of my friends are faced with this. On the one hand, you are perceived through the prism of your parents, but on the other, the more interesting it is to declare yourself that you are also a person and no less talented. I was very glad that I did not look like my mother either externally or in my performing manner. Too many people wanted to be like her, but I, on the contrary, wanted to be completely different.
And in life?
I grew up with my grandmother. Like all children of artists - we grow up with grandmothers or nannies. That is fate. But because of this, we always have a very touching relationship with parents. You start to appreciate more time spent with them, holidays and weekends. When I could spend my holidays with my mother, these were the happiest moments of my childhood. Knowing this condition, I now try to spend all my free time with children and, if possible, take them with me on tour, especially when they coincide with the holidays. Now I mainly travel with my youngest son Denis, since the oldest one is studying in New York.
What did you learn about popularity from childhood?
You know, popularity, on the one hand, is huge audience love, worship and adoration, and on the other hand, envy, lack of freedom and criticism. At school, I was more confronted with the envy of some parents, mothers, they say, now, "daughter Pugacheva." And, since I am a well-mannered person, then if someone criticized me, I took it quite calmly. But if I heard behind me some criticism of my mother, then I completely lost my temper, I could turn around and respond very sharply to my mother or teacher. Once I left the classroom, slamming the door, saying that I would not come to this teacher again. And she herself called her mother to school to the principal. I told her - "I can’t take it anymore, sort things out by yourself."
How did your classmates perceive you?
I was very lucky with friends and classmates, I studied at the same school for 10 years. On the contrary, they protected me. The first month when I arrived, of course, everyone was watching - oh, daughter Pugacheva. And then they won’t point a finger all 10 years. Each mother has her own work - who is a doctor, who is a teacher, and my mother is an artist. She rarely came to school. This was only a few times: when I went to first grade, when I myself called my mother to the director, and at graduation in the 10th grade.
The peak of my mother’s popularity came in the 1980s, and the whole school was secretly warned that fans, crazy and insane people might appear, which, by the way, are many among the fans. And the directors, and the cleaners, and classmates - everyone knew about this. Sometimes I was watched by fans with cameras. Which of the classmates was the first to notice this - they gave me a lighthouse, and they let me out with garages. Then I, along with classmates, so as not to go alone, went home. So I was very patronized.
Is being a popular artist difficult or easy?
You get used to it, this is part of the job, and you know what you're going for. Some artists begin to complain: "Oh, I'm tired of the fans." I choose a profession, a person should understand that when you become a public person, there is a downside to this. You must be able to behave, you should always look good - because people look at you, compare them with what they see on TV.
Of course, some do not understand that you cannot be around the clock like "on TV" - with a haircut and high heels. When at six in the morning a plane or train, when you arrive at the hotel after a long flight - you are considered and discussed. But you get used to it too. When you are on stage, on the set - everything, of course, is beautiful. But, basically, creative work and life, for the most part, consist of moving. And not all of this can withstand. Because everything is not always and everywhere the way it is in Dubai - a great weather, a wonderful hotel, a comfortable flight.
Often our concert tour lasts from 5 to 20 days, where you always move every day - either by bus, then by car, or by train. And every day is a new city. So sometimes you even forget where you are. My administrator comes and writes the name of the cities right on the stage. Like "Groundhog Day" - it seems that you are in another city, but it turns out that you have already moved.
Any professional work involves labor, blood and sweat. If everything looks beautiful and attractive from the outside, this is what we are striving for. Why show the public how difficult it is for you?
My rule is the utmost sincerity and honesty with the audience. Therefore, I always give only live concerts and never perform under the soundtrack. Many do not believe in this - because I sing and dance. But this is my know-how.
How do you combine the roles of mother, wife and artist?
Absolutely normal and natural. I am not the first - I am not the last. It is natural for a woman to be both a mother and a wife, and successful in her profession. If a man is an artist, then he is, of course, selfish. And a woman manages to be anyone at once, playing several roles at the same time. A woman can and can be in different forms. Here she is, Christina, herself - just a hymn to the Woman.
KISS ON THE BIS!
The concert of the brilliant Christina Orbakaite was held as part of the “Russian Seasons” of the company “M Premier” on March 29, 2011. This time, the stage for the new program of the singer - “Kiss for an encore” - was chosen Johara banquet hall in the resort Madinat Jumeirah. One of the sponsors of the concert was the jewelry company Devji Aurum, which has a glorious tradition of creating exclusive jewelry masterpieces and presents its products in the largest shopping centers in all GCC countries.
Another sponsor was the legendary designer brand Kenzo, which presented at the evening a collection of unique “Pagodon” bags, created in honor of the brand’s 40th anniversary. The bags were hand-crafted by Italian artisans designed by Kenzo creative director Antonio Marras, inspired by the traditional “Pagodon” shape of the Japanese rice basket. This form has been a signature element of Kenzo House for the past 12 years.
The exhibition traveled to 28 countries of the world, and specially for the concert evening of Christina Orbakaite was delivered to Dubai. Only on the day of the concert was the guests given a unique opportunity - to choose and purchase that one collection bag! The very next morning, the Pagodon collection went to Paris.
The editors thank Yevgeny Morozov for help in organizing the interview.
