Yuri Rozum: "The Chechens embody fire, power, temperament"

People's Artist of Russia Yuri Rozum is celebrating  in February his 60th birthday. He is famous not only for his virtuoso playing the piano, but also for charities - his International Foundation helps musically gifted children. As our reporter found out, Mr Rozum considers Caucasus to be his story.

- Yuri Alexandrovich, what connects you to the Caucasus?

This is my favorite region, there are my personal contacts and friendship, it is the story of my life. I spent every summer in Sukhumi and in New Athos when  I was a child, because the closest friends of my parents lived in Sukhumi. My first solo concert took place in Baku when I was still a student of the Conservatory, it was held in the Baku Conservatory. My first professional tour concert took place in Yerevan. And since then I have had a very strong bond with these cities.

- When was the last time you toured the Caucasus?

Not so long ago I played a concert at the magnificent Baku Philharmonic, in that stunning Oval Hall. I had a concert together with the Baku star Fidan Gasimova. She is an absolutely stunning diva, the Montserrat Caballe of Azerbaijan, I would say - in terms of talent and the quality of her voice.

Recently I've been to Yerevan with the Union of Orthodox philanthropists. My friends brought an exhibition of icons there and I gave concerts and met with local musicians. It was wonderful, because the last time I was in Yerevan, it was experiencing the most difficult times, when there was no water, no electricity, when I lived in some tiny room which was rented by the Philharmonic - without light, with candles and a bathtub filled with water for washing. But there were splendid concerts. I remember the completely invincible spirit. The hall of the Philharmonic was full. An orchestra of a very high level, then headed by Loris Chknavoryan, an Armenian conductor. If I am not mistaken, he came from Iran, but studied in Austria, a wonderful musician. We were good friends and I went there every year.

After that, I didn’t visit Armenia for quite a while. And now I came there to see the city blooming. Its people are joyful, very beautiful. I was very happy, and we agreed on new projects, new concerts. I will certainly go back there. I have many friends from Armenia.

A few days ago I had a concert in Moscow,where  I invited the wonderful singer, my friend Arsen Soghomonyan, a soloist of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Opera and Ballet Theatre, the winner of the State Prize of Armenia, a wonderful baritone. We perform together  very often, and he is an ambassador of goodwill  of my foundation.

And I'm friends with the representatives of different professions, recently Suren Kazumyan, producer of one of the world's finest cognacs, came to my concert. So I could talk for hours about my friends from Azerbaijan and Armenia.

- What about friends from Georgia?

I haven't been to Georgia, unfortunately, since the Soviet era, probably since the 1980s. I want to go there very much. What connects me with Georgia are very warm and friendly relations with Tamara Gverdtsiteli. She is a member of the board of trustees of my foundation. She does a lot for the foundation and, hopefully, will be able to perform at my anniversary concert in the Great Hall on February 22. Zurab Sotkilava as well. He is very close to me and I admire him endlessly. I believe that he has to be in the Guinness World Records - a tenor, already in his seventies sounds divine! The Georgian people are so talented! I have a lot of Georgians friends all over the world, but I haven't been in Georgia for probably 30 years. I hope I will go there soon.

- Do you visit the Northern Caucasus?

There is a project associated with Chechnya. I haven't been there since the Soviet times either. I saw only the respectful, communist Grozny. I remember a beautiful city, very beautiful people. And I remember the feeling from the settlement Serzhen-Yurt, where my friends lived. I spent a couple of weeks with them there and saw dances on the central square, accompanied by an accordion or even some recording: some guys, young boys and adults, even the elderly, were dancing lezginka. It was then that I realized: there is no one stronger than this people, because it's such fire, such force, such temperament! Do you know a work by Falla, the Dance of Fire? That was a real dance of fire! Even the Spaniards cannot compare with them. It certainly is a uniquely strong and proud nation.

We are negotiating on coming there with solo concerts, I would be very happy to do it, not even with solo concerts, perhaps even bring some friends from the foundation.

And, of course, the closest North Caucasus republic to me is Dagestan. Firstly, I used to give lots of concerts there and visited it often. I had very close friends there, and we are still close friends. My distinguished friend, Ramazan Abdulatipov, whom I have known for many years, invited me to cooperate with  the University of Culture and Art, when he was the rector. He involved me in all their projects in different cities.

Did Abdulatipov invite you to Dagesatn? 

- I gave concerts in a great number of places. I remember Bryansk, as well as Dushanbe and Istanbul. Whenever he invites me... I respect him so much that I cancel all my plans and other events and go where he invites me.

I stick to him because he makes incredible noble deeds, carrying high his peacekeeping mission , and he is not just a formal peacemaker. He knows the soul of peoples. He feels everyone. He knows what culture is about. He is a very well-educated man, he knows a lot. His speeches always fascinate me. He says: " I've been preparing all night , and now I’m saying something utterly different ." This continuous improvisation is based on the highest culture and the deepest knowledge.

Now we are planning the end of April , in the 20 days of culture forum in Dagestan. When they called me , I said I will certainly come . I have these dates coincided with my annual festival , which we hold in the suburbs. But I moved the time of the festival - yet had the opportunity - to be in this forum. Come to Makhachkala after all these dramatic events . Because I was only there for quite a time of peace.

Now we are planning a culture forum in Dagestan at the end of April. When they called me, I said I will certainly come. These dates coincided with my annual festival held in the Moscow region. But I shifted  the festival while I still had the opportunity - to take part in this forum. I will come to Makhachkala after all these dramatic events. Because I only visited it in the peaceful times.