- Vitas
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Vitas Birth name Vitaliy "Vitas" Vladasovich Grachyov Born 19 February 1979 Origin Daugavpils, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union Genres Operatic pop, Techno, New Age, Vocal music, Classical
Pop (Easy listening, Chillout), Synthpop, Alt rockOccupations Singer, Composer, Songwriter, Actor, Fashion designer Instruments Voice, Accordion, Piano Years active 2000–present Associated acts DIVA (ДИВА) Website vitas.com.ru Vitaliy "Vitalik" Vladasovich Grachyov (Russian: Виталий Владасович Грачёв, Vitalij Vladasovič Gračëv), better known by his stage name Vitas (pronounced /ˈviːtɑːs/; Russian: Витас), is a Russian pop singer, composer, actor, and fashion designer.
His 2000 song, "Opera No. 2" ("Opera #2"; released as a single in 2001)[1] has been forwarded frequently via the Internet, which accounts for much of his worldwide recognition.[2] He is known for using his high falsetto voice, and in China he has been given the nickname the "Dolphin Voice Prince" (海豚音王子, pinyin: Hǎitún yīn wángzǐ). His eclectic pop music is often difficult to categorise, incorporating elements of techno, dance, classical, jazz, folk music, and wild shrieking.[3][4] He designs his own stage costumes.[5][6] DIVA (ДИВА) is the name of the band that accompanies Vitas during his concerts.[7]
Vitas has achieved much notability through Russian television, and since 2005 his career has advanced into Asian markets.[8] He has signed with entertainment labels such as Universal which distributes his music in Taiwan, and he has toured extensively in China[2] and several other countries.[8] He has performed duets with many other singers including Demis Roussos, Lucio Dalla, and Vitas' grandfather Arkadiy Davydovich Marantsman (Аркадий Давыдович Маранцман), with whom he sings "Friendship".[9]
Contents
Biography
Early life
Born Vitaliy Vladasovich Grachyov on 19 February 1979, in Daugavpils, Latvia, Vitas was raised in Odessa, Ukraine, and is of Russian descent. He showed an interest in music from an early age. The young Vitaliy's grandfather taught him to play accordion, and he began writing songs as a child. He later studied music more formally. He attended an art school in Odessa and as a teenager appeared in various theatrical productions. He was "discovered" by a visiting producer/manager, Sergey Pudovkin, who asked Vitas if he would come to Moscow. This invitation was extended on the basis of Vitas' acting skills: Pudovkin had not yet heard him sing. Vitas travelled to Moscow with demos of his music and began working with Pudovkin.
Rise to fame and early career
Vitas came to public attention in Russia in December 2000 with hit Opera No. 2, which was notable for his surprisingly high-pitched and energetic vocals.
His concert program Philosophy of Miracle premiered at the State Kremlin Palace on 29 March 2002, establishing a record for Vitas as the youngest artist ever to perform a solo concert at this prestigious venue. A DVD of this concert was released. He also presented his fashion collection "Autumn Dreams" on the stage of the State Kremlin Palace on 29 September 2002.
Vitas received an invitation from Lucio Dalla, the composer, who created "Caruso", to perform this song together with the author at the concert "San Remo in Moscow" held in the State Kremlin Palace in 2003. Vitas' voice enchanted not only the audience but Mr. Dalla himself, so the composer invited Vitas to come to Rome to take part in the rehearsals of "Toska", the modern version of the legendary opera.
Vitas presented his second solo program "The Songs of My Mother" in the Russia Concert Hall, Moscow in November 2003. Two albums: "The Songs of My Mother" and "Mama" of the artist were released for the premiere. The album "The Songs of My Mother" included the songs which are considered to be the gold reserves of Russian pop-music. Another album "Mama" included several new songs composed by Vitas. The two albums were a dedication to his mother who died in 2001. Vitas' management, the Production Center "Pudovkin" organized a major world tour with the program "The Songs of My Mother" in Russia and the USA, Germany, Kazakhstan, Israel and the Baltic States in 2004–2006.[10]
Vitas starred in a murder mystery television series called "Beloved Scoundrel" in English,[4] and "Сволочь ненаглядная" in Russian in which he played (appropriately) a pop singer with an unusually high voice. He also starred in a comedy called Crazy Day.[4]
Development of music and image
In June 2006, Vitas was invited by CCTV to take part in the grand event "The Year of Russia in China" in Beijing. Vitas performed two songs, Star and "Opera No. 2," in that program.
Vitas' "Return Home" tour started in 2006. More than twenty new Vitas' compositions were included in the this tour. The concert performed in St. Petersburg on March 4, 2007 was later released on DVD on his website as well as officially in some countries, though many songs have been removed. The full concert in Moscow was later released on DVD, but is only purchasable on Vitas' website as well as at his concerts.
In October 2007, Vitas was signed with now-defunct American label Gemini Sun Records. Gemini Sun has released the Audio Visual Connect Series Vitas compilation CD + DVD set featuring 8 music videos with the corresponding songs also on audio CD, plus a bonus audio track.[11][12]
In 2008, he also released his single Light of A New Day, a 40-minute track of non-lyrical vocalization and instrumentation. The song is available as a free download on his website.
The "Sleepless Night" tour includes concerts in China and has a more elaborate presentation than the "Return Home" programme. Vitas performed his "Return Home" concert in Bucharest, Romania on 25 February 2009. This concert was broadcast on Romanian television networks TVR2 and TVRi, achieving their highest ratings in twelve months [13] Also, a benefit concert, with Vitas performing "The Star" was held on 12 May 2009 in Sichuan province in memory of the victims of the earthquake that occurred the previous year; a song known as "Mommy and Son" was released in late October 2009 in remembrance of earthquake victims. This is the very first title track of the new album "Mommy and Son" (released on September 1st, 2011), which includes new songs, such as "C'est La Vie" (which translates to "That's the way life is" in French), "Once More", "Let the Father Teach!", "Young Rook" and others. (The upcoming Brazilian edition of Vitas' album "Mommy and son" will include the English Version of the song "Раз два три" - "One-Two-Three" in Russian).[14]
Vitas played the role of Wude in the Chinese film Mulan, which premiered in Beijing on November 16, 2009.[15] He has recorded music for the film's soundtrack.[8] [16]
In early 2011, Vitas performed a series of seven Sleepless Night concerts in North America. Concerts were held in New York, Toronto, Chicago, Miami, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Vitas is to appear in the upcoming 2011 Chinese film The Founding of a Party, playing the role of Grigori Voitinsky.
Awards and achievements
Year Category Recording 2001, 2002, 2003 Best selling single Russian Record Prize "Opera # 2" 2001 "Komsomolskaya Pravda" and Internet Survey "FORUM 2001" Musical Discovery of the Year — 2000, 2001, 2002 Three-time-laureate of the festivals "The Song of the Year-2000", "The Song of the Year-2001" and "The Song of the Year-2002" — 2001, 2002 Two-time-laureate of the People Prize "Golden Gramophone" "Opera # 2", "Smile!" 2001, 2002, 2003 Three-time-laureate of the Musical Prize "PODIUM" for the most stylish achievements in pop music — 2001, 2002, 2003 Russian "People’s HIT" Prize "Opera # 2", "Smile!", "The Star" 2001, 2003 Radio station "HIT FM" Prize "100 Per Cent HIT" — 2002 National Musical Prize "Ovation" Soloist of the Year — 2004 Russian Internet portal AFISHA.COM — 2007 Order of Service to the Arts — 2007 Best Album – NewsMusic Poll[17] "Crane's Crying" Discography
Albums
Russian[18] English[1] Year Философия чуда Philosophy of Miracle 2001 Улыбнись Smile! 2002 Мама Mama 2003 Песни моей мамы The Songs of My Mother 2003 Поцелуй длиною в вечность A Kiss as Long as Eternity 2004 Возвращение домой Return Home 2006 Криком журавлиным, Возвращение домой II Crane's Cry, Return Home Part 2 2007 Хиты ХХ века XXth Century Hits 2008 ** Audio Visual Connect Series: Vitas (CD + DVD)[2] 2008 Скажи, что ты любишь Say You Love 2009 Шедевры трех веков Masterpieces of Three Centuries 2010 Романсы Romances 2011 Мама и Сын Mommy and Son 2011 Concert Tours Programmes
Russian English Year Философия чуда Philosophy of Miracle Tour 2002–2003 Песни моей мамы The Songs of My Mother Tour 2003–2006 Возвращение домой Return Home Tour 2006–2009 Бессонные ночи Sleepless Night Tour 2009–2011 Мама и Сын. Избранное. Лучшее и новое для Вас Mommy and Son. The Best and New For You 2011–present Мировое тур "Скажи, что ты любишь" "Say You Love" World Tour 2011–present DVDs
Russian[18] English[1] Year Витас в Кремле Vitas in the Kremlin 2002 Песни моей мамы The Songs Of My Mother 2003 Возвращение Домой Петербург Return Home in St. Petersburg 2007 Возвращение домой Москва Return Home in Moscow 2007 Лучшее от Витаса на DVD The Best from Vitas on DVD 2007 ** Myth Of The Shaking Soul Voice1 2007 ** Audio Visual Connect Series: Vitas (CD + DVD)[2] 2008 Бессонная ночь Петербург Sleepless Night in St. Petersburg 2010 1. Listed on official site as The Song Of My Mother: same tracklisting as The Songs of My Mother DVD, repackaged for the Chinese market [19][20]
Singles/EPs
Russian[18] English[1] Year Опера №2 Opera No. 2 2001 До свидания Good-bye 2001 СВЕТ НОВОГО ДНЯ Light of a New Day 2008 Videos
Original[21] English[22] Year Опера №2 Opera No. 2 2000 Опера №1 Opera No. 1 2001 Блаженный Гуру Blessed Guru 2001 Улыбнись! Smile! 2002 Звезда The Star 2003 Мама Mama 2003 Птица Счастья The Bird of Happiness 2004 Поцелуй Длиною В Вечность Kiss As Long As Eternity 2004 Берега России Shores of Russia 2005 Лючия ди Ламмермур2 Lucia Di Lammermoor 2006 Криком Журавлиным Crane's Crying 2006 ЯМАЙКА Jamaica 2007 青藏高原1 Tibetan Plateau 2008 La donna è mobile2 La donna è mobile 2009 Люби меня Love Me 2010 Раз два три One-Two-Three 2011 1 Sung in Chinese.
2 Sung in Italian.See also
- List of honorific titles in popular music
References
- ^ a b c d Vitas discography
- ^ a b c d "Gemini Sun Records PRESS RELEASE". Vitas.com.ru. 2008-01-29. http://vitas.com.ru/gemini_press_release_eng.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ WikiMusicGuide
- ^ a b c "Radio Vitas Romania". Radiovitas.com. http://radiovitas.com/. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ WikiMusic interview
- ^ Source: Shanghai Daily
- ^ DIVA website (Russian)
- ^ a b c "Vitas'official site. Press release". Vitas.com.ru. http://www.vitas.com.ru/pressa_eng.php. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ Arkadiy Davydovich Marantsman: TV clip
- ^ "Vitas'official site. Press release". Vitas.com.ru. http://vitas.com.ru/pressa_eng.php. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ Gemini Sun Records
- ^ "Vitas: Artist Who You Have Been Waiting For"
- ^ "Vitas'official site. News". Vitas.com.ru. http://www.vitas.com.ru/titul_eng.php. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ http://vitas.com.ru/diskograf_eng.php?id=66
- ^ "ÍøÒ³Ìøת". Mulan.ent.sina.com.cn. http://mulan.ent.sina.com.cn/. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ "Vitas Guest Stars in 'Mulan' - AsianFanatics Forum". Asianfanatics.net. 2009-04-20. http://asianfanatics.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=646744&st=-40&p=646744&#entry646744. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ http://www.newsmusic.ru/news_3_8980.htm>
- ^ a b c Vitas discography (Russian)
- ^ Myth Of The Shaking Soul Voice DVD tracklist
- ^ The Songs of My Mother DVD tracklist
- ^ Vitas official site: music videos (Russian)
- ^ Vitas official site: music videos
External links
- Official Site (In English/Russian)
- Official YouTube Channel
- Vitas Interview
- Chinese Fan Site
- American Fan Site
- Mexican Fan Site (In English/Spanish)
- Brazilian Fan Blog (In Portuguese)
- Argentinian Fan Site (In Spanish)
Categories:- 1979 births
- Living people
- People from Daugavpils
- Russian artists
- Russian fashion designers
- Russian pop singers
- Operatic countertenors
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