Russia meets Limassol

By Maria Gregoriou

The Rialto theatre in Limassol is well known for giving its audience a diverse programme, and this year the theatre is starting strong with a number of musical performances from singers and performers from all over the world. One of these performers is acclaimed Russia tenor Oleg Pogudin on Wednesday at 7.30pm.

Pogudin is famous for his vocal and artistic style when it comes to interpreting Russian romances – also known as Russian Gypsy songs – and traditional folk songs. He is also a TV presenter and actor.

The 47-year-old soloist was a soloist of the children’s choir of Leningrad radio and television studio from 1979 till 1982. Moving on from this, he obtained an honorable diploma for studies at the Leningrad State Institute of Theatre, Music and Cinematography in Saint Petersburg in 1990.

He got into acting in that same year and also released his first LP entitled Zvezda Lubvi (The Star of Love) in 1991. This was only the beginning of a grand career in Russia and abroad as just two years after the LP’s first release, he began touring and has not stopped since.

Pogudin’s repertoire includes more than 500 songs and romances, which are mainly old classical and urban Russian romances, folk songs, war-time ballads and old military marches, and songs based on works of foreign authors. He also performs monographic concerts devoted to Alexander Vertinsky, Pyotr Leshchenko and Bulat Okudzhava.

The night on Wednesday is surely not long enough to include all these, but be sure that Pogudin will be performing some famous international hits in various languages.

Oleg Pogudin: Love Star
Live performance by the Russian singer. January 13. Rialto theatre, Limassol. 7.30pm. €20/15. Tel: 77-777745

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