Dec
12
Aida Garifulina
Aida Emilevna Garifullina is a Russian and Austrian opera singer (soprano). Honored Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan. A solo singer of the Vienna State Opera.
She won first prize of Plácido Domingo’s international 2013 Operalia competition for opera singers where she performed Nanetta’s aria from Falstaff, the Snow Maiden’s aria from the Snow Maiden, Susanna’s aria from the Marriage of Figaro, Juliet’s aria from The Capulets and the Montagues by Bellini. This was followed by the performance with Plácido Domingo at a concert in Beijing.
She also performed at an opening and closing ceremony of the FIFA World Cup.
Dec
12
Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and dancer. She
has eight Grammy awards. She has been referred to as The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll for her
virtuosity, temperament and stage expressivity. Tina is in top ten dancers of the world. The Rolling
Stone magazine called her one of the greatest singers of the present.
On January 16, 1988 Turner performed in front of the largest audience which was approximately
180,000 at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, setting a Guinness World Record.
At the end of 1989 Turner releases her seventh studio album, 'Foreign Affair', with a cover of
Bonnie Tyler's hit, 'The Best'. The song became one of her signature songs. In 1990 the singer
went on a successful European tour to support her album, performing in front of nearly 4 million
fans at 121 shows, breaking the records of the last Rolling Stones tours.
In 1991 Tina Turner was inducted to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
It was reported later that Tina Turner set another Guinness World Record as a solo artist who sold
the largest number of tickets for the concerts in the history of music.
Dec
12
Muslim Magomayev
Muslim Magometovich Magomayev is a Soviet Azerbaijani and Russian variety and opera singer
(baritone) and composer. People's artist of the USSR (1973).
In 1960th and 1970th Magomayev's popularity in the USSR was boundless: stadiums filled with
thousands of fans, infinite tours across the whole Soviet Union, frequent performances on
television. The copies of his records were sold in huge numbers.
To present he remains an idol for many generations of people in the Post-Soviet countries.
In Magomayev's concert repertoire there were more than 600 pieces (arias, romances, songs).
Muslim Magomayev is an author of more than 20 songs, music for plays, musicals and movies. He
was also the author and host of television and radio broadcasts devoted to prominent musicians of
the 20th century including the American singer Mario Lantsa who he wrote a book about.
The song 'The Best City on Earth' performed by Muslim Magomayev was broadcast on the radio
for a month when it was suddenly forbidden. Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev was responsible for
that ban saying, "Twist about Moscow? Ban it!" In several months, in October, 1964, Khrushchev
was dismissed. According to the legend, the poet Leonid Derbenyov came to the radio and said:
"There now, Magomayev made everything possible for Khrushchev to be removed from office. Will
our song be played on the radio now?" There came "rehabilitation" of the song.
During the celebration of the 866th anniversary of Moscow in 2013 Muslim Magomayev's smash
hit "The Best City on Earth" became the keynote of the holiday.
Dec
12
Daft Punk
Daft Punk is a French musical electronic duo formed in 1993 by Thomas Bangalter and GuiManuel de Omem-Cristo.
They achieved popularity in the late 1990s as part of the French house movement, and had
success in the years following, combining elements of house music with funk, techno, disco,
rock, and synthpop. They had a considerable impact on formation of French house.
In May 2013 Daft Punk released their fourth studio album, Random Access Memories, which
was highly appreciated by the musical press. A month before it, in April, they released a
single from this album, 'Get Lucky' which became a world hit. The retro sound of the album
helped the duo win in several most prestigious nominations of the 56th ceremony of the
Grammy Awards, including 'Record of the year' and 'Album of the year'. In three years, for the
first time in the 25 years of their existence, they lead the Billboard Hot 100 with their new
single 'Starboy'.
Daft Punk are famous for their elaborate live performances in which visual elements and
special effects make a whole with the music. An important role in their creativity is played by
the visual component of a story intertwining with music, for example, wearing robot costumes
in public and during their live performances.
Dec
12
Europe
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed by vocalist Joey Tempest and guitarist Jón Norum. They
first were referred as a glam metal band but after their reunion in 2003 they went on to play
modern hard rock and heavy-metal.
In May, 1986 they released The Final Countdown album which gave the band its international
breakthrough. The Epic Records company was engaged in producing the album. It peaked in top
ten in 12 charts and received four certifications. Dag Stone from Allmusic called this album "one of
the brightest and outstanding in the history". The song of the same name became the international
hit. However after its release John Norum decided to leave the band, being disappointed with
keyboards taking over in the song production. Kee Marcelo was invited instead.
Dec
12
Polina Gagarina
Polina Sergeyevna Gagarina is a Russian singer, composer, actress and model.
She is a participant and winner of Channel One's reality singer competition Star Factory, season 2
(2003).
She was the second in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015, representing Russia.
On December 1, 2012 she was awarded a "Golden phonograph" for her song 'The Play is Over'.
She also became a repeated prize winner of the Song of the Year festival. In the Red Star project
her song 'The Play is Over' was named one of the top 20 songs of 2012.
Polina made a speech at a qualifying draw of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Konstantinovsky Palace
and made a speech at the closing ceremony of the World Championship of Water Sports in Kazan.
In 2018 she was a constituency agent of the Moscow mayoral candidate Sergey Sobyanin.
Since 2018 she has been a culture and art council member of the President of the Russian
Federation.
