Over the past decade, Nikolai Baskov has emerged as one of the biggest selling recording artists in Russia.
He is a favorite of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and his performances — with dramatic lighting and dazzling showmanship — are becoming legendary there and in Europe.
Now, the rest of the world may be in Baskov’s grasp. The classically trained vocalist has his eyes — or more appropriately, voice — set on seizing the rest of the world with his powerful range.
photo: Russian Presidential Press and Information Office
照片：俄羅斯總統新聞處與資訊辦公室
“For me, really this is the beginning. Because I’ve accomplished so much in my country, I’m used to being received at a certain level, but I also appreciate a certain level of anonymity here when I’m in New York,” he said in an intimate performance earlier last month. “The public perception of me has been really phenomenal. In America, if they love you, they love you unconditionally, which separates the US audiences...from any other audiences in the world.” Classically trained in Russia, Baskov turned down an offer to study in the US at Juilliard. That opportunity came during tough times in Moscow; Baskov opted to study at home. He also admitted he couldn’t be away from his mother for that long.
Now that he is an adult, he still stays very close to his parents.
The tenor’s stratospheric rise to the top of the Russian charts began with a music video of the song “Caruso.” It was picked up by every television outlet in Russia, and was played for months. Based on the popularity of that song and video, he began to perform, and quickly learned how to charm audiences with his charisma and stage persona.
Besides Lady Gaga and Barbara Streisand, Baskov cites Italian crooner Mario Lanza as his main influence.
“I admire everything about him, from the way he carries himself on stage to the way he sings.” In June, the US Public Broadcasting System ran Baskov’s Moscow concert from the famed Luzhniki Arena. Early last month, that performance was released on CD and DVD as “Romantic Journey.” Baskov will tour North America early next year with dates in Los Angeles, California; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Hartford, Connecticut; and other cities.
He will also perform in New York, which is a favorite.
(AP)
過去十年，尼可拉‧巴斯可夫已脫穎而出成為在俄羅斯唱片銷售量最大的藝術家。
他是俄羅斯總理弗拉吉米爾‧普廷的最愛，他的演出─含有戲劇性的燈光與他令人驚嘆的舞台魅力─每齣都在當地以及歐洲成為傳奇。
現在，世界其他地方可能都是巴斯可夫想要佔有一席之地的舞台。這個在音樂學院接受紮實古典音樂訓練的聲樂家，放眼─或說放聲可能更為貼切─要以他無懈可擊的廣泛音域，席捲全世界。
他在上月初的一場小型演出表示：「對我來說，其實這才是開始而已。因為我在我的國家已經有這麼多的成就，我已習慣受到一定程度的愛戴，但是我在紐約也享受某種程度身為非公眾人物的自由。」他說：「大眾對我的觀感一向讚不絕口。在美國，若人們愛你，他們就會無條件地愛著你，這也是美國觀眾與世界其他觀眾相異之處。」在俄羅斯接受古典音樂訓練的巴斯可夫，當年婉拒了美國茱莉亞音樂學院的入學機會。當時正逢莫斯科的艱困時期，巴斯可夫選擇在國內深造。他也透露無法與母親分開那麼久。
如今他已成年，但仍然與父母感情甚篤。
這位男高音在俄羅斯排行榜告示牌的崛起始於一首歌曲「卡羅素」的音樂影片。所有俄羅斯電視台皆有播放該片，且一播就是數個月。以這個廣受喜愛的歌曲與影片為跳板，巴斯可夫開始他的演藝人生，並且很快地學會如何以他的魅力與臺風，擄獲觀眾的心。
除了女神卡卡與芭芭拉‧史翠珊以外，巴斯可夫特別讚頌義大利吟唱歌王馬利歐‧蘭沙為主要影響他的歌手。
他表示：「從他登台時的舉手投足，以至於他唱歌的方式，我欣賞他的一切。」美國公共廣播系統電視台於六月，轉播巴斯可夫在路日尼基球場舉辦的莫斯科演唱會。上個月稍早，該場演唱會也發行以「浪漫旅程」為標題的CD與DVD。巴斯可夫明年初將巡迴北美，包括加州洛杉磯、賓州匹茲堡、康乃狄克州哈特福特，以及其他城市。
他也會在他最愛的紐約開唱。
(美聯社／翻譯：林亞蒂）
A: Wow, singer Bruno Mars will be visiting Kaohsiung for the first time. B: Really? Where will he be performing? A: He’s going to hold a concert at the National Stadium on Sunday. B: Why do the Taiwanese like to call him the “Martian” in Chinese? A: Because his last name “Mars” is the same word as the planet Mars. A: 哇！火星人布魯諾將首度唱進高雄。 B: 真的嗎？在哪裡？ A: 他將於本週日，在國家體育場開唱唷。 B: 但是為什麼台灣人喜歡叫他火星人呢？ A: 因為他的姓氏「Mars」這個字剛好是「火星」的意思啊。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
A: Bruno Mars is definitely one of today’s most popular singers. B: He has even won 14 Grammy Awards. A: I love all his megahits, like “Just the Way You Are.” B: And his new song with Lady Gaga “Die with a Smile” has a caused worldwide sensation. A: I wonder if we’ll hear the new song at his Kaohsiung concert? A: 火星人布魯諾是近年來最受歡迎的流行歌手。 B: 對啊他還曾榮獲14座葛萊美獎。 A: 他所有的金曲我都愛，像《Just the Way You Are》。 B: 最近他和女神卡卡合唱《Die with a Smile》更造成大轟動！ A: 不知道在高雄有沒有機會聽他演唱這首新歌呢？ (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
The Lord returned home after a long day of hunting, a deer on his horse and a bow on his back. His apprentice had stayed behind, feeling unwell. He rode slowly through the forest, closed his eyes, and felt the warm sunlight on his face. He opened his eyes to a full moon rising. Time to make offerings and pray for peace, good weather, a bountiful harvest. And a child with his beloved wife. He smiled. As he approached, the house was quiet. Too quiet. He dismounted in the empty courtyard. “Feng Meng?” he called. Silence. He went to his apprentice’s
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