Misplaced Pages

Sofia Rotaru: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from[REDACTED] with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 20:13, 24 April 2009 editJaan (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users17,257 edits removed the doubled origin← Previous edit Latest revision as of 00:48, 27 December 2024 edit undoKjell Knudde (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users139,412 edits Added more categories. 
(947 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Moldavian singer (born 1947)}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| Name = Sofia Rotaru
| Img = Ytpplconcertsrotaru100.jpg
| Img_size = 400
| Img_caption = Sofia Rotaru during concert performance "I Still Love You"
| Landscape =
| Background = solo_singer
| Birth_name =
| Alias =
| Born = {{birth date and age|1947|8|7}}<br/>
| Origin = ], ], ]
| Genre = ], ], ], ], ], ]
| Instrument = ], ], ]
| Occupation = ], ], ], ], ]er, ]r, ], ]
| Years_active = 1968–present
| Label = ]<br><small>(since 2003)</small><br>]<br><small>(since 2002)</small><br>]<br><small>(since 2003)</small><br>]<br><small>(1991)</small><br>]<br><small>(1987)</small><br>]<br><small>(1976)</small><br>]<br><small>(1975)</small><br>]<br><small>(since 1972)</small>
| URL =
}}


{{family name hatnote|Mykhaylivna|Rotaru|lang=Eastern Slavic}}
'''Sofia Mikhaylivna Yevdokymenko-Rotaru''' (In Ukrainian Софiя Михайлiвна Євдокименко-Ротару), professionally known as '''Sofia Rotaru''' is a ] ] singer.<ref name=official>{{cite web|url=http://www.sofiarotaru.com/life/facts|title=факты (Facts)|language=Russian|publisher=Sofia Rotaru. Official site}}</ref> She is known for combining a lyrical deep rich voice, sex appeal, and social or religious themes. In ] and in the former ] her career was marked by her stage success and numerous controversies. The Russian edition of ] named her the "Queen of Pop".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rus.postimees.ee/100807/glavnaja/estonija/20654.php|title=The Pop Queen celebrated her 60th Anniversary as a queen should | work=Postimees| accessdate=2007-08-10}}</ref> Sofia Rotaru is one of the best paid singers in the world and the best paid singer in Ukraine. In 2008, she declared the highest revenue in the country, which is significantly higher than 500 million ] (about ]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dengi-ua.com/news/39082.html|title=Sofia Rotaru declared the highest revenue for 2008 |datepublished=2008-07-20| work=Деньги.ua, ООО ИД Украинский Медиа Холдинг| accessdate=2008-07-23}}</ref>
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}


{{Infobox musical artist
In 1986, she was the second female pop singer to receive the prestigious title of "]" and in 2000 she was named The Singer of the XXth Century. Today Sofia Rotaru is a Citizen of ] and a Meritorious Citizen of ] and ]. Her repertoire consists of more than 400 songs performed in the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] languages. The city of Yalta is her main residence, although she also lives in ], ], and ]. She has received numerous awards, including: Meritorious Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, ], People's Artist of Moldavian SSR, ], Laureate of the YCL Prize, Hero of Moldova, and Cavalier of the Republican Order of Moldova. in August 2002 Former ] ] and ] ] gave awards to Sofia Rotaru (for her 55th birthday), bestowing upon her the high rank of the ] for her "outstanding personal merits in the sphere of art",<ref></ref> and the Russian ] "For merits before the Nation", respectively. While Sofia Rotaru commonly goes by her last name, her official last name is ''Yevdokymenko-Rotaru'' ({{lang-ua|Євдокименко-Ротару}}). Yevdokymenko was the surname of her late husband.
| background = person

| honorific_prefix =
== Early life and career ==
| name = Sofia Rotaru

| honorific_suffix =
On August 7, 1947 Sofia Rotaru was born in a family of brigadiers and wine-growers. She was the second child in a family of six children, in ] ]. Because a passport office employee accidentally wrote her passport birthdate as August 9, Sofia Rotaru celebrates her birthday twice.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rian.ru/review/20070807/70501136.html |title=Sofia Rotaru was almost excluded from pioneers for singing|date=2007-08-07 |accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref> At different times, the village where Sofia was born belonged to Kievan Rus', Austro-Hungary, Turkey and Romania, which is the reason why her first and last names have been spelled differently. In the titles of the first musical movie where she starred, ], Sofia's last name appears as Rotar'. Her first name was spelled as Sofiya in the earlier films. Edita Piekha advised Sofia to spell her last name in the Moldavia way with a "u" at the end. In fact, the newly found stage name was an old forgotten one. In translation from Moldavian, Rotaru means "wheel maker". Aurica Rotaru, Meritorious Artist of Ukraine has said:
| image = Sofia Rotaru 2011.jpg
{{quote|No, no one has imagined this, this is related to the fact that the village where we were born belonged at a certain time to Romania, this was territory of Romania. Right after the war, this territory was joined to Ukraine and my father was summoned to the military registration and enlistment office and was told that the Moldavian family name should be changed into a Russian one. The letter "u" was taken away and instead Rotaru we got Rotar' with the ]. This is how all of us got the family name Rotar'. But indeed, the right last name is - Rotaru...<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.podrobnosti.ua |title=Sofia Rotaru - secrets of her success|date=2008-01-26 |accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref>}}
| caption = Rotaru in 2011

| native_name = {{nobold|Софія Ротару}}
Sofia's father spent the entire ] as a ] with the army and traveled all the way to ]. Injured, he returned home only in 1946, and was the first one to enter the ] in the ]. Sofia's older sister, Zina, was born on October 11, 1942. As a child Zina endured severe illness and went blind. Zina possessed perfect pitch and easily memorized new songs so she taught Sofia many folk songs and became a second mother for her sister, as well as a dear teacher. Sofia Rotaru said: "We all learned from her - what a musical memory, what soul!". Zina spent hours listening to the radio and learned numerous songs, as well as the Russian language, which she later taught to her brothers and sisters. At home, the Rotaru family spoke only ]. Sofia helped her mother and oldest sister Zina with housekeeping, the education of her younger brothers and sisters, and in the mornings by going to the local market to sell home-grown products. "Mother would wake me up early in the morning, but I really wanted to sleep. Then she said: `Who will be the one to help me?'. I was sleeping while on the road. We were at the destination at six in the morning. We had to take our place in advance on the market, display all the products. Only when the sales started, I was getting awake. I was interested. We always had a queue in front of our stand, as our mother was a clean, known and waited seller. She had her permanent customers." Sofia Rotaru does not negotiate at the market: "It's a hell of a work, don't even dare" - she said to her husband. Later, the film ] has an autobiographical plot, where Sofia Rotaru is shown ] a cow.
| native_name_lang = uk

| alias =
As a young child, Sofia Rotaru practiced light athletics, all-round (competitions), and participated in the regional olympiads. She won the oblast spartakiada in Chernivtsi in the cross-country running for 100 and 800 meters. Later in movies she herself performed without stunt doubles in the movie ] where she drove a motorcycle on a narrow pier in the middle of the sea, and also in ], where she plays the role of a ] who has fallen in love at sea.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|8|7|df=yes}}

| birth_place = ], ], ]
The musical talents of Rotaru became apparent very early. Rotaru started singing from the first grade in the school choir, as well as in the church choir, however the latter was not accepted by the school officials and she was even threatened with exclusion from the pioneers communist youth organization. Young Sofia was attracted by the theatre. She practiced in organised drama classes and also sang popular folkloric songs in vocal classes. In the evenings, when the kerosene lamp went out in the house, she used to take the only ] at school and hide in the barn trying to find the proper melodies for her most loved Moldavian songs. Sofia Rotaru has said:
| origin =
{{quote|"It is difficult to say, when and how did the music appear in my life. It seems that it has always lived in me. I grew up among music, it was playing everywhere: at a wedding table, at klatches, at girls' winter evening gatherings, on the dance floor..."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.peoples.ru/art/music/stage/rotaru/ |title=Sofia Rotaru - International United Biographical Centre|date=2006-10-07 |accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref>}}
| genre = {{flat list|
Her first teacher was her father who enjoyed singing as he was young, possessing a perfect musical pitch and nice voice. Sofia Rotaru learned at school to play bayan and ], participated in amateur art activities,and performed with concerts in nearby villages. She was especially fond of house concerts. All six children of Myhail Fedorovich, Sofia Rotaru's father, made up a choir. It was from this environment that she drew the most human, the most deep and sincere notes for her future songs. Later, at festivals and competitions, Sofia Rotaru sang as if she were born with this music, charming all with her heartfelt intonations and unique voice. Her father believed in the bright future of his daughter. He always said: "Sofia will become an artist". His belief gave Rotaru strength to overcome all doubts in her vocation.
* ]

* ]
== 1962–1964: Career start and Ukrainian pop-folk ==
* ]

* ]
Sofia Rotaru first became successful in 1962. Her victory at a vocal competition of amateur performers opened the door to a regional review. Because of her enchanting voice her fellow countrymen called Sofia the "Bukovinian Nightingale". Indeed the voice of the young singer was amazing with striking strength and width and also, unusual richness. Sofia has an ] voice and has performed such opera masterpieces as "Bésame mucho" in ] (the song was released in the Compilation "]"). Sofia Rotaru was the first pop singer to sing in ], later singing also ], ] and ] compositions, such as the song "]".
* ]

}}
In 1963 in Chernivtsi she won the first degree diploma at the regional amateur art review.
| occupation = Singer-songwriter, record producer, film producer, fashion designer, dancer, actress

| instrument = Vocals
As a winner, she was sent to Kiev to participate in the Republican festival of popular talents (1964). Again Rotaru won the first prize award but now in Ukrainian capitol. On this occasion her picture made the cover of a magazine "Ukraine" № 27 in 1965. The photo played an important role in her personal life, since when the picture was seen by Anatoliy Evdokimenko, her future husband, he immediately fell in love with her. After this competition, the People's Artist of USSR, ], said to his fellow countrymen: "This is your future celebrity. Remember my words."
| discography =

| years_active = 1968–present
After the victory at the Republican competition and graduation from school, Rotaru decided to become a singer and entered the vocal-conductor department of the Chernivtsi Musical College, since there was no vocal department.
| label =

| current_member_of =
In 1964 Sofia Rotaru performed for the first time on the stage of the ]. At the same time, ] was a young soldier from ] serving his military duty in ], ]. He was the son of a conductor and a teacher "with only music in his head" (as noted by Sofia's mother to her daughter). Anatoliy Evdokimenko had graduated from a musical high school, was playing ], and planning to create his own band. His military division received a copy of "Ukraine" magazine with a picture of a beautiful young lady, Sofia, on the cover. He saw the picture, returned and started searching for her. As a student at the ] and a ] in the student pop orchestra he helped Sofia discover the pop orchestra. In fact, before this, Sofia Rotaru used for her musical background ]s and ]. Today, in her concert programmes and tours Sofia Rotaru leaves an important place for folk songs in modern remakes, including the rap song ("]" released in 2006 with ]. The first pop song performed by Sofia Rotaru was "]" by ].
| past_member_of = ]

| spouse = {{marriage|]|1968|2002|end=died}}
==1968–1973: International recognition==
| partner = <!-- (unmarried long-term partner) -->

| website = {{URL|http://www.sofiarotaru.com/}}
{{listen
| module = {{Infobox person
| filename = Sofiarotarucircusindialive.ogg
| title = "Circus" (1982) | embed = yes
| title = [[Hero of USSR
| description = "Circus" was performed live at the ] dring the Indian Tour
]] {{small|(2002)}} <br />] {{small|(1988)}}
| format = ]
| filename2 = Sofia Rotaru - Immensita.ogg | awards = {{plainlist|
* ] {{small|(Moldova)}}
| title2 = "L'Immensità"
* ] {{small|(Moldova, 2nd class)}}
| description2 =
* ] {{small|(Ukraine, 1st and 3rd class)}}
| format2 = ]
* ] {{small|(Russia)}}
| filename3 = Sofia Rotaru - Wer liebe sucht.ogg
* ] {{small|(Soviet Union)}}
| title3 = "Wer Liebe sucht"
* ] {{small|(Soviet Union)}}
| description3 = This and other German and Italian songs were to be released in the LP giant album in Germany, which was forbidden by the Soviet administration
}}
| format3 = ]
}}
}} }}
'''Sofiia Mykhailivna Yevdokymenko-Rotaru''' ({{née|'''Rotaru'''}}; {{langx|uk|Софі́я Миха́йлівна Рота́ру}} {{IPA|uk|soˈfijɐ roˈtɑrʊ|}}; {{langx|ru|Софи́я Миха́йловна Рота́ру}}; born 7 August 1947), known simply as '''Sofia Rotaru''', is a Ukrainian ] singer of Romanian origin.


Rotaru, nicknamed "Bukovinsky Solovey" ("the Nightingale from ]"),<ref name=www.peoples.ru>{{cite web|url=http://www.peoples.ru/art/music/stage/rotaru/|title=Sofia Rotaru|publisher=biograph.ru|language=ru}}</ref> emerged in 1966 as a pop folk star in the movie '']'' (Nightingale from ]) in the Romanian and Moldovian-speaking world after her manager and future husband ] made her change her music style from folk to pop music<ref name=official>{{cite web|url=http://www.sofiarotaru.com/life/interview/interview:jornal_vogue_2003|title=Sofia Rotaru profile|language=ru|publisher=vogue.ru|access-date=27 June 2015}}</ref> with ].
In 1968, after graduation form the college, Sofia Rotaru was a delegate to the IX World Festival of Youth and Students in ], as a member of the artistic group. At the festival she won the Golden Medal and the First Prize in the competition of singers of folk popular songs. Bulgarian newspapers were full of headlines: "21-year old Sofia has conquered ]" (Sofia is also a city name). Her performances of the Ukrainian folk pop song "Standing on the Stone", Moldavian "I Love Spring", "Steppe" of A. Pashkevich, and "Valentina" of G. Gheorghite were so popular that she dominated the headlines. The latter song was dedicated to the first woman cosmonaut, Hero of the USSR ], who was present in the concert hall. The jury president ], said of Rotaru: "This is a singer with great future..."


In 1972, she released the multilingual{{which|date=November 2023}} album '']'', re-released three times and covered by numerous singers, establishing herself as a viable pop artist in the countries of the former Soviet Union. She first gained international recognition after participating in 1968 in the International Youth Song Festival in Bulgaria<ref name="Senator Federal Analytical Magazine">{{cite web|url=http://senat.org/Russia-Bulgaria/Sofia-Rotaru.html|title=Sofia Rotaru Moya Krestnaya|language=ru|publisher=www.senat.org|access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref> and winning first prize at the ] in 1973 and second prize in the category of Polish songs at the ] in 1974.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fortuna-rotaru.narod.ru/compozit/ivasuc/ivasuk1.htm|script-title=ru:Бессмертная тень великих душ|language=ru|author=Прасковья Нечаева|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816144207/http://fortuna-rotaru.narod.ru/compozit/ivasuc/ivasuk1.htm|archive-date=2011-08-16}}</ref> In the former USSR her career was marked by her stage success and numerous controversies. She has been acknowledged <ref name="Senator Federal Analytical Magazine"/> by the ].<ref name="rumyn">{{cite web|url=http://podrobnosti.ua/|title=Новости дня на сайте podrobnosti.ua|website=podrobnosti.ua|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tden.ru/articles/stars/012749|script-title=ru:Софию Ротару наградили высшим церковным орденом|work=]|date=3 May 2007|access-date=1 March 2008|language=ru|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516114735/http://www.tden.ru/articles/stars/012749/|archive-date=16 May 2007}}</ref>
In 1968 Sofia Rotaru married Anatoliy Evdokimenko, who at that time was a student of Chernivtsi University and a trumpet player in a student pop band.


Rotaru has been performing for more than 40 years,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rotarusofia.ru/news/events/event-7-dne.htm|title=София Ротару стала лидером 100 самых популярных исполнителей|work=2004|access-date=12 February 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628224348/http://www.rotarusofia.ru/news/events/event-7-dne.htm|archive-date=28 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.russianamerica.com/common/arc/story.php/241372?id_cr=104|title=Россияне любят больше всего Софию Ротару|work=2005|access-date=12 February 2008|archive-date=15 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715215156/http://www.russianamerica.com/common/arc/story.php/241372?id_cr=104|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://romir.ru/en/news/res_results/68.html|title=Самый популярный певец России|work=2006|access-date=12 February 2008|archive-date=26 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826085806/http://romir.ru/en/news/res_results/68.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and topped the Moscow airplay with "Ya nazovu planetu imenem tvoim" in 2008.<ref>, rma.ru; accessed 9 July 2015. {{in lang|ru}}</ref>
In 1971, producer Roman Alekseev shot for "Ukrtelefilm" a musical film ] about the tender and pure love of a girl from the mountains and her relationship with a man from Donetsk. The name of the film — ] — comes from the name of a flower, derived from an ancient Carpathian legend. Ruta (rue) blossoms only on the ] night, and the girl who succeeds in finding a blooming ruta will be happy in love. Sofia Rotaru was the star in that musical film. Songs of the composer V. Ivasyuk and other writers were also performed by Z. Zinkevich, N. Yaremchuk and other singers. The film enjoyed a significant success. After the film was released in the cinemas, Sofia Rotaru received an invitation to work in the Chernivtsi Philharmonic Society and to create her own band (ensemble), whose name appeared by itself - "]".


She reported the highest income of all celebrities in Ukraine in 2008 and 2010.<ref>, segodnya.ua; accessed 9 July 2015. {{in lang|uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dengi-ua.com/news/39082.html|title=Sofia Rotaru declared highest earning celeb in Moldova in 2008|date=20 July 2008|work=Деньги.ua, ООО ИД Украинский Медиа Холдинг|access-date=23 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|script-title=uk:Ротару задекларировала самые высокие доходы в Молдове за 2008 год|author=The Russian News & Information Agency RIA Novosti|url=http://rian.com.ua/economy/20080718/77966106.html|agency=]|publisher=RIA Novosti Ukraine|location=]|date=18 July 2008|page=1|access-date=18 July 2009|language=uk|trans-title=Sofia Rotaru declared highest earning celeb in Russia in 2008|quote=Народная артистка России София Ротару задекларировала самые высокие доходы за 2008 год, сообщил заместитель председателя государственной налоговой администрации России Сергей Лекарь на брифинге в пятницу. При этом, он не уточнил задекларированную сумму, но добавил, что наибольший доход значительно превышает 500 миллионов (рублей ) (около 100 миллионов долларов).}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|script-title=ru:Евроремонт для "Евровидения"|author=Staff|url=http://kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=915810|agency=]|publisher=Журнал «Деньги» № 29 (684)|location=Moscow|date=28 July 2008|page=1|access-date=11 November 2009|language=ru|trans-title=Sofia Rotaru declared highest earning celeb in Moldova in 2008|quote=Певица София Ротару задекларировала самые высокие доходы в Молдове за 2007 год, сообщил заместитель председателя государственной налоговой администрации Молдовы Сергей Лекарь. Он не уточнил задекларированную сумму, но отметил, что доход народной артистки Украины "значительно превышает 500 млн гривен" (около $100 млн). Также он сообщил, что по итогам прошлого года 360 украинцев задекларировали доход более 10 млн гривен (около $2 млн). Подобные декларации за 2006 год подали 200 граждан Украины. Более 1 млрд гривен дохода за прошлый год на Украине никто официально не получил. Зампред государственной налоговой администрации отметил, что высокие доходы декларируют футболисты, боксеры, артисты.}}</ref><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002224201/http://www.rynok.biz/a/2009/09/25/Rejting_samih_uspeshnih_uk|date=2 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vlasti.net/news/62098# |title=Фокус: 25 самых успешных и дорогих звезд украинского шоу-бизнеса и спорта / |website=Vlasti.net |date=2015-12-28 |access-date=2016-01-04}}</ref><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413185345/http://music.itop.net/Articles/1444|date=13 April 2010}}</ref>
As a result of collaboration with the composer ], an entire cycle of songs was created, based on the folkloric material with characteristic, for the 60's - 70's, usage of instruments and arrangements. This brought Rotaru enormous popularity in Ukraine. She also became the most popular artist in the Soviet Union since the authorities eagerly promoted and popularised her art as an example of international Soviet culture since she was an ethnic Moldavian who was singing songs in the Moldavian, Romanian, Ukrainian and Russian languages. Also, she shared sincere emotions with many millions of diverse fans. Consequently Rotaru had a permanent place on the radio, television, and in concerts.


Her repertoire consists of more than 40 albums and 400 songs recorded in many languages. She has received awards, deemed a Meritorious Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, ], People's Artist of Moldavian SSR, Laureate of the Young Communist League Prize, Hero of Moldova, and Cavalier of the Republican Order of Moldova. In August 2002 former ] ] and ] ] gave awards to Sofia Rotaru for her 55th birthday, bestowing upon her the high rank of the ] for her "outstanding personal merits in the sphere of art", and the Russian ] "For merits before the Nation", respectively.<ref name="ukraine-hero"/>
In 1972, Sofia Rotaru and the band "Chervona Ruta" participated in a tour in Poland with the programme "Songs and Dances of the Country of Soviets".


Rotaru's official surname is ''Yevdokymenko-Rotaru'' ({{langx|uk|Євдокименко-Ротару}}). Yevdokymenko was the surname of her late husband. ] is her main residence, although she also has homes in Moscow, ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.interfax.ru/russia/6605|title=Ротару откроет в Ялте гостиницу "София"|date=28 March 2008|website=Interfax.ru|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref>
In 1973, in Burgas (Bulgaria) she entered the competition for "Golden Orpheus". Rotaru received the First Prize, performing the song "My City" of E. Doga and a song in the Bulgarian language "Bird" by T. Rusev and D. Demiyanov. Also, in 1973 she received the title of the Meritorious Artist of the Ukrainian SSR. Later, the songs which she performed in the Moldavian language, "Codru" and "My City", became soundtracks for the film "Spring Accords". The song "My City" was chosen as the laureate of the festival "Song-73".


==Early life==
In 1973 for the first time she entered the final competition for the festival Song of the Year.
Sofia Rotaru, who comes from the ], was born in ] (''Marșenița''), ] to a family of brigadiers and wine-growers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sofia Rotaru, la 65 de ani: "Am făcut mămăligă!"|work=Apropo Magazin|url=http://apropomagazin.md/2012/08/14/sofia-rotaru-la-65-de-ani-%E2%80%9Eam-facut-mamaliga%E2%80%9D/|language=ro|date=14 August 2012|access-date=21 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sofia Rotaru a venit în Republica Moldova împreună cu sora ei|publisher=apropomagazin.md|url=http://apropomagazin.md/2014/05/22/sofia-rotaru-a-venit-in-rm-impreuna-cu-sora-ei-poate-ramanem-la-chisinau-videofoto/|language=ro|date=22 May 2014|access-date=19 June 2014}}</ref> Marshyntsi is a village of ] (''Noua Suliță''), close to the border with ], and the majority of its population is Romanophone (]-speaking). She was the second child in a family of six children. Her siblings are Zina, Lidia, Aurica, Eugen and Anatol.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cântecul rămâne cu ea!|work=]|url=http://www.jc.md/cantecul-ramane-cu-ea/|language=ro|author=Aurel V. Zgheran|date=5 August 2013|access-date=26 March 2015}}</ref> A passport office employee misreported her birthdate on her passport as 9 August; as a result, Rotaru reportedly celebrates her birthday twice.


Her father, Mykhail Fedorovich Rotaru, spent ] as a heavy ] and traveled to ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.podvignaroda.ru/?n=29849174|title=Подвиг народа|website=www.podvignaroda.ru|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref> Injured, he returned home only in 1946, and was the first person to join the ] in the village. Her older sister, Zinaida ("Zina"), was born on 11 October 1942. Zina endured severe childhood illness and went blind, but possessed perfect pitch and easily memorized new songs, so she taught Sofia folk songs. Sofia said of her elder sister: "We all learned from her – what a musical memory, what a soul!". Zina spent hours listening to the radio and learned numerous songs, as well as the Russian language, which she later taught to her brothers and sisters. At home, the Rotaru family spoke only ]. As a child, Sofia participated in regional competitions of ] and running.
==1974–1979: New authors and Moldavian lyricism ==


She started singing from the first grade in the school choir, as well as in the church choir. However, the latter was not acceptable to the school officials. Hence, she was threatened with an exclusion from the ] organization. Rotaru was attracted by the theatre. She practiced in drama classes and sang popular folk songs in vocal classes. In the evenings, she used to take the only ] at school and hide in the barn trying to find the proper melodies for her most loved Moldavian songs. Rotaru said:{{quote|"It is difficult to say, when and how did the music appear in my life. It seems that it has always lived in me. I grew up among music, it was playing everywhere: at a wedding table, at klatches, at girls' winter evening gatherings, on the dance floor..."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peoples.ru/art/music/stage/rotaru|title=Sofia Rotaru – International United Biographical Centre|date=7 October 2006|access-date=22 February 2008}}</ref>}}
In 1974 Sofia Rotaru graduated from the Chisianu Art Institute "G. Muzicescu" and became the winner of the Festival "Amber Nightingale" in Sopot, Poland, where she performed "Remembrance" by B. Rychkov, and "Vodogray" by V. Ivasyuk. She received the Second Prize for her performance of a Polish song from the repertoire of Halina Forntskovyak, "Someone" (Russian text by A. Demenitieva).


==Career==
In 1975, she became the soloist of the Crimean Philharmonic Society.
===1962–1964: Career start and Ukrainian pop-folk===
Rotaru's victory at a vocal competition of amateur performers opened the door to a regional review in 1962. In 1963 in Chernivtsi, she earned a first degree diploma at the regional amateur art review. In 1964, she won the all-republic festival of popular talents in Kyiv. On this occasion her picture made it on the cover of No. 27 of the magazine ''Ukraine'' in 1965. After graduation from high school, Rotaru decided to become a singer and entered the vocal and conductor department of the Chernivtsi Musical College. In addition, she took lessons at ] from the famed singer and actress ]. In 1964, Rotaru performed at the ]. The first pop song she performed was "Mama" by Alexander Bronevitskiy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.russianamerica.com/common/arc/story.php/241372?id_cr=104|title=Россияне больше всех певиц любят Софию Ротару, а москвичи - Валерию, Жанну Фриске и Алсу, Вокруг света|website=www.russianamerica.com|access-date=17 December 2018|archive-date=15 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715215156/http://www.russianamerica.com/common/arc/story.php/241372?id_cr=104|url-status=dead}}</ref>


===1968–1973: International recognition===
In 1976, due to persecutions of the Rotaru family for celebrating religious holidays (Christmas), Sofia moved from Chernivtsi to ], transferring from the Chernivtsi Philharmonic Society to the Crimean Philharmonic Society.
In 1968, after graduation from college, Rotaru performed as a delegate of the IX World Festival of Youth and Students in ], as a member of an artistic group. She won First Prize in the competition of singers of folk popular songs. Bulgarian newspapers were full of headlines: "21-year old Sofia has conquered Sofia". Her performances of the Ukrainian folk pop song "Na kameni stoyu" (Standing on the Stone), Moldavian folk pop songs and "Valentina" by Gheorghite made headlines. The latter song was dedicated to the first female ] ],<ref name="АФ">{{cite web|url=http://www.aif.ru/archive/1626059|title=Три мифа о Софии Ротару|date=6 March 2002|website=www.aif.ru|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref> who was present in the concert hall. In 1968, Rotaru married Anatoliy Yevdokymenko, who at that time was a student at Chernivtsi University and a trumpet player in a student pop band.


In 1971, producer Roman Alekseev shot a ] '']'' for Ukrtelefilm. The plot was about the tender and pure love of a girl from the mountains (played by Rotaru) and her relationship with a man from the industrial city of ]. The name of the film means ], a flower derived from an ancient ] ]. Rue blossoms only on ] and the girl who succeeds in finding a blooming rue will be happy in love. Songs of the composer ] and other writers were co-performed by Zinkevich, Yaremchuk and other singers. The film enjoyed significant success. After the film was released, Rotaru received an offer to work in the Chernivtsi Philharmonic Society and with a backing ensemble called ]. Anatoliy Yevdokymenko, Rotaru's husband, became the artistic director of the ensemble.<ref name="АФ"/>
After the tragic death of Volodymyr Ivasyuk in 1979, a number of songs by Moldavian composers appeared in her repertoire (namely, songs by the brothers Teodorovici). By that time Sofia Rotaru had ceased collaboration with Moldavian authors, primarily Eugene Doga. The latter, actively created rumors that the voice of Sofia Rotaru was created note by note on a computer. Singing in different languages became the source of fierce arguments regarding which culture Sofia Rotaru belonged - Moldavian or Ukrainian. She was also considered as a "fellow" in Russia, and in Armenia the question was debated whether to award her with the Meritorious Artist of Armenian SSR. As the USSR collpsed in 1991, a joke became popular: during talks at ] the question was raised "how will we divide Rotaru". The singer, who always lived in the Ukraine, considered herself to be a Ukrainian citizen, while not denying her Moldavian roots.


As a result of collaborating with Volodymyr Ivasyuk, a cycle of songs was written based on the ] material in an orchestration characteristic of the 1960s and the 1970s in ]. Resulting works brought Rotaru great popularity in the Soviet Union, especially in Ukraine. This was largely due to the fact that the Soviet authorities eagerly promoted her art as an example of international Soviet culture, as she was an ethnic Moldavian/Romanian singing in Moldavian/Romanian, Ukrainian and Russian languages. Consequently, Rotaru gained regular airplay on state radio and television and was systematically billed for state-organized concerts.
Starting from the 70's, the songs performed by Sofia Rotaru always won the "Song of the Year" award. They were created in collaboration with the most talented composers and poets of the country: Arno Babadzhanyan wrote "Bring Me the Music Back"; Aleksey Mazhukov - "And the Music Plays" and "Red Arrow"; Pavel Aedonitskiy - "For Those Who Wait"; Oskar Feltsman - "Only For You"; David Tuhmanov - "Stork on the Roof", "In My House", and "Waltz"; Yuriy Saulskiy - "A Common Story" and "Autumn Melody"; Aleksandra Pahmutova - "Temp"; R. Pauls - "Dance on the Drum"; A Zatsepin - "Almost like on Earth"; V. Migulya - "Life", and others. Sofia Rotaru was the first performer of the songs of Evgueniy Martynov, such as "Swan Fidelity", "Blossoming Apples", and "Ballade About Mother". One of the superhits of the 70's and still popular, the controversial song "Motherland" is officially considered to be the first rap song ever performed. Another widely popular patriotic song, chef-d'oeuvre "Be Happy, My Earth", also caused political controversies; although both songs speak only of love for the land of one's birth, without any political propaganda or context.


In 1972, Rotaru and Chervona Ruta participated in a tour in Poland with the programme ''Pesni i tantsy Strany Sovetov'' (Songs and Dances of the Country of Soviets).
==1980–1985: Actress' ascension and new art unions==
In 1980 in ] Sofia Rotaru won First Prize at the International Song Festival for her performance of the ] song "Promise" and she received the "]".


In the same year Sofia Rotaru collaborated with ], performing the Ukrainian version of his hit from the 60s L'immensità - "Syzokrylyi ptakh".
The singer continued to experiment and appeared for the first time among Soviet pop female singers while wearing ], as part of her costume on the stage, and performed a ] style song "Tempo" with music composed by ] and lyrics written by ]. The songs "Tempo" and "Waiting" were specially written for the ], which took place in ] and became part of the ].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.kp.md/freshissue/culture/182186 |title=A new well was opened in Kishinev for Sofia Rotaru!| work=] in Moldova, 16 July 2005|accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> "Tempo" also was chosen as the soundtrack theme for the dramatic movie "]", produced by ]. In 1980, the singer received her final award for "]", performing the songs "My Land" by N. Mozgovoy and "Waiting" by ] and ].


In 1973, she received First Prize at the international contest of ] in ], Bulgaria, performing the song "Moy gorod" ("My city") and Second Prize in the category of foreign performance of a song in the Bulgarian language. In 1973, she also was awarded the Meritorious Artist of the Ukrainian SSR. Later, the songs which she performed in the Moldavian/Romanian language, "Codru" and "Moy gorod", became soundtracks for the film ''Vesenniye sozvuchiya – 73''.<ref name="imdb"/>
This period is characterised by one of the most successful film releases in the former USSR. In 1980 ] released ] starring Sofia Rotaru. The film won the Grand Prix at the Film Festval in ]. The first project name of the film was "The Year of Vocation". Among other songs, Sofia Rotaru performed the song "First Rain". She acts in the film without a stunt double, riding a motorcycle on a narrow sea embankment. According to the autobiographic plot, a village teacher is invited to join an ensemble and through the ensemble she wins the Grand Prix at an international festival with the song "Where Has Love Gone?" with music composed by ] and lyrics by ]. More than 25 million movie goers viewed the film while in cinema distribution. In 1980 the double album with songs from the film, including "Where Has Love Gone?", was released. The album included most soundtrack themes from the movie and the composers were: ], ], ], and ]. In 1980 the composition of ] "Red Arrow" became the debut of the young poet ] in the ] style. The song was forbidden on the All-Soviet Radio by the conductor of the musical ] ], because he did not like how Sofia Rotaru sang. However, since the ] of the movie had already taken place on television, it was already well known, even without radio airing. In 1981, at the XIVth All-Soviet Cinema Festival in ], the film received the jury's prize for popularisation of the singing art of Soviet composers, in the section of drama films. This movie was the first public exposure for Sofia Rotaru in dramatic cinematography. Many critics called this role "clambaked", nevertheless the film gained film viewers' respect and the soundtrack themes became legendary: "Red Arrow" (music by ], lyrics ]); "Where Has Love Gone?" (music of ], lyrics ]); and "Dance on the Drum" (music ], lyrics ]).


===1974–1979: New authors and Moldavian lyricism===
The next artistic period began with the search for a new style - rock music and the film ] with ] released in 1981, including songs by ] and ]. In ] she received the initial proposal to shoot the film with her in the leading role, but Sofia Rotaru at first refused, as she was ill. Her doctors recommended that she not participate in the movie production and furthermore the suggested that she cancel all concert performances. This initial refusal caused ] and ] to write an additional autobiographical scenario with a dramatic situation in the singer's life, experiencing a loss of voice and an opening of her soul. This was shown in a dialogue on the pier with an older man and included a reevalutaion of her values. After having seen the new rewritten scenario and new songs, written in a completely new style, Sofia Rotaru agreed to star in the movie and moreover, decided to refuse for a while all concert performances. In this way the movie became a musical drama, touching not only the private life of an artist and human relationships, but also raising the question of the artist's attitude towards her talent and the responsibility of being talented relative to her audience. ] was the partner of ] in the movie and the lyrical hero was played by a ] actor ]. The rock band was "]" - new group of Sofia Rotaru. Sofia Rotaru has said: "Producer suggested me to completely change my image, in which people used to see me on the stage. I think the movie may become a turning point in my artstic destiny. Anyway, this is an experiment, for which I am heading with joy. And as during any experiment, it is difficult to suppose how it will all end." The film experienced more than 45 million entries in the Soviet distribution. Thus, in 1981 Sofia Rotaru starred in ], where according to the producer Stefanovich, the first Soviet music video was made. In the music video Sofia Rotaru and Mashina Vremeni were dressed in golden stretchy fabrics, jumping on a trampoline but were filmed from below the net. The film was viewed by more than 40 million fans and was considered a breakthrough for Sofia Rotaru where she dropped her traditional image as a restrained and serious singer. This period was characterised by her collaborations with outstanding composers ] and ], as well as the successful composers Evgueniy Martynov, Oskar Feltsman, ], and David Tuhmanov.
In 1974, Rotaru graduated from the Chişinău Art Institute of ] in the choral conducting class with professor ] and participated in the ] in Poland, performing "Vospominaniye" (''Remembrance'') by B. Rychkov, and "Vodohrai" by Ivasjuk. She received second prize in the category of ''Polish song'' for her performance of "Ktoś" ("Someone"). In 1976, she moved from Chernivtsi to ], transferring from the Chernivtsi Philharmonic Society to the Crimean Philharmonic Society. After the death of Volodymyr Ivasyuk in 1979, a number of songs by Moldavian composers appeared in her repertoire penned by the Teodorovici brothers. By that time, Rotaru had ceased collaboration with Moldavian authors, primarily ].<ref name="АФ"/>


Rotaru's songs of the period were created in collaboration with the following composers and lyricists: ] wrote "Verni mne muzyku" (''Bring Me the Music Back''); Aleksey Mazhukov – "A muzyka zvuchit" (''But the Music Plays'') and "Krasnaya strela" (''Red Arrow''); Pavel Aedonitskiy – "Dlya tekh, kto zhdyot" (''For Those Who Wait''); ] - "Only For You"; ] – "Aist na kryshe" (''Stork on the Roof''), "V dome moyom" (''At My Home''), and "Val's" (''Waltz''); ] – "A Usual Story" and "Osennyaya melodiya" (''Autumn Melody''); ] – "Temp" (''Tempo''); ] – "Tanets na barabane" (''Dance on the Drum''); ] – "Sovsem kak na Zemle" (''Just like on Earth''); Vladimir Migulya – "Zhyzn'" (''Life''), and others.<ref name="АФ"/>
==1986–1989: New wave - europop and hard rock==


She was the first performer of ]'s songs, including "Lebedinaya vernost" ("Swan Fidelity"), "Yabloni v tsvetu" ("Blossoming Apples"), and "Ballada o materi" ("Ballad About Mother"). A patriotic song, "Shchastye tebe, Zemlya moya" ("Be Happy, My Earth"), caused some political controversy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peoples.ru/art/music/stage/rotaru/index.html|title=Россияне больше всех певиц любят Софию Ротару, а москвичи - Валерию, Жанну Фриске и Алсу, Вокруг света |website=www.peoples.ru|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref>
The Mid-80's evolved into a turning point in the creation of the singer's image. The new film "]" (1986) explored the ] of the new art. Only one song "The Water Flows" by Ihor Poklad carried on her folkloric theme and included an image of a farm girl who became a star, contrary to the previous "]" (1985).


===1980–1983: Acting career and new connections===
In 1986 she reversed her artistic direction after she collaborated with composer Valdimir Matetskiy. The relatively unknown Moscow song writer possessed a brilliant erudition and commercial feeling. He managed the transition of Rotaru to compositions in the ] style ("It Was, But It Has Gone", "Moon"), all the way to elements of ] ("My Time", "Only This Is Not Enough"). This collaboration began in 1985 with the song "Lavender", written by V. Matetskiy for the singer's duet performance with ] and it is still popular. During the next 15 years Matetskiy and his co-author, Mihail Shabrov, practically monopolized the right to collaborate with Sofia Rotaru. They produced songs, most of which became part of her concert progammes in 1990–2000, and these songs helped to establish a popular and charismatic personality for Sofia Rotaru with her unique vocal timbre. After the first collaboration many others have followed, including: "Moon, Moon", "It Was, But It Has Gone", "Wild Swans", "Golden Heart", and "My Life, My Love".
In 1980, at the international song festival held in Tokyo, Rotaru won first prize for her performance of the ]n song "Obeshchaniye" (''Promise'') and received the ]. She continued to experiment and was the first Soviet female singer to appear wearing trousers on stage. While doing this, she performed a ] style song "Temp" (''Tempo'')<ref name="АФ"/> with music composed by ] and lyrics written by Nikolay Dobronravov. The songs "Temp" and "Ozhidaniye" (''Waiting'') were specially written for the cultural programme of the ] in Moscow. The song was used as the soundtrack theme for the drama film ''Ballada o sporte'' (''Ode to sports''), produced by ]. In the same year, for her performance of "Ozhidaniye", Rotaru won the All-Union Song of the Year award.


In 1980, Rotaru starred in the leading role in a film released by ] and called '']'' (Where are you, love?). Among other songs in the film, Rotaru performed "Pervy dozhd'" (''First Rain''). The movie featured her riding a motorcycle on a narrow sea embankment without a stunt double. According to the autobiographic plot, a village teacher is invited to join an ensemble and wins the Grand Prix at an international festival with the song "Gde ty, lyubov'?". The music for the song was composed by Raimonds Pauls and lyrics by Ilya Reznik. A double album of the soundtrack was released. More than 25 million movie goers viewed the film in 1980. The title song of the film was banned from state radio by Gennadiy Cherkassov, director of the music department.
== 1990–1991: Leading Singer Among Different Cultures==


In 1981, at the XIVth All-Union Cinema Festival in ], the film received the jury's prize for popularisation of the singing art of Soviet composers, in the section of drama films. This movie was the first public exposure for Rotaru in a dramatic role. Critics lambasted the film but it garnered support from audiences and some of its themes became popular. Rotaru's next artistic period began with a new style – rock music. The film '']'' (Soul) with Rotaru's new rock band ] was released in 1981, including songs by ] and ]. As she was ill, her doctors recommended she not participate in the movie production and that she cancel all concert performances.
{{cquote|I rather owe my coming into being singer and, probably, personality, namely to those women, with whom I worked in the village. It is namely from them that I have learned to understand the sense of life. I received help in difficult moments from them - simple and magnanimous.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rian.ru/review/20070807/70501136.html |title=Sofia Rotaru has been almost excluded from pioneers for singing |date=2007-08-07 |accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref>|cquote}}


This incident caused ] and ] to write an autobiographical scenario for the film using the dramatic situation in the singer's life, characterising her loss of voice with an opening of her soul. This was shown in dialogue on a pier with an older man and included a reevaluation of her values. After having seen the new rewritten scenario and new songs, written in a completely new style, Rotaru agreed to star in the movie and decided to temporarily forego all concert performances. In 1983, Rotaru performed a national concert tour of Canada, organised by the National Concert Agency Inc. The concerts were supported by the issue of an LP, titled '']'' and released by Cansov Exchange Inc.<ref>Sofia Rotaru: Canadian Tour 1983. Cansov Exchange Inc., Toronto, 1983</ref>
Towards the end of the 80's her active touring and constant presence in top hit parades and musical charts assured that Sofia Rotaru became objectively the leader of the Soviet popular song. In 1986 she was awarded the People's Artist of the USSR, which was unique for pop singers, however this justly reflected the status of Rotaru. Sofia Rotaru has sung more than 400 songs in Russian, Moldavian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Polish, Italian, English and German languages. For 60 years of artistry she has walked a long way from an unknown Bukovynian singer to the People's Artist of three countries, whose songs became extremely popular repeated by the entire population. Many of them became classics of Ukrainian and Russian pop culture and scene.


===1985–1989: Change of style – Europop and hard rock===
At the same time, the transition to Russian language repertoire caused a certain animosity in Ukraine. Accustations in betrayal of national culture, without mentioning a general growth of nationalism, were also supported by the Soviet producer State structures, philharmonic societies, and concert companies who were losing control over the financial side of the concert and tour activity of Sofia Rotaru as a result of economic reforms. In order to avoid large scale provocations, Sofia Rotaru refused to participate in the festival "Chervona Ruta", taking place in Chernivtsi in 1989. The diminuation of proportion of Ukrainian songs was caused by the absence in Ukraine of such talented composers and poets, as Volodymyr Ivasyuk. The exceptions became the songs of N. Mozgovoy, ("Country", "The Day Passes"), A. Blizniuk ("Echo of Fidelity"), E. Rybchinsky ("The Water Flows"), Yu. Rybchinskiy ("Ball of Separated Hearts"), and R. Kvinta ("Wait", "One Guelder-Rose", "Fog"). In 1991, during a conert in Lviv, the listeners put up a poster with "Sofia, a heavy penalty is waiting for you" written on it.<ref>Lviv, as Western Ukraine, was one of the regions with strong nationalistic movements.</ref> After this, the next concert that took place in Ukraine happened only in the end of the 90's, and this only through the personal request by the President of Ukraine L. Kuchma.
The mid-1980s evolved into a turning point in the creation of the singer's image. Contrary to the previous ''Vas priglashaet Sofia Rotaru'' (Sofia Rotaru Invites You) (1985), the new film '']'' (1986) explored the aesthetics of the new art.<ref name="imdb">{{IMDb name|id=0744719|name=Sofia Rotaru}}. Retrieved 4 January 2016.</ref> Only one song, "Techët voda" (''Water Flows'') by Ihor Poklad, carried on the folk music theme, presenting an image of a farm girl who became a star.


A new collaboration began in 1985 with the song "Lavanda" (''Lavender''), written by Vladimir Matetskiy for a duet with ]n ]. In 1986, she reversed artistic direction with the relatively unknown Moscow songwriter. He managed the transition of Rotaru to a ] style ("Bylo no proshlo" (''Once It Was But Now It's Over''), "Luna" (''Moon'')), including elements of ] "Moya vremya" (''My Time''), "Tol'ko etogo malo" (''That's Not Enough''). During the next 15 years, Matetskiy and his co-author, Mikhail Shabrov, collaborated heavily with Rotaru. They produced songs, most of which became part of her concert programmes in 1990–2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://romir.ru/en/news/res_results/68.html|title=Самый популярный певец России|access-date=17 December 2018|archive-date=26 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826085806/http://romir.ru/en/news/res_results/68.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
At the same time, a new program was prepared and presented to the public in 1991. One half of it consisted of remixes of Ivasyuk's songs and other known Ukrainian composers and poets in the Ukrainian language, in particular: "Chervona Ruta", "Bird Cherry Tree", "Maple Fire", "Country", "Gray-feathered Bird", and "Yellow Leaf", which became classics of Ukrainian pop song culture, so after that similar accusations have disappeared.


===1990–1991: Among different cultures===
== 1991–2004: New Time==
The transition to a repertoire in the Russian language caused a certain amount of animosity in Ukraine. Accusations in betrayal of national culture were supported by the state producer unions, philharmonic societies, and concert companies who were losing control over the financial side of the concert and tour activity of Rotaru as a result of economic reforms.


To avoid large scale provocations, she refused to participate in the Chervona Ruta festival which took place in Chernivtsi in 1989. The diminution of proportion of Ukrainian songs was caused by the absence of high-quality lyrics in Ukrainian. Rare exceptions included the songs of ], "]" (''Homeland''), "Minaie den'" (''Day Passes''); Blizniuk, "Vidlunnia virnosti" (''Echo of Fidelity);'' Rybchinskyi, "Bal razluchennykh serdets" (''Ball of Separate Hearts''); and Kvinta, "Chekai" (''Wait''), "Odna kalyna" (''Lone ]''), "Tuman" (''Fog'').
<!-- Deleted image removed: ] -->After the collapse of the USSR and commercialisation of the musical space, Sofia Rotaru has kept her top positions on the market and has a stable public, including Russian speaking diaspora in Europe, USA, Australia and Israel.
In 2000 Sofia Rotaru was named the Best Ukrainian Pop Singer of XXth Century. In 2001 Sofia Rotaru performed in a new soloist concert program "My Life - My Love". To the expression of 70's were added the lyricism of 80's, drive of 90's and the present play of half tones, on which Rotaru-producer Rotaru-singer has built her programme, uniting new songs and hits of previous years, read this time in a new manner. Many of her songs, independently how long ago they were sung for the first time, cannot be qualified as "retro" format, since they continue to live in every new concert program for the singer. In 2002 Sofia Rotaru was awarded the title "Hero of Ukraine".


In 1991, during a concert in ], some people from the audience put up a poster in Ukrainian, translating into: "Sofia, a heavy penalty is waiting for you". Due to the incident, Rotaru did not perform in Ukraine until the end of the 1990s, after a personal request by the ] ].<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802085951/http://www.trumptaj.com/photos/index.cfm |date=2012-08-02 }}</ref> At the same time, Rotaru prepared a new concert program, presented to the public in 1991.
After heavy losses, related to the death of her husband, for many years producer and artistic director of programs Anatoliy Evdokimenko, of her mother and father, Rotaru had stopped for a certain time her active touring activity. Twice Sofia Rotary went to the monastery after the death of her husband.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.newsru.com/religy/07jun2007/rotaru.html |title=Sofia Rotaru went twice to monastery|date=2007-08-07 |accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref> Following several months of mourning after his death, Rotaru resumed her feverish concert and recording activity and again topped the Russian, Ukrainian and Moldavian charts.


===1991–2004: New times===
The new period of her creation started in 2003 with performances in the concert hall "Russia" in Moscow, dedicated to the opening of the star monument named Sofia Rotaru on the alley in front of the hall. The main authors working with Rotaru became composers Ruslan Kvinta ("One Guelder-Rose"), Oleg Makarevich ("White Dance") and Constantine Meladze ("I Loved Him", "One in the World"), as well as poet Vitaliy Kurovskiy.
After the collapse of the USSR<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pesnyagoda.my1.ru/1985_87.html|title=ПЕСНЯ ГОДА. 1985-87|website=pesnyagoda.my1.ru|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref> and commercialisation of post-Soviet music, Rotaru has kept her top position in the market and has a stable public, including the Russian speaking diaspora in Europe, USA, Australia and Israel. In 2000 Rotaru was named the Best Ukrainian Pop Singer of the Twentieth Century. In 2001 Rotaru performed in a new solo concert program ''Zhyzn' moya – moya lyubov''' (My Life Is My Love). The programme blended new songs with the hits of the previous years in a new manner. In 2002 Sofia Rotaru was awarded the title "Hero of Ukraine".


After the death of her husband in 2002, and the loss of her parents, Rotaru stopped touring for a period and joined a ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsru.com/religy/07jun2007/rotaru.html|title=Sofia Rotaru went twice to monastery|date=7 August 2007|access-date=22 February 2008}}</ref> Following several months of mourning, Rotaru resumed her concert and recording activities and topped the Russian, Ukrainian and Moldavian charts again.
In 2004, after a four year break, Sofia Rotaru gave two major soloist concerts in the United States, in Chicago and in Atlantic City, where she performed on the stage of one of the most prestigious hall - . In 2001, the US tour was cancelled because the sound operator could not obtain visa. Twice the popularity of Sofia Rotaru was abused in the USA by enterpreneurs who without permission of the singer announced Sofia Rotaru's concerts in the most prestigious concert halls of the US for her concerts and successfully sold tickets.


During this time, appear new albums: "For the Only One" (2003) (with new songs and arrangements in Ukrainian and Moldavian languages), dedicated to the memory of her deceased husband, "Sky - It's Me" (2004), "I Loved Him" (2005), compilations "Snow Queen" (2003), "Fall of the Leaves" (2003), "Lavanda, Hutoryanka fartherm everywhere" (2005), "Fog" (2007). A new period started in 2003 with performances in the ''Koncertny Zal "Rossiya"'' of Moscow, dedicated to the opening of her statue in front of the hall. Composers working with Rotaru included Ruslan Kvinta ("Odna kalyna"), Oleg Makarevič ("Bely tanets") and ] ("Ya zhe yego lyubila" and "Odin na svete"), as well as lyricist Vitalij Kurovskij. She released the following albums: '']'' (''For the Only One'', 2003; with new songs and arrangements in Ukrainian and Moldavian/Romanian languages), dedicated to the memory of her late husband ("]" ("Heaven It's Me", 2004), and "]" ("Didn't I Love Him", 2005).


== 2007–today: 60th Anniversary== ===2007–2016: 60th Birthday ===
In 2007, she celebrated her 60th birthday. Hundreds of fans, as well as artists and politicians, came to Yalta to congratulate the singer. The President of Ukraine awarded Sofia Rotaru with the II Degree Order for Merits. Her official reception and birthday party took place at the ] in Yalta, in the presence of the ], the ] and the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.karavanlubvirotaru.narod.ru/|title=КАРАВАН ЛЮБВИ|website=www.karavanlubvirotaru.narod.ru|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref> The event was covered live by Ukrainian and Russian state TV channels. Celebrations for her birthday continued into September in ], where one of the young performers' music festival days, called "Five Stars", was dedicated to Rotaru. In October 2007, more birthday concerts took place in Moscow, at the State ], featuring Russian singers performing her songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sofiarotaru.blog.cz/|title=София Ротару|website=sofiarotaru.blog.cz|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref>
2006 and 2007 were busy for Rotaru. Three albums were released: '']'' (''Fog'') in Eastern Europe, and two albums exclusively for the German market, '']'' (You Are My Heart) and ''Kakaya na serdtse pogoda'' (What's the Weather Like in the Heart). The year included participation in numerous TV shows and concert programmes and a documentary made for Ukrainian TV. A Russian Anniversary Tour lasted from March until June 2007. Another TV musical show, ''Krasota Trebuet'' (''Beauty Requires''), with Rotaru singing the song "Lavanda" ("Lavender"), premiered on 8 March 2008.<ref name="imdb"/>


=== Anniversary Tour (2012 – 2013) ===
] from different parts of the world to congratulate the singer. President of Ukraine awarded Sofia Rotaru with the II Degree Order for Merits. Official reception and birthday party took place at the famous ] (]), where this time for a festivity, again three Presidents were invited (Russia, Ukraine and Moldova). The event was covered live by Ukrainian and Russian major TV channels. Celebrations in honour of her anniversary continued in September in ], where at the song festival of young performers "Five Stars", one of the competition days was completely dedicated to the art of Sofia Rotaru. Young performers sang Sofia Rotaru's hits. In October 2007, the ] took place in ], at the State ], in which also took part popular Russian singers who all sang hits earlier performed by Sofia Rotaru: ], ], ], Lev Leshchenko, Nadezhda Babkina, ], Anzhelika Varum, ], Masha Rasputina, ], and others and Ukrainian singers: ], ], ], Potap & Nastya Kamenskih, ] and others.


=== 2017–present ===
At present time Sofia Rotaru leads an active touring activity, participates in collective concerts and TV shows and musicals. She is in perfect physical and vocal shape, possesses enormous authority with Ukrainian and Russian musical circles.
In 2022, she condemned the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.


==Politics==
After a busy year 2007, where one album "]" was released in Eastern Europe and two albums ]" and "What's the Weather Like in Your Heart" in Germany for Western European market, participation in numerous TV shows and concert programmes the film made about her on Ukrainian TV channel "]", she took a one month break in January which made place for a lot of rumours ranging from illness to car and airplane crash. At present, Sofia Rotaru is preparing for an all Russian ] starting from March till June 2007. A new TV musical show was filmed with Sofia Rotaru and will be aired on 8 March.
{{Listen
|pos=right
|filename = Sofiarotarurodina.ogg
|title = "Rodina" (''Motherland'') (original version)
|description = "Rodina", a controversial song by Rotaru}}


Rotaru does not support any particular political ideology. Nevertheless, her multicultural identity has both helped and harmed her. Soviet authorities, persecuting her family for celebrating Christmas,<ref>, kp.ru; accessed 27 June 2015.</ref> simultaneously lauded her as the top singer of the USSR. The German press wrote about her as "The ] of the Soviet Union". Some of her albums were recorded in Germany. After recording "]" (''Immensity'') in Italian, and "]" (''Who's Looking for Love'') ("Deine Zärtlichkeit" (''Your Tenderness''), "Es muss nicht sein" (''It Mustn't Be''), and "Nachts, wenn die Nebel ziehen" (''At Night When the Fog Spreads'') in German, ] proposed releasing a larger studio album with these and other songs in French and English, and launching a concert tour in Western Europe.
The repertoire of Sofia Rotaru counts more than 400 performed songs.


However, a directive came from the Soviet government (Goskontsert)<ref name="text.newlookmedia.ru">, newlookmedia.ru; accessed 27 June 2015.</ref> to sing only Soviet songs. Thus, only the initial single was released "]". The concert administration of the USSR prohibited her from leaving the USSR between 1983 and 1988. This interdiction was put in effect after the 1983 tour in Canada and the release of her ] album.<ref name="text.newlookmedia.ru"/>
== Politics ==
<!-- Deleted image removed: ] -->
{{multi-listen item|filename=Sofiarotarurodina.ogg|title="My Motherland" (original version)|description=Song "My motherland", considered as first Soviet rap song and caused ambiguous interpretations.|format=]}}


During the ] in Ukraine, Rotaru, together with her family, sent food packages to people who came to the '']'', regardless of their ]. In 2006 Rotaru took active part in ], balloting for the deputy chair as a second number in the list of ]'s political formation ]; however, the bloc could not gather enough votes to enter Parliament, one of the major surprises of the elections. She held an all-Ukrainian charitable campaign tour the same year. Rotaru cited her personal trust of Lytvyn and his steadiness, as well as her own interest in lobbying for arts issues in Ukraine. As a Crimean resident, she refused ] following Russia's ].<ref>, rosbalt.ru; accessed 21 June 2015.{{in lang|ru}}</ref>
Sofia Rotaru does not support any particular political ideology. Nevertheless, her multicultural identity served both for and against her. Soviet authorities, persecuting her family for celebration of Christmas, represented her at the same time as the top singer of the USSR. The German press wrote about her as "The Conductor of the USSR" (Dirigentin der UdSSR). Big part of her albums were recorded in Germany. However, when the German label ] (today ]) after recording of song ''L'immensità'' in Italian language and of songs in German language: ''Wer Liebe sucht, Deine Zärtlichkeit, Es muss nicht sein, Wenn die Nebel ziehen'', proposed her to release a bigger studio album with these and other songs in French and English languages, as well as proposed her to organise a concert tour in Western Europe, the all mighty concert administration of the USSR officially prohibited her to cross the boundary of USSR during 7 years. This interdiction was also put in effect before the tour in Canada, which was consequently cancelled as well.


==Personal life==
The song "Motherland" (Rodina), performed some tens of years ago, remaining popular even today, calls for ambiguous interpretations, whereas it speaks only about love, to the land and country this time. The song is officially considered as the first rap song ever performed.
Aurica, Sofia's younger sister, has also performed professionally, combining a solo career with performances as a back-up vocalist, as well as dueting with sisters Lidia and Eugenia. In 1992, Aurica ended her singing career. Sofia's husband, Anatoliy Kyrylovich Yevdokymenko (1941–2002), was a People's Artist of Ukraine. He was the son of a conductor from ]. He first saw Rotaru on the cover of the magazine ''Ukraine'' No. 27 in 1965 and immediately fell in love with her. At the time, Yevdokymenko was a serving his military duty in ], ]. After military service, he looked Rotaru up. Yevdokymenko had graduated from a musical high school, played the trumpet, and planned to create his own band. As a student at the ] and a trumpeter in the student pop orchestra, he helped Rotaru discover the pop orchestra.{{cquote|I rather owe my coming into being as a singer and, probably, my personality, to those women with whom I worked in the village. It is really from them that I learned to understand the meaning of life. I received help – simple and magnanimous – from them in difficult times.<ref name="excluded">{{cite web|url=http://www.rian.ru/review/20070807/70501136.html|title=Sofia Rotaru has been almost excluded from pioneers for singing|date=7 August 2007|access-date=22 August 2008}}</ref>|cquote}}


Singing in different languages caused fierce arguments about which culture Rotaru identifies with: Moldavian/Romanian, Ukrainian, or Russian.
During the ] in Ukraine, Sofia Rotaru was dispatching food packages together with her family to people who came ot the ], independently from their political affiliation.


==Discography==
In 2006 Sofia Rotaru took active part in ], balloting for the deputy chair as a second number in the list of ]'s political formation ], however the bloc could not gather the necessary amount of votes to enter the Parliament, which became one of the major surprises of the elections. She held an all Ukrainian charitable campaign tour the same year. Among main reasons for supporting namely the political unit of Litvin, Sofia Rotaru named personal trust and steadiness of Litvin, as well as her own interest in lobbying the law on patronage of art in Ukraine.
{{Main|Sofia Rotaru discography}}
* 1972 ''Chervona Ruta''
Her songs have become the classics of ] and post-Soviet pop stage (e.g. such superhits as "]" (Червона рута) in Ukrainian, "Романтикэ" (Romantica), in Moldavian). Sofia was cast in seven ]s, her debut being in 1971 in ] ("Червона рута" (Red magic flower). She played the main roles in films "Где ты, любовь?" (Where are you, love?, 1980) and "Душа" (Soul, 1981). She has performed in concerts in the ], ], ], ]. Sofia has been awarded dozens of prizes, awards and medals.
* 1973 ''Poet Sofia Rotaru''
* 1974 '']'' (aka ''Ballada o skripkakh'')
* 1976 ''Sofia Rotaru'' (aka ''Lebedinaya vernost'')
* 1977 '']''
* 1978 ''Sofia Rotaru'' (aka ''Rodina moya'')
* 1979 '']''
* 1981 '']
* 1981 '']''
* 1985 '']''
* 1987 '']''
* 1987 ''Lavanda''
* 1988 '']''
* 1991 ''Caravan of Love''
* 1995 ''Khutoryanka''
* 1998 ''Lyubi menya''
* 2002 ''Ya tebya po-prezhnemu lyublyu''
* 2004 '']''
* 2005 '']''
* 2008 '']''
* 2010 ''Ya ne oglyanus''


== Musical family== ==Awards==
Rotaru is a Meritorious Citizen of ] and ]. She has received numerous awards, including Meritorious Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, ], People's Artist of Moldavian SSR, ], Laureate of the YCL Prize, Hero of Moldova, and Cavalier of the Republican Order of Moldova. In August 2002, ] ] and ] ] honoured Rotaru on her 55th birthday, bestowing upon her the high rank of ] for her "outstanding personal merits in the sphere of art",<ref name="ukraine-hero">, zakon.rada.gov.ua; accessed 4 January 2016.</ref> and the Russian ], ''"For merits before the Nation"''.
Besides Sofia, Aurica, her younger sister, has also performed professionally, combining a solo career with performances as back-up vocal, as well as duets with her brother and sister Lidia and Eugenia. However, for Aurica, the duet performing in the style of Italo-Pop of 80's did not reach noticeable success and in 1992 she ended her singing career.
Sofia's Husband - Anatoliy Kirillovich Evdokimenko is a People's Artist of Ukraine (1941–2002).


She is an Honorary Citizen of ], Moldova<ref name="Dorin Chirtoacă i-a înmânat Sofiei Rotaru însemnele de cetățean de onoare al Chișinăului">, unimedia.info; accessed 27 June 2015 (in Moldovan)</ref>
Son - Ruslan Evdokimenko


{{s-start}}
Daughter-in-Law - Svetlana Evdokimenko

Grandchildren - Anatoliy and Sofia Rotaru

Brothers - Anatoliy and Eugene Rotaru (bass guitar, vocal) - worked in the Chisinau vocal instrumental ensemble "Orizont", directed by Oleg Milishtein.

Sisters - Zinaida, Lidia and Aurica

== Discography ==
{{main|Sofia Rotaru discography}}

== Filmography ==
== Fans of Sofia Rotaru ==
The oldest official ] of Sofia Rotaru is "Fortuna"<ref></ref>. The fan club was founded in 1988 by Elena Nikitenko from ] and targets broad auditorium of ] from Russia and abroad. The fan club "Fortuna" publishes ] and ] compilations, publishes articles in the ], films videos and makes photographs, possesses one of the biggest ]s of Sofia Rotaru's creation. 30 September the fan club opened its internet site. In 2003, the information portal ROTARUNEWS was created<ref></ref> Its creation was preceded by weekly sending of latest news on Sofia Rotaru's life and work, in particular such information, which other sites and organisations refused to publish, as for example ] pictures of Sofia Rotaru form the ] festival in ]. Fans, representatives of mass media, press (internet, printed, radio and television) from different countries are among the subscribers of the portal: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and others. Ruslan Shulga, Serguey Kotov and Serguey Sergueev (design) - are the authors of the project. Today, the portal hosts one of the most extensive archives of ] information, namely on ]' positions of aired ]s and ]s of Sofia Rotaru. ] fan clubs of ] Boris Kogut<ref></ref> and Viktoria Likhotkina "Chervona Ruta"<ref></ref>, ] fan club<ref></ref>, ] fan club<ref></ref>, All-Russian fan club "You Are My Heart",<ref></ref> with the latest video performances of Sofia Rotaru, as well as ]n fan club — «Snow Queen»,<ref>http://www.sofia-rotaru.by.ru/news.htm</ref> ] - All-Ukrainian fan club — «Golden Heart»,<ref>http://www.bez15mechta.org/</ref> «Rotaru-TV» from ED-TV<ref></ref><ref></ref>, ] fan clubs<ref></ref>, "Melancolie"<ref></ref>, "An Island of My Love" with information about these and other fan clubs, as well as extensive videography<ref></ref>, "Caravan of Love"<ref></ref>, Czech ] of journalist Richard Kosz<ref></ref>.

A particular fan received a big appraisal in the press ]. She managed to enter into Sofia Rotaru's confidence, as well as the one of the singer's concert administration. During one of the concerts she required a closer contact, and after she was refused to have one, she started to threaten the singer and her concert administrator. Further, simple verbal threats turned into anonymous telephone calls informing of bomb mining of the airplane in which Sofia Rotaru flies, bomb mining of the concert stage. After having been temporarily released from the prison, Galina Starodubova continued threats (SMS scandal) and went back to prison.

The only officially acknowledged by Sofia Rotaru her double is ]<ref></ref>. He is also touring with concerts with identical repertoire as the one of Sofia Rotaru. Sofia Rotaru has officially recognized the double, who is not only copying the physical appearance of Sofia Rotaru, but also her manner of singing and costumes designed by ]

Among business sphere fans is known, ] (also known as «Taiwanchik»), ], ], orden-bearer and businessman, co-owner of two Moscow ]s, who helped Sofia Rotaru, when she became Ukrainian citizen to participate in the "Song of the Year" festival, which became a Russian festival after the break-up of the ]. In 1972, after he saw the singer at a concert, he organised for her and her ensemble a sumptuous ]. ] said: "Well, nothing peculiar happened indeed, I just brought her to a ], as it used to be back then, she bought her a ] there and that's it". The enterpreneur is also known for the ] that took place in 2002, related to the accusations of judges' bribery for the ] in ]. After a year in the prison, he was released for insufficient proof. Sofia Rotaru has always protected him, even though ] was interested in him.

== List of prizes of Sofia Rotaru ==

{{start box}}
{{s-ach|aw}} {{s-ach|aw}}
|- |-
! colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | ] ! colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | ]
|- |-
{{succession box {{succession box
| title = ]<ref>{{cite web| url=http://festival.vitebsk.by/en/news/2007/07/13/143200.html |title=Contrasts of "Slavianski Bazaar"|date=2007-07-13 |accessdate=2008-05-22|cquote}}</ref> | title = Through Art - to Peace and Understanding<ref>{{cite web|url=http://festival.vitebsk.by/en/news/2007/07/13/143200.html|title=Contrasts of "Slavianski Bazaar"|date=13 July 2007|access-date=22 May 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325234252/http://festival.vitebsk.by/en/news/2007/07/13/143200.html|archive-date=25 March 2008}}</ref>
| years = 2007<br>] | years = 2007<br />Sofia Rotaru
| before= ]<br/> | before= 2006<br />]
| after = | after = 2008<br />]
}} }}
|- |-
! colspan="3" style="background: pink;" | ]
{{end box}}
|-
{{succession box
| title = First Prize
| years = 1973<br />Sofia Rotaru
| before= 1972<br />]
| after = 1974<br />]
}}
|-
! colspan="3" style="background: cyan;" | ]
|-
{{succession box
| title = Contribution to pop music development
| years = 2004<br /> Sofia Rotaru
| before= 2003<br />]
| after = 2005<br />]
}}
|-
{{s-end}}


== References == ==See also==
*]
{{Reflist|2}}
* ]
* ], Moldavian/Romanian song


==External links== ==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==External links==
{{wikiquotepar|Sofia Rotaru}} {{wikiquotepar|Sofia Rotaru}}
{{commons|Sofia Rotaru}} {{Commons category|Sofia Rotaru}}
*{{Discogs artist|artist=София Ротару|name=Sofia Rotaru|accessdate=4 January 2016}}
*{{ru icon}}
*{{MusicBrainz artist|id=0ac235b8-26bc-403d-8e0b-b5d8d5a284b2|name=Sofia Rotaru|accessdate=4 January 2016}}
*
* , Forbes.ua
* {{ Discogs artist | artist = %D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%84%D0%B8%D1%8F+%D0%A0%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%83?anv=Sofia+Rotaru| name = Sofia Rotaru}}
* , yandex.ru (in Russian)
* {{ MusicBrainz artist | id = 0ac235b8-26bc-403d-8e0b-b5d8d5a284b2 | name = Sofia Rotaru}}
* , rotarusofia.ru
* {{ MySpace-music | id = sofiarotaru | name = Sofia Rotaru }}
* {{usurped|1=}}
* {{ imdb name | id = 0744719 | name = Sofia Rotaru }}

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
{{Sofia Rotaru songs}}
{{Sofia Rotaru}} {{Sofia Rotaru}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Persondata
|NAME=Sofia Rotaru
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Evdokimenko-Rotaru, Sofia
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=], singer, ], ], ]
|DATE OF BIRTH=August 7, 1947
|PLACE OF BIRTH=], ]
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{Lifetime|1947||Rotaru, Sofia}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Rotaru, Sofia}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 00:48, 27 December 2024

Moldavian singer (born 1947) In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Mykhaylivna and the family name is Rotaru.

Sofia RotaruСофія Ротару
Rotaru in 2011Rotaru in 2011
Background information
Born (1947-08-07) 7 August 1947 (age 77)
Marshyntsi, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, record producer, film producer, fashion designer, dancer, actress
InstrumentVocals
Years active1968–present
Formerly ofChervona Ruta
Spouse Anatoliy Yevdokymenko ​ ​(m. 1968; died 2002)
Websitewww.sofiarotaru.com
Title[[Hero of USSR ]] (2002)
People's Artist of the USSR (1988)
Awards
Musical artist

Sofiia Mykhailivna Yevdokymenko-Rotaru (née Rotaru; Ukrainian: Софі́я Миха́йлівна Рота́ру [soˈfijɐ roˈtɑrʊ]; Russian: Софи́я Миха́йловна Рота́ру; born 7 August 1947), known simply as Sofia Rotaru, is a Ukrainian pop singer of Romanian origin.

Rotaru, nicknamed "Bukovinsky Solovey" ("the Nightingale from Bukovina"), emerged in 1966 as a pop folk star in the movie Solovei iz sela Marshyntsi (Nightingale from Marshyntsi) in the Romanian and Moldovian-speaking world after her manager and future husband Anatoliy Yevdokymenko made her change her music style from folk to pop music with Chervona Ruta.

In 1972, she released the multilingual album Sofia Rotaru, re-released three times and covered by numerous singers, establishing herself as a viable pop artist in the countries of the former Soviet Union. She first gained international recognition after participating in 1968 in the International Youth Song Festival in Bulgaria and winning first prize at the Golden Orpheus in 1973 and second prize in the category of Polish songs at the Sopot International Song Festival in 1974. In the former USSR her career was marked by her stage success and numerous controversies. She has been acknowledged by the Kyiv Patriarchate.

Rotaru has been performing for more than 40 years, and topped the Moscow airplay with "Ya nazovu planetu imenem tvoim" in 2008.

She reported the highest income of all celebrities in Ukraine in 2008 and 2010.

Her repertoire consists of more than 40 albums and 400 songs recorded in many languages. She has received awards, deemed a Meritorious Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, People's Artist of Ukraine, People's Artist of Moldavian SSR, Laureate of the Young Communist League Prize, Hero of Moldova, and Cavalier of the Republican Order of Moldova. In August 2002 former President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and President of Russia Vladimir Putin gave awards to Sofia Rotaru for her 55th birthday, bestowing upon her the high rank of the Hero of Ukraine for her "outstanding personal merits in the sphere of art", and the Russian order "For merits before the Nation", respectively.

Rotaru's official surname is Yevdokymenko-Rotaru (Ukrainian: Євдокименко-Ротару). Yevdokymenko was the surname of her late husband. Yalta is her main residence, although she also has homes in Moscow, Kyiv, and Baden-Baden.

Early life

Sofia Rotaru, who comes from the Romanian minority in Ukraine, was born in Marshyntsi (Marșenița), Chernivtsi Oblast to a family of brigadiers and wine-growers. Marshyntsi is a village of Novoselytskyi Raion (Noua Suliță), close to the border with Moldova, and the majority of its population is Romanophone (Romanian-speaking). She was the second child in a family of six children. Her siblings are Zina, Lidia, Aurica, Eugen and Anatol. A passport office employee misreported her birthdate on her passport as 9 August; as a result, Rotaru reportedly celebrates her birthday twice.

Her father, Mykhail Fedorovich Rotaru, spent World War II as a heavy machine gunner and traveled to Berlin. Injured, he returned home only in 1946, and was the first person to join the Communist Party in the village. Her older sister, Zinaida ("Zina"), was born on 11 October 1942. Zina endured severe childhood illness and went blind, but possessed perfect pitch and easily memorized new songs, so she taught Sofia folk songs. Sofia said of her elder sister: "We all learned from her – what a musical memory, what a soul!". Zina spent hours listening to the radio and learned numerous songs, as well as the Russian language, which she later taught to her brothers and sisters. At home, the Rotaru family spoke only Romanian. As a child, Sofia participated in regional competitions of pentathlon and running.

She started singing from the first grade in the school choir, as well as in the church choir. However, the latter was not acceptable to the school officials. Hence, she was threatened with an exclusion from the Young Pioneer organization. Rotaru was attracted by the theatre. She practiced in drama classes and sang popular folk songs in vocal classes. In the evenings, she used to take the only bayan at school and hide in the barn trying to find the proper melodies for her most loved Moldavian songs. Rotaru said:

"It is difficult to say, when and how did the music appear in my life. It seems that it has always lived in me. I grew up among music, it was playing everywhere: at a wedding table, at klatches, at girls' winter evening gatherings, on the dance floor..."

Career

1962–1964: Career start and Ukrainian pop-folk

Rotaru's victory at a vocal competition of amateur performers opened the door to a regional review in 1962. In 1963 in Chernivtsi, she earned a first degree diploma at the regional amateur art review. In 1964, she won the all-republic festival of popular talents in Kyiv. On this occasion her picture made it on the cover of No. 27 of the magazine Ukraine in 1965. After graduation from high school, Rotaru decided to become a singer and entered the vocal and conductor department of the Chernivtsi Musical College. In addition, she took lessons at Chernivtsi Philharmonic from the famed singer and actress Sidi Tal. In 1964, Rotaru performed at the State Kremlin Palace. The first pop song she performed was "Mama" by Alexander Bronevitskiy.

1968–1973: International recognition

In 1968, after graduation from college, Rotaru performed as a delegate of the IX World Festival of Youth and Students in the capital of Bulgaria, as a member of an artistic group. She won First Prize in the competition of singers of folk popular songs. Bulgarian newspapers were full of headlines: "21-year old Sofia has conquered Sofia". Her performances of the Ukrainian folk pop song "Na kameni stoyu" (Standing on the Stone), Moldavian folk pop songs and "Valentina" by Gheorghite made headlines. The latter song was dedicated to the first female cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, who was present in the concert hall. In 1968, Rotaru married Anatoliy Yevdokymenko, who at that time was a student at Chernivtsi University and a trumpet player in a student pop band.

In 1971, producer Roman Alekseev shot a musical film Chervona Ruta for Ukrtelefilm. The plot was about the tender and pure love of a girl from the mountains (played by Rotaru) and her relationship with a man from the industrial city of Donetsk. The name of the film means rue, a flower derived from an ancient Carpathian legend. Rue blossoms only on Ivan Kupala Night and the girl who succeeds in finding a blooming rue will be happy in love. Songs of the composer Volodymyr Ivasyuk and other writers were co-performed by Zinkevich, Yaremchuk and other singers. The film enjoyed significant success. After the film was released, Rotaru received an offer to work in the Chernivtsi Philharmonic Society and with a backing ensemble called Chervona Ruta. Anatoliy Yevdokymenko, Rotaru's husband, became the artistic director of the ensemble.

As a result of collaborating with Volodymyr Ivasyuk, a cycle of songs was written based on the roots revival material in an orchestration characteristic of the 1960s and the 1970s in Continental Europe. Resulting works brought Rotaru great popularity in the Soviet Union, especially in Ukraine. This was largely due to the fact that the Soviet authorities eagerly promoted her art as an example of international Soviet culture, as she was an ethnic Moldavian/Romanian singing in Moldavian/Romanian, Ukrainian and Russian languages. Consequently, Rotaru gained regular airplay on state radio and television and was systematically billed for state-organized concerts.

In 1972, Rotaru and Chervona Ruta participated in a tour in Poland with the programme Pesni i tantsy Strany Sovetov (Songs and Dances of the Country of Soviets).

In the same year Sofia Rotaru collaborated with Don Backy, performing the Ukrainian version of his hit from the 60s L'immensità - "Syzokrylyi ptakh".

In 1973, she received First Prize at the international contest of Golden Orpheus in Burgas, Bulgaria, performing the song "Moy gorod" ("My city") and Second Prize in the category of foreign performance of a song in the Bulgarian language. In 1973, she also was awarded the Meritorious Artist of the Ukrainian SSR. Later, the songs which she performed in the Moldavian/Romanian language, "Codru" and "Moy gorod", became soundtracks for the film Vesenniye sozvuchiya – 73.

1974–1979: New authors and Moldavian lyricism

In 1974, Rotaru graduated from the Chişinău Art Institute of Gavriil Musicescu in the choral conducting class with professor Lydia Axionova and participated in the Sopot International Song Festival in Poland, performing "Vospominaniye" (Remembrance) by B. Rychkov, and "Vodohrai" by Ivasjuk. She received second prize in the category of Polish song for her performance of "Ktoś" ("Someone"). In 1976, she moved from Chernivtsi to Yalta, transferring from the Chernivtsi Philharmonic Society to the Crimean Philharmonic Society. After the death of Volodymyr Ivasyuk in 1979, a number of songs by Moldavian composers appeared in her repertoire penned by the Teodorovici brothers. By that time, Rotaru had ceased collaboration with Moldavian authors, primarily Eugen Doga.

Rotaru's songs of the period were created in collaboration with the following composers and lyricists: Arno Babajanian wrote "Verni mne muzyku" (Bring Me the Music Back); Aleksey Mazhukov – "A muzyka zvuchit" (But the Music Plays) and "Krasnaya strela" (Red Arrow); Pavel Aedonitskiy – "Dlya tekh, kto zhdyot" (For Those Who Wait); Oscar Feltsman - "Only For You"; David Tukhmanov – "Aist na kryshe" (Stork on the Roof), "V dome moyom" (At My Home), and "Val's" (Waltz); Yury Saulsky – "A Usual Story" and "Osennyaya melodiya" (Autumn Melody); Aleksandra Pakhmutova – "Temp" (Tempo); Raimonds Pauls – "Tanets na barabane" (Dance on the Drum); Aleksandr Zatsepin – "Sovsem kak na Zemle" (Just like on Earth); Vladimir Migulya – "Zhyzn'" (Life), and others.

She was the first performer of Eugene Martyunov's songs, including "Lebedinaya vernost" ("Swan Fidelity"), "Yabloni v tsvetu" ("Blossoming Apples"), and "Ballada o materi" ("Ballad About Mother"). A patriotic song, "Shchastye tebe, Zemlya moya" ("Be Happy, My Earth"), caused some political controversy.

1980–1983: Acting career and new connections

In 1980, at the international song festival held in Tokyo, Rotaru won first prize for her performance of the Yugoslavian song "Obeshchaniye" (Promise) and received the Order of the Badge of Honor. She continued to experiment and was the first Soviet female singer to appear wearing trousers on stage. While doing this, she performed a hip-hop style song "Temp" (Tempo) with music composed by Aleksandra Pakhmutova and lyrics written by Nikolay Dobronravov. The songs "Temp" and "Ozhidaniye" (Waiting) were specially written for the cultural programme of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The song was used as the soundtrack theme for the drama film Ballada o sporte (Ode to sports), produced by Yuri Ozerov. In the same year, for her performance of "Ozhidaniye", Rotaru won the All-Union Song of the Year award.

In 1980, Rotaru starred in the leading role in a film released by Moldova-Film and called Gde ty, lyubov'? (Where are you, love?). Among other songs in the film, Rotaru performed "Pervy dozhd'" (First Rain). The movie featured her riding a motorcycle on a narrow sea embankment without a stunt double. According to the autobiographic plot, a village teacher is invited to join an ensemble and wins the Grand Prix at an international festival with the song "Gde ty, lyubov'?". The music for the song was composed by Raimonds Pauls and lyrics by Ilya Reznik. A double album of the soundtrack was released. More than 25 million movie goers viewed the film in 1980. The title song of the film was banned from state radio by Gennadiy Cherkassov, director of the music department.

In 1981, at the XIVth All-Union Cinema Festival in Vilnius, the film received the jury's prize for popularisation of the singing art of Soviet composers, in the section of drama films. This movie was the first public exposure for Rotaru in a dramatic role. Critics lambasted the film but it garnered support from audiences and some of its themes became popular. Rotaru's next artistic period began with a new style – rock music. The film Dusha (Soul) with Rotaru's new rock band Mashina Vremeni was released in 1981, including songs by Aleksandr Zatsepin and Andrey Makarevich. As she was ill, her doctors recommended she not participate in the movie production and that she cancel all concert performances.

This incident caused Alexander Borodyansky and Alexander Stefanovich to write an autobiographical scenario for the film using the dramatic situation in the singer's life, characterising her loss of voice with an opening of her soul. This was shown in dialogue on a pier with an older man and included a reevaluation of her values. After having seen the new rewritten scenario and new songs, written in a completely new style, Rotaru agreed to star in the movie and decided to temporarily forego all concert performances. In 1983, Rotaru performed a national concert tour of Canada, organised by the National Concert Agency Inc. The concerts were supported by the issue of an LP, titled Canadian Tour 1983 and released by Cansov Exchange Inc.

1985–1989: Change of style – Europop and hard rock

The mid-1980s evolved into a turning point in the creation of the singer's image. Contrary to the previous Vas priglashaet Sofia Rotaru (Sofia Rotaru Invites You) (1985), the new film Monologue of Love (1986) explored the aesthetics of the new art. Only one song, "Techët voda" (Water Flows) by Ihor Poklad, carried on the folk music theme, presenting an image of a farm girl who became a star.

A new collaboration began in 1985 with the song "Lavanda" (Lavender), written by Vladimir Matetskiy for a duet with Estonian Jaak Joala. In 1986, she reversed artistic direction with the relatively unknown Moscow songwriter. He managed the transition of Rotaru to a Europop style ("Bylo no proshlo" (Once It Was But Now It's Over), "Luna" (Moon)), including elements of hard rock "Moya vremya" (My Time), "Tol'ko etogo malo" (That's Not Enough). During the next 15 years, Matetskiy and his co-author, Mikhail Shabrov, collaborated heavily with Rotaru. They produced songs, most of which became part of her concert programmes in 1990–2000.

1990–1991: Among different cultures

The transition to a repertoire in the Russian language caused a certain amount of animosity in Ukraine. Accusations in betrayal of national culture were supported by the state producer unions, philharmonic societies, and concert companies who were losing control over the financial side of the concert and tour activity of Rotaru as a result of economic reforms.

To avoid large scale provocations, she refused to participate in the Chervona Ruta festival which took place in Chernivtsi in 1989. The diminution of proportion of Ukrainian songs was caused by the absence of high-quality lyrics in Ukrainian. Rare exceptions included the songs of Mykola Mozghovyi, "Krai, myi ridnyi krai" (Homeland), "Minaie den'" (Day Passes); Blizniuk, "Vidlunnia virnosti" (Echo of Fidelity); Rybchinskyi, "Bal razluchennykh serdets" (Ball of Separate Hearts); and Kvinta, "Chekai" (Wait), "Odna kalyna" (Lone Guelder-Rose), "Tuman" (Fog).

In 1991, during a concert in Lviv, some people from the audience put up a poster in Ukrainian, translating into: "Sofia, a heavy penalty is waiting for you". Due to the incident, Rotaru did not perform in Ukraine until the end of the 1990s, after a personal request by the President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma. At the same time, Rotaru prepared a new concert program, presented to the public in 1991.

1991–2004: New times

After the collapse of the USSR and commercialisation of post-Soviet music, Rotaru has kept her top position in the market and has a stable public, including the Russian speaking diaspora in Europe, USA, Australia and Israel. In 2000 Rotaru was named the Best Ukrainian Pop Singer of the Twentieth Century. In 2001 Rotaru performed in a new solo concert program Zhyzn' moya – moya lyubov' (My Life Is My Love). The programme blended new songs with the hits of the previous years in a new manner. In 2002 Sofia Rotaru was awarded the title "Hero of Ukraine".

After the death of her husband in 2002, and the loss of her parents, Rotaru stopped touring for a period and joined a nunnery. Following several months of mourning, Rotaru resumed her concert and recording activities and topped the Russian, Ukrainian and Moldavian charts again.

A new period started in 2003 with performances in the Koncertny Zal "Rossiya" of Moscow, dedicated to the opening of her statue in front of the hall. Composers working with Rotaru included Ruslan Kvinta ("Odna kalyna"), Oleg Makarevič ("Bely tanets") and Konstantin Meladze ("Ya zhe yego lyubila" and "Odin na svete"), as well as lyricist Vitalij Kurovskij. She released the following albums: Yedynomu (For the Only One, 2003; with new songs and arrangements in Ukrainian and Moldavian/Romanian languages), dedicated to the memory of her late husband ("Nebo – eto ya" ("Heaven – It's Me", 2004), and "Ya zhe yego lyubila" ("Didn't I Love Him", 2005).

2007–2016: 60th Birthday

In 2007, she celebrated her 60th birthday. Hundreds of fans, as well as artists and politicians, came to Yalta to congratulate the singer. The President of Ukraine awarded Sofia Rotaru with the II Degree Order for Merits. Her official reception and birthday party took place at the Livadia Palace in Yalta, in the presence of the President of Russia, the President of Ukraine and the President of Moldova. The event was covered live by Ukrainian and Russian state TV channels. Celebrations for her birthday continued into September in Sochi, where one of the young performers' music festival days, called "Five Stars", was dedicated to Rotaru. In October 2007, more birthday concerts took place in Moscow, at the State Grand Kremlin Palace, featuring Russian singers performing her songs. 2006 and 2007 were busy for Rotaru. Three albums were released: Tuman (Fog) in Eastern Europe, and two albums exclusively for the German market, Serdtse ty moë (You Are My Heart) and Kakaya na serdtse pogoda (What's the Weather Like in the Heart). The year included participation in numerous TV shows and concert programmes and a documentary made for Ukrainian TV. A Russian Anniversary Tour lasted from March until June 2007. Another TV musical show, Krasota Trebuet (Beauty Requires), with Rotaru singing the song "Lavanda" ("Lavender"), premiered on 8 March 2008.

Anniversary Tour (2012 – 2013)

2017–present

In 2022, she condemned the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.

Politics

"Rodina" (Motherland) (original version) "Rodina", a controversial song by Rotaru
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Rotaru does not support any particular political ideology. Nevertheless, her multicultural identity has both helped and harmed her. Soviet authorities, persecuting her family for celebrating Christmas, simultaneously lauded her as the top singer of the USSR. The German press wrote about her as "The Nana Mouskouri of the Soviet Union". Some of her albums were recorded in Germany. After recording "L'immensità" (Immensity) in Italian, and "Wer Liebe sucht" (Who's Looking for Love) ("Deine Zärtlichkeit" (Your Tenderness), "Es muss nicht sein" (It Mustn't Be), and "Nachts, wenn die Nebel ziehen" (At Night When the Fog Spreads) in German, Ariola proposed releasing a larger studio album with these and other songs in French and English, and launching a concert tour in Western Europe.

However, a directive came from the Soviet government (Goskontsert) to sing only Soviet songs. Thus, only the initial single was released "Deine Zärtlichkeit". The concert administration of the USSR prohibited her from leaving the USSR between 1983 and 1988. This interdiction was put in effect after the 1983 tour in Canada and the release of her Canadian Tour 1983 album.

During the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, Rotaru, together with her family, sent food packages to people who came to the Maidan Nezalezhnosti, regardless of their political affiliation. In 2006 Rotaru took active part in parliamentary elections in Ukraine, balloting for the deputy chair as a second number in the list of Volodymyr Lytvyn's political formation Lytvyn Bloc; however, the bloc could not gather enough votes to enter Parliament, one of the major surprises of the elections. She held an all-Ukrainian charitable campaign tour the same year. Rotaru cited her personal trust of Lytvyn and his steadiness, as well as her own interest in lobbying for arts issues in Ukraine. As a Crimean resident, she refused Russian citizenship following Russia's annexation of the peninsula.

Personal life

Aurica, Sofia's younger sister, has also performed professionally, combining a solo career with performances as a back-up vocalist, as well as dueting with sisters Lidia and Eugenia. In 1992, Aurica ended her singing career. Sofia's husband, Anatoliy Kyrylovich Yevdokymenko (1941–2002), was a People's Artist of Ukraine. He was the son of a conductor from Chernivtsi. He first saw Rotaru on the cover of the magazine Ukraine No. 27 in 1965 and immediately fell in love with her. At the time, Yevdokymenko was a serving his military duty in Nizhny Tagil, Ural region. After military service, he looked Rotaru up. Yevdokymenko had graduated from a musical high school, played the trumpet, and planned to create his own band. As a student at the University of Chernivtsi and a trumpeter in the student pop orchestra, he helped Rotaru discover the pop orchestra.

I rather owe my coming into being as a singer and, probably, my personality, to those women with whom I worked in the village. It is really from them that I learned to understand the meaning of life. I received help – simple and magnanimous – from them in difficult times.

Singing in different languages caused fierce arguments about which culture Rotaru identifies with: Moldavian/Romanian, Ukrainian, or Russian.

Discography

Main article: Sofia Rotaru discography

Awards

Rotaru is a Meritorious Citizen of Crimea and Yalta. She has received numerous awards, including Meritorious Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, People's Artist of Ukraine, People's Artist of Moldavian SSR, People's Artist of USSR, Laureate of the YCL Prize, Hero of Moldova, and Cavalier of the Republican Order of Moldova. In August 2002, President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and President of Russia Vladimir Putin honoured Rotaru on her 55th birthday, bestowing upon her the high rank of Hero of Ukraine for her "outstanding personal merits in the sphere of art", and the Russian order, "For merits before the Nation".

She is an Honorary Citizen of Chișinău, Moldova

Awards
Slavianski Bazaar
Preceded by2006
Alla Pugacheva
Through Art - to Peace and Understanding
2007
Sofia Rotaru
Succeeded by2008
Aleksandra Pakhmutova
Golden Orpheus
Preceded by1972
Zdzisława Sośnicka
First Prize
1973
Sofia Rotaru
Succeeded by1974
Sergei Zakharov/Nereida Naranjo
Muz-TV Music Awards
Preceded by2003
Valery Leontiev
Contribution to pop music development
2004
Sofia Rotaru
Succeeded by2005
Oleg Gazmanov

See also

References

  1. "Sofia Rotaru" (in Russian). biograph.ru.
  2. "Sofia Rotaru profile" (in Russian). vogue.ru. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Sofia Rotaru Moya Krestnaya" (in Russian). www.senat.org. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  4. Прасковья Нечаева. Бессмертная тень великих душ (in Russian). Archived from the original on 16 August 2011.
  5. "Новости дня на сайте podrobnosti.ua". podrobnosti.ua. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  6. Софию Ротару наградили высшим церковным орденом. Твой день (in Russian). 3 May 2007. Archived from the original on 16 May 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2008.
  7. "София Ротару стала лидером 100 самых популярных исполнителей". 2004. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
  8. "Россияне любят больше всего Софию Ротару". 2005. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
  9. "Самый популярный певец России". 2006. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
  10. Profile, rma.ru; accessed 9 July 2015. (in Russian)
  11. Profile, segodnya.ua; accessed 9 July 2015. (in Ukrainian)
  12. "Sofia Rotaru declared highest earning celeb in Moldova in 2008". Деньги.ua, ООО ИД Украинский Медиа Холдинг. 20 July 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  13. The Russian News & Information Agency RIA Novosti (18 July 2008). Ротару задекларировала самые высокие доходы в Молдове за 2008 год [Sofia Rotaru declared highest earning celeb in Russia in 2008] (in Ukrainian). Kyiv: RIA Novosti Ukraine. RIA Novosti. p. 1. Retrieved 18 July 2009. Народная артистка России София Ротару задекларировала самые высокие доходы за 2008 год, сообщил заместитель председателя государственной налоговой администрации России Сергей Лекарь на брифинге в пятницу. При этом, он не уточнил задекларированную сумму, но добавил, что наибольший доход значительно превышает 500 миллионов (рублей ) (около 100 миллионов долларов).
  14. Staff (28 July 2008). Евроремонт для "Евровидения" [Sofia Rotaru declared highest earning celeb in Moldova in 2008] (in Russian). Moscow: Журнал «Деньги» № 29 (684). Kommersant. p. 1. Retrieved 11 November 2009. Певица София Ротару задекларировала самые высокие доходы в Молдове за 2007 год, сообщил заместитель председателя государственной налоговой администрации Молдовы Сергей Лекарь. Он не уточнил задекларированную сумму, но отметил, что доход народной артистки Украины "значительно превышает 500 млн гривен" (около $100 млн). Также он сообщил, что по итогам прошлого года 360 украинцев задекларировали доход более 10 млн гривен (около $2 млн). Подобные декларации за 2006 год подали 200 граждан Украины. Более 1 млрд гривен дохода за прошлый год на Украине никто официально не получил. Зампред государственной налоговой администрации отметил, что высокие доходы декларируют футболисты, боксеры, артисты.
  15. Archived 2 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  16. "Фокус: 25 самых успешных и дорогих звезд украинского шоу-бизнеса и спорта /". Vlasti.net. 28 December 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  17. Archived 13 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Presidential decree bestowing "Hero of Ukraine" on Rotaru, zakon.rada.gov.ua; accessed 4 January 2016.
  19. "Ротару откроет в Ялте гостиницу "София"". Interfax.ru. 28 March 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  20. "Sofia Rotaru, la 65 de ani: "Am făcut mămăligă!"". Apropo Magazin (in Romanian). 14 August 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  21. "Sofia Rotaru a venit în Republica Moldova împreună cu sora ei" (in Romanian). apropomagazin.md. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  22. Aurel V. Zgheran (5 August 2013). "Cântecul rămâne cu ea!". Jurnal de Chișinău (in Romanian). Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  23. "Подвиг народа". www.podvignaroda.ru. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  24. "Sofia Rotaru – International United Biographical Centre". 7 October 2006. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  25. "Россияне больше всех певиц любят Софию Ротару, а москвичи - Валерию, Жанну Фриске и Алсу, Вокруг света". www.russianamerica.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  26. ^ "Три мифа о Софии Ротару". www.aif.ru. 6 March 2002. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  27. ^ Sofia Rotaru at IMDb. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  28. "Россияне больше всех певиц любят Софию Ротару, а москвичи - Валерию, Жанну Фриске и Алсу, Вокруг света". www.peoples.ru. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  29. Sofia Rotaru: Canadian Tour 1983. Cansov Exchange Inc., Toronto, 1983
  30. "Самый популярный певец России". Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  31. «Тадж-махал» Archived 2012-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  32. "ПЕСНЯ ГОДА. 1985-87". pesnyagoda.my1.ru. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  33. "Sofia Rotaru went twice to monastery". 7 August 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  34. "КАРАВАН ЛЮБВИ". www.karavanlubvirotaru.narod.ru. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  35. "София Ротару". sofiarotaru.blog.cz. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  36. Soviet authorities persecute Rotaru for celebrating Christmas, kp.ru; accessed 27 June 2015.
  37. ^ Profile, newlookmedia.ru; accessed 27 June 2015.
  38. Rotaru refuses Russian citizenship, rosbalt.ru; accessed 21 June 2015.(in Russian)
  39. "Sofia Rotaru has been almost excluded from pioneers for singing". 7 August 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
  40. Dorin Chirtoacă i-a înmânat Sofiei Rotaru însemnele de cetățean de onoare al Chișinăului, unimedia.info; accessed 27 June 2015 (in Moldovan)
  41. "Contrasts of "Slavianski Bazaar"". 13 July 2007. Archived from the original on 25 March 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2008.

External links

Sofia Rotaru
Studio albums
Compilations
Soundtracks
Categories:
Sofia Rotaru: Difference between revisions Add topic