Owner of a unique voice performs all over the world. The future star was born in Ekaterinburg, and her first partner on stage was Dmitry Hvorostovsky. In an interview with “StarHit” Catherine told how many years ago the great baritone deciphered her dream and predicted a bright future.
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Catherine, recently you and your husband (Italian-American tenor Charles Castronovo. – Ed.) a concert in Moscow. His speech you dedicated to Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Often think of Dmitry?
Yes. Last time together with Dima and husband we sang in the concert “Hvorostovsky and friends” in the Kremlin Palace and then in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. Unfortunately, we did not have time to fly to his funeral. The tragedy happened so suddenly! For us it was a real shock. We experienced a sense of devastation, like from the loss of a very close loved one. Particularly keenly felt in Moscow, because the first meeting took place here… We’re in the shower dedicated his Concerto to him, our friend, amazing talent and strong person. He will always live in our memory.—
How did you know Dmitri Hvorostovsky?
In 1999, Yevgeny Kolobov, conductor of the Novaya Opera theatre chose me, another student, to make his debut in the role of Gilda. It was a new production of the Opera “Rigoletto”, and he became my first partner on stage. I was very young and inexperienced, and he already is an established star. Before that I never sang with the orchestra. It was terribly frightening. I remember being awake almost all night, worried, and when the morning fell asleep, I saw a weird dream… In the theater told Dima about it and he jokingly it stands for and prophesied to me a great success. I have experienced such tremendous support! Heart relieved, I took myself in hand, and everything went great!
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What do you remember the rehearsal?
One of the scenes of the Opera, I rehearsed in my nightgown and barefoot. The pantyhose tear, ballet flats click! And he jokingly called me the “barefoot Katya”. Like, nothing, and I immediately felt its location. He always loved to joke. Bribed, that Dmitri behaved towards me not as a master but as an attentive and caring partner. I want to thank two people who introduced me to the world of Grand Opera – Evgeny Kolobov (conductor. – Ed.) and Dmitri Hvorostovsky.—
When I saw him last? Supported during illness?
I had to sing with him “Rigoletto” in Vienna, but he cancelled performances. Then we learned about his illness. Our meetings were infrequent, but I always felt his love for himself and his family. We were talking after rehearsals, during performances, there were at his house, and corresponded in social networks. Dima was a true Siberian in character. He fought to the last and never showed his pain!
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Familiar with his wife, children? As they are now doing?
Florence we met at the same time as Dima. They came together in Moscow for the production. Quickly became friends, she is very beautiful, smart and wonderful woman. Florence is a musician, too. Remember how she helped me with pronunciation. My family and I affectionately, Russian-speaking residents call it Flosey. Our children speak Russian and English, they quickly found common threads with Larry and Nina (younger children Hvorostovsky. – Ed.). Know they are insanely hard, but I think they focus on the positive and try to continue to live…—
Where do you live now?
Here where you work. Our life is spent in airplanes and hotels – very much travel. We have a house in Los Angeles. My husband Charles was born in new York, then his family moved to Los Angeles, where he studied. Dreamed of becoming a rock musician, and from morning till evening, played the guitar and organized a rock band, played in clubs, but after hearing for the first time the Opera “Othello”, fell in love with classical music. His fate has been determined!.. When you have free time, we come to California – nice, warm, ocean, and grandparents that can help. But America is too far away from Europe, where we often work. So thinking of going either there or in Russia.—
Where she met her future husband?
Met in Berlin on the production of “Love drink” by Donizetti. I sang Adina, and the role, in love with her Nemorino was played by Charles. It so happened that we drank a magic potion, fell in love and married, first on stage, then in the snow-covered Yekaterinburg, and then in the blooming garden in California. It was like a good fairy tale. We have a very romantic love story. American boy and a Russian girl he met in Berlin. It is the city of our love!
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Together time?
I love a cosiness, children, family complete. Husband calls me home cat. Since we are often on tour, when you find yourself in your favorite house, I’m starting a flurry of activity. I love to dig in the garden, plant flowers and engage in landscape design. Also molded from clay dishes and different figures, sewn and decorated. With her husband and children go to mountains, the ocean, visited amusement parks, which in California is complete.
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Moscow has changed in recent years… You like, have a favorite place?
The capital was much better, especially compared to the time when I was a student. Moscow so incredibly decorate in the winter, for Christmas, that all come in the excitement and forget about the cold. I try to come here with children at this time. In America, right after Christmas all illumination is removed, and in Russia – no. Red square, the boulevards, arena – pleasing. The kids and I visited the fair on red square, bought warm boots, mittens, and ate pancakes. Say to his boys: “Look, you’re Russian”. They: “No, we in America were born.” And I answered: “you mother is Russian, then you too Russian”. Speaking to children only in Russian and I want them filled with love for his homeland, even though they don’t live here, but for me is very important. In Moscow were the most wonderful years of my College life. I studied at the theatre Institute, so many memories, so many friends who work in theatre, film, television… Pasha Derevyanko, Nina Chusova…—
How about the Russian show-business? Know artists such as Olga Buzova and Anna Kalashnikov?
In our profession, we live in the world of classics, but sometimes you want to escape and listen to different music. For example, the children like modern rhythms. These include the sound at full capacity rage to the fullest. I’m trying to instill in them a love for Russian music. My sister when coming with the family to visit us from Russia, always brings novelties. So I’m aware of trends. Traveling quite often listen to the songs of his compatriots. A great way for my kids immersed in the Russian language. And Buzova, and Kalashnikov know.
Do you have any idols among the Russian artists? Themselves what kind of music do you listen to?
Alla Pugacheva, Laima Vajkule, Sofia Rotaru, Leonid Agutin, Valery Meladze… the music I grew up with. A child my grandmother put me on a stool, and I sang. Including military and Patriotic songs. But my husband prefers classic rock. We have different tastes. Sometimes you have a competition – who was the first to sit in the car and turn on the radio. Charles, for example, believes that jazz can be listened only in the evening, in the car he falls asleep, and for me, this music is a state of mind.
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Do you have a special diet – for voice? The truth is that you need to constantly drink a raw egg?
Someone believes that before the show you need to eat, such as pasta. Others – on the contrary, not eating. In principle, every singer can make an individual diet. We sometimes with my son drinking quail eggs, but that’s only because I, as a child, spent time in the village with my grandmother. There is me, and accustomed them to drink. Husband, by the way, I was taught to drink tea before me, he drank only coffee. Oh, these Italians!—
What do you need for happiness and peace of mind?
Very much. I think never will. I’m a singer, a creative person. No singing can not imagine life. And in the shower was a comfort, need to be next to your children, family. Want to sing more concerts together – but it will give more opportunity to see my husband. Of course, we constantly talk on the phone, Skype. I feel his support, but it doesn’t compare when you sit beside him, hold his hand, feel his warmth. In this sense, I feel deprived. And always, unfortunately, be – while we sing. Charles says: like, to get used to. But is it possible?
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Tell us about your future concerts.
Preparing to debut in London at the theatre Royal Covent garden in the role of Mimi (Opera “La Boheme” by Donizetti). Love this piece, know it well. At the Royal Opera I started with Olympia (“the tales of Hoffmann” by Offenbach), then there was PAMINA (“the Magic flute” Mozart), Gilda (“Rigoletto” by Verdi), Lauretta (“Gianni Schicchi”, Puccini) – so there I’m not new, but Mimi always dreamed of. And Charles just made his debut in the role of Jose in a production of the Finnish Director of “Carmen” in Berlin. Our youngest son Valentino we left in the dressing room, he could only listen, and the oldest son, Alessandro, who is 10 years old, I had periodically hand to close my eyes because of the explicit sex scenes and naturalistic… Yes, such performances are too.