Larisa Dolina. Photo courtesy of HiFi streaming Sound.
Larisa Dolina is one of the leading stars of Russian show business. The singer has been performing on stage for 50 years, teaches at the Moscow State Institute of Culture and is an undisputed authority in the music world. However, she also has fears, doubts and moments of self-criticism. Larisa Aleksandrovna spoke about her complex character, family problems and attitude towards young artists in the new episode of the podcast “Nothing Sacred” by HiFi streaming Sound.
The singer admits that even though she has achieved superstar status, she still has many fears and doubts. Dolina says that she is never satisfied with herself and that is why she is constantly tormented by them.
“All my life I have tormented myself inside. And you know, that’s good. It would stop me if I ever said I was okay with everything. Then my growth would end and nothing would happen.
Having lost 21 kilograms, she can afford any outfit, even the shortest and tightest. Valle knows very well that many people scold her for this; they say that it is not appropriate for a 69-year-old person to dress like that. But she is not going to give up miniskirts and low-cut tops. The singer is sure that there is no point in criticizing artists for revealing outfits, because this is part of their stage image.
– I think that scolding artists like this is the wrong approach now. Because times are different, songs are different, artists are different. Why shouldn’t a beautiful woman go out in shorts or a bathing suit? Madonna, for example, looks good. Why not show it? If you don’t like it, don’t look at it, look at other artists. Turn off the TV, watch another program, read a fairy tale to your grandchildren and children.
However, according to her, everything has its place and time. For example, she agrees that Olga Buzova was not criticized in vain for performing in a swimsuit on Children’s Day in Ufa. Then the TV presenter and singer showed her buttocks to Stings on stage.
– She has a beautiful figure, beautiful legs, she is beautifully formed. I am not at all a prude, but it was the wrong place at the wrong time. This is a concert dedicated to Children’s Day. “You could have worn at least a short skirt,” says Larisa Alexandrovna.
The singer knows how to defend herself and reject haters on social media who criticize her clothes or her figure. In life, the artist also knows how to insist on her own. That’s why many consider it too harsh.
– Yes, I heard a lot about my terrible character. “Valley is a bitch.” Good, good!
At the same time, Dolina believes that it does not go too far: it simply requires people to be punctual and dedicated to their work.
– Of course, I wasn’t born so categorical. It came with time. Over more than 50 years in the profession, I have learned a lot and realized that this “complex character” still gives a feeling of confidence. What is its difficulty? To be honest, I am a very demanding person. If I demand that musicians arrive on time for rehearsal, is it difficult? Or, for example, if a musician goes on stage in a certain state before a concert, I deprive him of his salary not only for one concert, but for a month. This is the complexity of my character. That’s all.
Having lost 21 kilograms, the singer can afford any outfit. Photo courtesy of HiFi streaming Sound.
The singer says that she never pursued popularity, she always dreamed of singing and fame came by itself. However, her parents did not approve of her choice of profession. The artist’s mother always dreamed that Larisa would get married, stay at home and raise children.
– In my family, my mother was always too strict. And I could never find a common language with her. She went on tour with me, attended all my concerts, sat in the audience. I always picked her up during a concert and said: here is my mother in the hall today. She cried with happiness. And after the concert I could go up to one of my musicians and say: “Yes, of course, I like everything, but it would be better if she stayed at home with the children.” I asked her: “Mom, well, you see, you like everything. Why are you so categorical? Why don’t you like my choice of profession so much? All my concerts are sold out, do you find it unpleasant? Why such emotions? Why do you tell my musicians that it would be better if I stayed at home with the children?” It was then that I had already become an honored artist. And she replied: “She burst out.” But dad cried with happiness. Dad was a man of completely opposite character. He knew all my secrets. I shared everything with him. Never with mom.
Dolina admits that thanks to her mother she realized that the relationship between mother and daughter should be very warm and cordial.
“It didn’t work with my mother, but that’s why I transferred all this to my daughter.” My friend’s daughter and I. And even with my friend’s granddaughter. And at home they don’t suffer from the Valley of the Derailed. “At home I am completely different,” says the interpreter.
The only daughter of the artist Angelina Mionchinskaya, born in her marriage to jazz musician Anatoly Mionchinsky, works at the Larisa Dolina Music Academy.
“Public Relations Director,” the singer explains. “She works a lot, she does a lot of things herself, she is a very creative person, very creative. He does the same thing as Papa Carlo.”
The artist admits that she has a complex character. Photo courtesy of HiFi streaming Sound.
Sometimes the singer has problems with her voice, but even in this case she is not allowed to cancel the concert.
– I had this last year before a concert at the House of Music. We called a speech doctor and during the whole concert they poured medicine into my ligaments 13 times. I sang two songs, I understand that I can’t do any more… The musicians finish playing the previous song and I run backstage, where they pour another medicine on me. It was terrible, but I finished the whole concert. Even in those cases, I never have soundtracks. Also, I have never cancelled a single concert in my life. After that concert, I had to travel every day, go on tour and do other live concerts. And the speech doctor followed me everywhere.
