British opera singer sarah brightman. Biographies, stories, facts, photos

20.06.2019

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Childhood and youth

She was born on August 14, 1960 in Burkamstead, an English town located not far from London. She was the eldest child in a family where, in addition to her, there were five more children. Her father, Grenville Brightman, was a real estate developer. When Sarah was three years old, her mother, Paula Brightman (nee Hall), who was fond of ballet and theatrical performance before her marriage, got the girl to the Elmhart Ballet School.

Since childhood, she attended art school. At the age of three, she attended ballet lessons at the Elmhurst School and appeared at local festivals. At the age of 12, she played in the theatrical production under the direction of John Schlessinger "Me and Albert" at the Piccadilly Theater in London. Sarah got two roles at once: the role of Vicky, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, and the role of a street tramp. The girl was delighted. This experience forever instilled in her a love of the stage.

The beginning of a singing career

At the age of 14 she began to sing, at 16 she performed as a dancer in the television series Pan's People, and at 18 she joined the HOT GOSSIP (Fresh Gossip) group, with which she achieved her first success - the song I Lost my Heart to a Starship Trooper in 1978 took # 6 on the UK Singles Chart.

In the same 1978, Sarah met her first husband, Andrew Graham Stewart, who was the manager of the German group Tangerine Dream and was seven years her senior (the marriage lasted until 1983).

The next work of the group HOT GOSSIP was less successful, and Sarah decided to try herself in a different role - she took up classical vocals, and in 1981 she took part in the production of the musical "Cats" by composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber (New Theater in London).

Sarah and Andrew were married in 1984. Both had a remarriage, and Andrew Lloyd-Webber had two children in a previous marriage. The wedding took place on March 22, 1984 - on the birthday of the composer and on the day of the premiere of his new musical entitled "Starlight Express".

In 1985 Sarah performed with Placido Domingo at the premiere of Lloyd-Webber's Requiem, for which she was nominated for a Grammy Music Award in the category Best New Classical Artist. In the same year she sang the role of Valencina in The Merry Widow for New Sadler's Wells Opera. Especially for Sarah Lloyd-Webber, he created the role of Christina in the musical The Phantom of the Opera, which premiered at Her Majesty's Theater in London in October 1986. For her performance on Broadway, Sarah Brightman received a 1988 Drama Desk Award nomination. ...

The beginning of a solo career (1988-1997)

In 1988 she recorded the album "Early one morning", composed of folk songs, played the role of Carrie on the new MCA recording Carousel; in 1992 she starred in a production of Trelawney of the Wells at the Comedy Theater; in 1993 at the Chichester Festival - in the play Relative Values. After her divorce from Lloyd Webber in 1990, Sarah toured with Lloyd Webber's play "Music", after which she decided to leave her homeland and move to the United States.

In the United States, Sarah met Frank Peterson, co-producer of the first album of the music project Enigma MCMXC a.D. He became her producer and new life partner. Together they released the album Dive (1993) and then the pop-rock album Fly. Sarah continued to work with Lloyd-Webber - she released an album of his songs called "Surrender, The unexpected songs".

In 1992, in a duet with Jose Carreras, she performed the composition Amigos para siempre (Friends for life), the official anthem of the Barcelona Olympic Games, which spent several weeks in the charts in the UK, USA, Australia and Japan. Sarah sang a song from the album “Fly” - A Question of Honor - before the start of the international boxing championship in 1995. “At that time I was busy with my operatic exercises,” says Sarah about the creation of this composition. "My producer suggested that I do a piece from 'La wally' and he did something around it." In the same year she played the role of Sally Driscoll in the play "Dangerous Ideas" and the role of Miss Giddens in the play "Innocent".

In 1996, together with the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, she recorded in Germany the single Time to say goodbye, which they performed at the boxing match of Henry Muske, who was ending his active sports career. The single became "the best of all time" in terms of pace and volume of sales in this country. The single sold 5 million copies. The third album "Timeless", released under the East-West label (in the USA - Angel Records), was released in 1997 and soon sold 3 million copies. He has received 21 Gold and Platinum awards. The album went platinum in the USA, Canada, Taiwan, South Africa, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Unlike previous albums, Timeless has a more classic sound. The album includes two songs recorded in a duet with Argentine tenor Jose Cura: "Just show me how to love you", for which the video was filmed, and "There for me".

Further success: world tours (1998-2005)

The new album "Eden" was released in 1998 and was accompanied by the singer's world tour. In 1999, her own show, One night in Eden, premiered. In her show, Sarah did not limit herself to traditional elements, for example, during the performance of the song "La mer", Sarah hangs in the air behind a translucent blue curtain, thus trying to give the viewer the impression that she is singing from the sea. Together with a team of 42 people, Brightman performed in more than 90 concert halls. The next album "La Luna" (2000) went gold in the US even before its release. The album includes the most famous classical and popular songs performed by the singer.

In the same year the collection "The very best of 1990-2000" was published. From September 2000 to May 2001, Brightman is on the La Luna world tour. It also featured American singer Josh Groban. Together with him, Sarah performed the song "There for me" from the album Timeless. Sarah Brightman's concert performances are held in the most prestigious concert halls in the world - the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Concert Hall. Tchaikovsky in Moscow, Orchard Hall in Tokyo.

In 2001, the album "Classics" was released, which includes opera arias and classics from previous albums, as well as new compositions such as "Ave Maria" by Schubert.

The theme for Sarah's next album, "Harem" (2003), is the East. The name itself can be translated as "forbidden place". “The ideas for the album come from India, the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey,” Sarah says in an interview with the DVD “Live from Las Vegas”. From the previous albums "Harem" is distinguished by a slightly more danceable sound, although classical elements are also present on this album. For example, in the song “It’s a beautiful day” Sarah sings “Un Bel di” by Puccini. Together with the album, a collection of clips "Harem: a Desert Fantasy" is released. The collection includes not only clips from the "Harem" album, but also new versions of the hits "Anytime, Anywhere" and "Time to Say Goodbye". Like the previous albums Eden and La luna, Harem went on a world tour. The project's dances are reflected in the show: more dancers are involved in it, compared to the previous one. The scene itself was made in the shape of a crescent and a path emanating from it, which ended in a star. This time Sarah brought her show to Russia. The concerts took place in Moscow (September 15, 2004, Olympic stadium) and in St. Petersburg (September 17, 2004, Ice Palace).

Symphony (2006-2012)

In 2006, a collection of videos "Diva: the Video Collection" was released along with a CD-collection "Diva: the Singles Collection" and a new version of the album "Classics".

In 2007, Sarah performs at various events: at a concert in memory of Diana, she, along with Josh Groban, performs "All I ask of you" from the musical The Phantom of the Opera (July 1); Live Earth in Shanghai (July 7) - opera arias and the hit "Time to say goodbye"; at the opening ceremony of the IAAF Athletic Games in Osaka (25 August) - new single "Running". In addition to this single, two more are released: a duet with Chris Thompson "I will be with you (Where the lost ones go)" becomes the soundtrack for the tenth part of Pokémon, and a duet with Spanish countertenor Fernando Lima "Pasión" becomes the soundtrack for the Mexican telenovela of the same name.

Sarah's songs become soundtracks not only for TV series: the composition "Time to say goodbye" is included in the film "Blades of Glory". And in September, Sarah begins acting in the film "Ripo! The Genetic Opera "as Blind Meg.

In November, another duet is released - "Snowbird" with Anne Murray, which is included in the album "Anne Murray duets:" Friends & Legends. "Sarah continues to participate in various events such as" Fashion on ice "in Atlantic City (November 17 ), on which she performs not only songs from previous albums, but also from the new one - "Symphony" - the very composition "Symphony", "Fleurs du mal", "Let it rain". Andrea Bocelli sings Time to say Goodbye in front of Henry Muske, the same song they perform at Bocelli's "Vivere: Andrea Bocelli Live in Tuscany", as well as the song "Canto della Terra" from the singer's new album.

The album itself is released on January 29, 2008 in the United States and on March 17 in Europe. “Throughout my career, I have worked in very different musical styles,” says Sarah of her new album, “This is the first album in which all these styles have combined to create a diverse musical landscape.”

On August 8, 2008, Sarah Brightman, along with Chinese pop singer Liu Huang, sang the official anthem of the XXIX Summer Olympic Games "One World, One Dream."

November is becoming very busy for the singer: the North American tour of Symphony starts, the winter album "A Winter Symphony" is released, and the screening of the "Genetic Opera" begins in cinemas. The Symphony tour, like the album, was full of duets: in Mexico, where the tour began, tenor Alessandro Safina and countertenor Fernando Lima sang with Sarah, in the USA and Canada - Mario Frangulis. The tour itself used equipment that had not been used on any tour before: it created holographic decorations.

In 2010, at the XXI Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Sarah Brightman sang the song "Shall be done". The song and Sarah are part of a partnership agreement between Panasonic Corporation and the UNESCO World Heritage Center to launch The World Heritage Special, broadcast on National Geographic.

A failed flight into space and a new album

In August 2012, it was confirmed that Brightman's candidacy, once famous for the video “I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper”, was approved for preparation for a manned space flight on the Soyuz "On the ISS as a space tourist. Presumably, the flight was supposed to take place in the fall of 2015 and last 10 days. On March 16, 2013, the head of the space agency, Vladimir Popovkin, announced that the flight could only take place in the event of a short-term expedition to the ISS for a period of no more than 8 days. On October 10, 2012, at a press conference in Moscow about the beginning of her preparation for the flight, she announced that the dream of flying into space came to her in 1969. In 2013 she went on a world tour in support of her new album "Dreamchaser". At the end of the tour, Brightman had to undergo six-month flight training and began it in the spring of 2015 at the Cosmonaut Training Center. It was allegedly estimated that her flight to support the education of women and combat the depletion of natural resources would cost $ 51 million, and the singer's fortune was estimated at only $ 49 million. On May 13, 2015, it became known that Brightman refused to fly to the ISS for family reasons. character.

Languages

Sarah's albums contain songs in various languages, mainly English ("Dust in the wind"), the singer's native language. Sarah also sings opera arias in Italian ("Nessun dorma"). In the albums you can find songs in Spanish ("Hijo de la luna"), French ("Gueri de Toi"), German ("Schwere Träume"), Russian ("It's good here", the English name is "How fair this place"), Latin (“In paradisum”), Hindi (“Hamesha” in “Arabian nights”) and Japanese (“Stand Alone” from the soundtrack to “A Cloud on the Slope”).

Duets

Eric Adams "Where eagles fly"
Michael Ball "Seeing Is Believing" (Love changes everything album)
Antonio Banderas "The Phantom of the Opera"
John Barrowman "Too Much In Love To Care" (album "Love changes everything")
Steve Barton "Think of me" (album "Love changes everything")
Andrea Bocelli "Time to say goodbye", "Canto della Terra" (album "Symphony")
José Carreras "Amigos Para Siempre"
Jacky Cheung "There for me" (New Millenium Concert)
Michael Crawford "The Phantom of the opera" (album "The Andrew Lloyd Webber collection")
Jose Cura "Just show me how to love you", "There for me" (album "Timeless")
Plácido Domingo ("Requiem" and "Christmas in Vienna (1998)")
Mario Frangoulis Carpe Diem (album "A Winter Symphony"), ("Symphony" tour in USA and Canada)
Sir John Gielgud "Gus: the Theater Cat" (album "Surrender", "The Andrew Lloyd Webber collection")
Josh Groban “There for me” (La Luna tour), “All I ask of You” (concert in honor of Diana)
Ofra Haza "Mysterious days" (album "Harem")
Steve Harley "The Phantom Of The Opera" (video clip)
Tom Jones "Something in the air" (album "Fly")
Paul Miles Kingston "Pie Jesu" ("Requiem")
Andrzej Lampert "I will be with you"
Fernando Lima "Pasión" (album "Symphony")
Richard Marx "The Last words you said"
Anne Murray "Snowbird" (Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends)
Elaine Paige "Memory"
Cliff Richard "All I ask of you" (video), Only you (album "Love changes everything")
Alessandro Safina "Sarai Qui" ("Symphony" album, "Symphony! Live in Vienna", "Symphony" tour in Mexico), Canto della Terra ("Symphony! Live in Vienna", "Symphony" tour in Mexico), "The Phantom of the opera "(Symphony tour in Mexico)
Kazim Al Sahir "The War is over" (album "Harem")
Paul Stanley "I will be with you" (album "Symphony")
Chris Tompson "How can Heaven love me" (album "Fly"), "I will be with you" (soundtrack to the 10th part of the TV series "Pokemon")
Sergey Penkin "I will be with you" (Russian version of the album "Symphony")
Participation in projects [edit | edit wiki text]
Gregorian, "Voyage, Voyage", "Don’t give up", "Join Me", "Moment of peace"
Sash! "The Secret Still Remains"
Schiller "The Smile", "I've seen it all" (album "Leben")
Macbeth "How Can Heaven Love Me"

Discography

Requiem (as Herself), New York and London (1985)

Musicals

Cats (as Jemima), New London Theater (1981)
Nightingale (as Nightingale), Buxton Festival and the Lyric, Hammersmith (1982)
Song and Dance (as Emma), Palace Theater in London (1984)
The Phantom of the Opera (as Christine Daaé), Her Majesty's Theater London (1986)
Aspects of Love (as Rose Vibert) (1989)
“Ripo! The Genetic Opera "(English" Repo! The Genetic Opera ") (as Magdalen" The Blind Mag ") (2008)

Sarah Brightman (born August 14, 1960) was born in Berkhamstead, near London, and was the oldest of six sisters in the family. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a famous actress and went to ballet school. She first appeared on stage at the age of twelve in John Schlesinger's play "I and Albert". In parallel with her ballet classes, Sarah tried to learn to sing herself and in 1978 she became a member of the Hot Gossip dance show group. The group released a single, which Sarah sang, "Starship troopers", and it became a hit on many dance floors and even reached number one in the UK charts. It was Sarah's first big success, after which her career steadily took off.

In 1981, the famous composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who had already become famous by that time, gave birth to a new masterpiece - the musical "Cats". More than a hundred dancers were required to stage the musical on stage. Andrew was personally invited to the Royal Ballet School to look at the candidates, one of whom was Sarah. Andrew immediately drew attention to her and was fascinated by her. Sarah got a role in the musical - the role of Jemima the cat. And after the great success of the premiere, a love affair begins between Sarah and Andrew, as a result of which Webber leaves his wife Sarah Hugill and marries Sarah Brightman on her birthday in 1984.

For the next few years, Sarah Brightman becomes a muse for Andrew: he will write several of his next works to her vocals. To perform complex vocal parts of musicals, Andrew Sarah decides to raise her level of vocal skill and takes vocal lessons from the greatest tenor of our time Placido Domingo, with whom she sings "Requiem" (1985) by Webber. For this work, Sarah received a Grammy for Best New Classical Artist. But the real triumph for her is the next work of Andrew - the musical "Phantom of the opera" ("The Phantom of the Opera", 1986), in which she again plays the main role. From that moment on, Sarah will be called the "Angel of Music", because this is how the Phantom calls Christina in the musical, whose role was brilliantly played by Sarah. Subsequently, Sarah's solo repertoire will firmly include several of the most beautiful compositions of The Phantom of the Opera - gentle, lyrical Wishing you were somehow here again and The music of the night, as well as a powerful opening overture. After staging this performance on Broadway in 1988, Sarah again received a high award - the Drama Desk Award.

In 1988, Sarah comes up with the idea to publish something under her own name. Her first independent work was the album of English folk songs "The trees they grow so high". It remains unnoticed like the next work of the singer - "The songs that got away" (1989, a collection of little-known songs from musicals by Bernstein, Schwartz, Lesser, etc.). The public did not want to recognize her talent, considering her a shadow of the famous husband. Sarah tries to rectify the situation by constantly driving around with concerts, as a result of which their marriage to Andrew cracks, and in 1990 they separate. By the way, they parted as friends, and subsequently Sarah will continue to perform his compositions, and also sometimes give joint concerts with Andrew.

Realizing that for success she needs to radically change her creativity, Sarah released her next work - the album "As I came of age" (1990). This was Sarah's first album on which she performed pop music with a slight touch of "disco". But this album also comprehends the fate of the previous ones, although its musical content was worthy of more. Subsequently, when Sarah becomes famous, interest in this disc will greatly increase, but at that moment it was prevented from becoming popular by the lack of a bright hit that could be put on as a single. This was the end of a series of failures for Sarah: in 1992, together with Jose Carreras, she performed the composition "Amigos para siempre (Friends for life)" - the official song of the Barcelona Olympics, which becomes a hit all over the world.

Hearing once the music of the group "Enigma", Sarah decides to get acquainted with its creators. As you know, they were composers Michael Cretu (husband of the German singer Sandra) and Frank Peterson. Michael and Frank also collaborated on Sandra's most extraordinary album, "Close to seven" (1992). For the sake of meeting them, Sarah travels to Germany and in 1992 meets Frank, with whom she will also have a love affair later. They start to work together, and a year later the album "Dive" is released - a conceptual work dedicated to the marine theme and performed in a classic pop style. Beautiful melodic compositions on it replace one another - "Captain Nemo", "The second element", "Island", "La mer". The cover versions of "A salty dog" by "Procol Harum" and "Johnny wanna live" by Sandra were especially powerful. The album was noticed by the public and sold out well, but they were not in a hurry to talk about Sarah as a new star. A really big hit is her duet with Tom Jones "Something in the air" (1996), included in her next work - the album "Fly", in the creation of which Frank is helped by Alex Christensen, the founder of the "techno" group. U96 ". On this album, Sarah already combines such styles as pop and techno, and, I must say, does it very successfully. The album is also gaining popularity.

1997 becomes a long-awaited world breakthrough for Sarah. Frank's composition, the poems for which were written by Italian authors - "Time to say goodbye", Sarah performed a duet with the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Released as a single, this composition overnight soared to the top of the charts almost all over the world and was sold in the amount of 15 million copies. Since that time, Sarah has become a real world star, all her concerts are now sold out. The next full-length work, the album "Timeless" (1997), is also sold in a circulation of several million copies. On it, Sarah performs various already well-known compositions in a classical arrangement, including "Who wants to live forever" (rock band "Queen"), "There for me" (disco band "La Bionda"), as well as works by the authors the classical era. The success of this disc suggested to Sarah that it was necessary to move in this direction, combining the seemingly impossible - classical and popular music.

Sarah and Frank's greatest artistic achievement will be her two subsequent albums - "Eden" (1998) and "La luna" (2000). On these discs, they managed to bring together the works of all musical eras and directions, proving to everyone that there are no frames in the musical world. The works of such composers as Puccini, Beethoven, Dvorak and Rachmaninoff easily coexist with the world rock masterpieces "Dust in the wind" (by the group "Kansas") and "A whiter shade of pale" (by the group "Procol Harum"), the folk "Scarborough Fair "sounds after Frank's dance composition" Winter in july ", and Ennio Morricone's works coexist next to the songs" Here with me "by the modern singer Dido and" Il mio cuore va "(the Italian version of the composition" My heart will go on "by movie "Titanic"). But Sarah cannot be blamed for using only old, time-tested material; her CDs are full of new things, written by various authors especially for Sarah, and in different languages. However, with such a seemingly monstrous mess, there is not the slightest sense of disharmony when listening to these albums, and the release of each of them was accompanied by a large-scale world tour, which were also recorded and released as discs.

In the new millennium, Sarah has delighted her fans with fresh works "Classics" (2001), in which she again turned exclusively to the classical era, and "Harem" (2003), in the arrangements of which you can hear echoes of modern dance music.

Of course, the common thread that unites all of Sarah's work is her voice. She owns it flawlessly: classical opera arias and modern pop compositions are equally subject to him. Sara herself explains her success like this: "I work hard." And nowadays, when she is already well over 40, she is not going to leave the Musical Olympus.

Discography:

1988 - The Trees They Grow So High

1989 - The Songs That Got Away

1990 - As I Came Of Age

1995 - A Question Of Honor (Radio Edit, Extended Version) + On The Nile

1997 - The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection

1999 - Surrender (collection of compositions by Andrew Lloyd Webber)

2001 - The Very Best Of 1990-2000 (compilation)

2001 - A Whiter Shade Of Pale / A Question Of Honor (Maxi-Single)

2004 - The Harem World Tour Live

2005 - Love Changes Everything (The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection: Volume Two)

2006 - Diva: The Singles Collection

2006 - Classics: The Best Of Sarah Brightman

2007 - I Will Be With You (EP_ Japan)

2007 - Just Show Me How To Love You (EP)

CLASSIC SINGING QUEEN SARAH BRIGHTMAN

For her fans, she is simply the "Angel of Music". For critics, it is the object of incessant controversy. It is a unique phenomenon for the musical world. Sarah Brightman it is extremely rare to hear it on the radio and even less often to see it on music channels. Someone has no idea who she is. However, this does not interfere with the albums. Sarah becomes "gold" and "platinum", and concerts in many countries of the world are sold out.

The magic of Sarah Brightman's voice

What is the secret of the success of this green-eyed Englishwoman with a shock of chic dark curls? Maybe it's all about the timbre of the voice? Or is it all the fault of the range of more than three octaves? Or maybe the secret lies in the amazing repertoire, which harmoniously includes the so-called "pop", opera, musical, disco and even jazz, rock and Celtic folk music? Or people are attracted by the presence of a miss Brightman two voices - chest and lyric soprano? All of these factors are likely to matter. Miss fans Brightman do not need such analysis and explanation. Once bewitched by her voice, a person remains in this captivity forever.

Even opera arias in her mouth sound somehow special - stylish and modern. , in fact, created a new direction in music. She threw a bridge between the classics and "pop", was not afraid to mix them up and be different from everyone else.

She knew what she wanted

Born 1960 in Burkamstead, a sleepy English town not far from London. When the girl was three years old, her mother Paula, who was fond of ballet and theatrical performances, got her daughter to the Elmhart Ballet School. Thus began the artistic career of the young miss Brightman.

Back in childhood Sarah realized what she wanted to achieve in life. Unlike other children, she did not need free time. After school I went to dance lessons and studied ballet until eight o'clock in the evening. Returning home, the girl immediately went to bed in order to have time to do her homework early in the morning. On weekends, she performed at various local competitions and festivals, where she always won prizes.

At 11 years old Sarah was sent to a boarding school that specialized in performing arts. The girl had a hard time, since friendly relations with the students did not develop, she was constantly teased. Unable to bear Sarah once ran away from school, but her father persuaded her to return. At the same time, he told his daughter that the choice was hers. And the daughter chose a boarding school in which she could develop her artistic talents.

Brightman's voice heard

Itself Sarah always wanted to sing, but her mother only realized what an amazing voice her daughter had when she was 12 years old. Seeing her girl performing at a school concert, where she sang a song from "Alice in Wonderland", Paula realized that singing is a vocation Sarah... Young miss Brightman looked then not in the best way: matted hair, braces on the teeth. In a word, the ripening period. However, the audience was numb with delight.

Teachers Sarah quickly discerned the talents of the young talent. After a year of study at the boarding school, she was sent to audition at the Piccadilly Theater, where they recruited actors for the new musical by John Schlesinger "I and Albert". Sarah got two roles at once. This experience forever instilled in her an ardent love for the stage.

After studying up to 14 years old in a boarding school, Sarah transferred to the London School of Performing Arts. Sarah, who dreamed of becoming a singer, decided not to limit herself to dancing. At school, in addition to ballet classes, she attended singing lessons. Moreover, the girl learned to play the piano, guitar and even composed songs, and during the holidays she worked as a model.

Sara and Hot Gossip

However, the future miss Brightman was still associated with ballet. Everyone expected that Sarah will be accepted into the troupe of the Royal Ballet, but she did not pass the selection. The girl was depressed, but did not give up. As a result, the 16-year-old realized the dream of thousands of teenage girls by becoming a member of the then popular dance group Pan's People. Besides, Sarah was a Vogue model, and the cosmetics company Biba chose her as the face of the company. Quite no small achievements to begin with.

Over time, Pan's People lost their spot on the BBC's TV charts and began touring the country with dance numbers. Sarah remained a member of the group for 18 months until she was spotted by choreographer Arlene Phillips, who was looking for new dancers for her Hot Gossip ensemble. Sarah passed the selection.

At the same time she was engaged in recording demo compositions. One of the songs piqued the interest of the record company producer Hans Ariola. He was looking for a suitable voice for Jeffrey Calvert's song "I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper." Sarah offered to record this song, and it became an instant hit in the UK. And the Hot Gossip group is also a phenomenon. The youth went crazy for them.

Success and first marriage

18 year old Sarah became a pop star. Later in an interview, the singer said with a laugh that she quickly spent all the money she earned without thinking about paying taxes. Then the girl met her first husband, Andrew Graham Stewart. He was seven years older Sarah and worked as a manager of one of the German rock bands. After a short period of courtship, they got married.

Being on the wave of success, the young artist recorded several more compositions, but these songs were not destined to become hits. In 1980, Sarah accidentally saw an advertisement for the recruitment of actors in a new musical (by the music of the rock opera) "Cats". By that time, she left the group and needed work, so she decided to try her hand at a new genre for herself, despite the fact that she was not at all going to connect her fate with musical theater.

"Extraordinary" personalities were invited to the casting, and Sarah I came to the audition in a blue-green dress and a mohawk hairdo (hair was also blue). A few months later, the girl was informed that she got a small role of Jemima's pussy.

Didn't forget Sarah and about his solo career. In 1981 Jeffrey Calvert and Miss Brightman, who set up their own recording studio, Whisper, recorded two more singles. But these songs also failed to repeat the success of the first hit. The role in "Cats" was predominantly dance, although Sarah and there was one little vocal part in the song "Memory". But this was enough for the young star to understand: she has a good voice and needs to be developed. Sarah began to take lessons from famous vocal teachers, and the classes were not in vain.

Star couple

After playing in "Cats" for a year, the girl moved on to another musical. She received the main vocal role in the play "The Nightingale" by the composer Charles Strauss. Brilliant reviews from critics intrigued Andrew Lloyd Webber. He decided to look at Sarah... What he saw shocked the composer, because he managed to overlook such a vocal talent, although the girl was under his nose for a whole year. That evening changed a lot in the life of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sarah Brightman.

Very quickly, their business relationship grew into a serious romance. Both were married at that time (he was with another Sarah, she was with another Andrew), and he had two children. However, their romance developed. It was Andrew Lloyd Webber who became the producer of the new singles. Sarah.

After the play "Nightingale" Sarah continued her theatrical career, joining the comic opera "The Pirates of Penzance". In 1983 Sarah divorced her first husband. After a while, Andrew also dissolved the marriage and without undue delay married Sarah... Their wedding took place in 1984, on the composer's birthday and on the day of the premiere of his new musical Star Express.

Sarah Brightman's first Grammy

The attention that the tabloid press paid to their union was comparable only to the attention to Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Sarah many accused her of making her way up through Andrew Lloyd Webber, because he was a famous composer and a wealthy man. It is noteworthy that the British media to this day do not miss the opportunity to douse Miss Brightman mud and stubbornly refuse to admit that she has talent.

In 1984 Sarah became the new performer of the leading role in Webber's musical "Song and Dance". This "concert for the theater", as the posters said, was a mix of the earlier "Tell Me This Sunday" and "Variations", written by Andrew on the theme of "Caprice." Andrew, meanwhile, was obsessed with the idea of writing something extraordinary for Sarah whose voice he never ceased to admire. Thanks to this, "Requiem" appeared.

Andrew decided that Requiem should be sung by a boy, a girl and a man. Namely by Paul Miles-Kingston, Sarah Brightman and Placido Domingo. In December 1984, Requiem was recorded and achieved astonishing success given the classical character of the piece. Sarah was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Classical Artist.

"The Phantom of the Opera" - for the beloved

In the same time Sarah offered to play the role of Christina in Ken Hill's musical "The Phantom of the Opera". However, then she was bound by other obligations. In addition, Andrew got the idea to write his "Phantom of the Opera", in which the vocal abilities of his wife and muses could "sparkle" in full force. Unlike other productions and film adaptations, Webber emphasized passion and romance. And he made the right decision. The musical is still a fantastic success. Christina's part was written by Andrew especially for the voice Sarah.

Some critics admired Webber's new creation and the leading actress, others, on the contrary, proved to everyone that Sarah a lousy actress and singer (forgetting that it is to her that everyone owes the appearance of this amazing musical). One way or another, The Phantom of the Opera effortlessly managed to conquer the whole world and become perhaps the most popular musical in the history of musical theater. And, despite the attacks of some critics, the role of Christina Dae was a real triumph. Sarah Brightman.

Still creative, but no longer a family union

It is curious that at the rehearsals of The Phantom of the Opera, the actors more than once witnessed violent skirmishes between Sarah and Andrew. In addition, while working on the musical, the couple lived in separate apartments. “It's more convenient to work this way,” they explained. Whether these words reflected the true state of affairs or whether storms began in paradise is unknown.

in the musical "Cats"

Howbeit, Brightman and Webber were still spouses and continued to work together. Sarah embarked on the Andrew Lloyd Webber Music World Tour. Andrew, meanwhile, was working on a new musical, Aspects of Love. He believed that in this performance for Sarah no suitable role. However, in 1989, the song "Anything But Lonely" was released as a single, which Andrew wrote for "Aspects of Love". Performed it Sarah.

The next year can be safely called one of the most difficult periods in life. Sarah... Her long absences negatively affected the marriage. The press also played a role, which repeatedly published notes about too close friendship. Sarah with other men. Meanwhile, Andrew began an affair with a certain Madeline Gurdon. In July 1990, the composer told reporters that his marriage to Sarah Brightman came to an end.

Despite this, the singer and composer remained friends: in the same year she played Rose in the London and Broadway productions of Andrew's new musical "Aspects of Love", and subsequently sang a song with Jose Carreras at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, which was specially written by Webber ad hoc.

Sarah Brightman mystery and phenomenon

in the musical "The Phantom of the Opera"

Soon she met Frank Peterson, the producer of the Enigma and Gregorian projects. At the time of their joint work Sarah moved to Germany, where Frank lived, and their relationship gradually ceased to be exclusively business. In 1993, together they prepared and released the album "Dive", with which the singer returned to the world of pop music. Didn't forget Sarah and about her ex-husband: she recorded two albums that consisted entirely of Andrew's songs.

Continuing to work actively in the field of pop music, Sarah does not leave the classics either. She has performed with such performers as Placido Domingo, Ricardo Cocciante and Andrea Bocelli. And although they are now only business partners with Frank Peterson, he became the producer of her album "Harem" - a fantasy on oriental themes.

Continues to ignore the genre division of music. Critics who consider her voice one of the best of our time and call Sarah"The queen of classical singing", the breadth of her musical interests is always bewildering.

FACTS

Album Sarah Brightman"Harem" was accompanied by a world tour. The dances of the project were reflected in the show. In it, in comparison with the previous ones, many more dancers were involved. Own show Sarah brought it to Russia in 2004.

with Andrew Lloyd Webber

Candidacy Sarah Brightman In 2012, she was approved for preparation for a manned flight into space on the Soyuz spacecraft on the ISS as a space tourist. The flight is due to take place in 2015 and will last 10 days. Supporting women's education and tackling the depletion of natural resources will cost the singer $ 51 million, and her fortune is estimated at just $ 49 million.

sings in Italian, Spanish, French, German, Russian ("It's good here", English name "How fair this place"), Latin, Hindi and Japanese, but mostly it is English, the singer's native language.

Updated: April 11, 2019 by the author: Helena

Sarah Brightman is a British singer who has gained worldwide popularity.

Childhood

Sarah Brightman was born in England in 1960 in a town near the capital. The performer in the genre of the classic crossover celebrates her birthday on August 14 (Leo by horoscope).

The family had five children - Sarah was the eldest. His father was involved in the construction business, his mother danced in the local ballet and played in the theater (before marriage).

Career

Mom sent the girl to both ballet and art school, where she very soon became a local star. Already at the age of 12, she played in a play at a London theater.

At the age of 14, Sarah Brightman began studying music, and at 16 she danced in the TV series Pan's People. At the age of 18, she became part of the Hot Gossip group and succeeded - one of the songs conquered the UK Singles Chart (I Lost my Heart to a Starship Trooper took 6th place).

The group's creativity stalled, and Sarah decided to go into free swimming - to try herself in classical vocals. She played in the musical Cats by composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber. By the way, Webber soon left his wife for Sarah.

For her performance with Placido Domingo in 1985, Sarah was nominated for a Grammy as Best New Classical Artist. She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her role in The Phantom of the Opera.

In 1988, Sarah Brightman decided to pursue a solo career in earnest. She presented the album Early one morning, consisting of folklore compositions. Has appeared in the plays Trelawney of the Wells, Relative Values.

Acquaintance with Frank Peterson brought not only changes in his personal life, but also new creative projects - the musical project Enigma MCMXC a.D., the albums Dive and Fly. Despite the breakup, work continued with Lloyd Webber - the album Surrender, The unexpected songs, was released.

In 1992, Sarah Brightman sang the anthem of the Barcelona Olympic Games Amigos para siempre with Jose Carreras. The singer also performed before the start of the world boxing championship in 1995. In the same year she played in the productions of Dangerous Ideas and Innocent.

In 1996 Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli sang the single Time to say at Henry Musk's final boxing match. The song became the sales record holder (5 million copies sold).

Sarah's third album Timeless was released in 1997, went gold and platinum, selling 3 million copies.

The new Eden album was released in 1998. A year later, Brightman released her own show, One night in Eden, performing 90 concerts.

The next album La Luna, which was released in 2000, received gold status even before its release. The album consisted of the best songs of the singer. In his support, Brightman took part in a world tour.

In 2001, the singer released the classic album Classics, consisting of arias and classics.

In 2003, the "oriental" album Harem was released, which is characterized by a more danceable sound. Sarah also went on tour in support of the disc, including to Russia.

In 2006, Sarah's music video collection Diva: the Video Collection was released in addition to the CD collection of the same name and a new version of the Classics album.

In 2007, Sarah performed at a number of major concerts, presented new singles - Running, as well as I will be with you with Chris Thompson and Pasion with Fernando Lima.

Sarah's songs become soundtracks for TV shows and films (for example, "Blades of Glory"). Brightman is invited to play in the film "Ripo! Genetic Opera ".

The duets of this time with Ann Murray (Snowbird), Andrea Bocelli (Time to say Goodbye) were striking.

In 2008, Sarah Brightman, in a duet with Chinese singer Liu Huang, sang the official anthem of the XXIX Summer Olympic Games "One World, One Dream."

In the same year, the singer went on the Symphony tour, releasing the album A Winter Symphony. On the tour, Brightman also sang with such stars as Alessandro Safina, Fernando Lima, Mario Frangoulis.

In 2010, Sarah was again invited to perform at the opening of the Olympic Games - this time in Vancouver (composition Shall be done).

Failed flight into space

In 2012, it became known that Sarah Brightman would fly into space as a tourist. The flight was scheduled for fall 2015. Sarah said that she had always dreamed of flying into space, began to learn Russian and undergo 6-month training for the flight. The training was carried out at the Cosmonaut Training Center. In May 2015, it became known about Brightman's refusal to fly for family reasons. Later it became known that one of the sponsors refused to pay for the flight, and Sarah would not have had enough of her own money (the flight price is $ 52 million).

Personal life

In 1978, Sarah met Andrew Graham Stewart.
The music manager became her first husband. The marriage lasted until 1983.

In 1984, Brightman married composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber.

The third companion of the singer's life was producer Frank Peterson.

Took part in the production of the musical "Cats" by composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber (New Theater in London).

The theme for Sarah's next album, "Harem" (), is the East. The name itself can be translated as "forbidden place". “The ideas for the album come from India, the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey,” Sarah says in an interview with the DVD “Live from Las Vegas”. From the previous albums "Harem" is distinguished by a slightly more danceable sound, although classical elements are also present on this album. For example, in the song “It’s a beautiful day” Sarah sings “Un Bel di” by Puccini. Together with the album, a collection of clips "Harem: a Desert Fantasy" is released. The collection includes not only clips from the "Harem" album, but also new versions of the hits "Anytime, Anywhere" and "Time to Say Goodbye". Like the previous albums Eden and La luna, Harem went on a world tour. The project's dances are reflected in the show: more dancers are involved in it, compared to the previous one. The scene itself was made in the shape of a crescent and a path emanating from it, which ended in a star. This time Sarah brought her show to Russia. The concerts took place in Moscow (September 15, Olympic stadium) and in St. Petersburg (September 17, Ice Palace).

Symphony (2006-2012)

A failed flight into space and a new album

In August 2012, it was confirmed that Brightman's candidacy, once famous for the clip “I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper”, was approved for preparation for a manned space flight on the Soyuz "On the ISS as a space tourist. Presumably, the flight was supposed to take place in the fall of 2015 and last 10 days. On March 16, 2013, the head of the space agency, Vladimir Popovkin, announced that the flight could only take place in the event of a short-term expedition to the ISS for a period of no more than 8 days. On October 10, 2012, at a press conference in Moscow about the beginning of her preparation for the flight, she announced that the dream of flying into space came to her in 1969. In 2013 she went on a world tour in support of her new album "Dreamchaser". At the end of the tour, Brightman had to undergo six-month flight training and began it in the spring of 2015 at the Cosmonaut Training Center. It was estimated that her flight to support women's education and combat the depletion of natural resources would cost $ 51 million, while the singer's fortune was estimated at only $ 49 million. On May 13, 2015, it became known that Brightman refused to fly to the ISS for family reasons.

Languages

Duets

Eric Adams « Where eagles fly»
Michael ball Seeing Is Believing
Antonio Banderas "The Phantom of the Opera"
John Barrowman "Too Much In Love To Care"(album "Love changes everything")
Steve barton "Think of me"(album "Love changes everything")
Andrea Bocelli "Time to say goodbye", "Canto della Terra"(album "Symphony")
José Carreras "Amigos Para Siempre"
Jacky cheung "There for me"(New Millenium Concert)
Michael crawford "The Phantom of the opera"(album "The Andrew Lloyd Webber collection")
Jose cura "Just show me how to love you", "There for me"(album "Timeless")
Plácido Domingo("Requiem" and "Christmas in Vienna (1998)")
Mario frangoulis Carpe Diem (album "A Winter Symphony"), ("Symphony" tour in USA and Canada)
Sir john gielgud "Gus: the Theater Cat"(album "Surrender", "The Andrew Lloyd Webber collection")
Josh groban "There for me"(La Luna tour), "All I ask of You"(concert in honor of Diana)
Ofra Haza "Mysterious days"(album "Harem")
Steve harley "The Phantom Of The Opera"(video clip)
Tom jones "Something in the air"(album "Fly")
Paul miles kingston "Pie Jesu"("Requiem")
Andrzej Lampert "I will be with you"
Fernando lima "Pasión"(album "Symphony")
Richard Marx "The Last words you said"
Anne murray "Snowbird"(Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends)
Elaine paige "Memory"
Cliff richard "All I ask of you"(video clip), Only you(album "Love changes everything")
Alessandro safina "Sarai Qui"("Symphony" album, "Symphony! Live in Vienna", "Symphony" tour in Mexico), Canto della terra("Symphony! Live in Vienna", "Symphony" tour in Mexico), "The Phantom of the opera" ("Symphony" tour in Mexico)
Kazim al sahir "The War is over"(album "Harem")
Paul stanley "I will be with you"(album "Symphony")
Chris tompson "How can Heaven love me"(album "Fly"), "I will be with you"(soundtrack to the 10th part of the TV series "Pokemon")
Sergey Penkin "I will be with you"(Russian version of the album "Symphony")

Participation in projects

Gregorian , "Voyage, Voyage", "Don’t give up", "Join Me", "Moment of peace"
Sash! "The Secret Still Remains"
Schiller "The Smile" , "I've seen it all"(album "Leben")
Macbeth"How Can Heaven Love Me"

Discography

Requiem(as Herself), New York and London ()

Musicals

Cats(as Jemima), New London Theater ()
Nightingale(as Nightingale), Buxton Festival and the Lyric, Hammersmith ()
Song and dance(as Emma), Palace Theater in London ()
Phantom of the Opera(as Christine Daaé), Her Majesty’s Theater London ()
Aspects of love(as Rose Vibert) ()
“Ripo! Genetic Opera "(eng." Repo! The Genetic Opera ")(as Magdalen "Blind Mag") ()

Albums

Solo	Reprints of songs by E.-L. Webber
The Trees They Grow So High () The Songs That Got Away () As I Came Of Age () Dive () Fly () Time to say goodbye () Eden () La luna () Harem () Symphony () A winter symphony () Dreamchaser ()	Sings the Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber () The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection () Love Changes Everything: The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection vol.2 ()
	Reissues of the best songs
	Classics - The Best Of Sarah Brightman () Amalfi - Sarah Brightman Love Songs ()
	Additions to the main albums
	Eden (Limited Millenium Edition) ()

Singles

Release year	Single title	Album
	I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper	-
	The Adventures Of The Love Crusader	-
	Love in a ufo	-
	My Boyfriend "s Back	-
	Not Having That!	-
	Him	-
	Rhythm of the Rain	-
	Unexpected Song	Song and Dance(musical)
	Pie Jesu	Requiem
	The Phantom of the Opera	The Phantom of the Opera(musical)
	Music of the Night	The Phantom of the Opera(musical)
	All i ask of you(feat. Cliff Richard)	The Phantom of the Opera(musical)
	A Room With A View	-
	Make believe	Grandpa(animated film)
	Anything But Lonely	The Songs That Got Away
	Something to Believe In	As I Came Of Age
	Amigos para siempre	-
	Captain nemo	Dive
	The second element	Dive
	A Question of Honor	Fly
	A Question of Honor (remixes)	Fly
	How Can Heaven Love Me(feat. Chris Thompson)	Fly
		Fly
	Time to say goodbye(feat. Andrea Bocelli)	Time to say goodbye
	Just Show Me How To Love You(feat. Jose Cura)	Time to say goodbye
	Who Wants to Live Forever	Time to say goodbye
	Who Wants to Live Forever (remixes)	Time to say goodbye
	Tu quieres volver	Time to say goodbye
		Time to say goodbye
	Starship troopers	-
	Eden	Eden
	Deliver Me	Eden
	The Last Words You Said	Eden
	So many things	Eden
	Scarborough Fair	La luna
	A Whiter Shade of Pale (EP)	La luna
	Harem (Cancao Do Mar)	Harem
	Harem (Cancao Do Mar) (remixes)	Harem
	What you never know	Harem
	Free	Harem
	(feat. Chris Thompson)	Symphony
	Running	Symphony
	Pasión(feat. Fernando Lima)	Symphony
	Angel	Dreamchaser
	One day like this	Dreamchaser

Bootlegs

DVD

Sarah Brightman in Concert at The Royal Albert Hall ()
Christmas in Vienna ()
One Night in Eden ()
La Luna: Live in Concert ()
The Sarah Brightman Special: Harem a Desert Fantasy ()
The Harem World Tour: Live from Las Vegas ()
DIVA: The Video Collection ()
Symphony! Live in Vienne ()
The Phantom of the Opera 25 Anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)
Dreamchaser in Concert ()

Filmography

	Russian name	original name	Role
f		Granpa	song "Make Believe" uncredited
f		Zeit Der Erkenntnis	In the role of myself
f	Ripo! Genetic Opera	Repo! The genetic opera	Blind Meg
f	Amalfi: Goddess Rewards	Amalfi	In the role of myself

Sources of

Write a review on "Brightman, Sarah"

Links

Official

Other English-language resources

Sarah Brightman at the Internet Movie Database

Russian-language sites

- Fansite
- Sarah Brightman Ukrainian fansite

Sarah Brightman

Studio albums

Compilations

Live albums & videos

Singles

Tours

Musical theater & film

Related content

Excerpt from Brightman, Sarah

- Laissez cette femme! [Leave this woman!] - Pierre croaked in a furious voice, grabbing the long, hunched soldier by the shoulders and throwing him away. The soldier fell, got up and ran away. But his comrade, throwing his boots, took out a cleaver and menacingly advanced on Pierre.
- Voyons, pas de betises! [Oh well! Don't be silly!] He shouted.
Pierre was in that rapture of rage, in which he remembered nothing and in which his strength increased tenfold. He threw himself at the barefoot Frenchman, and before he could take out his cleaver, he had already knocked him down and thrashed him with his fists. An approving cry from the surrounding crowd was heard, at the same time a horse patrol of French lancers appeared from around the corner. Lancers trotted up to Pierre and the Frenchman and surrounded them. Pierre remembered nothing of what happened next. He remembered that he was beating someone, he was beaten and that in the end he felt that his hands were tied, that a crowd of French soldiers were standing around him and searching his dress.
- Il a un poignard, lieutenant, [The lieutenant, he has a dagger,] - were the first words that Pierre understood.
- Ah, une arme! [Ah, weapons!] - said the officer and turned to the barefoot soldier who had been taken with Pierre.
- C "est bon, vous direz tout cela au conseil de guerre, [Okay, okay, you will tell everything at the trial,] - said the officer. And then he turned to Pierre: - Parlez vous francais vous? [Do you speak French? ]
Pierre looked around him with bloodshot eyes and did not answer. Probably, his face seemed very scary, because the officer said something in a whisper, and four more lancers separated from the team and stood on both sides of Pierre.
- Parlez vous francais? The officer repeated the question to him, keeping away from him. - Faites venir l "interprete. [Call for an interpreter.] - A small man in a civilian Russian dress drove out from behind the rows. By his dress and speech, Pierre immediately recognized him as a Frenchman from one of the Moscow stores.
- Il n "a pas l" air d "un homme du peuple, [He does not look like a commoner,] - said the translator, looking around Pierre.
- Oh, oh! ca m "a bien l" air d "un des incendiaires, - the officer oiled. - Demandez lui ce qu" il est? [Oh oh! he looks a lot like an arsonist. Ask him who he is?] He added.
- Who are you? The translator asked. “The bosses should be responsible for it,” he said.
- Je ne vous dirai pas qui je suis. Je suis votre prisonnier. Emmenez moi, [I won't tell you who I am. I am your prisoner. Take me away,] - Pierre suddenly said in French.
- Ah, Ah! - said the officer, frowning. - Marchons!
A crowd gathered around the lancers. Closest to Pierre was a pockmarked woman with a girl; when the detour started, she moved forward.
- Where does this lead you, my dear fellow? - she said. - Girl then, girl then where am I going to, if she is not theirs! - said the woman.
- Qu "est ce qu" elle veut cette femme? [What does she want?] Asked the officer.
Pierre was drunk. His enthusiasm was further intensified at the sight of the girl he had saved.
"Ce qu" elle dit? "He said." Elle m "apporte ma fille que je viens de sauver des flammes," he said. - Adieu! [What does she want? She carries my daughter, whom I have saved from the fire. Farewell!] - and he, not knowing how this aimless lie had escaped from him, walked with a decisive, solemn step between the French.
The departure of the French was one of those who were sent by order of Duronel through various streets of Moscow to suppress looting and, in particular, to catch arsonists, who, according to the general opinion, which appeared on that day among the French of the highest ranks, were the cause of the fires. Having traveled several streets, the patrol picked up five more suspicious Russians, one shopkeeper, two seminarians, a peasant and a courtyard, and several looters. But of all the suspicious people, Pierre seemed the most suspicious of all. When they were all brought to a lodging for the night in a large house on Zubovsky Val, in which a guardhouse was established, Pierre was placed separately under strict guard.

In St. Petersburg at that time in the highest circles, with greater fervor than ever before, there was a complex struggle between the parties of Rumyantsev, the French, Maria Feodorovna, the Tsarevich and others, drowned out, as always, by the trumpeting of court drones. But calm, luxurious, preoccupied only with ghosts, reflections of life, Petersburg life went on as before; and because of the course of this life it was necessary to make great efforts to realize the danger and the difficult situation in which the Russian people found themselves. There were the same exits, balls, the same French theater, the same interests of the courtyards, the same interests of service and intrigue. Only in the highest circles have efforts been made to resemble the difficulty of the present situation. It was told in a whisper about how both Empresses acted opposite to each other, in such difficult circumstances. Empress Maria Feodorovna, concerned about the welfare of the charitable and educational institutions under her jurisdiction, made an order to send all the institutions to Kazan, and the things of these institutions had already been packed. The Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna, when asked what orders she would like to make, with her characteristic Russian patriotism, deigned to answer that she could not make orders about state institutions, since this concerns the sovereign; about the same thing that personally depends on her, she deigned to say that she would be the last to leave Petersburg.
Anna Pavlovna had an evening on August 26, on the very day of the Battle of Borodino, the flower of which was to be the reading of a letter from the Right Reverend, written when the emperor was sent the image of the Monk Sergius. This letter was considered a model of patriotic spiritual eloquence. It was supposed to be read by Prince Vasily himself, famous for his art of reading. (He also read with the Empress.) The art of reading was considered to be loud, melodious, between a desperate howl and a gentle murmur, pouring words, completely regardless of their meaning, so that quite by accident a howl fell on one word, on others - a murmur. This reading, like all Anna Pavlovna's evenings, had political significance. At this evening there were to be several important persons who were to be ashamed of their trips to the French theater and to be encouraged to a patriotic mood. Quite a lot of people had already gathered, but Anna Pavlovna had not yet seen in the drawing-room all those whom she needed, and therefore, without beginning to read, started general conversations.
The news of the day that day in St. Petersburg was the illness of Countess Bezukhova. A few days ago, the Countess unexpectedly fell ill, missed several meetings, of which she was a decoration, and it was heard that she did not receive anyone and that instead of the famous St. Petersburg doctors who usually treated her, she trusted some Italian doctor who treated her with some new and in an extraordinary way.
Everyone knew very well that the pretty countess's illness stemmed from the inconvenience of marrying two husbands at once, and that the treatment of the Italian consisted in removing this inconvenience; but in the presence of Anna Pavlovna, not only did no one dare to think about it, but as if no one knew it.
- On dit que la pauvre comtesse est tres mal. Le medecin dit que c "est l" angine pectorale. [The poor countess is said to be very bad. The doctor said it was chest disease.]
- L "angine? Oh, c" est une maladie terrible! [Chest disease? Oh, this is a terrible disease!]
- On dit que les rivaux se sont reconcilies grace a l "angine ... [It is said that the rivals were reconciled thanks to this disease.]
The word angine was repeated with great pleasure.
- Le vieux comte est touchant a ce qu "on dit. Il a pleure comme un enfant quand le medecin lui a dit que le cas etait dangereux. [The old count is very touching, they say. He wept like a child when the doctor said that dangerous case.]
- Oh, ce serait une perte terrible. C "est une femme ravissante. [Oh, that would be a great loss. Such a lovely woman.]
“Vous parlez de la pauvre comtesse,” Anna Pavlovna said, coming up. - J "ai envoye savoir de ses nouvelles. On m" a dit qu "elle allait un peu mieux. Oh, sans doute, c" est la plus charmante femme du monde, "Anna Pavlovna said with a smile over her enthusiasm. - Nous appartenons a des camps differents, mais cela ne m "empeche pas de l" estimer, comme elle le merite. Elle est bien malheureuse, [You are talking about the poor countess ... I sent to inquire about her health. I was told that she was a little better. Oh, without a doubt, this is the prettiest woman in the world. We belong to different camps, but this does not prevent me from respecting her according to her merits. She is so unhappy.] - added Anna Pavlovna.
Believing that with these words Anna Pavlovna slightly lifted the veil of secrecy over the countess's illness, one careless young man allowed himself to express surprise at the fact that famous doctors were not called in, but was treating the countess with a charlatan who could give dangerous remedies.
“Vos informations peuvent etre meilleures que les miennes,” Anna Pavlovna suddenly snapped at the inexperienced young man. - Mais je sais de bonne source que ce medecin est un homme tres savant et tres habile. C "est le medecin intime de la Reine d" Espagne. [Your news may be truer than mine ... but I know from good sources that this doctor is a very learned and skillful person. This is the health care provider of the Queen of Spain.] - And thus destroying the young man, Anna Pavlovna turned to Bilibin, who in another circle, picking up his skin and, apparently, about to dissolve it in order to say un mot, was talking about the Austrians.
- Je trouve que c "est charmant! [I find it charming!] - he said about the diplomatic paper in which the Austrian banners were sent to Vienna, taken by Wittgenstein, le heros de Petropol [the hero of Petropolis] (as he was called in Petersburg).
- How, how is it? Anna Pavlovna turned to him, arousing silence for hearing mot, which she already knew.
And Bilibin repeated the following authentic words of the diplomatic dispatch he had drawn up:
- L "Empereur renvoie les drapeaux Autrichiens," said Bilibin, "drapeaux amis et egares qu" il a trouve hors de la route, [The emperor sends Austrian banners, friendly and lost banners that he found off the real road.] - finished Bilibin loosening the skin.
- Charmant, charmant, [Charming, charming,] - said Prince Vasily.
- C "est la route de Varsovie peut etre, [This is a Warsaw road, perhaps.]" Said Prince Ippolit loudly and unexpectedly. Everyone looked at him, not understanding what he wanted to say by that. Prince Ippolit also looked around with cheerful surprise He, like the others, did not understand what the words he said meant. During his diplomatic career, he noticed more than once that the words spoken in this way suddenly turned out to be very witty, and he said these words just in case, the first ones who came to his tongue: “Maybe it will work out very well,” he thought, “but if it doesn’t work out, they will be able to arrange it there.” Indeed, while an awkward silence reigned, that insufficiently patriotic face entered, whom she had been waiting for to address Anna Pavlovna, and she, smiling and shaking her finger at Ippolita, invited Prince Vasily to the table, and, bringing him two candles and a manuscript, asked him to start.
- Most Merciful Emperor! - Prince Vasily proclaimed sternly and looked around the audience, as if asking if anyone had anything to say against this. But nobody said anything. - “The capital city of Moscow, New Jerusalem, accepts its Christ,” he suddenly struck at his word, “like a mother into the arms of her zealous sons, and through the arising darkness, foreseeing the brilliant glory of your state, sings in ecstasy:“ Hosanna, blessed is the coming ! " - Prince Vasily in a crying voice uttered these last words.
Bilibin carefully examined his nails, and many, apparently, were shy, as if asking what they were to blame? Anna Pavlovna in a whisper was already repeating ahead, like an old woman, the prayer of the sacrament: "Let the impudent and insolent Goliath ..." - she whispered.
Prince Vasily continued:
- “Let the impudent and impudent Goliath from the borders of France carry deadly horrors on the edges of Russia; meek faith, this sling of the Russian David, will suddenly slay the head of his bloodthirsty pride. This image of the Monk Sergius, an ancient zealot for the good of our fatherland, is brought to your Imperial Majesty. Painful, that my weakening forces prevent me from enjoying your most amiable contemplation. I send warm prayers to heaven, so that the all-powerful will exalt the race of the right and fulfill your Majesty's desires in good ”.
- Quelle force! Quel style! [What power! What a syllable!] - praise was heard to the reader and writer. Inspired by this speech, Anna Pavlovna's guests talked for a long time about the state of the fatherland and made various assumptions about the outcome of the battle, which was to be given the other day.
- Vous verrez, [you will see.] - Anna Pavlovna said, - that tomorrow, on the birthday of the sovereign, we will receive news. I have a good feeling.

Anna Pavlovna's premonition was indeed justified. The next day, during a prayer service in the palace on the occasion of the sovereign's birthday, Prince Volkonsky was summoned from the church and received an envelope from Prince Kutuzov. This was Kutuzov's report, written on the day of the battle from Tatarinova. Kutuzov wrote that the Russians had not retreated a single step, that the French had lost much more than ours, that he was reporting in a hurry from the battlefield, not having time to collect the latest information. So it was a victory. And immediately, without leaving the temple, gratitude was given to the creator for his help and for the victory.
Anna Pavlovna's presentiment was justified, and a joyfully festive mood of spirit reigned in the city all morning. Everyone recognized the victory as perfect, and some have already spoken about the capture of Napoleon himself, about his overthrow and the election of a new head for France.
Away from business and amid the conditions of court life, it is very difficult for events to be reflected in all their fullness and strength. Unwittingly, general events are grouped around one particular case. So now the main joy of the courtiers was as much in the fact that we had won, as in the fact that the news of this victory came precisely on the birthday of the sovereign. It was like a lucky surprise. In the news of Kutuzov, it was also said about the losses of the Russians, and among them Tuchkov, Bagration, Kutaisov were named. The sad side of the event, too, involuntarily in the local, St. Petersburg world was grouped around one event - the death of Kutaisov. Everyone knew him, the emperor loved him, he was young and interesting. On this day, everyone met with the words:
- How amazing it happened. In the most prayer service. And what a loss the Kutaisov! Oh, what a pity!
- What did I tell you about Kutuzov? - Prince Vasily spoke now with the pride of a prophet. - I have always said that he alone is able to defeat Napoleon.
But the next day no news came from the army, and the general voice became alarmed. The courtiers suffered for the suffering of the unknown in which the sovereign was.
- What is the position of the sovereign! - said the courtiers and no longer extolled, as the day before yesterday, and now they condemned Kutuzov, who was the cause of the emperor's anxiety. Prince Vasily on that day no longer boasted of his protege Kutuzov, but remained silent when it came to the commander-in-chief. In addition, by the evening of that day, it was as if everything had come together in order to plunge the Petersburg residents into alarm and anxiety: another terrible news had been added. Countess Elena Bezukhova died suddenly from this terrible disease, which was so pleasant to pronounce. Officially, in large societies, everyone said that Countess Bezukhova died of a terrible attack of angine pectorale [chest sore throat], but in intimate circles they told details about how le medecin intime de la Reine d "Espagne [the medic of the Queen of Spain] prescribed Helene small doses some kind of medicine for performing a certain action; but how Helene, tormented by the fact that the old count suspected her, and the fact that her husband, to whom she wrote (this unfortunate, depraved Pierre), did not answer her, suddenly took a huge dose of the medicine prescribed for her and died in agony before they could offer help. ”It was said that Prince Vasily and the old count took up the Italian, but the Italian showed such notes from the unfortunate deceased that he was immediately released.
The general conversation focused on three sad events: the uncertainty of the sovereign, the death of Kutaisov and the death of Helen.
On the third day after Kutuzov's report, a landowner from Moscow arrived in St. Petersburg, and the news of the surrender of Moscow to the French spread throughout the city. It was terrible! What was the position of the sovereign! Kutuzov was a traitor, and Prince Vasily, during the visites de condoleance [visits of condolences] on the occasion of his daughter's death, which he was receiving, spoke of Kutuzov, whom he had previously praised (it was forgiven for him to forget in sorrow what he had said before), he said, that nothing else could be expected from a blind and depraved old man.
- I am only surprised how it was possible to entrust such a person with the fate of Russia.
While this news was still unofficial, one could still doubt it, but the next day the following report came from Count Rostopchin:
“The adjutant of Prince Kutuzov brought me a letter, in which he demands from me police officers to escort the army to the Ryazan road. He says he is leaving Moscow with regret. Sovereign! Kutuzov's deed decides the lot of the capital and your empire. Russia will shudder upon learning of the surrender of the city where the greatness of Russia is concentrated, where the ashes of your ancestors are. I will follow the army. I took everything out, all I have to do is cry about the fate of my fatherland. "
Having received this report, the sovereign sent the following rescript to Kutuzov with Prince Volkonsky:
“Prince Mikhail Ilarionovich! Since August 29, I have not received any reports from you. Meanwhile, on September 1, through Yaroslavl, from the Moscow commander-in-chief, I received the sad news that you decided to leave Moscow with the army. You yourself can imagine the effect this news made on me, and your silence aggravates my surprise. I am sending with this General Adjutant Prince Volkonsky in order to learn from you about the position of the army and about the reasons that prompted you to such a sad resolve. "

Nine days after the abandonment of Moscow, a messenger from Kutuzov arrived in St. Petersburg with the official news of the abandonment of Moscow. This messenger was a Frenchman Michaud, who did not know Russian, but quoique etranger, Busse de c? Ur et d "ame, [though a foreigner, but Russian at heart,] as he himself said to himself.
The Emperor immediately received the messenger in his office, in the palace of Kamenny Island. Michaud, who had never seen Moscow before the campaign and who did not know Russian, felt all the same moved when he appeared before notre tres gracieux souverain [our most merciful ruler] (as he wrote) with the news of the Moscow fire, dont les flammes eclairaient sa route [whose flames lit up his path].
Although the source of the chagrin [grief] of Mr. Michaud was supposed to be different from the one from which the grief of the Russian people flowed, Michaud had such a sad face when he was introduced into the sovereign's office that the sovereign immediately asked him:
- M "apportez vous de tristes nouvelles, colonel? [What news have you brought me? Bad news, Colonel?]
- Bien tristes, sire, - answered Michaud, lowering his eyes with a sigh, - l "abandon de Moscou. [Very bad, your majesty, abandonment of Moscow.]
- Aurait on livre mon ancienne capitale sans se battre? [Have they really betrayed my ancient capital without a battle?] - suddenly flaring up, the sovereign said quickly.
Michaud respectfully conveyed what he was ordered to transfer from Kutuzov - precisely that it was not possible to fight near Moscow and that, since there was only one choice - to lose the army and Moscow or Moscow alone, the field marshal had to choose the latter.
The Emperor listened in silence, without looking at Michaud.
- L "ennemi est il en ville? [Has the enemy entered the city?]" He asked.
- Oui, sire, et elle est en cendres a l "heure qu" il est. Je l "ai laissee toute en flammes, [Yes, your majesty, and he is turned into a conflagration at the present time. I left him in the flames.] - Michaud said resolutely; but, looking at the emperor, Michaud was horrified at what he had done. The Tsar began to breathe heavily and quickly, his lower lip trembled, and his beautiful blue eyes instantly moistened with tears.
But this only lasted one minute. The Emperor suddenly frowned, as if condemning himself for his weakness. And, raising his head, he addressed Michaud in a firm voice.