Altos

Anna Gladkova

In the choir since 2019

WHAT DO YOU ASSOCIATE MUSICAETERNA WITH?

The main association with musicAeterna for me is an enigma, a mystery. I've known about this ensemble for quite a while, I've heard how some kind of magic happens during performances on stage, and it always seemed unattainable to me. I thought it was an exclusive community that I would never be able to join. Therefore, when I was invited to work in the choir, I accepted the offer without hesitation and moved to St Petersburg from Moscow.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSIC PIECE?

If I were asked to choose one piece that I would perform for the rest of my life, I would choose something from Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninoff's romances. You live a small life within each of them. Generally speaking, I can't imagine life without singing. I have my own favourite 'number' for every mood, from Schubert's The Forest King to Lyubasha's aria from The Tsar's Bride, because singing is also an opportunity to vent emotions.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Choral singing is a serious school of communication. It is impossible to be a soloist here, you always need to listen to your neighbours, to the general sound and, of course, follow the choirmaster. At the same time, it is also a great support. If I'm in a bad mood, it's enough for me to invite someone for a cup of coffee, laugh, and I'll come back to the rehearsal a completely different person. I seek for my inspiration in people.

WHO IS YOUR MAIN AUDIENCE?

If I know that my friends or family are in the audience, the feeling of the concert immediately changes. I am thinking, 'I wonder if they liked it now. Have they heard the conveying of this theme?' For me as an artist, it helps a lot to know that someone from the audience is especially supportive of you at the moment of performance.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?

In my free time, I do macramé: it's my way of distracting myself. Also, it is nice to see something new being born in your hands. I have already made garments for several friends, one of them, also a member of our choir, even wore my top when we sang in a concert. Sometimes I dream that I will make each of our choristers something different, and we will sing a concert in these outfits. In the meantime, I'm doing macramé for myself: I'm coming up with a wardrobe for a trip to the Diaghilev Festival.