The Fate and Magic of Alla Bayanova

8 hrs. 51 min.

Language Russian

Author Tatyana Kuznetsova

Narrator Leontina Brotskaya

Description

Recently (August 30, 2011), a remarkable artist—The Queen of Russian romance songs and gypsy song—ALLA NIKOLAYEVNA BAYANOVA, a name that has truly become legendary, left us.

She passed away at the age of 97. Born May 18, 1914, in Chisinau, she fully experienced all the horrors that the terrible 20th century brought with it. Much of her life she told us in her first book, “GORY, GORY, MOYA ZVEZDA” (“Burn, Burn, My Star”), published in 1994.

At the same time, I—one of the many thousands of admirers of the actress’s talent—was fortunate enough to enter her home, see and hear her up close, and become friends with all of her household.

Unfortunately, the first book of her memoirs turned out to be too brief. It was sad to turn the last page and part with such a wonderful person; I wanted to continue, to share in her interesting fate over and over, to feel the beating of a sincere heart, to be surprised by her distinctive Russian speech preserved by the emigration of the first wave.

And I wanted to supplement her memoirs so that everything she experienced while achieving such success would not be lost forever, but become the property of the people. I suggested this to her, and she agreed. That’s how we began writing the second book, which I called “SUD’BA I MAGIYA ALLY BAYANOVOY” (“The Fate and Magic of Alla Bayanova”). We worked on it for three years, and finally it was published in 1997 (dedicated precisely to the 850th anniversary of Moscow).

Alla Nikolaevna signed my first copy with the following words: “Tanechka! May our duet be successful and bring us at least a little satisfaction and warm feelings in the heart! For a long memory! With love—Alla.”

I would like to share with you some excerpts from this book, which has now become a bibliographic rarity. (Maybe there will be a publisher who wants to reissue it. I think many fans of Alla Bayanova will accept that with gratitude!).

So, here are some chapters from the book (the events take place in 1995–96, when Alla Nikolaevna was already slightly over 80. The photo from that time was taken by me in her apartment. But does it hint at such an age?..).