Sofia Rotaru

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Sofia Rotaru
Background information
Born	August 7, 1947 (1947-08-07) (age 60) Marshintsy, Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukraine
Origin	Chernivtsi, Ukraine
Genre(s)	Pop, dance, electronica, folk, rap, r&b
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, film producer, fashion designer, dancer, author, actress
Instrument(s)	vocals, guitar, percussion
Years active	1968–present
Label(s)	Artur-Music (since 2003) Extraphone (since 2002) Universal Music Group (since 2003) Sintez Records (1991) Warner Music Group (1987) Sony BMG Music Entertainment (1976) Krugozor (1975) Melodiya (since 1972)
Website	www.sofiarotaru.com

Sofia Rotaru (full name Sofia Mihailovna Rotaru-Evdokimenko; Moldovan: Sofia Rotaru Ukrainian: Софiя Ротару) is a Russian, Ukrainian, Moldovan and Soviet pop singer-songwriter, musician, dancer, record producer, film producer, actress, business woman, author. She is known for the combination of lyric deep rich voice, sexual appeal, social and religious recognition. Her career is marked by her stage success and numerous controversies that occurred in Eastern Europe and in the former USSR. She has been named the "Queen of Pop" and "This Is All We Have" by the media^[1].

In 1986, she was the second female pop singer to receive the prestigious title of "People's Artist of USSR" and in 2000 she was named The Singer of the XXth Century. Today Sofia Rotaru is a Citizen of Ukraine and a Meritorious Citizen of Crimea and Yalta. Her repertoire consists of more than 400 songs performed in Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Polish, Bulgarian, Serbian, German, French, English and Italian languages. Yalta is the place of her main residence, although she also lives in Moscow and Kiev, as well as in Baden-Baden. She is the possessor of numerous awards, among which Meritorious Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, People's Artist of Ukraine, People's Artist of Moldavian SSR, People's Artist of USSR, Laureate of the YCL Prize, Hero of Moldova, Cavalier of the Republican Order of Moldova. Former President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and President of Russia Vladimir Putin gave awards to Sofia Rotaru in August 2002 (for her 55th birthday), bestowing upon her the high rank of the Hero of Ukraine for her "outstanding personal merits in the sphere of art"^[2], and the Russian order "For merits before the Nation", respectively. While Sofia Rotaru commonly goes by her last name, her official last name is Yevdokymenko-Rotaru (Ukrainian: Євдокименко-Ротару). Yevdokymenko was the surname of her late husband.

Contents 1 Early life and career 2 1962–1964: Career start and Ukrainian pop-folk 3 1968–1973: International recognition 4 1974–1979: New authors and Moldavian lyricism 5 1980–1985: Actress' ascension and new art unions 6 1986–1989: New wave - europop and hard rock 7 1990–1991: Leading Singer Among Different Cultures 8 1991–2004: New Time 9 2007–today: 60th Anniversary 10 Politics 11 Musical family 12 Discography 13 Filmography 14 Fans of Sofia Rotaru 15 List of prizes of Sofia Rotaru 16 References 17 External links

[edit] Early life and career

Sofia Rotaru was born in a family of brigadier of wine-growers, second in a family of six children, in Marshintsy, Chernivtsi Oblast, on August 7, 1947. Because of the passport office employee, who wrote in the passport 9 August, Sofia Rotaru celebrates her birthday twice.^[3] At different times, the village where was born Sofia Rotaru belonged to Kievan Rus', Austro-Hungary, Turkey, Romania, which was the reason why her first and last names were spelled differently. In the titles of the first musical movie where she starred Chervona Ruta Sofia appears with the last name spelled as Rotar'. The first name was spelled as Sofiya in the earlier films. Edita Piekha advised Sofia to spell her last name in the Romanian way with a "u" at the end. In fact, the newly found stage name was an old forgotten one. In translation from Romanian, Rotaru means "wheel maker". Aurica Rotaru, Meritorious Artist of Ukraine has said:

No, no one has imagined this, this is related to the fact that the village where we were born belonged at a certain time to Romania, this was territory of Romania. Right after the war, this territory was joined to Ukraine and my father was summoned to the military registration and enlistment office and was told that the Romanian family name should be changed into a Russian one. The letter "u" was taken away and instead Rotaru we got Rotar' with the soft sign. This is how all of us got the family name Rotar'. But indeed, the right last name is - Rotaru…^[4]

The father of Sofia Rotaru, after passed the entire war as machine gunner all the way to Berlin. Injured, he returned home only in 1946, and was the first one to enter the party in the village. The older sister of Sofia - Zina (born on October 11, 1942), endured severe illness in the childhood and lost sight. Zina possessed perfect pitch and easily memorized new songs learning Sofia many folk songs and became for her younger sister a second mother, and a dear teacher. Sofia Rotaru said: "We all learned from her - what a musical memory, what soul!". Zina, spending her time next to the radio receiver, learned numerous songs, as well as Russian language, which she has later taught to her brothers and sisters. At home, the Rotaru family spoke only Romanian. Sofia helped her mother and oldest sister Zina with housekeeping, education of her younger brothers and sisters, and travelling in the mornings to the local market to sell home grown products for living. "Mother would wake me up early in the morning, but I really wanted to sleep. Then she said: "Who will be the one to help me?". I was sleeping while on the road. We were at the destination at six in the morning. We had to take our place in advance on the market, display all the products. Only when the sales started, I was getting awake. I was interested. We always had a queue in front if our stand, as our mother was a clean, known and waited sellor. She had her permanent customers." Sofia Rotaru does not negotiate at the market: "It's a hell of a work, don't even dare" - she said to her husband. Later, in the film Where Has Love Gone? appears an autobiographical plot, where Sofia Rotaru is milking a cow. Sofia Rotaru, a sa young child, practiced light athletics, all-round (competitions), participated in the regional olympiads. She won the oblast spartakiada in Chernivtsi in the cross-country running for 100 and 800 meters. Later she had performed herself without double stunts the roles in the movie Where Has Love Gone? - driving a motorcycle on a narrow pier in the middle of the sea, as well as in the movie Monologue About Love, where she is playing the role of a fallen in love windsurfer in the open sea.

The musical talents of Rotaru became apparent very early. Rotaru started singing from the first grade in the school choir, as well as in the church choir, however the latter was not accepted by the school officials and she was even threatened with exclusion from the pioneers communist youth organization. Young Sofia was attracted by the theatre. She was practicing in organised drama classes and sang at the same time popular folkloric songs in organised vocal classes. In the evenings, when the kerosene lamp went out in the house, she used to take the only bayan at school and hide in the barn trying to find the proper melodies for her most loved Moldavian songs. Sofia Rotaru has said:

"It is difficult to say, when and how did the music appear in my life. It seems that it has always lived in me. I grew up among music, it was playing everywhere: at a wedding table, at klatches, at girls' winter evening gatherings, on the dance floor..."^[5]

Her first teacher was her father who enjoyed singing as he was young, possessing an absolute musical pitch and nice voice. Sofia Rotaru learned at school to play bayan and domra, participated in amateur art activities, performed with concerts in nearby villages. She was especially fond of house concerts. All six children of Myhail Fedorovich, Sofia Rotaru's father, made up a choir. It was in this environment that she drew the most human, the most deep and sincere notes for her future songs. Later, at festivals and competitions, Sofia Rotaru sang as if she were born with this music, charming with heartfelt intonations of unique voice. Her father believed in the bright future of the daughter. He always said: "Sofia will become an artist". His belief gave Rotaru strength to overcome all doubts in her vocation.

[edit] 1962–1964: Career start and Ukrainian pop-folk

The first success reached Sofia Rotaru in 1962. The victory at vocal competition of amateur performers opened her the door to the regional review. Her fellow countrymen called Sofia for her enchanting voice "Bukovinian Nightingale". Indeed the voice of the young singer was amazing: striking strength and width, unusual sound richness. In fact, having an alto voice, and after having performed such opera masterpieces as "Bésame mucho" in Spanish (the song was released int he Compilation "Night in the Opera") , Sofia Rotaru was the first pop singer to sing in recitative, singing later also rock, rap and jazz compositions, such as the song "Flowers Shop.

She won the first degree diploma at the regional amateur art review in 1963 in Chernivtsi.

As a winner, she was sent to Kiev for participation in the Republican festival of popular talents (1964). Rotaru became the first prize award again, now in the capital of Ukraine. On this occasion her picture made the cover of magazine "Ukraine" № 27 in 1965. The photo played an important role in her personal life, as when the picture was seen by Anatoliy Evdokimenko, her future husband, he immediately fell in love with her. After this competition, the People's Atist of USSR Dmytro Hnatyuk said to his fellow countrymen: "This is your future celebrity. Remember my words."

After the victory at the Republican competition and graduation from school, Rotaru had firmly decided to become a singer and entered the vocal-conductor department of the Chernivtsi Musical College, since there was no vocal department.

In 1964 Sofia Rotaru performed for the first time on the stage of the State Kremlin Palace. At the same time, Anatoliy Evdokimenko - a young soldier from Chernivtsi, son of a constructor and a teacherw "with only music in his head" (as said mother of Sofia to her daughter) was serving his military duty in Urals, Nizhny Tagil. Anatoliy Evdokimenko had graduated from a musical high school, was playing trumpet, planning to create his own band. His military division received that very same copu of "Ukraine" magazine with a picture of a beautiful young lady on the cover. He saw it and came back and started looking for her. He, being student at the University of Chernivtsi and trumpetter in the student pop orchestra made Sofia Rotaru discover the pop orchestra as such. In fact, before this, Sofia Rotaru used for her musical background violins and cimbalom. Today, Sofia Rotaru leaves an important place in her concert programmes and tours to the folk songs in modern remakes, including rap ("Chervona Ruta 2006 release with TNMK. The first pop song performed by Sofia Rotaru became "Mama" of Alexander Bronevitskiy.

[edit] 1968–1973: International recognition

In 1968, after graduation form the college, Sofia Rotaru was delegated to the IX World Festival of Youth and Students in Bulgaria, as a member of the artistic group, where she won the Golden Medal and the First Prize in the competition of singers of folk popular songs. Bulgarian newspapers were full of flashing headlines: "21-year old Sofia has conquered Sofia". This is how appreciated her performances of Ukrainian folk pop song "Standing on the Stone" and Moldavian "I Love Spring", as well as "Steppe" of A. Pashkevich, and "Valentina" of G. Gheorghite were. The latter song was dedicated to the present in the concert hall first woman cosmonaut, Hero of USSR Valentina Tereshkova. The jury president Lyudmila Zykina, has said about Rotaru: "This is a singer with great future…"

In 1968 Sofia Rotaru married Anatoliy Evdokimenko, who was at that time a student of Chernivtsi University and trumpet player in a student pop band.

In 1971, producer Roman Alekseev shot for "Ukrtelefilm" a musical film Chervona Ruta about tender and pure love of a girl from mountains and of a guy from Donetsk. The name of the film — Chervona Ruta — comes from the name of a flower, derived from an ancient Carpathian legend. Ruta (rue) blossoms only on the Ivan Kupala night, and the girl who succeeds to finds a blooming ruta will be happy in love. Sofia Rotaru became the first star in the musical film. Songs of composer V. Ivasyuk and of other authors were also performed by Z. Zinkevich, N. Yaremchuk and other singers. The film had a significant success. After the film was released in the cinemas, Sofia Rotaru received an invitation to work in the Chernivtsi Philharmonic Society and to create her own band (ensemble), whose name appeared by itself - "Chervona Ruta".

As a result of collaboration with composer Volodymyr Ivasyuk, an entire cycle of songs was created, based on the folkloric material and characteristic for 60's - 70's performance manner, usage of instruments and arrangements. This brought Rotaru enormous popularity in Ukraine. She became the most popular artist in the Soviet Union for the authorities eagerly promoted and popularised her art as an example of international Soviet culture (an ethnic Moldavian was singing songs in Romanian, Ukrainian and Russian languages) and for sincere sympathies of a multi-million public. Consequently Rotaru had a permanent auditorium on the radio and television and an intense concert career.

In 1972, Sofia Rotaru and the band "Chervona Ruta" participated in a tour in Poland with the programme "Songs and Dances of the Country of Soviets".

In 1973, in Burgas (Bulgaria) she took part in the competition "Golden Orpheus". Rotaru received the First Prize, performing the song "My City" of E. Doga and a song in Bulgarian language "Bird" of T. Rusev and D. Demiyanov. 1973 brought her the title of the Meritorious Artist of the Ukrainian SSR. Songs that she performed in Romanian language "Codru" and "My City" became soundtracks for the film "Spring Accords". The song "My City" became the laureate of the festival "Song-73".

In 1973 she entered for the first time the final of the festival the Song of the Year. In 1974 she won the First Prize at Song Festival in Sopot International Song Festival, Poland.

[edit] 1974–1979: New authors and Moldavian lyricism

In 1974 Sofia Rotaru graduated from the Chisianu Art Institute "G. Muzicescu" and became the winner of the Festival "Amber Nightingale" in Sopot, Poland, where she performed "Remembrance" of B. Rychkov, and "Vodogray" of V. Ivasyuk. She received Second Prize for the performance of a Polish song from the repertoire of Halina Forntskovyak "Someone" (Russian text by A. Demenitieva).

In 1975, she became the soloist of the Crimean Philharmonic Society.

In 1976, following persecutions of the Rotaru family for celebration of religious holidays (Christmas), Sofia moved from Chernivtsi to Yalta, transferring from Chernivtsi Philharmonic Society to Crimean Philharmonic Society.

After the tragic death of Volodymyr Ivasyuk in 1979, a number of songs by Moldavian composers appear in her repertoire (namely of brothers Teodorovici). Sofia Rotaru had at that time ceased collaboration with Moldavian authors, primarilly Eugene Doga. The latter, actively created rumors that the voice of Sofia Rotaru was created note by note on a computer. Singing in different languages became the source of fierce arguments regarding which culture Sofia Rotaru belonged - Moldavian or Ukrainian. She was also considered as "fellow" in Russia, and in Armenia the question was even debated whether to award her with thr Meritorious Artist of Armenian SSR. As the USSR collpsed in 1991, a joke became popular: during talks at Belovezhskaya Puscha the question was raised "how will we divide Rotaru". The singer herself, who had always lived in Ukraine, had always considered herself as Ukrainian citizen, while not denying her Moldavian roots.

Starting from 70's, the songs performed by Sofia Rotaru always became winners of the "Song of the Year" award. They were created in collaboration with the most talented composers and poets of the country. Arno Babadzhanyan wrote "Bring Me the Music Back", Aleksey Mazhukov - "And the Music Plays" and "Red Arrow", Pavel Aedonitskiy - "For Those Who Wait", Oskar Feltsman - "Only For You", David Tuhmanov - "Stork on the Roof", "In My House" and "Waltz", Yuriy Saulskiy - "A Common Story" and "Autumn Melody", Aleksandra Pahmutova - "Temp", R. Pauls - "Dance on the Drum", A Zatsepin - "Almost like on Earth", V. Migulya - "Life" and others. Sofia Rotaru was the first performer of the songs of Evgueniy Martynov, such as "Swan Fidelity", "Blossoming Apples", "Ballade About Mother". One of the superhits of 70's, remaining popular even today, the controversial song "Motherland" is officially considered to be the first rap song ever performed. Another widely popular patriotic song, chef-d'oeuvre "Be Happy, My Earth" also caused political controversies, although both songs speak only of love for the land of one's birth without any political propaganda or context.

[edit] 1980–1985: Actress' ascension and new art unions

In 1980 Sofia Rotaru wins the First Prize at the International Song Festival in Tokio for the performance of the Yugoslavian song "Promise" and the "Order of the Badge of Honor".

The singer continues to experiment and appears for the first time among Soviet pop female singers in trousers costume on the stage, performing hip-hop styled song "Tempo" music composed by Aleksandra Pakhmutova and lyrics written by Nikolay Dobronravov. The songs "Tempo" and "Waiting" were specially written for the 1980 Summer Olympics, which took place in Moscow and became part of the Cultural programme of 1980 Summer Olympics.^[6] "Tempo" had also become the soundtrack theme for the drama movie "Ballad About Sport", produced by Yuri Ozerov. In 1980, the singer reaches the final of the "Song of the Year", performing the song "My Land" of N. Mozgovoy and "Waiting" of Yury Saulsky and Leonid Zavalnyuk.

This period is characterised by one of the most successful film releases in the former USSR. In 1980 Moldova-Film released Where Has Love Gone? starring Sofia Rotaru. The film won the Grand Prix at Film Festval in Vilnius. The first project name of the film was "The Year of Vocation". Among other songs, Sofia Rotaru performed the song "First Rain" without a stunts double, riding herself a motorcycle on the narrow sea embankment. According to the autobiographic plot, a village teacher is invited to an ensemble, with which she wins the Grand Prix at an international festival with the song "Where Has Love Gone?" (music composed by Raimonds Pauls, lyrics by Ilya Reznik. The film was watched by more than 25 million vieiwers in the cinema distribution. In 1980 as well was released the double album "Songs from the Film "Where Has Love Gone?" with most soundtrack themes from the same name movie of composers: Evgueniy Martynov, Oskar Feltsman, Arno Babajanian, David Tukhmanov. The composition of Aleksey Mazhukov "Red Arrow" became the debut of the young poet Nikolay Zinoviev in 1980 in pop style. The song was forbidden on the All-Soviet Radio by the conductor of the musical redaction Guennady Cherkassov, because he did not like how Sofia Rotaru sang. However, since the premiere of the movie had already took place on the television, it was already well known, even without radio airing. In 1981, the film received the jury's prize for popularisation of the singing art of Soviet composers at the XIVth All-Soviet Cinema Festival in Vilnius, in the section of drama films. This movie became the first experience of Sofia Rotaru in the drama cinematograph. Many critics called this role clambake, nevertheless the film gained viewer's respect and the soundtrack themes became legendary: "Red Arrow" (music by Aleksey Mazhukov, lyrics Nikolay Zinoviev), "Where Has Love Gone?" (music of Raimonds Pauls, lyrics Ilya Reznik), "Dance on the Drum" (music Raimonds Pauls, lyrics Andrey Voznesensky).

The next artistic period became with the search for a new style - rock music and the film Soul with Mashina Vremeni of 1981, with songs of Amlxander Zatsepin and Alexander Makarevich. After having received in Yalta the initial proposal to shoot the film in the leading role, Sofia Rotaru first refused, as she was ill and doctors not only did not recommend her the shooting, but also further concert performances. This pushed Alexander Borodyansky and Alexander Stefanovich to write an autobiographical scenario about a dramatic situation in the singer's life, loss of voice, and opening at this moment of her soul (dialogue on the pier with an older man) with further reevalutaion of values. After having seen the new rewritten scenario and new songs, written in completely new style, Sofia Rotaru agreed, moreover, accepted to refuse for a certain time concert performances in order to shoot the movie. In such a way the movie became a musical drama film, touching not only the private life of an artist and human relationships, but also the question of attitude towards the talent and the responsibility of the talent in front of those for whom it creates. Rolan Bykov became partner of Sofia Rotaru in the movie, whereas the lyrical hero was played by a Leningrad actor Mikhail Boyarsky, rock band "Mashina Vremeni" - new group of Sofia Rotaru. Sofia Rotaru has said: "Producer suggested me to completely change my image, in which people used to see me on the stage. I think the movie may become a turning point in my artstic destiny. Anyway, this is an experiment, for which I am heading with joy. And as during any experiment, it is difficult to suppose how it will all end." The film made more than 45 million entries in the Soviet distribution. In 1981 Sofia Rotaru starred in Soul, where according to the producer Stefanovich, the first Soviet music video was made with Sofia Rotaru and Mashina Vremeni dressed in golden stretchy fabrics jumping on the trampoline and filmed from below the net. The film was viewed by more than 40 million and was considered a breakthrough for Sofia Rotaru where she totally changed her traditional image of sober serious singer. Outstanding composers Aleksandr Zatsepin and Andrei Makarevich, as well extremely successful collaboration with composers Evgueniy Martynov, Oskar Feltsman, Arno Babajanian, David Tuhmanov characterized this period.

[edit] 1986–1989: New wave - europop and hard rock

Mid-80's became for the creation of the singer a turning point. The new film "Monologue About Love" (1986) is full of the research of the new art aesthetics. Only one song of Ihor Poklad "The Water Flows" bears previous folkloric character and an image of a farm girl who became a star in this film, contrary to the previous "Sofia Rotaru Invites You" (1985).

An about face in her artistic direction took place after collaborating with composer Valdimir Matetskiy in 1986. The not so well known Moscow song writer possessed a brilliant erudition and commercial feeling. He conditioned the transition of Rotaru to compositions in the Europop style ("It Was, But It Has Gone", "Moon"), all the way until elements of hard rock ("My Time", "Only This Is Not Enough"). Matetskiy and his co-author, Mihail Shabrov, had practically monopolized the right to collaborate with Sofia Rotau during next 15 years, producing works, most of which became part of concert progammes in 1990–2000 becoming popular for the charismatic personality of Sofia Rotaru and her unique vocal timbre. The beginning of this collaboration became the song "Lavender", written by V. Matetskiy in 1985 for the singer's duet performance with Jaak Joala, which has not lost its popularity until today. After, "Moon, moon", "It Was, But It Has Gone", "Wild Swans", "Golden Heart", "My Life, My Love" and many others hve followed.

[edit] 1990–1991: Leading Singer Among Different Cultures

“

I rather owe my coming into being singer and, probably, personality, namely to those women, with whom I worked in the village. It is namely from them that I have learned to understand the sense of life. I received help in difficult moments from them - simple and magnanimous.[7]

”

Active touring and constant presence in top hit parades and musical charts, being aired permanently, assured that towards the end of 80's, Sofia Rotaru became objectively the leader of the Soviet popular Song. In 1986 she has been awarded the People's Artist of the USSR, which was unique for pop singers, nevertheless this justly reflected the status of Rotaru. Sofia Rotaru has sung more than 400 songs in Russian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Polish, Italian, English and German languages. For 60 years of artistry she has walked a long way from an unknown Bukovynian singer to the People's Artist of three countries, whose songs became extremely popular repeated by the entire population. Many of them became classics of Ukrainian and Russian pop culture and scene.

At the same time, the transition to Russian language repertoire caused a certain animosity in Ukraine. Accustations in betrayal of national culture, without mentioning a general growth of nationalism, were also supported by the Soviet producer State structures, phliharmonic societies and concert companies who were losing control over financial side of the concert and tour activity of Sofia Rotaru as a result of economic reforms. In order to avoid large scale provocations, Sofia Rotaru refused to participate in the festival "Chervona Ruta", taking place in Chernivtsi in 1989. The diminuation of proportion of Ukrainian songs was caused by the absence in Ukraine of such talented composers and poets, as was Volodymyr Ivasyuk. The exceptions became the songs of N. Mozgovoy, ("Country", "The Day Passes"), A. Blizniuk ("Echo of Fidelity"), E. Rybchinsky ("The Water Flows"), Yu. Rybchinskiy ("Ball of Separated Hearts"), R. Kvinta ("Wait", "One Guelder-Rose", "Fog"). In 1991, during a conert in Lviv, the listeners put up a poster with "Sofia, a heavy penalty is waiting for you" written on it.^[8] After this, the next concert that took place in Ukraine happened only in the end of 90's, and this only through the personal request by the President of Ukraine L. Kuchma.

At the same time, a new program was prepared and presented to the public in 1991. It consisted one half of remixes of Ivasyuk's songs and other known Ukrainian composers and poets in Ukrainian language, in particular: "Chervona Ruta", "Bird Cherry Tree", "Maple Fire", "Country", "Gray-feathered Bird", "Yellow Leaf", which became classics if Ukrainian pop song culture, after what similar accusations have disappeared.

[edit] 1991–2004: New Time

After the collapse of the USSR and commercialisation of the musical space, Sofia Rotaru has kept her top positions on the market and has a stable public, including Russian speaking diaspora in Europe, USA, Australia and Israel.

In 2000 Sofia Rotaru was named the Best Ukrainian Pop Singer of XXth Century. In 2001 Sofia Rotaru performed in a new soloist concert program "My Life - My Love". To the expression of 70's were added the lyricism of 80's, drive of 90's and the present play of half tones, on which Rotaru-producer Rotaru-singer has built her programme, uniting new songs and hits of previous years, read this time in a new manner. Many of her songs, independently how long ago they were sung for the first time, cannot be qualified as "retro" format, since they continue to live in every new concert program for the singer. In 2002 Sofia Rotaru was awarded the title "Hero of Ukraine".

After heavy losses, related to the death of her husband, for many years producer and artistic director of programs Anatoliy Evdokimenko, of her mother and father, Rotaru had stopped for a certain time her active touring activity. Twice Sofia Rotary went to the monastery after the death of her husband.^[9] Following several months of mourning after his death, Rotaru resumed her feverish concert and recording activity and again topped the Russian, Ukrainian and Moldavian charts.

The new period of her creation started in 2003 with performances in the concert hall "Russia" in Moscow, dedicated to the opening of the star monument named Sofia Rotaru on the alley in front of the hall. The main authors working with Rotaru became composers Ruslan Kvinta ("One Guelder-Rose"), Oleg Makarevich ("White Dance") and Constantine Meladze ("I Loved Him", "One in the World"), as well as poet Vitaliy Kurovskiy.

In 2004, after a four year break, Sofia Rotaru gave two major soloist concerts in the United States, in Chicago and in Atlantic City, where she performed on the stage of one of the most prestigious hall - theatre of Taj-Mahal casino. In 2001, the US tour was cancelled because the sound operator could not obtain visa. Twice the popularity of Sofia Rotaru was abused in the USA by enterpreneurs who without permission of the singer announced Sofia Rotaru's concerts in the most prestigious concert halls of the US for her concerts and successfully sold tickets.

During this time, appear new albums: "For the Only One" (2003) (with new songs and arrangements in Ukrainian and Romanian languages), dedicated to the memory of her deceased husband, "Sky - It's Me" (2004), "I Loved Him" (2005), compilations "Snow Queen" (2003), "Fall of the Leaves" (2003), "Lavanda, Hutoryanka fartherm everywhere" (2005), "Fog" (2007).

[edit] 2007–today: 60th Anniversary

7 August 2007 Sofia Rotaru celebrated her 60th Anniversary, Hundreds of fans, as well as top artists and politicians came to Yalta from different parts of the world to congratulate the singer. President of Ukraine awarded Sofia Rotaru with the II Degree Order for Merits. Official reception and birthday party took place at the famous Livadia Palace (Yalta Conference), where this time for a festivity, again three Presidents were invited (Russia, Ukraine and Moldova). The event was covered live by Ukrainian and Russian major TV channels. Celebrations in honour of her anniversary continued in September in Sochi, where at the song festival of young performers "Five Stars", one of the competition days was completely dedicated to the art of Sofia Rotaru. Young performers sang Sofia Rotaru's hits. In October 2007, the Anniversary Concerts of Sofia Rotaru took place in Moscow, at the State Grand Kremlin Palace, in which also took part popular Russian singers who all sang hits earlier performed by Sofia Rotaru: Joseph Kobzon, Filipp Kirkorov, Alla Pugacheva, Lev Leshchenko, Nadezhda Babkina, Larisa Dolina, Anzhelika Varum, Kristina Orbakaite, Masha Rasputina, Nikolay Baskov, and others and Ukrainian singers: Verka Serduchka, Taisia Povaliy, Valery Meladze, Potap & Nastya Kamenskih, Tanok na Maydani Kongo and others.

At present time Sofia Rotaru leads an active touring activity, participates in collective concerts and TV shows and musicals. She is in perfect physical and vocal shape, possesses enormous authority with Ukrainian and Russian musical circles.

After a busy year 2007, where one album "Fog" was released in Eastern Europe and two albums You Are My Heart" and "What's the Weather Like in Your Heart" in Germany for Western European market, participation in numerous TV shows and concert programmes the film made about her on Ukrainian TV channel "Sofia Rotaru - Secrets of Her Success", she took a one month break in January which made place for a lot of rumours ranging from illness to car and airplane crash. At present, Sofia Rotaru is preparing for an all Russian Anniversary Tour starting from March till June 2007. A new TV musical show was filmed with Sofia Rotaru and will be aired on the 8th of March.

The repertoire of Sofia Rotaru counts more than 400 performed songs.

[edit] Politics

Sofia Rotaru does not support any particular political ideology. Nevertheless, her multicultural identity served both for and against her. Soviet authorities, persecuting her family for celebration of Christmas, represented her at the same time as the top singer of the USSR. The German press wrote about her as "The Conductor of the USSR" (Dirigentin der UdSSR). Big part of her albums were recorded in Germany. However, when the German label Ariola (today Sony BMG Music Entertainment) after recording of song Immensità in Italian language and of songs in German language: Wer Liebe sucht, Deine Zärtlichkeit, Es muss nicht sein, Wenn die Nebel ziehen, proposed her to release a bigger studio album with these and other songs in French and English languages, as well as proposed her to organise a concert tour in Western Europe, the all mighty concert administration of the USSR officially prohibited her to cross the boundary of USSR during 7 years. This interdiction was also put in effect before the tour in Canada, which was consequently cancelled as well.

The song "Motherland" (Rodina), performed some tens of years ago, remaining popular even today, calls for ambiguous interpretations, whereas it speaks only about love, to the land and country this time. The song is officially considered as the first rap song ever performed.

During the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, Sofia Rotaru was dispatching food packages together with her family to people who came ot the Independence Square, independently from their political affiliation.

In 2006 Sofia Rotaru took active part in parliamentary elections in Ukraine, balloting for the deputy chair as a second number in the list of Volodymyr Lytvyn's political formation Lytvyn Bloc, however the bloc could not gather the necessary amount of votes to enter the Parliament, which became one of the major surprises of the elections. She held an all Ukrainian charitable campaign tour the same year. Among main reasons for supporting namely the political unit of Litvin, Sofia Rotaru named personal trust and steadiness of Litvin, as well as her own interest in lobbying the law on patronage of art in Ukraine.

Her songs have become the classics of Soviet and post-Soviet pop stage (e.g. such superhits as "Chervona ruta" (Червона рута) in Ukrainian, "Романтикэ" (Romantica), in Romanian). Sofia was cast in seven musical films, her debut being in 1971 in Chervona Ruta ("Червона рута" (Red magic flower). She played the main roles in films "Где ты, любовь?" (Where are you, love?, 1980) and "Душа" (Soul, 1981). She has performed in concerts in the United States, Asia, Europe, Australia. Sofia has been awarded dozens of prizes, awards and medals.

[edit] Musical family

Besides Sofia, Aurica, her younger sister, has also performed professionally, combining a solo career with performances as back-up vocal, as well as duets with her brother and sister Lidia and Eugenia. However, for Aurica, the duet performing in the style of Italo-Pop of 80's did not reach noticeable success and in 1992 she ended her singing career. Sofia's Husband - Anatoliy Kirillovich Evdokimenko is a People's Artist of Ukraine (1941–2002).

Son - Ruslan Evdokimenko

Daughter-in-Law - Svetlana Evdokimenko

Grandchildren - Anatoliy and Sofia Rotaru

Brothers - Anatoliy and Eugene Rotaru (bass guitar, vocal) - worked in the Chisinau vocal instrumental ensemble "Orizont", directed by Oleg Milishtein.

Sisters - Zinaida, Lidia and Aurica

[edit] Discography

Main article: Sofia Rotaru discography

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Fans of Sofia Rotaru

The oldest official fan club of Sofia Rotaru is "Fortuna"^[10]. The fan club was founded in 1988 by Elena Nikitenko from Novorossiysk and targets broad auditorium of fans from Russia and abroad. The fan club "Fortuna" publishes poetry and prose compilations, publishes articles in the mass media, films videos and makes photographs, possesses one of the biggest archives of Sofia Rotaru's creation. 30 September the fan club opened its internet site. In 2003, the information portal ROTARUNEWS was created^[11] Its creation was preceded by weekly sending of latest news on Sofia Rotaru's life and work, in particular such informaiton, which other sites and organisations refused to publish, as for example erotic pictures of Sofia Rotaru form the Slavianski Bazaar festival in Vitebsk. Fans, representatives of mass media, press (internet, printed, radio and television) from different countries are among the subscribers of the portal: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Israel, USA, Germany, Czech Republic, Moldavia, Armenia, Georgia and others. Ruslan Shulga, Serguey Kotov and Serguey Sergueev (design) - are the authors of the project. Today, the portal hosts one of the most extensive archives of statistical information, namely on charts' positions of aired singles and albums of Sofia Rotaru. Moscow fan clubs of journalist Boris Kogut^[12] and Viktoria Likhotkina "Chervona Ruta"^[13], Riga fan club^[14], Urals fan club^[15], All-Russian fan club "You Are My Heart",^[16] with the latest video performances of Sofia Rotaru, as well as Estonian fan club — «Snow Queen»^[17], Lviv - All-Ukrainian fan club — «Golden Heart» ^[18], «Rotaru-TV» from ED-TV^[19][20], Kazakh fan clubs^[21], "Melancolie"^[22], "An Island of My Love" with information about these and other fan clubs, as well as extensive videography^[23], "Caravan of Love"^[24], Czech blog of journalist Richard Kosz^[25].

A particular fan received a big appraisal in the press Galina Starodubova. She managed to enter into Sofia Rotaru's confidence, as well as the one of the singer's concert administration. During one of the concerts she required a closer contact, and after she was refused to have one, she started to threaten the singer and her concert administrator. Further, simple verbal threats turned into anonymous telephone calls informing of bomb mining of the airplane in which Sofia Rotaru flies, bomb mining of the concert stage. After having been temporarily released from the prison, Galina Starodubova continued threats (SMS scandal) and went back to prison.

The only officially acknowledged by Sofia Rotaru her double is Dionis Kelm^[26]. He is also touring with concerts with identical repertoire as the one of Sofia Rotaru. Sofia Rotaru has officially recognized the double, who is not only copying the physical appearance of Sofia Rotaru, but also her manner of singing and costumes designed by Lidia Pustovit

Among business sphere fans is known, Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov (also known as «Taiwanchik»), maecenas, enterpreneur, orden-bearer and businessman, co-owner of two Moscow casinos, who helped Sofia Rotaru, when she became Ukrainian citizen to participate in the "Song of the Year" festival, which became a Russian festival after the break-up of the USSR. In 1972, after he saw the singer at a concert, he organised for her and her ensemble a sumptuous banquet. Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov said: "Well, nothing peculiar happened indeed, I just brought her to a speculant, as it used to be back then, she bought her a fur there and that's it". The enterpreneur is also known for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating scandal that took place in 2002, related to the accusations of judges' bribery for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. After a year in the prison, he was released for insufficient proof. Sofia Rotaru has always protected him, even though Interpol was interested in him.

[edit] List of prizes of Sofia Rotaru

Awards
Slavianski Bazaar
Preceded by Alla Pugacheva	"Through Art - to Peace and Understanding"[27] 2007 Sofia Rotaru	Succeeded by '

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• (Russian) Official site
• Fortuna official fan club
• You Are My Heart official fan club
• Sofia Rotaru at Discogs
• Sofia Rotaru discography at MusicBrainz
• Sofia Rotaru at MySpace
• Sofia Rotaru at the Internet Movie Database
• All the news about Sofia Rotaru in Russian
• All Sofia Rotaru Lyrics
• Hundreds of Sofia Rotaru Lyrics
• Sofia Rotaru Became the Leader of the 100 Most Popular Performers (2004)
• Russians Like The Most Singer Sofia Rotaru (2005)
• Russia's most popular singer (2006)

v • d • e Sofia Rotaru singles discography "Sofia Rotaru (Extended Play)" (1974) · , "Deine Zärtlichkeit" (1978) ·

v • d • e Sofia Rotaru Studio albums Sofia Rotaru (1972) · Chervona Ruta (1972) · Sofia Rotaru (1974) · Sofia Rotaru performs songs of Vladimir Ivasyuk (1978) · Only For You (1979)  · Water Flows (2004)  · Fog (2007)  · You Are My Heart (2007) Compilations Sofia Rotaru The Best (1999) · Sofia Rotaru 2000 (2000) · Star Series (2001) · The Best Songs (2002) Soundtracks Spring Accords (1973) · Not a Word About Football (1973) · Hiding Place by Red Stones (1972) · Little Vera (1988) Tours All Soviet Tour (1971) · Australian Tour (1998) · German Tour (1999) · American Tour (2003) · All Russian Tour (2004)  · All Ukrainian Tour (2006) · Anniversary Tour (2008) Films Nightingale from Bukovina (1966) · Chervona Ruta (1971) · Dniestr Melodies (1973) · Song Is Always With Us (1975) · Where Has Love Gone? (1980) · Soul (1981) · Monologue About Love (1986) · Golden Heart (1988)  · Caravan of Love (1991) Concert programmes Sofia Rotaru Invites You (1986) · Flowers of Sofia Rotaru (1991) · I Still Love You (2001) · My Life, My Love (2003) · Anniversary Concert of Sofia Rotaru (2007)

Rotaru, Sofia Rotaru, Sofia

Persondata
NAME	Sofia Rotaru
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Evdokimenko-Rotaru, Sofia
SHORT DESCRIPTION	musician, singer, songwriter, actress, author
DATE OF BIRTH	August 7, 1947
PLACE OF BIRTH	Marhynsti, Ukraine
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH