If you ask the older generation which Estonian singer was the most famous and beloved in Soviet times, they will answer you - Georg Ots. Velvet baritone, artistic performer, noble, charming man and unforgettable Mister X in the 1958 film.
There was no obvious accent in Ots's singing, he was fluent in Russian. But some light and shimmering echo of his native language created an even more exciting sound.
Georg Ots: Main role
Among the films in which Georg Ots starred, "Mr. X" occupies a special place. The screen interpretation of Imre Kalman's classic operetta "The Circus Princess" won a special place in the hearts of the audience. And not only thanks to the humor and liveliness of the script. This was mainly due to the amazing image that Ots created by singing his hero's arias soulfully.
An amazing combination of sincerity, nobility, artistry and academic traditions gave his performance magical qualities. The mysterious and courageous circus performer, hiding his aristocratic origin under a mask, became a living and inspired character. It reflected the dramatic aspects of human destiny, longing for happiness, love and recognition.
Fate and music
Contemporaries who knew the singer closely spoke of him as a modest, intelligent, worthy person. Georg Ots lived in a special period for Estonia. This part of the Russian Empire was able to gain independence in 1920, but lost it again in 1940. In 1941-1944. the German occupation took place. After liberation, Estonia again became one of the Soviet republics.
In 1920, his parents were still living in Petrograd, where Georg Ots was born. The family returned to Tallinn, where he was educated at a lyceum and entered a technical institute. It is hard to imagine that the boy who grew up in a musical environment did not strive for an artistic career in his youth.
Of course, he could easily sing an aria, sang in the choir, could accompany a soloist, loved musical performances and evenings. However, his parents imagined their son as an engineer or military man, knowing how unpredictable the singer's path was.
His father, Karl Ots, was a tenor at the Estonian Opera and Ballet Theatre. A successful opera singer, a graduate of the conservatory in Petrograd, Karl Ots liked that his son received a degree in architecture. He did not at all assume that the young man should prepare himself for performances on the professional stage. Nevertheless, the theater became the main place in the life of George, but the path to the opera was through the war.
The turning point years of the artist Georg Ots
The Second World War did not pass by the young Ots. In 1941 he was mobilized into the Red Army. Many dramatic events took place this year - the German occupation of Estonia, the blockade of Leningrad and personal upheavals. And as a result of the bombardment, the ship on which Ots sailed crashed.
He was saved from death by an excellent physical form (in his youth he was an excellent athlete, a swimming champion). The sailors of another ship managed to pick up a swimmer in high and cold waves.
Oddly enough, military roads led him to a real calling. In 1942, Ots was invited to the Estonian Patriotic Art Ensemble, which at that time was evacuated to Yaroslavl. It was assumed that he would sing in the choir, constantly touring at the front and hospitals.
After the military time associated with the ensemble, Ots has already received his education as a musician. In 1946 he graduated from a college, and in 1951 from a conservatory in Tallinn. The vocals of Georg Karlovich won a large audience. Singing in the choir already in 1944 was replaced by solo performances. His "Eugene Onegin" captivated the audience and in 1950 received the highest prize - the Stalin Prize.
The younger Ots became People's Artist of the USSR in 1956. And his father, who received the title of People's Artist of the Estonian SSR in 1957, repeatedly sang with his son. There are wonderful duets in the recording - father and son, Karl and Georg sang.
Man, citizen, singer
George's first chosen one emigrated from Estonia at the beginning of the war. Beginning in 1944, his wife Asta, a professional ballerina, was his support and loving critic. The family union broke up after 20 years. Georg Ots found new happiness with his wife Ilona. Unfortunately, a wonderful artist died too soon. He was only 55 years old.
Georg Ots is remembered not only by Estonians, but also by fans throughout the Soviet Union and in foreign countries where he performed on tour. In Finland, the song “I love you life” (K. Vanshenkin and E. Kolmanovsky) is still popular. Sometime in 1962, a record was released, where Ots recorded it in Finnish. Even in Estonia and Finland, the Saaremaa Waltz performed by him is very fond of.
In English and French, Ots sang the well-known composition "Moscow Evenings" to the whole world. His repertoire included songs in many languages of the world. The richness of intonations available to Ots is simply amazing - there was humor and tenderness in his voice, severity and sadness. Beautiful vocals were combined with a subtle understanding of the meaning of each composition.
Many people remember the strong and dramatic songs of the famous artist: “Do Russians want wars”, “Buchenwald alarm”, “Where does the motherland begin”, “Sevastopol waltz”, “Lonely accordion”. Classical romances, pop and folk songs - any genre in the interpretation of Georg Ots acquired a special lyricism and charm.
