Rubina Kalantarian Singer. People's Artist of Russia, Honored Artist of Armenia. Date of Birth: 01.05.1925 Country: Armenia

Biography of Rubina Kalantaryan

Rubina Kalantaryan is a singer, People's Artist of Russia, and Honored Artist of Armenia. Born on May 1, 1925, in Yerevan, Armenia, she comes from one of the oldest noble families in Armenia. Her ancestors were related to Prince Mikhail Tarielevich Loris-Melikov, the closest companion of Alexander II.

At the age of 10, Rubina was left without parents due to the repressive times, and her entire family was annihilated. She and her older sister, Seda, were isolated from society. During the war, a remarkable vocal teacher named Verginia Bagradovna Artsruni was evacuated from Leningrad to Yerevan. She taught Seda, and as a result, Seda was accepted into the R. Melikian Music School to study vocal under Artsruni. After the war, Verginia Bagradovna returned to Leningrad and invited Rubina to come to the Northern Capital for education. She only managed to do this in winter when all the exams were over. Lessons began at the teacher's home, and Rubina had to find somewhere to live without means of subsistence or a roof over her head. She experienced many hardships, including nights at train stations and in entrances, as well as cold and hunger. However, by spring, she was fully prepared for exams thanks to lessons with Verginia Bagradovna. She was admitted to the conservatory without competition. However, after six months, she was hospitalized with a severe form of dystrophy. It took her eight months to recover and undergo treatment. Despite everything, Rubina remembers her years of study at the Leningrad Conservatory as some of the happiest in her life. The Armenian girl was adored by the entire class. When she made grammatical or pronunciation mistakes, nobody even thought of correcting her; everyone was delighted with this charming peculiarity! To this day, if Rubina says something incorrectly, she first remembers her friends.

After the conservatory, Rubina hoped to perform in opera theaters as she received a diploma as an opera singer. However, her accent, which her friends loved, prevented her from becoming a soloist in the theater. Rubina Kalantaryan started working at "Lenconcert." She traveled to many cities in Russia, collaborating with various composers and poets. The stage became the most important thing for her. She no longer thought about recognition, fame, or awards. The only important things were music and her son. Rubina Rubenovna created her first solo concert program in 1959. It was the year when the brilliant Isabella Yuryeva left the stage. The program was titled "Evening of Russian Romance." At that time, romance was considered almost a forbidden genre. The official reason for this was rebellious sentiments and counter-revolutionary tendencies. However, Rubina managed to make Russian romances the main part of her repertoire, starting in 1959 and continuing to this day. The singer believes that it is a special genre. It is understood and accepted even by people who do not know the Russian language and cannot understand the meaning of the words. The main thing is sincerity, emotional depth, and the purity of the performer's soul. In addition, Rubina's repertoire includes classical roles such as Susanna in "The Marriage of Figaro," Martha in "The Tsar's Bride," and Gilda in "Rigoletto."

By the beginning of the "perestroika" period, the "Lenconcert" organization was significantly reduced. Senior-generation performers were politely "asked" to leave. Despite the fact that Rubina Kalantaryan was the chairman of the labor collective of "Lenconcert" and held a significant position, she was not spared from this fate. However, the singer never held any grudges and continued to collaborate and teach at the Union of Concert Performers.

Unexpectedly, after the "perestroika," Rubina Kalantaryan received various awards and titles, which she values greatly. First and foremost, she became a People's Artist of Russia and an Honored Artist of Armenia. She has been awarded the Order of Friendship, the Order of "Creator of St. Petersburg," and the "Golden Voice of Russia" statuette. She has been named "Person of the Year" multiple times and received the State Prize of the city. Furthermore, Rubina Kalantaryan is the chairwoman of the commission on migration, interethnic, and religious issues in the public chamber under the authorized representative of the President, as well as a member of the board of the World Club of Petersburgers. The day she was accepted into the World Club of Petersburgers will forever be remembered by her. The solemn ceremony took place at the Hermitage Theater, which is very symbolic for Rubina Kalantaryan. When she was a hungry girl, spending nights in entrances and once ended up in the police station when they wanted to send her back to Armenia because she technically had no right to stay in Leningrad, she somehow managed to reach Iosif Abgarovich Orbeli, who was the director of the Hermitage at that time, and it was he who helped her stay in the city. And now she stands on the stage of the Hermitage Theater, and Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovsky, whom she remembers as a little boy, presents her with a certificate stating that she is a full-fledged member of the World Club of Petersburgers! She remembered the entire path she had traveled in this city with him. She felt a lump in her throat and began to sing. She sang an Armenian prayer, expressing in it the fullness of the emotions that overwhelmed her at that moment, all the memories that suddenly came rushing back to her.

The singer is a member of the board of the Union of Concert Performers. It was there that Rubina Kalantaryan and her students created the charitable program MIR - Mercy, Art, Religion, with which she traveled to many hospitals and prisons, places where people need music not only as an aesthetic pleasure but also as a way to soothe the soul. Within the framework of the World Club of Petersburgers, this program led to another one - "Multinational Petersburg." With its help, Rubina Kalantaryan tries to teach people of different nationalities to be more tolerant, respect the culture and traditions of different nations. Six years ago, in collaboration with the German-Russian Cultural Center, the singer began organizing monthly charity evenings at the Lutheran Church on Nevsky Prospekt. Here, the music of different nations sounds, and admission is free for everyone. Students of Rubina Kalantaryan perform, and of course, she performs herself, along with stars from St. Petersburg's opera theaters and winners of vocal competitions. She is also a member of the Armenian Church Council. Rubina Kalantaryan promotes Armenian culture and the music of Armenian composers with special love. It is not by chance that Anatoly Sobchak wrote in his congratulations to the actress: "Thanks to your gift of warmth and soulfulness, on the banks of the Neva, we felt the greatness and wisdom of the ancient Armenian people, its centuries-old traditions."

Currently, Rubina Kalantaryan devotes her whole soul and strength to the "Old Russian Romance" Competition, which takes place annually in Estonia. Rubina personally selects participants among young professional singers, works with them, and prepares them. She is overjoyed when they perform successfully at the competition or receive awards. Today, Rubina Kalantaryan performs solo concerts, teaches young singers, travels to different cities, participates in the jury of various vocal competitions, organizes charity evenings, supports the society of disabled children "Arevik," and makes new plans for the future, believing that it will be bright. The singer's motto is "Happiness is being useful and needed." She cannot imagine her life without the stage, never refuses anyone to perform, and never talks about the amount of the fee because for this incredible woman, something else is important! Rubina Kalantaryan sincerely believes that the Lord will give her the opportunity to sing until she starts thinking about something other than the good for people, until she starts prioritizing material values. The performer is convinced that everyone is capable of overcoming any difficulties and achieving everything they dream of; the main thing is to want it with all their soul and to desire to be useful for others.