In Dubai, it’s not at all necessary to be a nobleman or even belong to the “Golden Ghetto” clan near Moscow in order to get to the party of famous people of Russia. An unwritten tradition has long existed here: During the holidays and holidays, the best rooms in the most prestigious hotels are occupied by people whose faces flashed at least once on TV screens. They come here with friends, families, children in order to relax calmly and comfortably, and recently - and to buy property on the shores of the ever-warm sea.
This spring, the vacation of one of the eminent guests was not limited to a banal beach. At the Burj Al Arab hotel, as they say, "at the place of residence", Mikhail Shufutinsky's concerts were held, which were nothing more than a high-profile party for vacationers in the neighborhood of other "stars" - pop, business and politics. That is why we were glad not only to attend the show program of the master of Russian chanson, but also to establish friendly relations with the founder of the famous concert agency in Germany Mikhail Fridman, as well as composer and producer Viktor Drobysh and singer Lada Dance.
The banquet hall of the famous Burj Al Arab hotel greeted us with a glass of sparkling champagne and a Russian speech. The representative audience occupied the tables according to the tickets purchased, the price of which, incidentally, did not imply on-street viewers. The violinist replaced the guitarist on stage, quick waiters scurried between tables, delivering drinks, well-groomed young people and respectable gentlemen with their slender long-legged companions in an undertone talking, sipping aperitifs. Entertainer announced the release of Mikhail Shufutinsky.
Each song in his performance is a small three-minute performance with the participation of the wonderful dance group "Ataman". The repertoire of the chansonnier instantly threw the listeners a dozen years ago, in a cheerful noisy time of carefree fun. “Singarella”, “Candles”, “Bottle of Wine” - not a single feast, not a single party could do without these songs, they were the main repertoire of any restaurant musical group that respected itself. Songs were replaced one after another, waiters in tailcoats and white gloves moved silently between tables, changing their dishes, an idle audience swallowed lobsters under mushroom sauce to the sounds of chanson and unhurried conversations. Couples stepped out to the stage in the middle of the room to dance to their favorite tunes. Everything looked so familiar, so warm and at home, that when the last song was announced, there was a slight disappointment: "How, is it all over?" But no: under the sounding rhythms of the Arabian melody, half-naked beauties appeared from behind the curtains and spun in an incendiary dance.
On this major note, the festive May Day concert ended. A light came on in the banquet hall, hotel guests went to numbers, and we managed to meet with the artist and ask him some questions.
Mikhail Zakharovich, we are glad to see you again in Dubai, and now also hear ...
Yes, this is my fourth time here. Prior to this, he came here only on vacation. Incredibly interesting country and absolutely stunning hotel. I love staying here.
With your busy touring schedule, it is probably not easy to find time to relax?
Two months a year, as a rule, I try not to work, and on average I get 12-14 performances per month. Agree, quite a rich program. You get tired not so much from concerts as from travels and everyday life. Moreover, travels around Russian cities often cause certain difficulties.
Is everything smooth in the Emirates?
I have no complaints about the organizers. Although, maybe it was possible to build advertising in a different way.
And in my opinion, the hall was full ...
This is your way. But in fact, there was enough space in the hall to set up additional tables and invite more people. And it seemed to me that the tickets are expensive.
Does the place oblige?
In any case, this does not affect my fee in any way. After all, my business is creativity.
Do you have any parallel business with creativity?
Creativity is my business. The creation of any finished musical piece entails and requires the efforts of so many specialists, from sound engineers to promoters - people who know how to correctly “bring” a song to light.
My role in this matter is to gather people and to perfectly present the song to the public. This is a vicious circle where you constantly have to prove that you are the best. What is my job is to get the magical energy of the hall. If the listeners share their emotions with me, then they liked me.
And it happens that you say: "bad hall today"?
No, there are no bad public, there are bad artists. But artists have difficult situations. For example, imagine a concert where 65 men are sitting in the hall - generals, officers, and not a single woman! And you have to sing when they drink, eat and talk about theirs. Perhaps these people like you, but they are not up to you, they are busy with their own affairs. If by the middle of the evening you manage to get such an audience to listen and react, this is happiness.
After that concert, the organizer caught up with me with a request to continue the performance for an additional fee equal to its full cost. I then refused, because my energy, my mood was already exhausted. It’s hard to get yourself to sing for people who don’t listen to you. Or maybe they listen, but they don’t give a view. Fortunately, this rarely happens.
Does it happen that you agree to continue your performance?
Of course. It all depends on the amount offered. I work for money, like any normal person, and I do not hide it. Everything that is done on this earth is done for the sake of money. Except, perhaps, love. Although, what is there to dissemble, love is also sold and bought.
Are you singing about this?
Yes, I sing about what I want to say. Chanson is a style where you get used to the role of your hero. And when people believe you, then you have succeeded. Therefore, I only sing about what excites me, and I am glad that many people like it.
Thank you, Michael. We wish success and success always accompany you!
Interviewed by Irina Ivanova, Sergey Tokarev.
