From amateur to popularity
From the first class, Sofia began to sing in the school and church choir, but the latter could have ended with the exception of the pioneers. The young artist worked in the drama circle and at the same time sang folk songs in amateur performances.
In 1962, Sofia Rotaru won the district amateur art competition, which opened her way to the regional review. For her voice from her countrymen she received the title “Bukovinsky nightingale.” No one doubted the happy fate of the young singer.
The “diploma” to Kiev for participation in the republican competition was a first degree diploma at the regional singer Sofia Rotarusmotre of amateur art activities in Chernivtsi, which Sonya received in 1963. And next year, Sofia won the festival of folk talents. Her photo was placed on the cover of the magazine “Ukraine” number 27 for 1965. It was then that played a significant role in her life.
After finishing school, Sonia decided to go to Chernivtsi to enroll in a music school, but, to her great regret, there was no vocal faculty there. It did not stop. She entered the conductor-choir.
In 1964, the first performance of Sofia Rotaru on the stage of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses took place – and Moscow was subdued. “Who will marry you?” – spoke, happened, mum. – One music in my head.
Sofia Rotaru found love through photography
Meanwhile, in the Urals, in Nizhny Tagil, served a guy from Chernivtsi – Anatoliy Yevdokymenko, the son of a builder and teacher, – who also had “one music” in mind: he graduated from music school, played trumpet, dreamed of creating an ensemble. And by some miracle, the very same magazine “Ukraine” hit them. Anatoly showed the photo to his colleagues: “Look at the girls in our villages!” And he attached the cover to the wall near his bed. And then he returned home and began to search for Sophia. I searched for a long time, finally found a school, Sonya’s friends …
Sonya did not assume that she would sing with a pop orchestra. In addition to violins and cymbals, the singer Sophia Rotarona did not recognize other instruments, until she met her future husband, a student at Chernivtsi University, and at the same time a trumpeter in a student orchestra. Anatoly understood that only music could win the heart of Sophia. He was the initiator of the appearance of a soloist in the orchestra. However, at first, only folk Ukrainian and Moldovan melodies were selected for Sofia. But Anatoly persuaded Sophia to try himself as a soloist of the pop orchestra. And once she succumbed to the entreaties, she took a chance – and the song turned out.
It is curious that in 1968 Sofia Rotaru celebrated her birthday, winning the title of laureate of the IX World Festival of Youth and Students in Sofia (Bulgaria). That was how the debut on the stage, then amateur singer, took place. When Sophia was awarded a gold medal, she was literally covered with Bulgarian roses. And one orchestra joked: “Sofia Flowers for Sofia”. And the newspapers were full of headlines: “21-year-old Sofia conquered Sophia.”
In the same year Sofia and Anatoly had a wedding in Marshyntsi. And two years later a son was born in a young family. singer Sophia Rotaru was given the name Ruslan. He turned out to be an absolute copy of his father, but there was no time to raise his heir to his parents. The education was entrusted to mothers and sisters. Recalling those years, Sofia Mikhailovna thanks her fate for deciding to become a mother to her national popularity and that Ruslan, despite a lack of parental attention, grew up to be a good, kind person, beautiful son, father and husband.
Lifetime concert
In 1971, on the “Ukrtelefilme” Roman Alekseev made a musical film “Chervona Ruta” about the gentle and pure love of a Goryanka girl and a Donetsk lad. Sofia Rotaru became the main character. The picture was a success. And when in October the artist received an invitation to work in the Chernivtsi Philharmonic and create her own ensemble, the name appeared by itself – “Chervona Ruta”. The song “Chervona Ruta” is still the hallmark of Sofia Mikhailovna. For she found her own rue rue …
Anatoly Evdokimenko became the leader of the ensemble. Madly loving his wife, he quit his job at the department, he graduated from the directing department of the Kiev Institute of Culture, the singer Sofia Rotarust became the production director of all her concert programs. All this was the beginning of widespread recognition of Sophia Rotaru. Since 1971 she has been counting her professional creativity.
Rotaru was very fond of the country’s leaders, invited to all government concerts. More precisely, they did not invite, but obliged to appear. But the public was always anxious about Sofia Mikhailovna. When she went to the villages, in the absence of expensive gifts, the people carried eggs, sour cream and milk to their beloved. Once, Adygians brought a little puppy to the stage at a concert, who immediately spoiled the stage dress for the actress. “I had to wrap it in a towel and carry it around the concerts.” Sheepdog Yarman lived in the house of Rotaru for ten years.
