On Russian stage It’s difficult now to find a singer whose career did not include the so-called “restaurant” period. Laima Vaikule, Lolita Milyavskaya, Olga Kormukhina, more than a dozen names can be added to this list, many of whom have become real stars.
Singer Athena has been on stage for a total of more than 20 years. She managed to record a duet with Tatyana Bulanova (the song “ Women's friendship"has been a hit in many karaoke bars for several years), become a laureate of the Chanson of the Year award in the Kremlin, and receive the Woman of the Year award in the Culture category from the Governor of St. Petersburg Valentina Matvienko. Her songs are heard on many Russian radio stations, and she has toured all over the country. And I started my creative path Athena from performances in a restaurant.
She will begin her blog specifically for “Cleo” with a story about this.
From the very early childhood I dreamed of having big house, family and loving husband. It seemed to me that I could become a good wife and mother. I wanted a lot of children and a big, cozy house. But life decreed otherwise; my husband and I, unfortunately, diverged.
This happened a couple of weeks after the divorce. I walked along the streets of St. Petersburg and, as always, cried. I actually cried a lot at that time. I went to the Neva restaurant on Nevsky Prospekt. There were few people, she was playing live music, some kind of slow melody. I sat down at the table and was overcome with a passionate desire to sing. I must say, I always sang well and I knew about it, I often performed at concerts at the institute. I asked the musicians to allow me to perform the song. They agreed, and I sang “Without Me to You, My Beloved” by Alla Pugacheva. I admit, without undue modesty, everyone was crying: both visitors and staff. The main thing is that it also became easier for me. A feeling appeared that had been forgotten in recent weeks: “I am alive!” The musicians really liked my performance and they invited me to join the team. We can say that from that night everything started to spin.
To paraphrase the immortal words of Dickens, I can say that “it was a wonderful time, it was a terrible time,” very terrible. As I already said, this was one of the best restaurants in St. Petersburg. It was visited by show business stars, cinema stars, and famous politicians. Frequent guests there were also “crime lords.” I admit that they enjoyed some special love. Many said it was all because of me strong character. Things happened to us that could cost our lives. I recently gave a short interview to Starhit magazine and told how I once got into a shootout with Igor Kornelyuk and Alexander Barykin. We waited under the table. We can say that, in general, they protected me from bullets. I was really scared then. I remember everything as it is now.
At that time I sang almost everything: chansons, romances, foreign “classics” (Edith Piaf, Ella Fitzgerald, George Benson, etc.), Russian and foreign pop songs. The best songs were those of Pugacheva and Uspenskaya. That’s what they called me back then: “St. Petersburg’s Uspenskaya.” One day Lyuba had dinner in our restaurant after a performance, and I sang her song. She really liked it, we met that evening and became friends. Afterwards I wrote backing for a couple of her songs. Sometimes she performed in her concerts. Then, to my great regret, our relationship came to naught. I never understood why and I still miss our communication. She kindest person. I always smile when I remember how I came to visit her and she fed me her delicious dinners. For me, she has always been the only queen of chanson!
Working in a restaurant brought me together with many of the most talented people in our country. I achieved some success in this field, people started talking about me in St. Petersburg. Once I was invited to a meeting by actress Anna Samokhina. She started studying at that time restaurant business and had heard a lot about me. She offered cooperation and was very good conditions. I agreed. We started work and, by the way, promoted her restaurant very well. We spent time there around the clock. Celebrities began to come to us. There was Bezrukov and Rimma Markova. World celebrities often came to us after their concerts (Toto Cutugno, Gypsy Kings, Scorpions). Lyudmila Markovna Gurchenko made a special impression on me. Always cheerful and carefree, no matter what happens to her. She was good at hiding her emotions from prying eyes. Whitney Houston also came to see us and even sang one of her songs with us. It’s impossible to list all the artists. It hurts to realize that many of them are no longer there. Anya has always been very supportive of me, and, probably, it was she who pushed me to start studying solo career. She called me Athena and constantly said that I had not been a restaurant singer for a long time, that I could conquer the stage. Then I decided! No sponsors, no producers. I saved money, bought songs with it, recorded them and... a year later I already had a solo concert at the BKZ. The hall was full, since Peter knew me, and many people used to go to restaurants specifically to listen to me. Then I managed to record my debut album, and away we go...
Athena - Russian pop singer and actress. Winner of the “Woman of the Year 2010” award in the category “Culture”, “Star of Road Radio”, laureate of the “Chanson of the Year” award in the Kremlin, laureate of the “Chanson of the Year” award at the Oktyabrsky Concert Hall St. Petersburg, 2018, 2019
Organizing concerts and ordering corporate performances for singer Athena. The official website of Athena where you can read the biography, watch photos and videos, and using the contact numbers indicated on the site, you can invite Athena with concert program or order Athena’s performance for your event. She was born in Kazakhstan, in a very musical family- who loved music and singing, lived in Sukhumi, at the age of 17 she ran away to St. Petersburg to study and work. Graduated from the St. Petersburg Academy of Culture.
In 2006, Athena recorded her first album, “Sky in October,” and released a video of the same name directed by Alexander Igudin on television. In 2007, the singer’s second album, “Tent of Stars,” was released; in 2008, two new albums of the singer, “Collection best songs"and an album of completely new songs.The singer performs songs in the genre of pop chanson and lyrical songs. Musical compositions The singers occupied leading positions in the charts of both regional radio stations and federal broadcasting radio stations, such as Radio Peter FM, Road Radio, Russian Radio (Estonia), Radio Chanson, Radio Militskaya Volna, Autoradio, Radio Keks FM and many others. Since 2010, Athena's concerts have been accompanied by live music.
As of 2019, Athena has already released 9 solo albums. The singer is active in charity work to help cancer patients.
Athena is the brightest, temperamental and hottest singer of the St. Petersburg stage, an independent warrior and sensual woman with an amazing velvety voice. She captivated her viewers and listeners not only with her bright vocals, but also with her unbridled energy.
Performer of the most popular song genre in Russia. This is a pop chanson, a lyrical song. The singer Athena, whose biography is very touching and rich, sings with her heart and gives every fan a piece of her soul. Her music can touch the deepest strings of a person. Anyone who listens to her songs once will never be able to forget about them.
Singer Athena: biography, year of birth, early years
Athena was born in 1962, October 4th. Her name is real, it has Greek origin. A girl was born in Kazakhstan in creative family: Her parents loved to dance, sing and attend opera and ballet. Her younger sister soon also joined the creative life.
Thanks to her grandmother, from childhood she became familiar with the song world of the Greek people, where her parents’ roots lead. The singer Athena herself mentioned these episodes of her life more than once. The artist’s biography, family - all this is very interesting and we will talk about this in detail in the article.
More than once, relatives supported me in creative endeavors and helped develop my talent and direct it in the right direction. This makes her style of performance individual and completely unparalleled in Russian show business.
She spent her entire childhood and youth in Sukhumi, but at the age of 17 she ran away to Leningrad to start studying and working part-time. Due to her decision and actions, she did not communicate with her father for a whole year, who was offended. Despite her regular calls, letters and requests, for some time her father was adamant.
The wonderful singer Athena, whose biography, year of birth and the beginning of her career are of interest to fans, was able to reach incredible heights in music industry. This woman surprises not only with her temperament and emotionality, but also with her childish naivety, openness and trustfulness towards everyone around her.
In addition, the singer has such a charming voice that it is able to ignite a spark of hope and faith in the listener and make them realize that everything will be fine. This is her essence, her true mood, she rightfully bears the name of a mythical goddess.
Musical career: ups and downs
The young singer’s artistic career began quite by accident: she went to a restaurant and sang the song “Without Me, To You, My Beloved.” All visitors to the establishment simply cried, believing in the girl’s sincerity. As soon as she finished singing, she was immediately offered a job.
Southern temperament, talent and a great desire to sing played a primary role in her future fate. After 15 years of working in a restaurant, Athena finally decided to solo project. She had to start all over again and defend her place in the world of the music industry. Now she appeared before the audience in the image of a gentle and beautiful mythological goddess.
This image stuck with her for many years. Since 2010, the performer’s concerts have not taken place under the “minus” conditions that have become for artists traditional system conducting tours, but live, accompanied by his musical group. At concerts, she prefers not to deceive listeners, but to give them exclusively real live sound.
Music albums
- In 2006 - the 1st album “Sky in October”.
- In 2007 - the second album entitled “Tent of Stars”.
- In 2008 – 2 albums: “ Best songs", "It will be so."
- In 2010 - the CD collection “New Best”, a selection of old hits and new ones.
The performer is loved both in Russia and abroad. She, in turn, is ready to do a lot for her fans, from recording beautiful lyrical songs to the sweet childish smile that she gives to everyone who looks at her.
Awards and recognition of the singer
Today the singer Athena, whose biography is impressive and diverse, combines cultural, aesthetic beauty, diligence and sincerity. 2009 was a memorable year for the artist: in Brussels she was awarded the Mary Magdalene medal. It is awarded for invaluable contributions to world culture in the field of charity. A year later, she received the well-deserved “Woman of the Year” award, which was established by the administration of St. Petersburg.
Many music radio stations celebrate Athena’s talent and presentation and award her the most prestigious prizes. She received the “People’s Love” award from the radio station “Piter FM”, twice became the winner of the “Road Radio Star”, also the winner of the “Chanson of the Year in the Kremlin” award, and became a participant in the festival “ Slavic Bazaar"in Vitebsk, "Oh, take a walk" at the Olimpiysky Sports Complex in Moscow, participated in the international festival "Stars of Chanson in Kazakhstan."
Singer Athena: biography, personal life today
Unfortunately, she was unable to create her own strong and reliable family. The girl got married while still a student, and the marriage turned out to be fleeting. Despite the fact that the singer’s upbringing was strict and serious, according to all Greek canons, she believes that she is not intended for the kitchen and home comfort. She feels much freer on stage with listeners than as a housewife.
This strong-willed woman showed that loneliness can bring happiness. Now we have seen how interesting it is life path Athena (singer) is coming. The biography, in which her daughter Anastasia occupies the main place, is truly impressive.
The artist's life motto
The most important thing for Athena is that those people who attend her performances sing and dance with her, rejoice and cry from an excess of emotions. After all, each of her songs, as the artist herself admits, is her line own life. She once said that music for her is true soul, the rhythm of the heart, thoughts, this movement, this is her life.
Athena, song "Burning Love", video
Athena - video for the song "But I Knew"
Athena is the real name of a singer of Greek origin who lives in St. Petersburg; she was born in Kazakhstan, in the small regional town of Kentau. Due to certain family circumstances the family of the future singer was forced to move to the capital of Abkhazia, the city of Sukhumi (now Sukhum).
Athena’s family is very musical; from childhood, her mother and grandmother introduced the girl to the song wealth of their Greek people, where the roots of her ancestors go. Everyone in her family sang, so it’s not surprising that Athena’s favorite pastime since childhood was singing. She performs in her own individual and unique manner. Today Athena is the most temperamental, charismatic and feminine singer on our stage, a proud warrior and sensual woman, the owner of an unusual deep velvet voice. She captivates the audience with her vocals and burning energy. This common word on Russian stage, like “plywood,” is alien to Athena; she believes that performing a song to a soundtrack is lying to herself and the audience.
And people feel this and believe the singer, who not only sings songs, she experiences the stories of the heroes of her songs, standing in front of an amazed audience. Athena took after her father in temperament. Today Athena cannot even imagine her life without a song; she is a true fan of her work. Southern temperament, natural talent, a great desire to sing, strength of character, stubbornness and assertiveness played a role decisive role in her singing career. She combines everything: ice and fire, storm and calm, rain and sun, Athena can be completely different, she is characterized by both female defenselessness and male power will..."
It was the passionate, charismatic, unbridled Greek temperament that made Athena inimitable, and her manner of performance sincere and soulful. She truly sings with her heart, bringing the melody of her soul to every viewer.
The singer’s creative career has lasted more than 20 years; Athena appears before the viewer in the stage image of the beautiful, touching, gentle, but at the same time strong, warlike mythological “goddess” Athena.
The Greek temperament of the Northern capital is an image that has stuck with Athena in recent years. To date, Athena has already released more than 6 albums, the first “swallow” was the album “Sky in October”, released in 2006 simultaneously with the music video of the same name directed by Alexander Igudin.
Athena is well loved and known by music fans in Russia and abroad. In turn, the singer does a lot for her beloved listener, from recording life-affirming, beautiful, lyrical songs to the charming childish smile that she never ceases to give to everyone. In the words of Athena herself:
“...of course, over the years I have become more emotional, artistic, dramatic, there are more feelings, I live every song, I pass through every performance of it, thereby trying to more fully convey to my listener all the energy and fullness of the feelings of the work. Performing any song is a huge art that takes years to learn. As for my deep, velvety voice, this is, of course, a gift that needs to be preserved and constantly developed. Therefore, I do special exercises, visit a phoniatrist, eat a certain way, and eliminate alcohol and cigarettes. The voice is my treasure, my instrument, which I take great care of and treat with great respect. Probably only a couple of years ago I really felt that my voice was fully formed, it became powerful, beautiful, velvety, it turned into a mature instrument, which now gives me much more opportunities and choice when performing musical works...”
Today, St. Petersburg singer Athena is a person who combines culture, talent, aesthetic beauty, hard work and decency. In 2009, in Brussels, the singer received the Mary Magdalene medal, which is awarded for her contribution to world culture in the field of charity. A year later, she received the “Woman of the Year” award in the “Culture” category, which was established by the administration of St. Petersburg. Many music radio stations happily celebrate Athena’s talent and charisma and award her well-deserved prizes; she is the winner of the “People’s Love” award from the Peter FM radio station, twice the winner of the “Road Radio Stars” award, the winner of the “Chanson of the Year in the Kremlin” award, and a participant in the “Slavic” festival. bazaar" in Vitebsk, "Oh take a walk" in the Olimpiysky Sports Complex, in Moscow, International festival"Stars of chanson in Kazakhstan."