Russia (bbabo.net), - The Bolshoi Theater hosted this year's first gala concert organized by IMG from the cycle "Plácido Domingo Invites". Together with the maestro, his famous colleagues and friends appeared on the Historical stage: Khibla Gerzmava, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Eva-Maria Westbrook, Rene Pape, Mario Chang and Angela Georgiou - an outstanding Romanian soprano, who became famous not only for her unique voice, but also for her cool prima donna disposition . Arriving in Russia, Angela Georgiou gave an exclusive interview.

With what feelings did you go to Russia now?

Angela Georgiou: At first I didn't know that it was Placido's evening. I went to Moscow just for a New Year's concert. Although, to be honest, I do not like such concerts, because such a format, where many soloists scatter the attention of the public. But I really wanted to perform at the Bolshoi Theater, so I nevertheless agreed. And today is such a time that any performance that has taken place is already a success.

Do you think the pandemic has caused irreparable damage to art?

Angela Georgiou: I think so. But a very bad period in life, in the end, you just need to forget. We all just need this. So when I'm getting ready for shows today or packing my bags to go on tour, it doesn't matter to me what's going on around me. Although in modern times any "yes" can instantly turn into a "no". In the very first month, when this madness just started, I lost ten concerts - five each in America and China. Unlike some of my colleagues, I had contracts in precisely those countries where everything was cancelled. It was a big psychological disaster for me. After all, I started singing on stage at the age of eighteen ... And since 1985 I have never interrupted my profession, and here, for the first time in all these years, they say to me: "Stop!". In a word, a disaster!

And many of your colleagues say that the pause did them good ...

Angela Georgiou: They are lying! Why should I pause if I'm at the peak of my career? I can't do anything else except how to sing. This is my profession. I take my job very seriously and give it my all. If I don't have that, I'm nobody. My life is music. And I will not be hypocritical when I say that the work that I do is not for pleasure, not for the public. But even worse, I think, happened to young singers during these months ... Both the artists and the public - everyone turned out to be frightened. But we realized that we need each other equally.

What did you do when theaters and concert halls were closed?

Angela Georgiou: I tried my best to be helpful. And not only doing recordings, the last of which - with the music of Vangelis, which he wrote especially for me, I am very proud of. But I was constantly looking for places in hospitals, doctors, medicines ... I helped a lot of people, not even suspecting that I had the strength to do so.

And what do you think opera art will look like now?

Angela Georgiou: Both today and yesterday, the art of opera is degrading, primarily due to the efforts of the directors, who are now in charge. Unfortunately, I am the only singer who says "no" to this degradation and lawlessness. None of my colleagues follow me. And I categorically do not want to participate in "La Boheme" on the Moon or on Mars, but in "La Traviata", where Violetta Valeri is a very educated young lady milking a cow. In my opinion, this is the pinnacle of degradation! But only I have the courage to protest, to demand that my performances be truly smart and beautiful, the most beautiful. And today, for example, in "my" performances "La Traviata", "Faust", "Adriana Lecouvreur" or "Tosca", the premieres of which I sang, all my colleagues dream of singing, which they personally admit to me.

Do not think, I am not against new productions with the search for ideas and meanings. But please do not forget that all the theaters and performers - we all coexist together only thanks to the fact that the genius composer created whom we must respect. I am sure it is a primitive delusion that modern, ugly productions are able to attract new audiences or young people to the theater ...

Is that why you cancel your gigs so often?

Angela Georgiou: Absolutely! I know what I want and I fight hard for it. Beautiful performances are important to me, and I also need my partners to like me. I must love, or at least be in love! And that it was mutual. Or at least that my partners are good actors and know how to play love well ... Yes, throughout my career I canceled performances many times precisely because I cried, because I was unhappy with the production or partner. And when you cry all night, the next day you can't sing anymore. After all, my whole life depends on my voice, which decides what I eat and drink, and that he does not want children. Here's the truth.

Because of this, your strong and unyielding character is legendary in the opera world?Angela Georgiou: I would even like beauty to dominate in this interview too. I myself fight with myself in order to forget about all the ugly things that happened in my life, so that nothing destroys me from the inside, and I would have the inner strength to move forward happy. If a person is alive, I'm sure he must love and be happy. My biography "A Life for Art" has already been published in English in England and America. I almost halved it, because I basically didn’t want to mix beauty with the ugliness that I encountered and what actions I did for art and for the sake of art ... A tragedy happened in my family - my sister died young. And now I know for sure every day I live is a.jpgt that we have no right to squander.

Do you like any of the younger generation of singers?

Angela Georgiou: There are many beautiful voices. I really don't like that lately everyone who is not too lazy began to teach vocals on the Internet. Even very young singers who have no knowledge, no technique, no experience. It's horrible! In general, the most important success for an opera singer at the beginning of the journey is to meet his teacher, who will be both in heart and in character.

If someone boos me, I take it as an attack and call the police

And most importantly, classes will be held without psychological violence and violence against the voice. After all, a huge number of very talented singers irrevocably lose their voices in the process of so-called learning. And this is a crime! I have never been to a phoniatrist in all my life. And all the colleagues around are doing some kind of operations on the ligaments, because their technique is wrong.

But today the Internet has become the only source of information for the majority ...

Angela Georgiou: Yes, but it kills the art! I think a lot of celebrities today are wrong about their obsession with social media. It is a mistake to assume that artists are the same as everyone else. It is not true! Why expose your daily life to the public - food, shopping or sports? And all these "apartment" concerts on the Internet, this is a real betrayal of the profession! I have already seen enough of the kitchens, bedrooms and other everyday details of the life of my colleagues. I think singers have no right to this! We are not like the public, even if we have families. We must live in such a way that the mystery remains. I'm not going to give my life to the needs of the public. We need our public, I'm sure, not at all for this! And in order to dream, to get into another, better world.

Do you like performing in front of an audience that adores you or that you need to win over?

Angela Georgiou: I don't think you can win over an audience overnight. Now, thanks to the Internet, the public, as a rule, knows well whose performance they are going to, who they want to see live. In fact, this is what people pay for. That's why I'm against the part of the public that comes just to shout "Boo!". It's inhumane to humiliate an artist! Therefore, if someone booed me, then I always call the police, as I regard this as an attack that needs to be answered. After all, a famous, talented artist also has a bad day, and he also needs support, like a losing athlete. And to destroy, to trample into the dirt - this is inhumane.

What else would you like to achieve?

Angela Georgiou: Do you want me to talk about the future now? Today all the singers who talk about the future are just blah blah blah. Today, we can't be sure of anything because of the pandemic... Of course, I would like to do more "Manon Lescaut" on stage and everything that is on my schedule has taken place. But this does not depend on me. And I only pray that in "Covent Garden", where I am now going from Moscow, my evening dedicated to the thirtieth anniversary of my international debut and collaboration with the Royal Opera will take place.

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