Irina Adolfovna Otieva. Born on November 22, 1958 in Tbilisi. Soviet and Russian jazz singer of Armenian origin. Honored Artist of Russia (1997).
The father's surname - Otiev - is a Russified Armenian surname Otyan or Otiyan. Her father comes from the ancient dynasty of Armenian princes Amatuni.
Parents were doctors: father Adolf is a surgeon, oncologist, also a physician, and mother Elena.
She has an older sister, Natalya, who also became a doctor.
Irina graduated from music school with a degree in piano. From her youth she began to take part in performances with various groups.
At the age of 17, she began working in the jazz ensemble of Yuri Chugunov, with whom she became a laureate of the Soviet Jazz Music Festival in Moscow.
In 1976 she entered the pop department of the State Music College named after. Gnessins (graduated in 1980, class of M. L. Korobkova). At the same time, she was a soloist in Igor Bril’s jazz ensemble and studied at the Moscow Experimental Jazz Studio, taking a class in jazz vocals.
In 1979 she became a soloist in a jazz orchestra conducted by Oleg Lundstrem.
In 1982 she received first prize in the All-Russian competition for the best performance of a Soviet song. In the same year she became a laureate at the Berlin competition “8 hits in the studio”.
New success came in 1983, when she won first prize at the VII All-Union Competition of Variety Artists and the Grand Prix at the International Song Contest of the Baltic Countries, held in Sweden, in the city of Karlshamn.
In 1985, she left Oleg Lundstrem's jazz orchestra and began working at the Moscow Concert Organization. Then I created my own group "Stimul-Band".
In 1986, Otieva became a laureate of the International Song Festival in Sopot, receiving a special prize for performing skills. And the next year she became a laureate at the television festival Song of the Year with the song “House of Cards” (V. Reznikov - L. Vinogradova).
In 1989 she graduated from the State Pedagogical Institute. Gnesins - pop department for vocal class. In the same year she became a laureate of the International Television Competition “Step to Parnassus”.
Sometimes she was compared to. Because of this, there were even rumors that the artists had quarreled due to rivalry. However, Otieva herself denied this: “I never quarreled with Pugacheva in my life. I just told it like it is. I really never wanted to be like her. But not only her, I don’t want to be like anyone at all. This is strange! I’m not a double. I feel different. I want to be individual, I think I look quite complete.”
In the late 1980s - early 1990s, she participated in many major international programs: “Stars of Europe” in Stockholm, “Bratislava Lyre”, “Inter-Talent” in Prague. She toured in Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Cuba, Czech Republic, Korea, Slovakia, Vietnam, USA, Japan, Denmark, Sweden and others.
Irina Otieva - Spell
In 1994, at the final “Song of the Year” festival, Irina Otieva received a special prize “For preserving creative individuality.”
In the mid-1990s, she performed at the J.V.C. World Jazz Festival, which was held in New York at the Lincoln Center - on the same stage with Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.
In 1996, the singer released a CD entitled “Twenty Years in Love.” The album includes songs performed from 1979 to 1995, starting with “The Last Poem” (a song from the movie “You Never Even Dreamed of...”) and ending with the last composition of that period, “Passion.”
In 1997, she was awarded the title “Honored Artist of Russia.”
In 2003, she joined the Yabloko party, although she was not particularly active in the political field.
Since 2006, she began teaching vocals at the Music Academy named after. Gnessins at the new pop and jazz day department that opened there.
In 2011, the singer was awarded a personal Star to perpetuate the names of outstanding figures of the 21st century, installed on the Square of Glory of the Fatherland in Moscow. In the same year, she was awarded the academic title of “Professor” and the title of Honorary Academician of the International Academy of Culture and Art.
Does not like publicity, ignores social events.
“I’m practically not friends with anyone in show business. Because I don’t go to parties, and even if I go somewhere, I’m bored. I’ve seen so many things, I’m already tired of it all. I’m tired of drinking when I don’t want to.” , she says.
Irina Otieva's height: 157 centimeters.
Personal life of Irina Otieva:
Despite the fact that Irina has always enjoyed success with men, she has never been married.
For a long time she lived in a civil marriage with her concert manager Alexei Danchenko. They separated in 1995.
On March 19, 1996, she gave birth to a daughter, Zlata, she goes by the middle name Alekseevna, and her mother’s last name is Otieva. As the artist said, she could not get pregnant for a long time. “I even shouted at God. I said: all evil spirits give birth, all kinds of creatures give birth, but normal people don’t give birth. After that, I became pregnant. Apparently, my scream reached him,” she recalled.
Zlata entered the university to study journalism.
The singer is very frank in interviews on intimate topics. She directly says that she loves young men. She reported about her last friend that he was 16 years younger than her.
“I have an admirer. But I’m not going to officially get married. I don’t hide him. We get together from time to time. We just go to places where few people can recognize us, follow us, spy on us. Although, in principle, we don’t do anything bad : he’s not married, I’m not married. He just doesn’t need publicity: he’s not a PR man, he has nothing to do with show business, and, frankly speaking, I’m already fed up with this show business. We’re good together in a beautiful silence relationship. “How I love you, young,” she said.
"Although I had more interesting precedents. One was twenty years old, the other was twenty-seven. Somehow it turns out like this. You see, I don’t accept old men, I can only deal with young people. I’m interested in them, they They light me up, I myself become fiery and young with them,” she noted.
Filmography of Irina Otieva:
1980 - You never dreamed of... - vocals (uncredited)
1980 - Snowy wedding - vocals
1981 - Hat - vocals of Galka (role of Tamara Akulova)
1982 - Sorcerers - vocals by Alena Sanina (songs “The Mystery of a Woman”, “River Witch” and “They Say, But You Don’t Believe”)
1984 - TASS is authorized to declare... - voice-over vocals (uncredited)
1989 - The Maid of Rouen nicknamed Pyshka - vocals by Elisabeth Rousset - “Pyshki” (the role of Natalya Lapina)
1991 - Thirst for Passion - singer in a restaurant
1993 - Revenge of the Jester - singer
1995 - Old songs about the main thing 1 - general store saleswoman
1998 - Denouement of “Petersburg Mysteries” - vocals (romance “Candles Are Melting”)
Discography of Irina Otieva:
1984 - Irina Otieva sings
1984 - Music is my love
1985 - Irina Otieva with Oleg Lundstrem's orchestra
1985 - Social Variety Stars
1987 - Rock and roll
1988 - Nostalgia for myself
1993 - Don't cry, baby
1994 - What do you think about this?
1996 - 20 years in love
1996 - Old songs about the main thing. Part 1
1997 - Wedding, wedding!
2001 - My angel
Irina Otieva chose a thorny path to success, starting to perform jazz that was “wrong” for the Soviet Union. She was not invited to competitions, festivals ignored her, and the press was forbidden to publish about her. At that time, Irina survived, continued to sing jazz and became one of the best.
Childhood and youth
Irina was born in 1958 in the capital of the Georgian USSR, Tbilisi, into a family of doctors. The singer’s paternal surname is Otiyan, and she is Armenian by nationality. On his father's side, his roots go back to the ancient princely dynasty of Amatuni.
Natalya, Irina’s older sister, followed in her parents’ footsteps and also entered medical school. The same was expected from the youngest, but the biography of the future star turned out differently. For a long time, parents did not pay attention to their daughter’s talent and her desire for the stage. However, in addition to the classical school, they were allowed to attend a music school. It was there that it became clear that the child had a surprisingly rare voice range of 3.5 octaves. After graduating from music school, Irina began performing with various groups in Tbilisi - and thus began the path to success.
Music
Her first success is considered to be a victory at the Moscow Jazz Music Festival, when Irina was only 17. Otieva was accepted into the pop department at Gnesinka without exams - by that time she had just received a certificate. Irina often said that she attaches great importance to education and theoretical knowledge, which is why she received a second higher pedagogical education. In fact, Otieva was the first certified singer on the Soviet stage.
Irina transformed the surname Otiyan to Otieva, which is more familiar to Russian ears. After graduating from college, she was accepted by a jazz orchestra led by Oleg Lundstrem. In 1984, the masterpiece joint composition “Music is My Love” was recorded, which is still covered by modern stars.
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Despite the fact that at that time it was customary to treat jazz with caution, the singer received a large number of musical prizes and awards as part of the orchestra. The Ministry of Culture prohibited Otieva from entering international competitions and inviting her to radio and television.
Despite the intrigues, in 1982 she managed to receive a prize for performing a Soviet song at the All-Russian competition, then at the Berlin “8 hits in the studio”. In 1983, Irina took first place in another important competition of pop artists, which was held in Sweden. In 1985, Otieva decided to create her own group “Stimul-Band” and became more recognizable and loved, recording albums one after another.
In the early 90s, she toured extensively in Europe and Asia: she was well received in Poland and Vietnam, Bulgaria and Cuba, Japan and Slovakia. Irina gave about 10 concerts in America, where jazz music was especially popular.
In 1995, a project was released to the Russian audience that became incredibly popular in the country for many years - “Old Songs about the Main Thing.” There, Irina, together with Larisa Dolina, performed the song “Good Girls,” after which she became famous not only in jazz circles, but also among the ordinary viewer.
In 1996, Irina released her last album, “20 Years in Love,” which she dedicated to her twentieth anniversary of creativity. She also put an end to their tour schedule by stopping concerts. One of her latest creations is the final song for the popular film “You Never Dreamed of” - “The Last Poem”.
In the early 90s, Irina was compared to. They even said that the two stars quarreled due to rivalry. However, Otieva denied this, saying that she did not seek to become Alla Borisovna’s double. Pugacheva avoided answering questions about comparisons with a jazz star.
Personal life
Otieva is constantly surrounded by male attention, but she never officially got married. For a long time she lived in a civil marriage with Alexei Danchenko, the concert director of the group. In 1996, the couple separated, maintaining working and friendly relations.
At that time, Irina was 32 - no family, no children, only songs and videos. The star practically began to rave about the child: she admits that once, in a moment of despair, she shouted at God. Irina appealed to the fact that “all evil spirits give birth, but normal people do not.” Apparently, the cry got through, and in 1996, Otieva’s daughter Zlata was born. It is unknown who the girl's father is. According to rumors, he was married at the time of his affair with Irina, and the singer broke off the relationship as soon as she realized that she was pregnant.
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Irina Otieva in her youth
After the birth of Zlata, the young mother does not stop having affairs. She has repeatedly stated in interviews that she prefers younger men, as they charge with energy. Moreover, we are talking about young Apollos - the youngest, according to the singer, was 20. Without a drop of embarrassment, Irina said that her favorite hobby was making love.
More than once Otieva said that she was a small and weak woman. The main weakness is bad habits: Irina smokes and drinks strong alcohol, preferring vodka with tomato juice. The singer has developed intuition and also has mystical abilities: Irina often encounters deja vu and is able to understand the motivation for the actions of others.
Irina Otieva today
Little is known about Irina’s life today: she does not appear at public parties, and rarely speaks at corporate events. They said that Irina preferred a measured and calm life, realizing herself as a vocal teacher at the Academy. Gnesins.
In January 2020, Andrei Malakhov released a scandalous issue about Irina Otieva, who, according to the message of the program, lost her relevance, lost all connections and began to abuse alcohol. On the air of the show, Otieva opened up with the journalist in a one-on-one conversation, saying that all her former friends, including Larisa Dolina, had long forgotten about her existence.
2017! where and how the famous jazz singer Irina Otieva lives now is of interest to all her fans and not only.
Having retired three years ago and sadly celebrating this event, Irina did not stop living her life, which had already taken shape. She still teaches at Gnesinka and continues to tour, although not with the same activity.
She is invited to sing at corporate events and in various concerts. The singer's new life may seem dull, but in her own words, this is enough for her. After all, it is no longer possible to lead a touring life with such activity as in youth.
Sometimes she is invited to different shows, but not as a singer, but as an expert or guest. At one of them, no one recognized the famous singer. She looked very bad: haggard and thinner, with loose skin and disgusting makeup.
This program blew up the entire Internet; fans decided that Otieva was seriously ill. It’s good that these assumptions were not confirmed, but the fact that she is undergoing a weight loss course is 100% believed. Only with a sharp weight loss and ignoring physical exercises does the following picture occur: the skin sags, and facial features “blur”.
Irina has always been a lady of average weight and looked beautiful and familiar to the viewer. Having sharply lost weight, she began to look not like a slender, well-groomed middle-aged woman, but turned into a tired lady of indeterminate age. It’s just that when going on a diet, you shouldn’t forget about physical exercise so that your skin is toned and not flabby - this is advice for those who want to lose weight. But the singer got what she got.
Irina lives a simple life, maintains close contact with her numerous Armenian relatives, and in the summer she goes to the dacha with her household, where she loves to dig in the beds and, by the way, grows a good harvest. She rarely goes to social events because she is bored there.
According to the singer herself, she is not friends with anyone from show business, and she simply doesn’t want to drink “according to protocol” - in this evil type of activity it is almost impossible to find real friends due to constant tours or elementary envy of the successful.
However, Otieva has not ceased to be the idol of millions of people. Her voice and manner of performance will forever remain in people's hearts as an example of jazz creativity.
And it doesn’t matter whether she performs at concerts, sings in various programs and on the radio, true fans of her creativity will never cease to admire her voice.
Previously, the talented jazz singer Irina Otieva filled the headlines of the most famous newspapers. She basked in the rays of glory, and this was all her merit. The singer was popular not only in the Soviet Union, but also abroad. Later, the media stopped writing about Irina. Where did she go?
Biography
In the late 50s, a girl named Irina was born into a family of doctors. Tbilisi (Georgia) is her homeland, but her parents have Armenian roots. The family had the surname Otyan, but Irina decided to change it, make it closer to Russian, and therefore she still bears the surname Otieva.
Irina’s love for music began from her youth. She loved to sing, she had good qualities to become a singer. At the age of 17, she took part in a festival dedicated to jazz music. She came home as a winner, this was the first time. Immediately after the festival, Yuri Chugunov offered her a job. At that moment, the parents believed that their daughter would become famous and would be able to surprise everyone.
Study and work
After school, Irina entered the Gnessin School, as she planned, to the pop department in vocal class. She was an energetic student and managed to do a lot. Irina constantly strived for knowledge.
She took additional vocal classes at a jazz studio, and also worked part-time in Joseph Kobzon’s orchestra and in Igor Bril’s jazz group. She perfectly combined her work with her studies; there is no other way to describe her as a talented person. 
Later she began to tour not only in the Fatherland, but also abroad. She participated in various competitions, including international ones. She performed jazz in Russian for the first time. Irina charmed everyone with her magical voice of 3.5 octaves, and there are only 8 octaves. Most of today's pop singers have a voice of 2 octaves. To become famous, she worked day and night, never gave up, and only moved forward.
Personal life
Irina is a spectacular woman, she could conquer any man with one look. Cavaliers always hovered around her like snakes. She had affairs, but was never married. Sometimes I dated men for a long time, but their relationship did not develop into a happy family. Rumor has it that a long time ago she loved a man who betrayed her. And since then, on a subconscious level, she does not trust men.
Most of all in her life she dreamed of a child. She had been waiting for this moment for a long time and, finally, a miracle happened. She gave birth to a beautiful daughter and named her Zlata. The girl's father was a married man and did not want to leave his wife for Irina.
Zlata is a wonderful daughter, she was always smart and well-mannered, Irina put her whole soul into the child. The girl did not follow in her mother’s footsteps; she entered the Faculty of Journalism, which she is very happy about.
Life today
Fans are interested in how Irina Otieva lives now. Irina has been a pensioner for three years now. She hasn’t changed her habits since she retired; she still lives in grand style. He works as a teacher in Gnesinka, takes part in tours, although he does not travel abroad as often as before. 
From time to time she comes to the show as an expert or jury. One day she came to a TV program and no one recognized her. She has changed externally, but not for the better. The cheekbones on her face began to stand out and she lost weight. The skin is sagging on the neck, chest and face. And the makeup only added age to her. Everyone was sure that Otieva was overcome by a terrible illness. 
It turned out that she was not sick with anything, but was simply undergoing a weight loss course. But who does she want to make a fool of? We all know that when you suddenly lose excess weight, your skin becomes loose and sagging. 
Irina has always had a piquant, seductive figure. This is what distinguished her from the pretty models. Losing weight did not suit her, she began to look worse, even her age is now difficult to determine.
It's probably better to lose weight gradually. Eat right and go to the gym. And if you can’t buy a fitness membership, you can fully exercise at home. 
The singer smokes a lot, which is why her skin has a yellowish tint. Smoking is not the most favorable for your appearance. Wrinkles also appear from an addiction. In addition, she likes alcohol, but not everyone does. Prefers to drink Bloody Mary or vodka and soda. Her body does not accept other alcohol, and an allergy begins. 
Irina maintains contact with her large Armenian family. In the summer, she and her family go to a country house and even grow vegetables.
The singer cannot boast of having friends, she simply does not have them. He doesn’t attend social events and doesn’t want to see people’s envious and flattering glances. 
Irina also began to actively participate in political programs. She became a member of the Yabloko party, but did not achieve any political victories. She has participated in only a few different campaign programs.
But nevertheless, Otieva is praised by millions. Her voice and jazz music are a wonderful combination in one outstanding person. It doesn't matter how often she performs in public. The main thing is the songs that she gives to her fans. She is appreciated and loved for her amazing talent.
The main thing is that the woman is happy and is satisfied with a measured, quiet life in retirement.
Irina Otieva was born under the sign of Scorpio (November 22) in Tbilisi. From an early age she was associated with music: she graduated from a music school with a degree in piano, performed in various vocal and instrumental ensembles, and participated in competitions. Irina Otieva's first victory was a laureate at a jazz festival that took place in Moscow in 1976. In the same year, Irina Otieva entered the pop department of the State Music College named after. Gnessin, which ends in 1980. At the same time, she is a soloist in Igor Bril’s jazz ensemble and studies at the Moscow Experimental Jazz Studio, taking a class in jazz vocals.
After graduating from college, Irina Otieva receives an invitation to a jazz orchestra led by Oleg Lundstrem.
Having worked there until 1985, Irina Otieva performed such popular songs as “One Hundred Hours of Happiness”, “Two”, etc. During her work in the orchestra, Irina Otieva became the winner of many awards. In 1982 - first prize in the All-Russian competition for the best performance of a Soviet song. In the same year, he was a laureate at the Berlin competition “8 hits in the studio”.
In 1983 - first prize at the VII All-Union Competition of Variety Artists and Grand Prix at the International Song Contest of the Baltic Countries (Sweden, Karlshamn). At these competitions, jazz in Russian was performed for the first time by Irina Otieva. But for this success, Irina Otieva was “rewarded” with violent discontent from the USSR Ministry of Culture and the State Concert. She was assigned the role of a jazz singer, which went against the Soviet performing style. Irina Otieva is no longer featured in television programs, broadcast on the radio, and is not allowed abroad, which has resulted in almost three years of oblivion.
In 1985, Irina Otieva began working at the Moscow Concert Organization and created the Stimul-Band group, with which she works to this day. In 1986, Irina Otieva participated in the Sopot competition, where she received the title of laureate and a special jury award for high performing skills. In 1989, Irina Otieva graduated from the State Pedagogical Institute named after. Gnessins (variety department of vocal class with I.D. Kobzon) and becomes a laureate of the International television competition "Step to Parnassus". During these years, Irina Otieva participates in many major international programs:
"Stars of Europe" in Stockholm, "Bratislava Lyre", "Inter-Talent" in Prague. She toured in Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Cuba, Czech Republic, Korea, Slovakia, Vietnam, USA, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, etc. In 1994, Irina Otieva was awarded a special prize “For preserving creative individuality” at the final “Song of the Year” festival. , and in 1995 Irina Otieva performs at the World Jazz Festival J.V.C. - in New York at the Lincoln Center on the same stage with Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.
In 1995, Irina Otieva gave birth to a daughter, Zlata. In 1996, Irina Otieva celebrates 20 years of creative activity, which is accompanied by the release of the CD “Twenty Years in Love.” The album includes songs performed from 1979 to 1995, starting with “The Last Poem” (a song from the movie “You Never Even Dreamed It”) and ending with the last composition of that period, “Passion.” In 1997, Irina Otieva was awarded the title “Honored Artist of Russia.” Her songs were included in more than 20 records and music collections on various media. Irina Otieva starred in two feature films ("Thirst for Passion" directed by A. Kharitonov and "Revenge of the Fool" directed by B. Blanc) and performed songs in more than 60 films. At her concert performances, Irina Otieva performs parts on almost all musical instruments, including drums. He has a unique voice with a range of three and a half octaves. At the end of 2000, Irina Otieva prepared material for a new album, which was called “My Angel”.
Discography:
“Irina Otieva sings” (LP-EP - Melodiya, 1984),
"Music is my love" (LP - Melodiya, 1984),
"Rock and Roll" (LP minion - Melodiya, 1987),
"Nostalgia for myself" (LP - Melodiya, 1988),
"Don't cry, baby" (LP - Melodiya, 1993),
"What do you think about this?" (CD, MC - Sintez Records, 1994),
"20 years in love" (CD, MC - Soyuz, 199