Singer Sofia Rotaru biography personal life. Sofia Mikhailovna Rotaru biography

In the village of Marshintsy, Novoselytskyi district, Chernivtsi region, Ukraine.

From the first grade she sang in school and church choirs, participated in amateur performances.

In 1962, Sofia won the regional amateur art competition, then there were victories at the regional amateur art show in Chernivtsi in 1963 and at the republican festival of folk talents in Kiev in 1964.

In 1968 Sofia Rotaru graduated from the conductor-choir department of Chernivtsi music school, in 1974 - the Chisinau Institute of Arts named after G. Muzichesku.

In 1968, Rotaru, as part of creative team delegated to Bulgaria for the IX World Festival of Youth and Students, where she won gold medal and the first prize in the competition of folk song performers.

In 1971, Sofia Rotaru received an invitation to work at the Chernivtsi Philharmonic and create her own ensemble, which was called "Chervona Ruta". The artistic director of the ensemble was the husband of the singer Anatoly Evdokimenko. Subsequently, he became the director of all concert programs Sofia Rotaru.

In 1972, with the program "Songs and Dances of the Country of the Soviets", Sofia Rotaru and "Chervona Ruta" participated in a tour of Poland. In 1973, Rotaru received the first prize at the Golden Orpheus competition in Burgas (Bulgaria).

Since 1975, Rotaru has been a soloist of the Crimean Philharmonic.

Since the 1970s, songs performed by Sofia Rotaru. Composer Arno Babajanyan wrote for her "Give me back the music", Alexey Mazhukov - "And the music sounds", Pavel Aedonitsky - "For those who are waiting", Oscar Feltsman - "Only for you", David Tukhmanov - "In my house" and " Waltz", Yuri Saulsky - "The usual story".

Sofia Rotaru was the first performer of the songs of the composer Yevgeny Martynov "Swan Fidelity" and "The Ballad of the Mother". Long years creative cooperation the singer is associated with the composer Vladimir Matetsky. The beginning was laid by the song "Lavender", written by Matetsky in 1985, then followed by "Moon, Moon", "It was, but it has passed", "Wild Swans", "Farmer", "Fall", "Moon Rainbow", "Stars as Stars " and many others. In 2017 she presented new song Matetsky "On the seven winds".

In July 2017 in Baku (Azerbaijan) as part of the "Heat" music festival, timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Sofia Rotaru.

For my singing career Rotaru performed more than 400 songs, many of which have become classics of the Soviet and Ukrainian stage. She toured in many countries of Europe, America, Asia, Australia.

The singer has released over 30 albums, among her discs recent years- "And my soul flies ..." (2011), "I'm sorry" (2013), "Let's have a summer!" (2014), "Winter" (2016).

Sofia Rotaru starred in the musical television films "Chervona Ruta" (1971), "The Song Will Be Among Us" (1974), "Monologue about Love" (1986), starring in the feature films "Where are you, love?" (1980) and "Soul" (1981). In 1981, the musical television film "Visiting Sofia Rotaru's family" was released, and in 1984, the television film "Sofia Rotaru invites you".

In the 1990s-2000s, with the participation of the singer, the musical films "Old songs about the main thing" (1996), "Military Field Romance" (1998), "Crazy Day, or The Marriage of Figaro" (2003), "The Snow Queen "(2003)," Sorochinskaya Fair"(2004), "Star Holidays" (2006), "Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors" (2007), " gold fish"(2008)," Little Red Riding Hood "(2009) and others.

Sofia Rotaru - People's Artist of the USSR (1988). She was awarded the Orders of the USSR "Badge of Honor" (1980) and Friendship of Peoples (1985), is a laureate of the Prize Lenin Komsomol(1978). In 2002 for a great contribution to the development variety art and strengthening Russian-Ukrainian cultural ties, she was awarded the Russian Order of Honor.

Rotaru - People's Artist of Ukraine (1976) and People's Artist of Moldova (1983). In 2002, Sofia Rotaru was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, in 2007 she was awarded the Ukrainian Order of Merit, II degree.

The singer is a laureate international competitions IX world festival youth and students (Sofia, 1968), "Golden Orpheus" (Sofia, 1973); "Amber Nightingale" (Sopot, 1974). She is a multiple winner of the Ovation and Golden Gramophone awards.

Sofia Rotaru was married to the People's Artist of Ukraine Anatoly Evdokimenko (1942-2002). The singer has a son Ruslan.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Name: Rotaru Sofia Mikhailovna. Date of birth: August 7, 1947. Place of birth: s. Marchintsy, Ukrainian SSR, USSR.

Childhood and youth

Sofia Rotaru was born on August 7, 1947 in a large Moldavian family in the village of Marshintsy, Chernivtsi region, Ukrainian SSR. In addition to Sofia, five more children were brought up in the family: two brothers and three sisters. The father of the family was a foreman of winegrowers, and his mother traded in the market. Family members communicated with each other only in their native language.

Interestingly, when recording the date of Sofia's birth, the passport officer made a mistake, and now the singer celebrates two birthdays - August 7 and 9.

Sofia's older sister, Zinaida early age lost her sight, but possessed the finest hearing and memory. Zina became a mother and teacher for the future singer. On the shoulders of Sophia lay the main help of the mother. From childhood, Sonya helped her mother in her hard work - trading in the market. Sofia Mikhailovna recalls how, from early morning, Alexandra Ivanovna took her to the market with her in order to have time to arrange the goods for the very first buyers. In these difficult years, the character of the future artist began to take shape.

Being an active and mobile child, Sonya not only helped her mother around the house, but also was fond of sports. The girl was involved in athletics, even represented the school at the all-around olympiads.

Thanks to the efforts of her father and sister Zinaida, since childhood, Sofia was instilled with a love for music. During her school years, the girl sang in the school and church choir. However, the latter was not welcomed, and the girl was in danger of being expelled from the pioneers.

At a young age, Sonya attended a drama club and sang folk songs in a folk amateur circle. Enthusiasm in young talent it was more than enough. The People's Artist often recalls how she took the button accordion from school and played it until late, often until everyone at home had already gone to bed.

Singing activity

The road to the musical sphere was opened for the girl after she won the amateur art competition in 1962. Once at the regional review, Rotaru charmed everyone. "Bukovinian nightingale" - that's what they called the young beauty for her lovely voice.

In 1963, 16-year-old Sofia overtakes all the participants at the regional review, and she is sent to the capital to participate in a competition across the Republic. And again the singer was the first. One of the prizes following the results of the competition was the placement of the photo of the winner on the cover of the magazine "Ukraine".

After graduating from school, 17-year-old Sofia firmly decided to connect her life with the music world. Rotaru left the village for Chernivtsi to enter the music school at the conductor-choir faculty.

After 4 years, Rotaru graduated from the Chernivtsi School of Arts and Culture, and she was sent as part of a creative group to Bulgaria to take part in an international youth festival. And again, the 21-year-old girl manages to stand out from the rest - Sofia was in first place.

At 24, Sofia Rotaru played the leading role in the film Chervona Ruta, and her songs were included in the film. The picture was a huge success, and Rotaru received an offer to create an ensemble of the same name. The head of the ensemble was Rotaru's husband, Anatoly Evdokimenko.

The ensemble "Chervona Ruta" enjoyed success and great popularity in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, the GDR and many other countries. Over the years of participation in the ensemble, the singer received many music awards.

In 1986, the ensemble broke up with a scandal, and the participants decided to continue their musical activities without a soloist, retaining their former name.

Solo career

Saying goodbye to the ensemble, the singer begins to look for herself again and changes direction. Her development as an independent performer is largely associated with the name of the Moscow composer Matetsky. Rotaru's compositions were performed in the Europop style with elements of hard rock and became the most popular in the USSR. In 1988, Rotaru was awarded the title People's Artist THE USSR.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the popularity did not leave the singer. She continued to sing and released collections of her the best compositions. Young people began to add to the list of her fans. In 1997, the 50-year-old singer performed the song "Moscow May" as part of the film "10 Songs about Moscow" with youth lovers "Ivanushki International".

In 2002, Rotaru was awarded the title of "Hero of Ukraine". Other awards include "Woman of the Year", "Man of the 20th Century", "Golden Voice of Ukraine".

In 2007, Sofia Mikhailovna celebrated her 60th birthday. Many fans, politicians and artists came to Yalta to congratulate the singer. The President of Ukraine awarded Rotaru with the Order of Merit II degree.

The artist to this day continues to delight her fans with regular concerts and participation in various filming for popular TV channels.

Personal life

The cover of the magazine "Ukraine" became fateful for the singer. In 1964, Sofia's compatriot Anatoly Evdokimenko served in the Urals. And they had the very same 27th issue of the Ukraine magazine, on the cover of which flaunted the 17-year-old Rotaru. Evdokimenko, like Rotaru, was fond of music and was a trumpeter in a student orchestra. Seeing her, the young man firmly decided that at the end of the service he should find the girl. Arriving at home, he really found Sonya and invited her to become her soloist of the new team.

In 1968, the couple had a wedding, and two years later, the son Ruslan Evdokimenko was born.

The spouses were separated by the death of Anatoly Evdokimenko in 2002. The man died of a stroke.

Sofia Mikhailovna was very upset by the loss and stopped filming and touring for some time.

Currently, the singer takes part in combined concerts, music festivals and filming for television.

Singer Sofia Mikhailovna Evdokimenko-Rotaru (erroneously: Sofia Rataru, Sofia Rotaru) was born in the village of Marshintsy, Chernivtsi region, Ukrainian SSR on August 7, 1947. The future artist was born the second of six children in a family of winegrowers. Sofia Mikhailovna celebrates her birthday twice. Due to a mistake by the passport officer, the singer's passport says that she was born on August 9. Rotaru was taught to sing by the blind older sister Zinaida, who had a unique hearing.

As a child, Sofia Rotaru was actively involved in sports and athletics, and even became the all-around school champion. By the way, thanks to her sports skills, Rotaru, without stunt doubles, played roles in the film “Where are you love?”, Where she drove along a narrow embankment into the sea on a motorcycle and in the film “Monologue of Love”, where she was engaged in windsurfing.

The musical gift of Sofia Rotaru opened quite early. At first, the 7-year-old singer sang in the school and church choir (for this she was even threatened to be expelled from the pioneers).

Young Rotaru was attracted to the theater. The girl even attended classes in a drama circle, and at the same time she sang folk songs in an amateur art circle. And at night she took the only school button accordion and went to the barn to pick up her favorite Moldovan songs.

Sophia Mikhailovna's father was very fond of singing, had absolute pitch and a beautiful voice. It was he who taught her to sing. And at school, the young singer learned to play the domra and button accordion, and also gave concerts in neighboring villages.

The beginning of the career of Sofia Rotaru

The first success came to Rotar already in 1962. It was this year that Sofia won the regional amateur art competition. It was he who opened the way for her to the regional review in Chernivtsi, where the singer also won first place. For the strength of her voice, fellow countrymen called her "Bukovina Nightingale."

After the victories won, Sofia Rotaru was sent to Kyiv to the republican festival of folk talents. Here, a talented girl was again waiting for victory. After the competition, the photo of the singer was placed on the cover of the magazine "Ukraine" in 1965. Seeing the photo, by the way, Rotaru fell in love with her future spouse Anatoly Evdokimenko. The man was also fond of music and dreamed of creating an ensemble. After the meeting, he created a variety orchestra for Sofia.

After graduating from school, Sofia Rotaru already firmly decided to become a singer and entered the conductor-choir department of the Chernivtsi Music College.

In 1964, Rotaru sang for the first time on the stage of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses. First pop song Sophia became "Mother" Bronevitsky.

World recognition of Sofia Rotaru

In 1968, Sofia Rotaru graduated from a music school and went to the IX World Festival of Youth and Students in Bulgaria. There she won a gold medal and first place in the competition of performers. folk song.

After college, Rotaru began to teach and, in the same 1968, she married Anatoly Evdokimenko. In August 1970, the couple had a son, Ruslan.

In 1971, director Roman Alekseev made a musical film "Chervona Ruta", where Sofia Rotaru played leading role. The picture caused a huge resonance, after its release the singer got a job at the Chernivtsi Philharmonic and created her own ensemble "Chervona Ruta". Together with the composer Vladimir Ivasyuk, a number of songs were written in the folklore style in an instrumental manner of performance. Rotaru quickly became famous in Ukraine. A series of concerts began in foreign countries - Germans, Czechs, Bulgarians, Yugoslavs took Soviet singer to "cheers".

In 1973, Sofia Rotaru won first place in the Golden Orpheus competition in Burgas, Bulgaria. The artist performed the song "My City" by Evgeny Doga and "Bird" in Bulgarian. After the victory, the singer became the Honored Artist of the Ukrainian SSR.

Moldavian lyrics by Sofia Rotaru

Since the 1970s, compositions performed by Sofia Rotaru have invariably become laureates of the Song of the Year. Words and music were written for the singer best composers and authors of the country: Arno Babadzhanyan, Alexey Mazhukov, Pavel Aedonitsky, Oscar Feltsman, Alexandra Pakhmutova and others.

In 1974, the singer graduated from the Chisinau Institute of Arts named after G. Muzicescu, and after that she became a laureate of the Amber Nightingale festival, which was held in Poland. In the same year, the singer released an album with the uncomplicated title "Sofia Rotaru". In addition, the musical television film "The Song is Always with Us" is released.

In 1975, after the start of problems with the Chernivtsi Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Ukrainian SSR, Sofia Rotaru, along with her ensemble, was forced to move to Yalta. The singer's father was expelled from the CPSU, her brother from the Komsomol and from the university because the family celebrated the Old New Year is an unofficial holiday. In Crimea, the artist immediately became a soloist of the local Philharmonic.

In 1976, Sofia Rotaru received the status of People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR. At the same time, Sofia Mikhailovna becomes a regular participant in the New Year's " blue lights". She received such an honor after she performed the song "Winter" at one of the holidays.

In 1977, a long-playing album "Pisn_ Volodymyr Ivasyuk sing Sofia Rotaru" appeared. This record has become a symbol in the discography of the Ukrainian celebrity. For her, the singer received the award of the Central Committee of the Komsomol. And two years later, two albums “Only for you”, “Sofia Rotaru” and the giant disc “Sofia Rotaru - My tenderness” were released at once.

The career of actress Sofia Rotaru

In 1980, Sofia Rotaru won the first prize at a competition in Tokyo for her performance of the Yugoslav song "Promise", and also received the Order of the Badge of Honor. At this time, the singer is actively experimenting with her image and the first among female artists appears on stage in a trouser suit with the song "Temp" by Alexandra Pakhmutova and Nikolai Dobronravov. By the way, this composition was written specifically for the Summer Olympic Games in Moscow and even became the soundtrack to the film "The Ballad of Sports" by Yuri Ozerov.

In 1980, the film Where Are You, Love? was released. There, Sofia Rotaru sang the song “First Rain”, and also rode on the back seat of a motorcycle along the sea shallows without an understudy.

The tape was watched by 22 million people. In the same year, a double album of songs from the film was released. The song from the record "Red Arrow" was banned from broadcast on the All-Union Radio. All because the head of the music editorial office did not like the way the singer sang. However, the composition became famous even without radio broadcast. It is worth noting that the debut of Sofia Rotaru as an actress was called a failure, nevertheless, the tape won the audience's love. Then Sofia Rotaru began to look for a new style again.

The singer performed rock songs and took part in the filming of the film "Soul" along with Andrei Makarevich and "Time Machine". After that, Alexander Borodyansky and Alexander Stefanovich wrote an autobiographical story about the life of the singer, about the loss of her voice and about her state of mind during this period. Sofia Mikhailovna temporarily abandoned concert activities for the sake of filming a film. Rolan Bykov and Mikhail Boyarsky became partners in the picture. The film was watched by about 54 million people.

In 1983, Sofia Rotaru and her team gave a number of concerts in Canada and released an album on the Toronto Canadian Tour 1983. After that, the musicians became restricted to travel abroad for five years. And in the same year, the singer was given the title of People's Artist of Moldova.

In 1984, "Gentle Melody" was published. This album brought the singer back to her original image. In 1985, Rotaru received the Golden Disc prize. It was in this year that the albums "Tender Melody" and "Sofia Rotaru" became the best-selling in the Soviet Union. They sold millions of copies. Then Sofia Mikhailovna received the Order of Friendship of Peoples.

Europop and hard rock in the work of Sofia Rotaru

In 1986, the musical film "Love Monologue" was released. Here Rotaru sang the song "Amor" and sailed on the board in the open sea without an understudy. The album "Monologue of Love" was released in the same year. At the same time, the Chervona Ruta ensemble returned to the Ukrainian song, which was a complete surprise for Sofia Rotaru and her artistic director Anatoly Evdokimenko. The next album "Golden Heart" was already recorded in collaboration with Moscow musicians.

Rotaru began to perform Europop compositions (“Moon”, “It was, but passed”) and even with elements of hard rock (“Only this is not enough”, “My time”). In 1988, the singer received the title of People's Artist of the USSR for her great services in the development of the Soviet musical art. Rotaru switched to the Russian-language repertoire, for which they began to push her away in Ukraine.

In 1991, the album "Caravan of Love" was released. Here you can feel the influence of hard rock and even metal, which at that time were at the peak of their popularity. At the same time, the musical film of the same name and the Golden Heart program were released.

The work of Sofia Rotaru in the dashing 90s

In 1991 Sofia Rotaru gave anniversary concert at the State Concert Hall "Russia", dedicated to the 20th anniversary creative activity. The program used laser graphics, candles and fantastic scenery, in particular, a moving red flower from Chervona Ruta. After the collapse of the USSR and the beginning of the commercialization of the musical space, the artist did not lose her position in show business. In 1993, Rotaru released two collections best songs"Sofia Rotaru" and "Lavender", and then "Golden Songs 1985/95" and "Farmer".

In 1997, Sofia Mikhailovna took part in the filming of the film "10 Songs about Moscow" by the NTV television company, where she sang the song "May Moscow" together with the Ivanushki International group. In 1998, the first numbered (official) disc of Sofia Rotaru “Love Me” was released, and a little later it was presented program of the same name at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow. In the same year, the singer was awarded the "Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker" "For the increase of good on Earth." A year later, two more albums of the singer in the "Star Series" are released.

Sofia Rotaru's leadership in the 2000s

In 2000, Sofia Rotaru in Kyiv was recognized as the "Man of the XX century", "Golden Voice of Ukraine", "Best Ukrainian pop singer XX century”, “Woman of the Year”.

In 2002, with the song "My Life, My Love", Sofia Rotaru opened the "New Year's Light" on the ORT channel. Released in the same year new album titled "I Still Love You". The songs on the disc are of different styles and for the first time remixes of old songs appear on the disc. In the spring, the "Star of Sofia Rotaru" was lit in Kyiv, and in the summer she was awarded the highest title in Ukraine - the Hero of Ukraine. After the death of her husband (October 23 from a stroke), Sofia Rotaru stops active touring. At the end of the year, a collection of songs by the singer " The Snow Queen". By the way, according to the results of 2002, Rotaru became the second most popular domestic performer in Russia.

On December 25, the official release of the collection of songs by Sofia Rotaru "The Snow Queen" was released on the label "Extraphone" (Moscow, Russia). Part of the album's run was released with an exclusive gift- poster of the singer. In 2003, in Moscow, a nominal star was laid on the alley in front of the State Concert Hall "Rossiya". In 2004, the albums "The sky is me" and "Lavender", "Farmer" were released. 2005 was marked by the release of the disc "I loved him."

60th Anniversary of Sofia Rotaru

August 7, 2007 Sofia Rotaru turned 60 years old. Hundreds of fans came to Yalta from different corners light to congratulate the singer. And the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko awarded the singer with the Order of Merit, II degree.

Stage name Sofia Rotaru

Until 1940, the village of Marshintsy, where the singer was born, was part of Romania. This was the reason different spellings name and surname Sofia Rotaru. In the credits of the film "Chervona Ruta" the artist's surname is Rotar. And on earlier shootings, they wrote the name Sophia. To write your last name in the Moldavian way, that is, with the letter “y” at the end, Rotaru was advised by Edita Piekha.

Sofia Rotaru on video

“No, no one came up with this, this is due to the fact that this village in which we were born once belonged to Romania, it was the territory of Romania, and after the war this territory was annexed to Ukraine and in connection with this, dad was summoned to military enlistment office and said that the Romanian surname should be changed to Russian. The letter "y" was removed at the end, instead of Rotaru it became Rotar with soft sign, and now we all have the surname Rotar. But in fact, Rotaru is the correct surname ... ”, says Sophia Rotaru’s sister.

Sofia Rotaru's personal life

Sofia Rotaru married Anatoly Evdokimenko in 1968. And they lived together all their lives, helping and supporting each other. The husband became for Sofia Rotaru not only a support, but also a person who helped her achieve success. With his filing, the Chervona Ruta group was founded, in which Sofia Mikhailovna became a soloist. Endless tours and concerts left almost no time for Sofia Rotaru's personal life, but, due to the fact that her husband was always there, she did not feel separated from her family. Together they lived for more than thirty years - until the death of Anatoly Evdokimenko.

The singer was very upset by this loss, she stopped performing, appearing at ceremonial events. A year after the sad events, Rotaru first appeared on stage, dedicating her first performance to the memory of Evdokimenko.

BIOGRAPHY OF SOFIA ROTARU

Sofia Rotaru biography family

Sofia Rotaru was born and raised in the song region - in the village of Marshintsy, Chernivtsi region. Not a single celebration, not a single ritual is complete without songs. It seems that here the earth itself gives birth to songs. There were no such pure, beautiful voices as those of Mikhail Fedorovich (he was born on 11/22/1918) and Alexandra Ivanovna Rotaru (04/17/1920 - 09/16/1997) in Marshintsy. Mikhail Fedorovich he was the first in the village to join the party, went through the whole war as a machine gunner and reached Berlin. He was wounded and returned home only in 1946. Now the soldier's memory more and more often returns his father to those terrible years, battles are remembered, the faces of dead friends. In the family, besides Sophia, there were five children: two brothers and three sisters. Elder sister Zina (born 10/11/1942), who underwent serious illness, lost her sight as a child, but the biggest blind person, as you know, is the one who does not want to see. Zina having herself absolute pitch and easily memorizing new songs, taught Sophia many folk songs and generally became a younger and second mother, and a favorite teacher. Then Sophia, not afraid to seem enthusiastic, will say: "... And we all learned from her - such a musical memory. And the soul!" Zina, spending a lot of time at the radio, learned Russian along with songs. And taught him brothers and sisters. At home, Rotaru spoke only Moldovan. Naturally, as the eldest, Sofia was the first assistant to her mother. In the morning, Sonya and her mother went to the market to trade - they had to live on something.

Sofia Rotaru biography nationality

The surname Rotaru is common in Romania and Moldova. But Sofia's original surname is not Rotaru, but Rotar. The letter "u" was added later. Until 1940, the village of Marshintsy was part of Romania. Sofia Rotaru originally spoke the Moldovan language. During the Soviet period, Moldova was part of the Union. The village of Marchintsi, where Sofia Rotaru was born, is a Moldovan village in Western Ukraine. Therefore, the nationality of Sofia Rotaru can be noted as Moldova or Romania.

Mom woke me up in the dark, - recalls Sophia, - and I really wanted to sleep. She says: "Who will help me?". I slept all the way. They arrived at six in the morning. It was necessary to take a place in the market in advance, to spread everything out. And only when the trade began, I came to my senses. It was interesting to me. There was always a queue near us, because my mother was clean, they knew her and waited. She had regular customers. Sofia Mikhailovna never trades on the market. And he forbids his friends and relatives from doing this. "It's a hell of a job," she tells her husband, "don't you dare." Often, very often Sophia had to replace her mother, to work for her in the field. It was during these years that her character was formed. - I most likely owe my formation as a singer and, probably, as a person, - says Sofia Rotaru, - to those women with whom I worked in the village, it was from them that I learned to understand the meaning of life. In difficult moments from them - simple and generous - I received help. In this environment, Sofia Rotaru finds the most humane, deepest and most sincere notes for her future songs. Sofia began to sing from the first grade in the school choir, she also sang in the church choir, but this was not welcomed at school. She was even threatened with expulsion from the pioneers.

In her youth, Sofia was attracted to the theater, she was engaged in a drama club and at the same time sang folk songs in amateur performances. Sophia, for example, likes to remember how she took the only button accordion at school and at night, when the kerosene lamp went out in the house, she went to the barn, picking up her favorite melodies of Moldovan songs. Father, Mikhail Fedorovich, who worked for about thirty years as a foreman of winegrowers, remembers how professional artists once arrived in the village for the first time, and he brought Sonya backstage to them and proudly announced: "Here is my daughter. She will definitely be an artist!" Being very lively and mobile, Sofia loved sports, and especially athletics, and of course she made progress: she was the champion of the school in all-around, went to regional olympiads. Once, at the regional Spartakiad in Chernivtsi, she became the winner in the 100 and 800 meters ...
Sofia Rotaru biography photo

The victory of Sofia Rotaru in the regional amateur art competition in 1962 opened the way to the regional review. For her charming voice, fellow countrymen then bestowed her with the title of "Bukovina Nightingale". His voice was really amazing - his strength and breadth, extraordinary sound richness amazed him. There was so much charm and passion in him, he was so relaxed and excitingly good that there was no reason to doubt the happy fate of the young singer. 1963 brought a diploma of the first degree at the regional amateur art show in Chernivtsi. As the winner, she goes to Kyiv to participate in the Republican competition. 1964, in turn, pleased with the victory at the republican festival of folk talents. On this occasion, her photo was placed on the cover of the magazine "Ukraine" No. 27 for 1965. By the way, this photo later played an important role in her life. After that contest National artist USSR Dmitry Gnatyuk said to fellow countrymen: "This is your future celebrity. Remember my words." Reviews, competitions - is it really that the 17-year-old girl is not dizzy from success? But no, her parents always taught her to critically evaluate her work and persistently go towards the goal, despite the difficulties. After graduating from school in 1964. Sonya firmly decided to go to Chernivtsi to enter a music school.
Sofia Rotaru biography photo

To her great regret, Sofia found out that there was no vocal department in the music school. Well, she entered the conductor-choir ... In 1964, Sofia sang for the first time on the stage of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses - and Moscow was conquered. “And who will marry you?” Mom used to say. “One music in my head.” Meanwhile, in the Urals, in Nizhny Tagil, a young guy from Chernivtsi was serving - Anatoly Evdokimenko, the son of a builder and teacher, who also had “one music” in his head: he graduated from music school, played the trumpet, dreamed of creating an ensemble. And the same magazine "Ukraine" with a photo of a beautiful girl on the cover got into their unit. He showed the photo to his colleagues: "Look what kind of girls we have in the villages! Can you imagine what is happening in the city?" And he stuck the cover on the wall next to his bed. And then he returned home and began to look for Sophia. I searched for a long time, finally I found a school, Sonya's friends ... In fact, Sonya did not imagine that she would ever sing with a variety orchestra. In addition to violins and cymbals, she did not recognize other instruments for accompaniment until she met her future husband Anatoly Evdokimenko, a student Chernivtsi University and at the same time as a trumpeter in a student variety orchestra. Anatoly intuitively understood that only music and more music could win Sofia's heart. He was the initiator of the appearance of a soloist in the orchestra. True, at first only folk Ukrainian and Moldovan melodies were selected for Sofia. By the way, even today folk songs occupy a significant place in her repertoire: "I can't live without them. When I hear - tears ..." But Anatoly persuaded Sofia to try herself as a soloist in a variety orchestra. And then one day Sofia nevertheless succumbed to persuasion, took a chance - she sang the song "Mama" by Bronevitsky. And the song came out. In 1968 on graduation party at the music school, Associate Professor Pulinets assured: "Already now you can talk about her as a pop actress who will be a great success with the widest audience." It is curious that in 1968 S. Rotaru celebrated her birthday, having won the title of laureate of the IX World Festival of Youth and Students in Sofia (Bulgaria). So the debut on the stage of the then amateur singer took place. Sofia Rotaru was sent to the IX World Festival of Youth and Students as a participant in the folklore competition. Tolik was determined to go with her to the festival. They urgently needed a double bass player for Bulgaria.

And then Tolya mastered the double bass in two months. True, corns did not leave his fingers for a long time. Resounding success , first place. When Sophia was awarded the gold medal, she was literally covered with Bulgarian roses. And one orchestra member joked: "Sofia's flowers for Sofia." And the newspapers were full of headlines: "21-year-old Sofia conquered Sofia." This was how the performance of the Ukrainian folk song "I'm standing on a stone" and the Moldavian "I love spring", as well as "Step" by A. Pashkevich and "Valentina" by G. Gheorghe was evaluated. The last song was dedicated to the first female cosmonaut present in the hall, Hero of the Soviet Union Valentina Tereshkova. The chairman of the jury, L. Zykina, said then: "This is a singer with a great future." Then it was time for another debut: after graduating from a music school, she became a teacher. Until now, Rotaru recalls this day with excitement and joy, as if re-experiencing the feelings that she experienced before the first lesson ... On September 22, 1968, Sofia and Anatoly played a wedding in Marshintsy. The parents didn't mind. Mom only said: "Just think about it, Sonya, you're getting married - that means for life!" The wedding was "modest" - two hundred people. In the evening it began to rain, but even he did not interrupt the fun: the happy bride in a long dress, soaked to the skin, continued to dance until she dropped ... They spent their honeymoon in Novosibirsk - since at that time Anatoly graduated from the university and was sent there for practice . He worked at the Lenin plant, and the young family lived right there, in the dormitory of the 105th military plant. Sonya cooked food for everyone, and in the evenings she sang in the Otdykh club. The newlyweds left after 3 months. However, Sofia had only one thing in her thoughts... Sofia Mikhailovna once shared: - After a year of our marriage, I began to dream of a child. And from time to time she hinted about it to Tolik. And he made big creative plans and was in no hurry with the child. In addition, we lived with our parents in a 2-room apartment, he had not graduated from the university yet. There was not enough money, it was not customary in our family to ask them from our parents. We're adults. Well, okay, okay, I think ... And somehow I say to him: “Listen, the doctor said that I would soon become a mother. Although, in fact, I was not in a position at that moment - I had to go for a little female trick. Tolik shook his head He relaxed, lost his vigilance and began to wait for the heir to be born. But he had to wait not nine months, but eleven, because Sonya became pregnant only two months after that conversation. - Now, I I believe that I did everything right, - Rotaru smiles slyly. - Then I just wouldn’t have time - these endless tours would begin. .. Rotaru got to the hospital on the night from Sunday to Monday. All day before, she cried: Tolik did not take her fishing with him. His parents rebelled: "Where else are you going? Sonya, you have to give birth any minute, and you are going to catch carps?" Tolik returned in the evening with an unprecedented catch, and together with Sonya they went to visit the familiar musicians. The contractions started on the way home. Do you think Rotaru immediately rushed to the hospital? No matter how! She hurried home to iron the dress in which she and her husband went to the hospital. Looking amazing in every situation was her way of life. On August 24, 1970, a son was born. He was given the name Ruslan. He turned out to be an absolute copy of his father. ...This has never been seen in Chernivtsi! Tolik met his wife and son with an orchestra. All the musicians of the city gathered under the windows of the hospital and played. Who is on the trumpet, who is on the violin, who is on the flute. Cars passing by slowed down, trolleybuses and buses stopped, people poured out of all the nearby houses ... When Sonya appeared, fireworks of champagne corks flashed in the air. All the way home, the happy father danced with his son in his arms ... And in 1971, at Ukrtelefilm, director Roman Alekseev made a musical film about the tender and pure love of a Goryanka girl and a Donetsk boy "Chervona Ruta". Songs by V. Ivasyuk and other authors were performed by V. Zinkevich, N. Yaremchuk and others. Sofia Rotaru became the main character. The film was a significant success. And when in October Sofia received an invitation to work in the Chernivtsi Philharmonic and create her own ensemble, the name of the ensemble appeared by itself - "Chervona Ruta" ...

Also because that was the name of one of the first songs of the brilliant composer and poet Vladimir Ivasyuk. Volodya's songs surprisingly combined the beauty and romance of the Bukovina region, the freshness and chastity of first love, and boundless faith in happiness. Sofia considers the meeting with the composer Ivasyuk a happy gift of fate. None of the composers with whom she would work later felt the singer's soul, her understanding and perception of life so deeply. Most of his songs were written specifically for her, for her extremely beautiful voice. They were modern, but at the same time built on the multinational melos of the peoples living in Bukovina. It was new, amazing bright word in the song culture of Ukraine. Indeed, Volodya's songs gave the singer wings, it was with them that her pop star sparkled. Assessing the role of Sofia Rotaru in the popularization of Volodya's songs, his father, a famous Ukrainian writer M. Ivasyuk will say literally the following in front of an audience of thousands of fellow countrymen: "We must bow low to the Moldovan girl Sonya, who spread my son's songs all over the world." Indeed, all over the world, because in thousands of different concerts of Sofia in many, many countries, Volodya's songs have always been and are being heard, many of which have become classics of song art. The song "Chervona Ruta" itself is still calling card Sofia Mikhailovna. For she found her red rue... Chervona rue is the name of a flower taken from an ancient Carpathian legend. Ruta blooms only on the night of Ivan Kupala, and the girl who manages to see blooming rue will be happy in love. Anatoly Evdokimenko became the head of the ensemble. Despite the fact that he worked at the department for some time, he had scientific articles, he changed his profession. Madly in love with his wife, he later graduated from the directing department of the Kyiv Institute of Culture, became the director of all her concert programs. The debut of "Chervona Ruta" was a performance in Star City with Soviet cosmonauts. It was there that Sofia Rotaru and the Chervona Ruta ensemble first declared themselves as outstanding representatives of a whole trend of Soviet pop art, feature which is a combination in the repertoire and performance style of elements folk music with modern rhythms.

Sofia Rotaru short biography

As soon as she finished singing "Chervona Ruta", the audience literally shuddered with applause. She was overjoyed at this unexpectedly warm welcome. For some reason, she thought: if these people, unusual in her mind, find joy in her songs, then she must sing, stubbornly follow the chosen path. And then cosmonaut V. Shatalov, on behalf of his colleagues, wished her great success in songwriting. Sophia only strengthened her desire. Then she sang on the stage of the Central concert hall"Russia", Kremlin Palace and on the theater stage. Debuting on the capital's stage, Rotaru least of all resembled a timid newcomer. It was quite a mature master, confident in his strength. The external restraint of the singer, which left no room for fussiness and unjustified gestures, surprisingly harmonized with the flight of her super-expressive voice. She sang as if these were the most important concerts in her life. She seemed to be saving for a long time mental strength so that today, now, express all your passion, all joy and pain without a trace. The stunning creative "generosity" of Rotaru unusually excited the audience, causing a hot wave of reciprocal feelings ... All this was the beginning of the wide recognition of Sofia Rotaru. It is since 1971 that she has been counting down her professional creative activity. Its authors were V. Ivasyuk, a student of the music school Valery Gromtsev, the head of the VIA "Smerichka" Levko Dutkovsky. And the deputy director of the Chernivtsi Philharmonic Pinkus Abramovich Falik and his wife, Honored Artist of the Ukrainian SSR Sidi Lvovna Tal were then her second parents. Falik was at that time one of the largest administrators with worldwide recognition. Even before the war, he was the producer of the famous English singer Jeri Scott. The very first professional program of "Chervona Ruta" was not approved by the artistic council. Then it was necessary to maintain a certain line. For example, "love, Komsomol and spring" i.e. the whole performance had to be filled with joy and optimism. And she sang "Enemies burned their own hut." The commission of the Ministry of Culture did not like it, and the program was banned. In fact, they cut off oxygen. Falik saved. He called Moscow, and Chervona Ruta, bypassing all permits, was included in the program "Stars of the Soviet and foreign stage". They got into the company of the Germans, Bulgarians, Czechs, Yugoslavs. In Tashkent, after the concert, people asked if she liked Soviet Union where she learned to sing in Russian so well. It turned out that she was mistaken for a Bulgarian. There were unforgettable and funny, funny cases at concerts. It was in Grozny at the stadium: she stepped onto the stage - slender, in a red tight-fitting dress with a zipper on the back. And then, just during the performance, the "lightning" burst. The audience, of course, noticed. She holds the dress with her hands so that it does not fly off, and suddenly some compassionate citizen with a huge pin runs out onto the stage. He turned her back to the public and, under the general fun, saved the same. In 1972, with the program "Songs and Dances of the Land of the Soviets", Sofia Rotaru and "Chervona Ruta" took part in a tour of Poland. In 1973, the Golden Orpheus competition was held in Burgas (Bulgaria), Rotaru received the 1st prize on it, performing E. Doga's song "My City" and "Bird" - a song in Bulgarian dedicated to the memory of Pasha Christ, the authors of which are T Rusev and D. Demyanov. The same year brought her the title of Honored Artist of the Ukrainian SSR. Songs performed by her "Codri" and "My city" in Moldavian were recorded in the film "Spring Consonances - 73".

At the festival "Song - 73" E. Doga's song "My City" performed by Sofia Rotaru became a laureate ... When Sofia Rotaru enters the stage and starts to sing, you forget about everything in the world. Her transparent, charming voice penetrates the soul, excites and conquers everyone who loves the stage, loves the song. Here she stands in front of the microphone in the spotlight - slender, festive, like a spring twig. How much charm, beauty, how much sincerity and excitement are in her, when in the beautiful language of music and poetry she confidentially shares with us everything that pleases and saddens her ... In the May Day "Festive Evening in Ostankino" in 1974, she sang along with the artist from the GDR by Michael Hansen. In the same year, Rotaru graduated from the Chisinau Institute of Arts and became a participant in the Burshtin Nightingale festival in Sopot (Poland), where she performed B. Rychkov's "Memories" and V. Ivasyuk's "Vodogray". For the performance of the Polish song from the repertoire of Halina Frontskowiak "Someone" (Russian text by A. Dementiev) she received the II prize. On "Song-74" Sofia Mikhailovna performed "The Ballad of a Mother" by E. Martynov to the verses by A. Dementyev. At the festival "Song-75" "Swan fidelity" and "Apple trees in bloom" reached the final. The song "Smuglyanka" was performed with the Yugoslav singer Mickey Efremovich. A year later, at the next festival, the songs "Give me back the music" and "Dark Night" were performed. The second was performed with Anatoly Mokrenko. In creativity, the contact with the song, with its creators, is most important for Sofia Rotaru. Other composers also wrote songs for her. Evgeny Doga wrote "My City", Arno Babadzhanyan - "Give Me Back the Music", Oscar Feltsman the song "Only for You", Yuri Saulsky - "The Usual Story" ... Sofia proudly says: "I was the first performer of many songs of one of my favorite composers Evgeny Martynov by me.

I love his "Swan Fidelity", "Mother's Ballad". In my repertoire there are songs of different genres, but almost always - a dramatic plot, a dramatic melody. The song for me is a small short story with its own world of feelings, dramatic structure, characters..." ... Nevertheless, its main attraction for the listeners lies in the fact that the singer remains true to the folk style of performance. voices, and in simplicity, restraint of behavior on stage, and, finally, in the choice of repertoire: Rotaru's songs are always lyrical, singsong. folk song you will not find random, meaningless, empty words, and this, undoubtedly, taught Sofia among many new modern songs to choose only those performed by deep meaning, provoke thought. Indeed, in her opinion, for those three or four minutes that the song lasts, the artist must tell the listener a lot, make him richer.

Born in the village of Marshintsy, Chernivtsi region, in a large family of winegrowers foreman Mikhail Rotar and his wife Alexandra. The brothers - Anatoly Rotar, Eugene Rotar - worked in the Chisinau VIA "Orizont". Sisters - Zinaida Rotar, Lydia Rotar and Aurika Rotar. Performed on the professional stage younger sister Aurika Rotaru, as well as a duet of brother and sister - Lydia and Evgeny Rotaru.
Husband - Anatoly Evdokimenko, People's Artist of Ukraine, artistic director VIA "Chervona Ruta" - died in 2002.
As a child, she went in for sports, sang in the choir. At school, she learned to play the domra and button accordion. The first success was a victory in 1962 in the regional amateur art competition. In 1968 she graduated from the conductor-choral department of the Chernivtsi Musical College. In 1971 she received an invitation to work at the Chernivtsi Philharmonic and create her own ensemble "Chervona Ruta". I went to music festivals, undertook large tours.
She collaborated with composers Vladimir Ivasyuk, Yuri Rybchinsky, Vladimir Matetsky, David Tukhmanov.
She is an absolute record holder: 83 songs performed by her have been included in the final of the Song of the Year festival since 1973.
She recorded more than 40 albums, including: "Chervona Ruta", "Romance", "Lavender, Farmer, then everywhere ...", "I will not look back", "And my soul flies", etc..
Starred in feature films"Where are you, love?" and "Soul" and in more than 20 musical films.