Sergey Zakharov, biography, news, photos. Creative biography of the autonomous cultural institution of the Udmurt Republic

Sergei Georgievich Zakharov. Born on May 1, 1950 in Nikolaev - died on February 14, 2019 in Moscow. Soviet and Russian pop singer (baritone), actor. National artist Russian Federation (1996).

Father - Georgy Mikhailovich Zakharov (1926-2012), military man.

Mother - Zinaida Evgenievna Zakharova (nee Marinina; born 1923), telephone operator.

Elder brother - Valentin Georgievich Zakharov (born 1946).

He has musical roots: “My grandfather was the first trumpeter of the Odessa Opera Orchestra for thirty years. And this position, you know, was worth a lot! I just needed a little push. I just didn’t become a trumpeter, but a vocalist,” he said.

Soon after Sergei’s birth, his father was transferred to serve at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, where the Zakharov family lived for 13 years.

IN school years He was fond of sports and played football well, which he played from the age of 5. “My childhood passion is football! I played it very seriously from the age of five. I went to the nursery sports school city ​​of Nikolaev and stood at the goal until he was fifteen years old,” said the artist. He retained his passion for football throughout his life, believing that “football disciplines a person and makes a man out of a boy.”

Perhaps he would have become a professional football player if not for a severe knee injury. Since he could no longer play, he decided to focus on music.

I also studied music with early years. Even before school I tried to imitate famous singers. He recalled that at the age of 5 he heard on the radio Mr. X’s aria from Imre Kalman’s operetta “The Circus Princess” performed by the famous Ukrainian singer Dmitry Gnatyuk. Somewhat later, the film “Mr. X” was released with Georg Ots, who became a real idol for Sergei. Later, this aria became Zakharov’s signature number along with the romance “The Chrysanthemums Have Bloomed.”

He served in the army at Baikonur. He was a company singer, took part in amateur performances of military builders, and sang in the VIA “Druzhba” in the Builders’ House of Culture. It was in the army that he attracted attention with his vocal abilities.

In 1971 he came to Moscow and entered the department musical comedy music school named after the Gnessins, to the class of Margarita Iosifovna Landa. While still studying, he became a soloist of the State Variety Orchestra under the direction of. Therefore, I graduated from only two classes of school.

I met Utesov at the Arbat restaurant, where he worked part-time in the evenings - he sang in English with a jazz orchestra. After one of Zakharov’s speeches, director Utesov approached him and said: “Leonid Osipovich liked you!”

As Zakharov said, the meeting with Utesov radically influenced his fate: “And what would have happened without this meeting and what would have happened is now very difficult to say. Perhaps he would have opera singer. According to my data. But it was this meeting that brought me to big stage. Although a positive result came out of a negative experience. Utyosov promised mountains of gold, an apartment, success and insisted that I quit my studies at the Gnessin Academy, where I was then enrolled. In fact, it turned out that I was simply kicked out from everywhere. I had nowhere, not only to study, but to spend the night! But it was Utesov who brought me together with Nathan Grigorievich Rakhlin, and then I instantly ended up in the Leningrad Music Hall - one of the best at that time not only in the USSR, but also in Europe. That's where my career started."

In 1973, he went to work at the Leningrad Music Hall and transferred to the Leningrad Music School named after Rimsky-Korsakov.

In 1974, he was awarded first prize at the international competition “Golden Orpheus” in Bulgaria and “Sopot-1974” in Poland - he became one of the most popular young performers on the Soviet stage.

In the winter of 1974, it was first shown on TV in the Artloto program. And the very next day the whole country was talking about a tall young man with an inimitable baritone voice, large curls of black hair and a white-toothed smile. One after another, records with songs performed by him began to be released, and television, radio, and the press joined in the active propaganda of the singer.

The singer also became widely known for his role as Fernand Champlatreau in the musical film by Leonid Kvinikhidze. "Heavenly Swallows". He played one of the main roles, and his co-stars were such stars as,. True, he voiced his role.

Sergei Zakharov in the film "Heavenly Swallows"

Criminal record of Sergei Zakharov

In 1977, the actor was convicted of fighting - he grappled with the administrator. The quarrel resulted in a collective brawl involving Zakharov. For this, the actor received one year in prison. He served his sentence in the city of Slantsy.

When the actor was arrested, an article was published in the popular satirical magazine “Crocodile”, where they wrote about him as “about a presumptuous, mediocre actor with an 8th grade education.” The court could not help but react to the feuilleton published in the central press. After six months of imprisonment in Kresty, the court sentenced Sergei Zakharov to 1 year in prison.

According to the singer, the cause of the fight with the administrator was the singer.

He said: “I really went to prison, but everyone knows perfectly well that it was a provocation - I quarreled with the theater administrator. In general, the whole story there was tied to our strong friendship, really friendship, with Lyudmila Senchina. We are both snub-nosed and sang a great duet .

But Lyudmila not only had a wonderful husband, a tenor of the Leningrad operetta, but also an admirer - a party member. As I remember now, Grigory Vasilievich Romanov. I was tall and famous, and he was short, up to my waist, and very jealous. He set out to remove his opponent, and he did.

I spent six months in prison before the trial and another six months after the trial. But the guys behind bars were strong, serious, and no one asked who you were in civilian life. Therefore, no one recognized or asked to sing. And it wasn’t difficult for me to sit, I knew that I would return and where I would return. It was only a matter of time."

After his release, he was invited to the Odessa Philharmonic, where he worked for some time.

Next, member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee Lev Nikolaevich Zaikov summoned him to Leningrad. Zaikov helped the artist with an apartment, returned him to the music hall, and organized access to television. Soon he went on tour to Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and the German Democratic Republic.

Sergey Zakharov - I love you

Until 1985 he worked at the Leningrad Music Hall, then at the philharmonic societies of different cities of Russia. In the same 1985, Sergei Zakharov became the soloist of the art agency of the Union of Concert Workers of St. Petersburg.

Since 1985 he began working independently, first with his own ensemble, and since 1991 with pianist Alexander Kogan.

The first one took place in 1986 solo concert at the State Central concert hall"Russia". On the stage of the most prestigious hall in the country, Sergei Zakharov first appeared before the audience in the role of the sparkling Don Juan, the ardent Don Quixote, and the lyrical Mister X. Many of the singer's solo programs were shown on Central Television.

In 1996, the singer suffered clinical death: gave 60 concerts in support election campaign and overexerted.

The singer toured 43 countries: Great Britain, USA, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Israel, Austria and others. He performed with a program of Russian romantic music, works by P. Tchaikovsky, S. Rachmaninov, M. Glinka, M. Mussorgsky, and with arias from the operettas “Maritza”, “Circus Princess”, “Silva”.

In addition to pop songs (“Moscow Windows”, “Return of the Romance”, “Dark Eyes”, “Love, Love”, “I Love You”, “ White snow", "About you and about myself", etc.) and romances, Sergei Zakharov pays a lot of attention to the art of opera. He has in his assets a large number of radio recordings, “Blue Lights”, “Songs of the Year”, government concerts. For four years in a row, Zakharov took part as an honorary guest in the programs of the International Festival “Slavic Bazaar”.

Sergei Zakharov was a member of the St. Petersburg Prisoners' Assistance Fund.

In 2010, as part of a discussion about the creation of private prisons in Russia, Zakharov said that he considered it possible to organize similar establishments, but only for teenagers and women - so that they have the opportunity to be in normal conditions and correct themselves.

He is the president of the Northern Star cultural foundation.

Engaged in active social activities, helps a lot to veterans of the St. Petersburg scene. He is deputy chairman of the Union of Concert Workers of St. Petersburg. Every year in spring and autumn, the Union holds two charity concerts at the St. Petersburg House of Stage Veterans.

Heads the All-Russian children's festival"Little Stars", takes part in international festivals"Romansiada" and "Golden Hit".

“I love living! Absorbing life in all its manifestations is a great happiness. Life itself is such happiness that wasting it on petty scandals and money-grubbing is stupid.”, - said the singer.

Sergey Zakharov. I do not regret anything

Sergei Zakharov's height: 190 centimeters.

Personal life of Sergei Zakharov:

Married. Wife - Alla Narimanovna Zakharova (nee Saligulina; born 1948). They met in Baikonur when he was 14 years old and she was almost 16. “I remember the first time I met my future wife Alla. It was on the city beach of the Syrdarya. I was 14 years old and for the first time this immature, as I call it, attention happened And then I saw her on the dance floor and fell in love completely!” the singer said.

Two years after they met, they got married - according to the law of the Kazakh SSR, it was possible to get married at the age of 16.

In 1969, their daughter Natalya was born; she graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Culture. Natalya has two children - daughter Stanislava (born in 1992) and son Jan (born in 1996). Stanislava graduated from the university with a degree in psychology and linguist.

“I have plenty of gray hair on my head, and the demon hasn’t touched my rib. So, I think it’s unlikely that anything can interfere with our family union in the future,” said Sergei Zakharov.

Since the late 1990s, Zakharov’s family moved from St. Petersburg out of town - to own house V pine forest near Zelenogorsk (on the Karelian Isthmus, on the shore of Lake Krasavitsa, 60 km from St. Petersburg). The house is located in the middle of nowhere - there are no roads or neighbors nearby. Spread around Pinery. Designed by Sergei Zakharov himself.

Sergei Zakharov is a music lover and has collected a unique collection. His music library consists of the best vocalists opera art, beginning with late XIX century to the present day. His favorite performers are Tito Gobbi, Titta Ruffo, Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti. Sergei Zakharov's collection also includes about 400 jazz and symphonic music. He especially likes the music performed by the orchestra conducted by Herbert von Karajan. The most valuable specimens are the first Chaliapin “coal” plates of 1903.

Filmography of Sergei Zakharov:

1975 - You, my song - vocals (Akmal songs)
1976 - Heavenly Swallows - Lieutenant Fernand Champlatreau (voiced by Oleg Basilashvili)
2008 - Cultural layer. Empire of Lenconcert (documentary)
2009 - Stories and legends of Lenfilm. Sky Swallows (documentary)

Discography of Sergei Zakharov:

1974 - Sergei Zakharov sings
1983 - Russian romances
1986 - Centripetal force. Pop songs
1995 - On the fragile keys of the soul. Music of St. Petersburg bard Viktor Maltsev
1995 - S. Zakharov performs Russian songs and romances accompanied by an orchestra folk instruments under the direction of V. Popov
1997 - Touch of Love
1998 - About you and about yourself
1998 - Russian romances and songs accompanied by the St. Petersburg Radio and Television Orchestra conducted by S. Gorkovenko



Sergei Zakharov is a singer who gained enormous popularity in the mid-1970s. Do you want to know the details of his biography, career and personal life? Now we will tell you everything.

Biography: childhood and youth

Zakharov Sergei Georgievich was born on May 1, 1950 in the Ukrainian city of Nikolaev. His father was a military man. Therefore, the family often changed their place of residence.

When Seryozha was 4 years old, he moved to Kazakhstan with his father and mother. They settled in the famous city of Baikonur.

From an early age, our hero began to show creative abilities. Seryozha liked to listen to various arias recorded on records. He was also delighted with the film “Mr. X”. Georg Ots, who performed in it main role, immediately became the boy’s idol.

At the end high school Sergei Zakharov continued his studies at the Radio Engineering College. Then he had to serve in the army. It was in the ranks of the armed forces that the guy demonstrated his vocal abilities. He was the company singer. Not a single amateur art competition was held without his participation.

Returning to civilian life, Sergei began performing as part of the VIA “Druzhba” at the Baikonur House of Culture. He liked to see the admiring glances of people in the hall and hear their applause.

Studying at a university and the beginning of a creative path

In 1971, Sergei Zakharov went to Moscow, where he entered Gnesinka the first time. His teacher and mentor was Margarita Landa. As a student, our hero became a soloist in a pop orchestra conducted by L. Utesov. This once again indicates that he has great talent.

In 1973, Zakharov was hired at the Leningrad Music Hall. He also continued his education at the Music College named after. Rimsky-Korsakov. The team often went on tour to Moscow, where the halls were packed to capacity.

Our hero captivated the audience not only with his natural charm, but also with his unique voice (baritone). In 1974, Zakharov was sent to Bulgaria for international competition"Golden Orpheus". The professional jury highly appreciated the vocal abilities Russian singer. In the end, he was declared the winner. A few months later, Sergei represented Moscow at the Sopot-74 competition, held in Poland. He again became a first-class laureate.

Filming

Sergei Zakharov is a singer who managed to “show up” in films. In 1976, he starred in the film “Sky Swallows.” He managed to successfully get used to the image of Lieutenant Champlatray. Zakharov’s colleagues on the set were Alexander Shirvindt and Lyudmila Gurchenko.

In 1979, another film with his participation was released - “Scenes from family life" Sergei Georgievich got a small role. After that, he decided to say goodbye to cinema.

Success

By the mid-1970s, all Soviet Union knew who Sergei Zakharov was. The songs he performed were sung with pleasure soviet people. Such compositions as “Blue Lights”, “White Snow”, “Moscow Windows” became real hits.

Fans bought records and posters with his image. During his career, the singer released 3 studio albums, 5 CDs, received 10 prestigious music awards and gave hundreds of concerts in Russia and abroad.

In 1988, Zakharov was awarded the title “Honored Artist of the RSFSR.” But that is not all. In 1996 he became People's Artist of the Russian Federation.

Sergei Zakharov (biography): what he was imprisoned for

In the life of every person there are not only white stripes, but also black ones. Sergei Zakharov was no exception. Biography, why he was imprisoned and with whom he is in a relationship - all this interests the singer’s fans. We are ready to satisfy their curiosity.

Did Sergei Zakharov really end up in prison? He does have a criminal record. Let's take a closer look at this. In 1977, an unpleasant situation happened to our hero. The scene is the Music Hall. Zakharov invited his friends to his concert. Together they approached the administrator for “passes” (passes). But a certain Kudryashov refused. What did Sergei Zakharov do? Biography, why he was imprisoned famous performer, explains. The fact is that the refusal to provide a pass infuriated him. A fight ensued. As a result, Zakharov managed to take his friends to his concert.

A week later, a police summons arrived in his name. Sergei Georgievich arrived at the department, where he learned that the administrator was in the hospital in in serious condition. The investigation lasted 6 months. Almost all this time the singer was in “Crosses”. Then the trial took place. Zakharov was found guilty. With the deduction of the time spent in the pre-trial detention center, he had 7 months left to serve.

Personal life

Zakharov Sergei Georgievich dreamed of getting married once and for all. In the end, that’s what happened. He has lived with his wife Alla for more than 50 years.

The lovers got married at a young age. At that time, Alla was 16 years old, and Sergei was 17. The celebration took place in Kazakhstan. Their numerous relatives and friends came to the wedding.

In 1969, the couple had a daughter, Natasha. She was a loved and desired child. Sergei and Alla spoiled their daughter in every possible way. The girl always had beautiful outfits And expensive toys. And the most important thing is that she received care and affection from her parents.

Now Natalya is already an adult and accomplished woman. She graduated from the Institute of Culture in St. Petersburg. She has two children - son Jan and daughter Stanislava.

Sergei Zakharov and his wife live in a private house located 60 km from the northern capital. There is a pine forest all around. In this house, “Mr. X” often receives dear guests - friends, relatives and colleagues.

Finally

The article contains information about where Sergei Zakharov was born and studied (biography). Now you also know why he was in prison. Be that as it may, before us is a talented and hardworking person, a real family man. We wish him success in creatively and happiness in your personal life!

Born in Orel. In 1997 he graduated from the vocal department of the Moscow Music College named after M. M. Ippolitov-Ivanov (class of Emilia Yanina), and in 2002 - Russian Academy music named after the Gnessins (class of Professor Konstantin Lisovsky). In 1996 - 99 as a soloist he performed a lot with the Song and Dance Ensemble Russian Army named after A.V. Alexandrov. In 1999 he became a soloist of the Moscow State Academic Chamber musical theater under the direction of B. Pokrovsky, where over five years he performed the following roles:
Luigi(“Cloak” by G. Puccini)
Don Ottavio(“Don Giovanni” by W. A. ​​Mozart)
Ferrando(“This is what all women do” by W. A. ​​Mozart)
Sextus(“Julius Caesar in Egypt” by G. F. Handel)
Gritsko(“Sorochinskaya Fair” by M. Mussorgsky)
Lucentio(“The Taming of the Shrew” by V. Shebalin)

As part of the theater troupe, he toured extensively abroad, including Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy and Japan.

Also in the repertoire:
Lensky(“Eugene Onegin” by P. Tchaikovsky);
Alfred(“La Traviata” by G. Verdi);
Alesha Popovich (“Dobrynya Nikitich” by A. Grechaninov).

Currently he performs a lot with the National academic orchestra folk instruments named after N. P. Osipov, of which he has been a soloist since 2004. Participates in the project “Tenors of the 21st Century”.
With the Symphonic Chapel conducted by Valery Polyansky in 2005, he performed the role King Charles VII(“The Maid of Orleans”), and in 2007 he participated in the first performance of Alexei Nikolaev’s opera “ Last days» in the BZK.

He made his debut at the Bolshoi Theater in 2005 as Bardolfo(“Falstaff” by G. Verdi).

He worked in three outstanding groups: the Red Banner Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army. A.V.Alexandrova, opera house Boris Pokrovsky, today his lyric tenor is heard at the Bolshoi Theater.

Story famous artist started during the passage conscript service in the army. On a weekday, his parents took Private Zakharov straight from a military construction site in his overalls and heavily soiled with cement to an audition with the director of the song and dance ensemble, Agafonnikov. Provided that the private returns to his unit by seven in the evening, he reports himself in full form. Otherwise - a guardhouse! But before the fighter had finished singing Lensky’s part to Agafonnikov, he had already written a petition to transfer Private Zakharov to the song and dance ensemble of the Russian Army.

- But before that there was School of Music in Orel, conducting and choir school. Then Gnesinka and work until we sweat. Tenor is a very complex voice. Do you think it’s easy to go against nature all your life? You constantly sing an octave higher than you speak. But that’s how I was taught, taught all my life. And today, for the public’s needs, the tenor part is sung two or three octaves lower without being prepared. pop singers, - said the soloist of the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia, Honored Artist of Ingushetia Alexander Zakharov in an interview with AiF-Adygea.

The joint concert of a participant in the art project “Tenors XXI” and the orchestra of Russian folk instruments “Russian Prowess” of the State Philharmonic of Adygea brought together a full hall.

Classics - on the counter!

- Yevgeny Yevtushenko wrote: “A poet in Russia is more than a poet.” And who is the singer in Russia?

A singer in Russia is more than a singer. I think that in the 21st century he is also a hero. Today on any television channel great amount singers What are they doing? They cook cabbage soup, cook meat, skate, and broadcast. At the same time, they continue to call themselves composers, singers, even poets. If it were up to me, I would create an “uninteresting” commission that would prohibit those who stop singing from being called singers. Singing is important! Many in Russia who did not have a voice were called singers. Remember Utesov, Bernes, Vysotsky, Tsoi! Why? They were the mouthpiece of the era, they sang, igniting life in their songs. I’m also lucky that I can travel around the world and give an insane number of concerts. But I know a huge amount talented singers those who are unlucky: they sit without work and quietly drink themselves to death. But they will not do anything other than singing. If they don’t become cooks and maids, death is better!

Alexander, before the TV channels had time to show the preparations for the opening of the Bolshoi Theater, a scandal broke out again. Nikolai Tsiskaridze believes that there are a lot of shortcomings in the Bolshoi, it is impossible to sing and dance there... And everything presented on TV is pure window dressing.

I’ll say right away: I’m skipping this season at the Bolshoi. I'm singing only a few concerts at the Bolshoi this year. I haven’t tried my voice on the new stage yet. All impressions are ahead. As for scandals, Grand Theatre- a place that is doomed to scandals, too famous. And Nikolai Tsiskaridze is an impulsive, explosive person.

- Now on TV new project"Phantom of the Opera". What is the professional's attitude towards this show?

People who sing pop songs wanted to sing opera arias. I don't see anything wrong with this. Playing good music benefits everyone! I am categorically against those who sit on the jury and judge. I recently had a conversation with Dmitry Kharatyan. He exclaimed enthusiastically: “Look! We even managed the opera!” I answered: “Dima, it’s not easy to sing opera. It is not written so that the aria can be lowered by two tones and sung in different voices. Opera has its own canons that cannot be changed! You can’t adapt opera to the stage!” For example, if a ballerina does 32 fouettés in the center of the stage, then she has no right to do 15 or 25 in the corner! And here we get a simplification of the concept “classic is coming to you!” The channel’s managers could have invited big “stars”, starting with Placido Domingo! But the rating took its toll among boys and girls under 16 and old men over 60! And this is presented with the sauce: “These stars can do anything!” But this is not true! Not everyone can! And when the jury is looking for words of tenderness and delight that he finished singing without taking so much false notes, that the number turned out to be “rich”, with half-naked backup dancers, it makes me at least smile. And my musician friends have a feeling of irritation. To really sing you need to study for at least 20 years. Therefore, for me, it’s better not to look!

The repertoire is not for a hero

Today, “stars” get on skates, fight in the ring, chew worms on islands and take risks in brutal games. Isn't it better to mind your own business?

For what? Take a tour of Moscow theaters! I have seen more than once how people come to the theater with one hope - to see their favorite “serial” actor on stage. Another question is that they leave after the performance, to put it mildly, in bewilderment: he plays poorly! Like, “star”. There are his photos in magazines, and programs about him on TV screens. But he can neither walk nor speak. And so it is. I know a lot of guys who don't act because there's too much theater work. And this despite the fact that theater today has become a director's theater.

- This is bad?

I think yes! The theater must cultivate its own “stars.” The viewer, as in the old days, goes to the names. What does he see? Fussy running around the stage, men unzipping their pants and women exposing their breasts. And then they shout “Bravo!” to the director. for the creative idea. As for the shows, they involve those whom the directors easily let go. The repertoire is not based on them. And a month later, people again “run” to the theater to look at new “ the latest heroes” and again comes out unsatisfied. We have a strange country!

- Gradsky said about the participants of the “Star Factory”: “Their performances poisoned the taste of the whole country!”

You cannot poison the taste of people who are already poisoned to begin with. Now the country does not watch these programs. They download movies on the Internet and communicate there. They leave the box... But the taste was zombied. At one time, meeting the classics became like meeting the Queen of England, according to protocol, at gala concerts. And it should be a necessity. But we listen, bored, and secretly look at the clock: “Be patient a little longer, and at intermission I’ll rush to the buffet!” Several generations have been lost. In one city, my mother brought her son backstage to listen. He started singing “Solo mio” and sang it poorly. I advised you to study. My mother listened to me and decided: “That means I can go to the stage now.” Today's pop singers record in America. You shouted yours into the microphone, and the computer created a song for you. Voices are produced artificially. The top note can be raised by a quart: you sang “sol”, and they brought you to “do”. And with such “progress” who wants to learn?

I’ll lay down the plywood

- Is that why Joseph Kobzon’s proposal to ban “plywood” at concerts failed?

Certainly! Our pop stars and their producers are rich people. They don't need talent, but money. “Plywood” will never be banned. Otherwise, Russian show business will collapse. Yes, art has never depended on talent! How far did Mozart advance art? He was trampled upon from a young age and ended up buried in an unmarked grave! The poet Pushkin said it well: “Inspiration is not for sale, but you can sell a manuscript!”

- In your opinion, is Pushkin’s statement relevant today?

I can say about myself: after performing at the Bolshoi, in Covent Garden, I survive. Nowadays classical singers look like a black and white movie, an old film. There is some kind of pleasure in these films that not everyone understands. Classical singers have a different sound, which the average ear has become unaccustomed to. Like eyes - from black and white cinema. Gone is the concept of singing, and in its place is a show. What's there? We turn life into a show. And who dares to tell many of our folk artists, awarded by the president of the country: “You are deceiving the viewer!” They will answer you: this is not a concert, this is a show! That's why I don't like putting on shows and singing famous songs. And it’s also unpleasant when colleagues ask the audience to clap and sing along. It is forbidden! Tradition dictates: kings, metropolitans, presidents sit below, and you stand above them. Angel, demon - it's up to you to decide. And the task is to maintain the border. But you can’t wonder: after the concert you’ll take off your tailcoat and become an ordinary person.

- Your attitude to what is happening with the Russian folk song on the stage?

I don’t like our folk voices when a Russian song is performed in a guttural performance. Zykina never sang in such a bad voice! If it weren’t for the classical, gypsy register in her voice, she would have remained the second soprano in the choir all her life. And no one would know about her. The Russian voice has been lost - we have no real performers of Russian songs. Sincerity, kindness, suffering. In a Russian song you have to be a little “skinless.” This requires enormous talent...