The name of the brilliant Soviet legend is included in the special edition of the Cambridge International Biographical Center, "500 outstanding personalities of the twentieth century." Valentina’s charming and passionate voice, her outstanding talent as a shining star will forever glow in the hearts of her many fans
This is her fate.
Creative way born to become a star
In 1984, Eldar Ryazanov’s cruel romance melodrama was released on Soviet screens, and many critics today recognized it as the best work for the director. The proof of this is the long-term popularity of the picture, and the songs and music that sounded in it are still not forgotten. Valentina Ponomareva’s stunningly sonorous, sensual voice in the novel “And finally I will say” is the meaning and summary of the interpretation of Alexander Ostrovsky’s play “Dowry”. It was in the early 80s that the performer’s fame gained momentum; by the time the aforementioned film was released, Valentina Ponomareva was already a star of gypsy songs, jazz parties, a participant in international competitions, the soloist of the legendary Romen trio.
They say about such people: it was written in the family to become famous
Valentina was born on July 10, 1939 in Moscow, in a family of creative and musical people. Father - violinist Dmitry Ponomarev, mother - pianist Irina Lukashova. In the family tree on the father's side there is an outstanding violinist, a Russian gypsy, a professor at the Moscow Conservatory - Mikhail Erdenko. The girl grew up in an atmosphere of rehearsals, to the sounds of the piano and violin, surrounded by people who were somehow connected with the world of music.
Therefore, it is not surprising that after school Valentina enters the Institute of Arts and successfully receives education in two directions at once: vocals and piano. After completing both courses as an external student, she first appeared on the stage of the Khabarovsk Drama Theater in the role of Mashenka, a gypsy from the play "The Living Corpse" based on the play by Leo Tolstoy. So, in 1960, the successful take-off of the career of an unusually talented singer and artist begins. Her voice, unique in timbre, ability to transmit sounds of various instruments to them, gypsy artistry and bright appearance attract the attention of producers, artists and performers. Not surprisingly, in 1967, Valentina became the soloist of the jazz orchestra under the direction of Anatoly Kroll. Jazz has long been her real passion: she loved jazz, she wanted to sing it, so working together with the internationally famous bandleader brought her enormous satisfaction.
Creativity - From Romance to Jazz
Love for jazz, not for any mainstream or gypsy ethnic jazz, but for the coolest avant-garde and free jazz, almost played a fatal role in the artist’s biography: there was a rush to go abroad, to leave the country. But, fortunately, Valentina's father stopped her from this rash step. The next wave of fame and glory covers Valentina Ponomareva during her solo years in the Romen trio. Tours around the country and beyond, releases, concerts and festivals, performances on radio and television! In total, she worked in the legendary group for 12 years.
In 1983, the star of gypsy song and jazz arranged to work in the variety show "Intourist", in the same year received a fateful invitation from Eldar Ryazanov. The performance of romances in a famous film determines its future! Valentina Ponomareva seems to find her true destiny. This is facilitated by both experience and mental attitude: the performer says that her road did not accidentally lead to a romance, because her grandmothers and aunts performed them perfectly, and Valentina herself was not ready for them in her youth: the energy of youth, beating, accepted only rhythm and movement. It was necessary to come to the cordiality and subtleties of the romance, and the road to it at Ponomareva really took place. “When I sang jazz, I felt pain, I felt protest, I absolutely felt my fighting nature. I had to fight. I have absolute comfort in the romance, ” says Valentina herself. No wonder her program, with which she flew around the world, was called: "My soul is a romance."
Concerts, concerts …
After the publication of the painting "Cruel Romance", Valentina Ponomareva, as if from a cornucopia, showered draft texts, music, ready-made romances for performance, from different authors. A lot of material was gathered, preparations for concerts, rehearsals, song recordings, enchanting, success, tours were started. Soviet magazines and critics called her the Soviet star of romance. In addition, Valentina Ponomareva took an active part in organizing charity competitions, was a member of the jury in promotions and concerts of the Moscow House of Actors, and auditioned and selected contestants to participate in the All-Russian Romansiada. She always paid special attention to self-taught, looking for new talents.
It cannot be said that the creative life of Valentina Ponomareva was the embodiment of a search for herself. Not at all. Thanks to her unique capabilities, not a single event in her life is an accident. She is subject to any genres of performance: classical, jazz, rock, folk songs and romances. Due to divine talent, startling initial data, she was destined to go this amazing, beautiful, bright way! Little is known about the personal life of the star. Valentina today protects her from any outside interference, agreed to an interview only with the condition of exclusively professional topics.
