Kolenka Basque ... - with emotion sigh women, when the screens appear "natural blond" Russian stage. But it's not just shown on television - you can safely say: Nicholas there for a long time is registered. "I was always tight with the limits set," the singer admits. Because of his operatic voice, having a conservative education and receiving a master class from Montserrat Caballe, he made a dizzying career in show business, which caused his colleagues to criticize the shop. Over time, even appeared a special term - "bashovshchina", which branded academic artists, "down" to the performance in the popular genre. However, after leaving for the stage, the singer did not abandon the academic art: he not only continues to perform leading operatic parties in the world's theaters, but also turned out to be the only Russian pupil and full-fledged stage partner of the Spanish prima donna Montserrat Caballe. In addition, loved ones.
Familiarity with the world celebrity
Acquaintance with the world celebrity in Nicholas took place ten years ago. Producer of the singer decided that it would be nice if at a concert in St. Petersburg Montserrat sang with a Russian tenor. They listened to the entries of the applicants and chose Baskov. The rehearsal was successful, but at the end the prima wished that Nikolai would sing a new duet with her. The singer had to figure out the part of the party only during a short break - and he brilliantly coped with the task. And on the eve of his thirtieth birthday, the Basques ventured to invite Caballe to go with him on a tour of Russia. And the singer unexpectedly agreed. "During this time I tried many new roles for myself: I was an administrator, a producer, a doctor, and a nanny," the vocalist confessed. Over the years of cooperation, Caballe and the Basques have worked so well that, according to the singer, Nicholas is now a member of her family. However, the news about "how the voice of Baskov sounded in the upper register yesterday" is of more interest to professionals. Fans are worried about events from the personal life of an idol. Especially since the press now and again pours oil on the fire, having written Nicholas into the notorious ladies' man, constantly replenishes his list of victories on the love front. "Basques marry by calculation!" - wrote journalists, commenting on his marriage to Svetlana, the daughter of producer Nikolai Boris Spiegel. Passion for Baskov broke out with renewed vigor, when seven years later his marriage broke up. After they began to discuss the novel with the model and TV presenter, ex-winner of the title "Miss Universe" Oksana Fedorova. Intrigued by the public and the fact that at the time of dating Baskov, the girl was married. Now the pair openly demonstrates their relationship, not paying attention to the paparazzi cameras. "There will be no weddings! It's just a successful PR company," they write, other media say that the ceremony has already taken place, and Oksana and Nikolay are legitimate spouses. In order not to get lost in conjecture, we decided to directly ask the performer about this. "Is Nicholas in Moscow now?" - asked the press service of the singer. It turned out that a white gold voice will stay only one day. We met the next morning, which, alas, did not bode well, as Basque had more than once confessed: in the first half of the day he was usually out of sorts. "For a vocalist, nothing is more important than a good dream, and with my crazy schedule - shootings, interviews, holidays, tours - you can not get enough sleep," he explained. However, when he entered the hall, as if on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, he looked quite rested. It even seemed to me that even now Nikolai would fill up the lungs of air and sing with a feeling: "What is the day that's coming for me?" Or something in this spirit - after all he sang during the ceremony of awarding him the title of People's Artist in the Kremlin romance "Only once in a life of a meeting." But the singer only greeted me as a true gentleman, kissing his hand, and sat opposite. In communication, Nikolai was a very benevolent interlocutor, such people are usually said to be a person-holiday. True, I did not allocate much time for communication, as I would like. But what can you do - the schedule ... Nikolay, you said many times that after thirty you plan to study only operatic art. But now, on the contrary, you expand the spheres of activity. "
After thirty
The period "after thirty" will last for a long time. And during this time, I think, much will change. I suggest to return to the issue in about six years. Of course, it is difficult to combine different spheres, but to be closed only to operatic art, alas, for a number of reasons, it is not yet possible. After all, I have certain obligations to my team. Once I waved at everything and went on an invitation to sing for my pleasure. And for that month our team lost many profitable contracts. But we make new programs for the fees we earned. Touring is a costly affair. I can only afford to come to a city, do one rehearsal and the next day perform a part in the play. But in many domestic theaters do not want to adapt to the artist and his schedule. But the famous foreign theaters often offer me a long-term cooperation. My dream is to study only classics. Who knows, maybe someday it will come true. But, on the other hand, speaking with variety numbers, I get a charge of positive emotions. I like to work on stage, to participate in various TV projects. And honestly, for now this is my main income, because the opera does not bring much money. If I could only do what I want, I would spend a lot of time on the ocean. But the scene would never have left. Some performers exclude from their repertoire favorite hits of the past years. Do you have such songs? I do not get tired of my hits. How can you get tired of what you love? Each song in my own way is dear to me, with each connected a certain period of my life. For example, I've been performing the "Caruso's Memory" and "Sharmanka" for ten years - they like people and me. These are my business cards. It happens that some song does not sing a certain period, but if the song is really worthwhile, it will get a second life. An example of this is the famous "Natalie, who after a five-year hiatus I was re-included in the repertoire, and in French, Robert Downey Jr. refused to lead the Oscar-winning ceremony, so as not to be disheartened to the viewer.
Are you trying to limit your appearance on the TV screen?
I try to balance, although it is difficult. But I know for sure that they say: "It's always bad to be on the screen - only those people who are not there. When Lisa Minelli was asked in one of the interviews whether she was getting tired of the excessive attention of others, she replied: "The artist complains that he is tired of close attention and popularity, but if he does not have it tomorrow, the day after tomorrow he will surely shoot himself" . I subscribe to her every word. If journalists are discussing how you sang Lensky yesterday, they savor information about your personal life - that means, as an artist you are in a cage. If uninteresting as a person, no one will write about you. It is not so easy to get the attention of the press as it seems: you really have to imagine something of yourself. At the beginning of your career you said: "If in ten years people will be besieging the cash registers - dizziness may start from fame." Began? Dizziness does not have time to start. With me there are parents, close people, my teacher, one of the important vital tasks of which is to regularly and regularly knock down the crown from me. They do it perfectly! (Laughs.) Thanks to Montserrat Caballe - my teacher, wonderful friend and my vocal mom - I constantly raise my planets, and I always have something to strive for. To argue with her, I can afford only in some small things, because in dealing with global issues I completely rely on her colossal experience and truly incredible intuition. In a creative environment, prejudices are part of the profession. Are you superstitious? I am a believing person, but at the same time superstitious, like all artists. For example, without even thinking, automatically, always go on stage only with my right foot. I believe that a woman who walks half way with a full bucket is good, but empty with the opposite. Therefore, before the performance, I am particularly attentive to the fair sex with buckets. (Laughs) How do you relieve stress? Do you seek help from a psychologist? I am extremely seldom sad. He only turned to a psychologist once, when the divorce proceeded. I fell into a deep depression, and I did not want anything. The singer was busy with me, recovering her voice, note by note. Of course, I would not have suffered one of the most serious trials if my mother and father, who were themselves hard surviving the collapse of my family, were not around.
And how was the relationship with the parents? Do you know the problem of fathers and children?
Life difficulties helped to understand simple truths: we are not always fair to the closest people. Sometimes they irritate us, because they dare to teach. But parents can not be offended. I always gladly surprise them, I give presents. And my mom calls every day, even if I'm on the other side of the planet. Take care of your parents! In general, I owe all my achievements to them. They are young, energetic and very cheerful, besides - my best friends. Parents love us the way we are - successful, in times of desperation, in sickness and health, when we are at the height of glory and when in oblivion. Dad and mother are the foundation on which I can always rely.