Edita Stanislavovna Pieha, a well-known Soviet and Russian singer and actress, is Polish by nationality, her childhood passed in France. The peculiar accent with which the artist speaks and sings, gave her image a special chic and mystery, thanks to which the singer very quickly gained popularity. And the songs performed by Edita Pieha entered the gold fund of the Soviet and Russian pop.
Biography and career
Edith-Marie Pieha was born on July 31, 1937 in the French mining town of Nual-sous-Lance. Her father, Stanislav Piekha, was a miner, and her mother, Felicia Korolevska, worked as a school teacher. When the girl was 4 years old, her dad died of silicosis. Mother soon married again and in 1946 the young Edita Pieha moved to Poland with her mother and stepfather. There, the future singer studied at the Walbrzych State Pedagogical School, graduated with honors in 1955 with a degree in Russian.
In the same year she was sent to continue her studies at Leningrad State University. There she studied psychology and languages, and also participated in student concerts as a vocalist. She was invited by the Soviet composer Alexander Bronevitsky to perform with his group "Friendship" in the popular television program on December 31, 1955. Edita instantly became a celebrity in the Soviet Union with the popular Polish song "Autobus Czerwony" ("Red Bus"), written by the famous composer Vladislav Shpilman. Then she left the university and entered the Leningrad Conservatory, where she studied vocals and acting.
World fame came to Edith Piekha after her performances at the Moscow International Festival of Youth and Students in 1957. There she sang in several languages, such as French, Polish, German and Russian, and spoke to an international audience from 130 countries. After the festival, Piekha and the ensemble "Friendship" released several records of their songs. In the 1950s and 1970s, Friendship, together with her soloist, was one of the most popular folk groups in the USSR.
In 1972, Edita Pieha performed with the ensemble "Friendship" during cultural programs at the XX Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. In 1976, the singer broke up with the ensemble and Alexander Bronevitsky and formed her own group, continuing her successful touring and career in the Soviet Union. At that time, Piekha was one of the few Soviet actresses who could freely travel abroad with concerts. She has toured around the world since the 1960s and performed in more than 40 countries. In the 1960s and 1980s, she had more than 30 concert tours in East Germany alone.
Edita Pieha was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR and received the order for her contribution to the country's culture. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, she remained a popular performer in Russia and the countries of the former USSR. In recent years, Edita Pieha annually held her annual series of concerts at the White Nights festival in St. Petersburg. There, in July 2007, she celebrated her 70th birthday with grandiose performances, which were a real full house. In addition, in the anniversary year, the singer held a recital in the State Kremlin Palace.
