Elena Vladimirovna Susova, nee Tutanova, was born on July 30, 1973 in Balashikha, Moscow Region. From early childhood, the girl sang, read poetry and dreamed of a stage.
Little Lena periodically stopped passers-by on the street and asked them to evaluate her creative gift. In an interview, the singer said that she received from her parents "a strict Soviet upbringing."
Perseverance, perseverance and self-discipline helped the girl to fulfill herself in creativity and achieve career heights. The songs of Madonna, Sting and S. Twain, as well as the poems of Anna Akhmatova and Marina Tsvetaeva, had a strong influence on the singer's repertoire.
The future Honored Artist of the Russian Federation began to study music at the age of 5. Elena graduated from a music school in the accordion class, having mastered the piano and acoustic guitar in parallel.
The beginning of the creative path of Barbara
The singer received her first concert experience in high school. She happened to be at a local indie rock band's rehearsal and sang the Summertime aria written by George Gershwin.
The musicians liked the girl's voice and they took her to the group as a soloist. The experience of performing and intensive classes with a teacher of choral singing allowed Elena to enter the Russian Academy of Music. Gnesins. After passing a tough competitive selection, Tutanova became a student and entered the course of Matvey Osherovsky.
Learning from an eccentric teacher has not always been easy. One day, the young artist did not learn the role, and a shoe flew into her from the foot of Matvey Abramovich. The conflict was settled, and the girl successfully completed her studies. In addition to RAM, the singer graduated from GITIS in absentia, having received the specialty of a musical theater artist.
After graduation, Elena had difficulty finding a job. It was necessary to somehow earn a living, and the girl went to sing in a restaurant.
In a catering establishment, she went through a real school of life and learned how to work with listeners from various social strata.
On the recommendation of a friend, the singer got an audition for the famous singer Lev Leshchenko. The famous artist liked the voice of Tutanova, and he took the girl to the role of a backing vocalist. It is Lev Leshchenko that Elena Vladimirovna considers her main teacher.
Solo career of Elena Tutanova
After leaving the theater, Elena took the pseudonym Varvara and took part in the Kinodiva project. By decision of the jury, Tutanova was awarded the main prize. In 2001, Varvara's first album was released on the NOX Music label, which was recorded with the participation of the famous producer Kim Breitburg.
The record did not become super successful, but attracted the attention of music critics from Play magazine and the Intermedia news agency.
Varvara's second studio album "Closer" was released in 2003. Some of the songs were a combination of rock and popular music, other compositions gravitated towards the R&B style. Several melodies for the disc "Closer" were recorded in Sweden.
In addition to songs, the single “One-on” from the new album was broadcast on radio stations. This composition, written based on the story of R. Bradbury, became Varvara's first hit. The disc "Closer" was awarded the "Silver Disc" award in the nomination "Best Pop Vocal Album".
In 2004, the artist went to Paris and represented the Russian Federation at the Days of Russian Culture. In the future, she regularly participated in similar festivals, which were held in Germany and the UK.
In 2005, the next album of the singer "Dreams" was released. The composition of the same name took first place in an international competition organized by OGAE.
The plate "Dreams" brought Varvara worldwide fame. The artist gave concerts in the UK, Germany and Eastern Europe.
The release of the album "Dreams" was a turning point in the singer's career. She created an original style that harmoniously combines elements of classical melodies, popular music and ethnic motifs.
The influence of folklore rhythms intensified in Barbara's subsequent albums ("Above Love", "Legends of Autumn", "Lyon"). Bagpipes, harp, duduk, lyres, guitars, psaltery and Finno-Ugric drums were used to record songs.
Compositions became Varvara's calling card: "Dreams", "Who seeks - he will find", "Flew, but sang", "Let me go, river." The artist constantly gave concerts in Russia and foreign countries. She performed compositions in Hebrew, Armenian, Swedish, English, Gaelic and Russian.
Unique Talent
The singer's albums were sold in thousands of copies in Russia and abroad. In addition to songs, the creative team has 14 video clips and 8 prestigious music awards. On August 17, 2010, President D. A. Medvedev signed a decree conferring the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation on Varvara.
Since 2008, Varvara's team has regularly organized ethnographic expeditions. The artist traveled the country from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. Varvara constantly communicated with the inhabitants of the Russian "outback" and the small peoples of the Far North.
During conversations with ordinary people, the artist received powerful energy, which she then filled with the author's compositions. Varvara's work harmoniously combines lyrical melodies, ethnic rhythms and alternative New Age motifs.
Elena Vladimirovna is not only a world famous singer, but also a happy wife and mother. Together with her husband Mikhail Susov, the artist is raising four children. Elena Vladimirovna named her daughter Varvara.
