Childhood
Sati Spivakova (Sahakyants), whose biography will be described in this article, was born in Yerevan, into a creative and musical family. Her grandmother lived in Rostov, although she was Armenian. She had an amazingly beautiful voice and often sang at church services. Actually, it was there that the girl’s grandfather fell in love with her. During the war, they left for Armenia, where it was calmer. The father of the Yerevan beauty was born there.
Zare Sahakyants, Sati's dad, is a famous violinist in Armenia. Mother, Aida Avetisova, is a pianist. Spivakova's childhood was filled with music and love. In her memoirs, the TV presenter noted that she associated her childhood with the sound of the violin, with preparations for the New Year celebration, with the beautiful city of Yerevan and the Zare chamber orchestra.
But Sati doesn’t like to celebrate her birthday. All because in 1986, on the eve of this day, her father died, and the funeral took place on January 7, when Sati Spivakova was born (the biography indicates the year of birth as 1962).
Childhood and youth
Sati was born in January 1962 in the largest Armenian city of Yerevan. The girl grew up in a family of professional musicians: her father is the famous Armenian violinist Zareh Sahakyants, and her mother is the talented pianist Aida Avetisova.
Sati Spivakova
In an interview, Sati said that since childhood she was surrounded by music, books and intelligent conversations. At that time there was often not enough money, dad received a meager salary. However, the man always managed to save an extra penny until he saved up for a piano for his wife.
Since Spivakova was surrounded by creative people from childhood, her future was predetermined. Without much discussion, the girl was sent to study at a music school in Yerevan, where she played the piano. However, after graduation, Sati understood that she had no passion for music and would never become a professional musician.
Sati Spivakova in her youth
With a school diploma and a certificate from a music school, the girl goes to Moscow and there she enters GITIS, to the course of I.M. Tumanova. Spivakova received a diploma of higher education in 1984, after which her first film appearances began to appear in the biography of the young actress.
Youth
Considering that Sati comes from a musical family, she could not avoid the appropriate education. In parallel with her studies at a regular high school, the girl studied at a specialized music school. She played the piano. According to the TV presenter herself, these activities did not give her much pleasure. She dreamed of becoming an actress. She was attracted to poetry, and poetry evenings were often held in the house.
It was at this time that two dreams of working with brilliant directors arose in Spivakova’s soul: G. A. Tovstonogov and R. G. Viktyuk. The first was not allowed to come true, and the second was performed quite recently on the stage of one of the Moscow theaters, where Viktyuk staged a one-man show “Tenderness” with the participation of Sati Spivakova.
After graduating from school, in 1979, young Sati told her parents that she was leaving for Moscow to enter the theater institute. She applied to all universities, but only got into GITIS.
Education
Because of her pronounced Armenian appearance, Sati was unable to enter the Shchukin School, but GITIS accepted her immediately (there were quotas for the union republics).
Sati Spivakova, whose biography tells about different stages of her life, took a course with Tumanov at GITIS. The manager treated the girl with understanding, who was offered her first film role, and immediately the main one. Usually students were prohibited from filming, but she managed to go to classes and fly to Armenia for filming. The girl had such a crazy schedule for more than two months. But after completing work on the film, according to Sati’s recollections, Tumanov began to respect her.
Unfortunately, soon I. M. Tumanov died, Sati went on academic leave for another film, and returned to the course with the director O. Ya. Remez, who did not trust her role even in the second cast. The girl completely lost interest in studying.
At this time, she meets her future husband, Vladimir Spivakov. Ridiculous rumors are spreading around Moscow about their connection, and the course director refuses to give the role of Sati in the graduation performance, citing the fact that Spivakov will be able to place her anywhere without a GITIS diploma.
Still, they gave the role of Sati. Almost silent, with a four-word line. Sati Sahakyants was terribly disappointed by this turn of events, but she managed to pass all the final exams and receive a diploma. And then she began a completely different life, the life of a mother, wife, housewife.
A few years after the birth of her first daughter, the actress studied at the Sorbonne for six months.
Career
Sati began her career as an actress in 1980 with the role of Miriam in the film “Lyrical March”. Armenian director Agasi Ayvazyan invited a GITIS student to play the dramatic role of a girl who sacrifices the life of her husband, who was arrested for breaking the law, for the sake of a Bolshevik political prisoner. Everything takes place in 1918. In the credits, Sati is listed under her maiden name Sahakyants.
After some time, Spivakova successfully auditioned for a film directed by Marat Varzhapetyan. And again the main role. The opera film “Anush” was released in 1983 and brought Sati fame in her native Armenia and other republics of the Soviet Union.
Sati Spivakova, whose biography is rich in working with Armenian directors, also received her third role in a film produced in her native country. It was the 1986 family comedy "Other People's Games."
After this film, Sati's career as an actress faded into the background. Now, first and foremost, she was a mother and wife. After her father's death, she lived for some time in Yerevan with her mother. There she was again invited to film, but Spivakova’s husband was against this idea, and she had to forget about her ambitions.
The biography of Sati Spivakova is unique in the sense that after a colossal break in her career, she still managed to realize her acting and speaking talent. She starred in a feature film directed by Renata Litvinova. The role in “Rita’s Last Fairytale” became the fourth in the actress’s film career.
In addition, Sati turned out to be an excellent TV presenter. Her first program was called “Sati”. The guests were famous people from the art world, and the purpose of this talk show was to portray the hero from an unknown side.
Sati Spivakova, whose biography tells about her brilliant work on the country's leading television channels, began filming her program right in her apartment. At first it was broadcast on the “Culture” channel, then ORT allocated a studio for Sati and put the program on air. According to the presenter herself, she was taken on television because of her husband’s famous surname. Despite this, among the heroes of her show were Lyudmila Gurchenko, Tatyana Tarasova, Gennady Khazanov, John Galliano, Elton John and many others.
Sati Spivakova is very proud of another interview program. It aired on the Culture channel under the name “Tuning Fork”. More than 60 episodes were filmed. Even those who had never given an interview before (Grigory Sokolov, Evgeny Kissin, Jose Carreras) visited Sati. After numerous months of work, Spivakova realized that there would be nothing new in this program. It had to be closed.
Her next work took place in a completely new format - musical. Also on the “Culture” channel the program “Unboring Classics” with Sati Spivakova was released. There, the presenter discussed topical issues with musicians, composers and classical music performers. Moreover, conversations were often conducted in a non-professional language, so that a simple viewer without a musical education would understand and be imbued with the topics raised.
In addition, Sati Spivakova is the author of the memoir book “Not Everything,” published in 2002. Judging by the title, the TV presenter’s writing talent will make itself felt.
Film and television
In 1980, Sati Spivakova first appeared on television screens. The girl starred in the dramatic film Lyrical March by Agasi Ayvazyan and Levon Isahakyan, where she played the main character named Miriam.
Sati Spivakova in the film “Lyrical March”
In her youth, the actress sought to participate in various projects, because she dreamed of being shown more on television. Thus, in 1983, a new film “Anush” appeared in the artist’s filmography. This is a musical melodrama by Marat Varzhapetyan, telling the story of a peasant girl, whose role was played by Spivakova, and the young man Saro. They love each other very much and nothing interferes with their happiness. However, unexpectedly, the customs of the Armenian people become an obstacle to marriage.
In 1986, the actress was invited to play the role of Ashkhen in the film “Other People's Games.” At the same time, the girl continued to study: she entered the Sorbonne University in Paris, where she graduated in 1992. There Satie studied French history and linguistics. For some time, Spivakova was forced to suspend her acting activities, since it was during those years that she got married and preferred to devote time to her family.
TV presenter Sati Spivakova
The next time viewers saw the actress on screens was only in 2000. The Culture channel invited the woman to star in a series of programs where she talks with popular musicians. This is how the program “Sati Spivakova. My Stories”, which for some time attracted the attention of classics lovers. And then Sati on Channel One became the host of a program named after her.
After some time, the actress returned to “Culture” again, where she was offered to host “Tuning Fork”. However, as she herself admitted later, this program was “invisible” for 4 years, so her team had been thinking about creating a new talk show for several years. Theater and art critic Vitaly Vulf played a big role in getting the new project on the air. And yet they managed to do it, thus a program called “Sati” was born. A fun classic."
Sati Spivakova and Tatyana Chernigovskaya in the program “Sati. A fun classic"
One of Spivakova’s issues was dedicated to the Soviet and Russian scientist in the field of neuro- and psycholinguistics Tatyana Chernigovskaya. By the way, for this program the presenter later received “TEFI” in the “Music program” nomination. Classic".
In 2002, Spivakova decided to plunge into a new role and wrote the book “Not Everything.” The publication contains the author's memories of meetings and conversations with such legendary personalities as Galina Vishnevskaya and Mstislav Rostropovich, Yehudi Menuhin, Bulat Okudzhava and many others.
Sati Spivakova in a television studio
In 2010, the actress gave an interview to the glossy magazine ELLE and agreed to a candid photo shoot. And although Sati does not advertise her height and weight on the Internet, these photos show that the woman carefully monitors her figure and looks very slim.
Spivakova did not stop there and in 2011 she starred in Renata Litvinova’s film “Rita’s Last Fairy Tale” as the head physician. The director liked the actress’s work; in 2013, Litvinova again invited Sati to appear in two of her short films, “Salma’s Letter” and “Girl with a Box.” And although they did not bring much popularity to Spivakova, the woman gained experience working with such artists as Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Anastasia Skorik, Oksana Lavrentieva.
Sati Spivakova in Mark Tishman’s video “My Actress”
Although Sati has hardly acted in films lately, she has not given up acting. In 2014, the woman played in the play “Tenderness” directed by Roman Viktyuk, in 2015 she received the main role in the play “The Fetishist”, and a year later - in the play “The Muller Machine”. Soon Spivakova continued her career as a presenter on “Culture”, without leaving her participation in theatrical productions.
In January 2020, Sati Spivakova starred in Mark Tishman’s video for his new song “My Actress,” which caused a great resonance among fans of both. Although many people know that Sati and Mark have been friends for a long time, and the musician dedicated this very song to a friend, people were talking about a romance between the creative tandem. But, as the singer and actress assure, there is nothing but friendship between them.
Family
The biography of Sati Spivakova surprises with her long and unbreakable marriage, which has lasted for more than thirty years. The more surprising is the story of their acquaintance and the development of their relationship. It should be noted that Vladimir Spivakov’s marriage to Sati was not his first, and he is almost twenty years older than his current wife. This is probably why, when Vladimir saw the girl for the first time, he realized that in front of him was his future wife, Sati Spivakova. Vladimir Spivakov’s biography and personal life were already stormy at that time, but for the sake of Sati he gave up his title of Casanova.
Dating history
Sati and Vladimir met each other in absentia. She first saw him in “Blue Light” on television, where he performed as part of the “Moscow Virtuosi”. After some time, the group visited Armenia on tour, and since among the “virtuosos” there were many friends of Sati’s father, the company gathered at Sahakyants’ home.
It was at that moment that Vladimir saw the girl of his dreams. True, not live, but in photographs. It was a small exhibition of photographs from the film “Anush”, where Sati played the national heroine. Spivakov admits that looking at this girl with beautiful eyes and long braids, he felt that this was his future wife.
Sati Spivakova and Vladimir Spivakov met for the first time after the Virtuosi concert in Moscow. Everything happened behind the scenes, and this acquaintance was not romantic. Sati thanked her for the wonderful concert, Vladimir gave her an autograph, and administrators, the director, and the make-up artist were fussing around. They didn't really manage to talk. However, Spivakov offered to meet after his return from tour.
Their second meeting took place about a month later while visiting a mutual friend. And there was no romance either. After the tea party, Vladimir volunteered to give Sati a ride home, and they got lost. So we drove the car for half the night, almost without saying a word. Getting out of the car, the girl asked to call her as soon as Vladimir got home. He did just that. That night they talked on the phone for almost five hours. They chatted about everything and nothing, read poetry to each other, Spivakov talked a lot about himself.
The next day, he went on tour again for almost a month and vowed to call on April 18, when he returned home. Sati felt an irresistible attraction to this man, but did not want to make a mistake. Therefore, she waited for the 18th as if it were judgment day. If Spivakov had not called, the love story would not have happened. But late in the evening the phone rang. They agreed to meet the next day at the Pushkin monument. Sati realized that Vladimir is the man with whom she will spend her whole life.
Sati Spivakova: The time has come when I can do something else
As part of the large art exhibition “Wives” at the Museum of Russian Impressionism, an open interview was held between the editor-in-chief of the magazine “Snob” Sergei Nikolaevich and one of the most prominent personalities of the Moscow elite, the talented actress and TV presenter Sati Spivakova.
Photo: Vladimir Yarotsky
For some reason, it is believed that all happy couples are equally happy. The classic clearly miscalculated here! Everyone's happiness is different. Especially when we are talking about bright, creative personalities who are not used to remaining in anyone’s shadow, even for purely strategic reasons. It was this kind of union that was discussed in an interview with Sati Spivakova, which took place at the Museum of Russian Impressionism as part of the “Wives” exhibition. For more than 30 years, Vladimir and Sati Spivakov have been an example of an exemplary couple in every sense, as if they had stepped off the cover of a glossy magazine. The camera loves them, the audience adores them. Wherever they appear together, all eyes are focused only on them. He is unhurried, taciturn, nobly gray-haired. She is impetuous, sharp, contactable, with piercing dagger eyes, with a luxurious mane of hair scattered over her shoulders. They have long been firmly associated in the mass consciousness with the New Year's concert on the Culture channel. He conducts there and plays music on his violin. She introduces performers or interviews them. This is the division of labor: in their family he is responsible for music, she... for everything else. But, as it turns out, this was not always the case. And even behind this radiant façade there are hidden dramas and secrets.
The current exhibition “Wives” at the Museum of Russian Impressionism is about what it means to be a woman, to be a wife, and how, while remaining in the shadow of your husband, you can have your own territory, your own space to be successful as an individual. Let's talk about how you did it. After all, you wanted to be an actress from the very beginning? Was this your goal?
Not exactly a goal - I’ve been dreaming about this since I was 15 years old, while still studying at a music school in Yerevan. It seems to me that this is a rather banal story: every second girl dreams of becoming an artist - and I was no exception. But at the same time, I took some steps for this: I studied in a theater studio, tried to learn poetry. Then the theater named after him came to Yerevan from Moscow. Mossovet, where the great Rostislav Yanovich Plyatt played. The mother of my mother’s student was the niece of Plyatt’s wife. Quite a complex design. Nevertheless, they managed to organize an audition for me with a national artist. I read some poems in a mosquito voice. He listened to me for a long time and patiently, and then told my dad: “It’s mean to quit music, but if I were her, I would try.”
That is, until recently you had a choice: either to become a musician or to become an actress?
Well, yes, after all, I was the only daughter of a teacher at the Conservatory. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember my dad, who was probably the main person in my life. And he made some important decisions, thank God. As soon as I mentioned Moscow and the theater institute, my mother immediately began her “Armenian cry”: “Why not to the Conservatory?” But on stage, as a musician, I felt insecure, and I loved music enough not to spoil it with my performance. I decided to move away from this destined path, and my dad helped me with this: he said that you can’t cook in your own broth. We have to take risks.
We are talking about wives, about the institution of marriage, the model of which, as a rule, is laid in childhood. Who was the head of your family?
I don’t think that a model is being laid at all: everyone builds their life the way they see it, the way they know how. For me, it probably consisted of different meetings. I can't say which parent was in charge. They lived 25 years in perfect harmony, and dad did not live to see the silver wedding for three months. He was only 52 years old, I was already married, my eldest child was one year old. Dad was a versatile, educated man, interested and tirelessly learning something new. He organized an orchestra, then a quartet, while still practicing yoga in the 1970s. In the morning, leaving for school, I sometimes bumped into him in the cafeteria, sitting either in the lotus position or in the lion position. On a dare, he learned several foreign languages.
Traditionally, it is believed that girls subconsciously look for their father's traits in their husband. Does Vladimir Teodorovich look like your dad?
They are probably brought together by only two qualities: musical talent and male spiritual generosity. But in character they are completely different. For example, my dad could design a table himself, make a cabinet with his own hands, sliding doors when they did not yet exist, and roll up tin cans. And Vladimir Teodorovich still cannot screw in a light bulb or hammer a nail into the wall to hang a picture. Here they are complete antipodes.
Photo: Vladimir Yarotsky
You were accepted into GITIS, the course director was the famous director Joseph Mikhailovich Tumanov. Did you immediately become the star of the course? How did you feel?
I was not a star, but Tumanov loved me. For some reason, only me and Alla Sigalova, with whom we studied together, were allowed to act. Since my second year I have already started filming films. I was cast in the role of the heroine of the Armenian epic Anush - the only female role in the film. All the rest were men. It was an iconic role, but it played a cruel joke on me. Not long ago I went to Yerevan, a huge guy with a gray beard came up to me and said: “I cried so much when you died there at the end. I was seven years old." I think to myself: “Oh my God! And I was already 20!” After Anush, I was only offered the roles of village girls with braids.
As I understand it, because of your career at Armenfilm, you were not given anything to play in graduation performances.
Not really because of this. Then, as I like to repeat, there was no yellow press, but I already was. Somewhere at the end of my third year, I began an affair with the famous musician Vladimir Spivakov. He was not married, but nevertheless many did not like it. Then director Kama Ginkas saved me. When distributing roles in the play “Blonde” based on Volodin’s play, the last one on the list was “an old, blind woman.” I immediately realized that this would be my role. There were only two lines: “Read, read” and “Read on.” But Kama came up with the idea that I should loom on stage all the time and play Bach on the piano at the beginning. And Spivakov was then friends with Georgy Alexandrovich Tovstonogov and Sergei Yursky. At his invitation, they came to our performance, and I wandered around the stage with my “read-read” line. It was terribly embarrassing.
Vladimir Spivakov introduced you to various great people. How did you feel when you got to the Moscow Olympus?
Communication with them left wonderful feelings, but the impression from myself was monstrous, I just wanted to fall into the ground. But then we got married, had a daughter, and there were no more questions about my status. Another thing is that I understood: it would be nice to acquire some knowledge in order to become interesting and even necessary. We rarely appeared somewhere together. At the Conservatory, Vladimir Teodorovich was on stage, and before the start of the concert I quietly crawled into the hall and felt how I was turning into a sieve under the gaze that radiated complete hostility. It was quite difficult to live under this constant bombardment, because I did not feel confident.
Photo: Vladimir Yarotsky
What gave you confidence?
Firstly, the years spent next to Volodya. Secondly, his look at me. If at first he was simply in love with a young girl who bore him daughters, then later he became interested in communicating with me, it became necessary to consult. Apparently, he felt that I understood him, that I understood what he was doing. In an interview, he was asked what he especially appreciated about me, and he replied: “She knows how to leave me alone.” Even now I’m not very confident in myself, but over the years, relationships change.
In the early 90s, the Moscow Virtuosi orchestra went to Spain at the invitation of the Prince of Asturias, the current King Felipe. I know you weren't happy in Spain.
No, I wasn't. I understood that it was important for Volodya to preserve the orchestra. At this time, the “Virtuosi” often traveled to the West, it was an orchestra of aristocrats, and the red carpet was laid out for them everywhere. And most importantly, they realized their musical level and began to leave individually, immediately entering orchestras abroad. Spivakov was losing his main soloists and was very worried. And suddenly an unprecedented opportunity arose to take the entire orchestra out with their families. Everyone rejoiced! And I loved Moscow, my friends, and our apartment on Bryusov Lane so much. Life has changed a lot for me. I felt lonely in Aviedo. But there were also positive aspects: I learned Spanish.
Let's flip through a few pages. You returned to Moscow. They didn’t take you to the theater, nothing interesting happened in the cinema, and you took up television journalism. Your first program is “Sati” on Channel One television. What was it?
The Sati program began in 2001. It took place thanks to Vitaly Yakovlevich Wulf and our friendship with him. For the first time, we tried to talk about the personal lives of famous people, but only from the point of view of tastes, artistic preferences and what the personality was formed from. This was the beginning of the development of a new genre, the first “journey of amateurs.”
Photo: Vladimir Yarotsky
You initiated the Christian Dior exhibition at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts. Fashion - in one of the main museums of the country. How did this come to your mind?
Well, there are no special merits of mine here. I just came up with an idea and brought the Dior team to the Pushkin Museum. This is all the director of the museum, Irina Aleksandrovna Antonova. Here is an amazing character, intelligence, memory. I remember how Irina Aleksandrovna made an appointment for me in her office at nine in the morning, while she herself flew in from Amsterdam early in the morning, and when I arrived, she already had her hair done, wearing pearls and scolding someone on the phone. In order to somehow start a conversation, I sympathetically asked: “Irina Alexandrovna, are you probably tired?” She glared at me and coldly replied: “I never get tired. What do you have there? Let's!" She is a great professional and always knew how to get the most out of the museum.
Did getting to know high fashion and people from the fashion world teach you anything?
People who create high fashion are, as a rule, great artists. Azzedine Alaïa, the Tunisian designer, will forever remain in my heart. Greta Garbo has several of his dresses in her wardrobe. This was my second family, my second father. Fashion passes, but style remains, and what he did was impeccable. It was he who taught me that there is no need to buy dozens of things from different brands in a fit of shopping. You need to have one or two, but of the highest class. You must be able to create an image.
You once said that you raised your daughters completely differently than your mother raised you. What was the difference?
I can’t say that I was brought up in strictness, but - probably this is such an Armenian culture of upbringing - you can’t tell a girl that she is beautiful. They always said that it was too early to curl your hair, paint your nails, or wear heels. Moreover, both my grandmothers spoiled me. But I am convinced that the girl must be told that she is pretty, and try to understand what she wants. Girls, it seems to me, are always more insecure and at the same time stronger than boys. Maybe I'm wrong because I never had a son. But this force, which is superimposed on uncertainty, creates a clamp through which it is then very difficult to pass.
I can say about myself that I have never been a mother hen who checks homework or scolds for failing grades. I believe that if a person is able to get up and go to school by 8.30 in the morning, he can figure everything out on his own. And Vladimir Teodorovich and I never put pressure on children with our control and authority.
I was struck by your youngest daughter, a jazz singer with an extraordinary voice, unlike anyone else. Her name is Anna Kova. Why?
Yes, she chose this pseudonym for herself so that no one would know whose daughter she was. She herself found the Berklee School in Boston, she herself decided that two years would be enough for her (I could not persuade her to stay for the third), composes music, writes poetry... In her interviews she says that she is a French singer with Russian-Armenian roots.
We come to the topic of acting. You have four performances now.
Despite television, the “ashes of Klaas” continued to beat in my heart. Moreover, I even stopped dreaming of ever returning to the theater. I even dreamed that I was playing. I woke up and thought: will I never try to walk on stage again? Once, Roman Viktyuk came to see me at the “Unboring Classics” program, I cried into his vest, he was inspired, and we got the play “Tenderness” based on the novel by Henri Barbusse. And we still play it quite successfully. This is a difficult thing, because there are very few words, but a lot of feelings, a lot of tenderness and a lot of wonderful music performed by the wonderful pianist Basya Shulman. There is also a play “The Fetishist”, where I play together with the famous showman Alexei Fomin. It was staged by opera director Vasily Barkhatov, for whom this is also his debut on the dramatic stage. However, there is music too. It was composed by Mark Tishman, better known for his participation in the TV shows “Two Stars” and “Star Factory”. It turned out that he is an excellent melodist and arranger. The play is based on the French hit of the 70s, which at one time was played by all the Parisian stars. But since one of the best playwrights of the new generation, Maxim Kurochkin, took on the remake, one can easily imagine that nothing remains of the original. The genre is a lyrical comedy. My friend, owner of the RuArts gallery Marianna Sardarova, helped me implement this project. There is also my Madame de Merteuil in Kirill Serebrennikov’s play “The Muller Machine,” which is now in its third season on the stage of the Gogol Center to full houses. Well, the recent premiere was “High Water of the Venetians” based on the story by Dina Rubina, where Konstantin Kryukov became my partner.
Photo: Vladimir Yarotsky
You once said that you wouldn’t want to be the conductor’s aging wife. This is so scary?
I love it when journalists take one phrase out of context and then everyone repeats it. I said this because during my married life I had before my eyes examples of such ascetic service, when a wife completely devoted herself to her husband’s work. These are great, sacrificial women, but one can easily assume that there was no strong professional motivation in their lives, or perhaps their husband remained a boyish husband who needed everything until old age. And Vladimir Teodorovich, who really needs care, is still a highly independent person, including in decision-making. I saw many times how these women turned into caricatures before my eyes, and I became scared. I always remembered my dad, who said that a woman should work if she has a calling. I believe that now that the children have grown up and do not need my constant care, the time has come when I can do something else.
Questions from the audience
Sati, thank you for the interesting story! We are located within the walls of the museum, where last year there was an exhibition of the art collection of Vladimir Spivakov. Surely everyone has noticed that the female portraits in this collection are very similar to you.
One.
It seemed to me that many. One with external features, and the rest with a look and something else elusive. Tell me, please, do you select these works together or are you present invisibly, like a muse, and they are already attracted to those similar to you?
Thanks for the question. Our collection began to be collected from the first years of our married life, we both love it very much, we find an outlet in it. Vladimir Teodorovich was the person who shaped me in many ways, thanks to him I learned painting. I always loved her, but I can’t say that I understood her very well. And he is a sniper in this sense and sometimes amazes even gallery owners and collectors: he immediately sees where Feshin is, where Voloshin is. He loves it, he knows, in his youth he himself was engaged in painting. Maybe only a couple of times I was confused by his choice, but there was never a time when our tastes did not coincide at all. Sometimes I surprised him with my finds, but they never compared to what he found. As for portraits of women, I admit that I don’t like portraits on the walls, I always feel like someone is watching me. And the only portrait that I love very much and which everyone thinks is very similar to me is the wife of the artist Boris Chaliapin, the son of the famous singer, it does not bother me. Paintings should speak to you.
Sati, being a very busy person, where do you draw resources when you are tired? Where do you get your inspiration?
Inspiration is a big word. I hope I find it. They say inspiration does not come to the lazy. Of course, I get inspiration when I go to my husband's concert, especially when I hear something new or played in a new way. Music brings relaxation even more than theater. More exhibitions. Now we rarely get together with the whole family, at this moment inspiration tells me to get up to the stove and cook. But that’s only when everyone gets together, when it’s just the two of us – not very good. The sea also brings me inspiration.
You have been organizing your everyday life for a long time. When you decided to turn to something more, you just wanted it, like, why not?
No, not “why not”. I started when I realized that I could no longer do this, that without it I become empty, uninteresting, angry, dry and cannot give anything to my family, husband, children, because inside I am absolutely empty as a person.
How did the children react to the fact that their mother began to disappear at work?
They are used to this since childhood. I always disappeared because I accompanied Volodya on trips. Thank God, my mother supported me, who was young then and could look after the children. And I traveled with him all over the world as a wife, and then I stopped traveling when I stopped being just a wife. I wanted him to be proud of me, so that the children would know that I am not just a mother and only know how to fry delicious cutlets. Yes, I know how to properly iron a tailcoat. I can teach you how to iron a shirt in seven minutes and fold it so it doesn’t wrinkle. But I am not an ideal wife, I know much more ideal ones.
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Wedding
For a long time, Vladimir Spivakov’s entourage did not accept the girl into their society; they looked down on her and nodded condescendingly when they met. However, the Armenian girl won this confrontation and proved that she deserves to be the wife of this talented man. With dignity that can be envied, she bore the name Sati Spivakova. The biography, in which children occupy a dominant place, has opened a new chapter.
For a year after they met, the lovers lived in Vladimir’s small apartment on Vernadsky Avenue. Sati waited a long time for a marriage proposal from Spivakov, but he was in no hurry. He had already been burned by this in the past, and his relatives did not immediately accept Sati into their home.
However, the engagement took place. This decision was made by Vladimir Spivakov due to the fact that the girl could go on assignment to the Yerevan Theater. The wedding was extremely modest, without a crowd of guests. After registering at the registry office, the young couple went to a photo shoot in the park, and then returned home, where a few relatives were waiting for them at the festive table. Sati's father could not come to his daughter's wedding; he was on tour in Germany. Actually, Vladimir Spivakov left for concerts a couple of days later, leaving his wife alone.
Children
Shortly after the wedding, a recent bride realized she was pregnant. Happiness knew no bounds, because she, Sati Spivakova, would soon become a mother. The biography, in which children are of great importance, has acquired new colors. In 1985, the couple had a daughter, Ekaterina.
A few years later, the family moved to France because of Spivakov’s work. Since then, they have lived in two houses: one in Moscow, the other in Paris.
In 1989, the second daughter of the Spivakov couple, Tatyana, was born.
Almost six years later, they had a third child - daughter Anna.
In addition, Vladimir’s niece, the daughter of his deceased sister, Alexandra, was raised in the family.
Sati Spivakova, whose children did not spend much time with their mother, admits that her husband and his opinion always came first for her. During their trips, Spivakova’s mother stayed with the children and brought a lot to their upbringing. According to the TV presenter herself, this lifestyle has taught her girls independence; they can easily overcome life’s difficulties.
Sati Spivakova, whose daughters have long been adults, has always been a liberal mother. She never forbade the children anything, believing that in this way they themselves would be able to find the right answer, the right solution. Even when the eldest daughter Katya changed her long beautiful hair to black dreadlocks, her mother was philosophical about it. And in fact, the girl soon realized that such a style was not for her, and everything returned to its place.
Sati calmly treats her daughters' boyfriends, believing that it is impossible to interfere in children's relationships under any circumstances. The main thing for her is that the girls are happy.
Sati Spivakova and Vladimir Spivakov consider themselves good parents. Their children also followed a creative path. The eldest Ekaterina became a film director and screenwriter, the middle Tatiana became an actress, the youngest daughter also sees herself in the world of art.
Now all the Spivakov daughters live in France. Parents visit them during breaks from their work. Now that the children have grown up, the Armenian beauty can again pursue her career, which is what Sati Spivakova is doing. The biography, the family in which children came first, can again be replenished with significant works in cinema and television.
The daughter of Vladimir Spivakov legalized relations with her chosen one
Tatyana Spivakova with her husband Thomas Matalu // Photo: Instagram
Vladimir Spivakov's middle daughter Tatyana married her chosen one, Thomas Matala. The lovers got married on Sunday, June 18, in one of the Moscow churches. After the young people said their vows to each other, they went to a gala dinner, which took place in one of the capital's elite restaurants.
The wedding ceremony of Tatiana and Thomas was very intimate, only family and friends of the couple were present. According to tradition, the newlyweds took pictures on Sparrow Hills with their guests. In the pictures that appeared on the Internet, the couple looks very happy. The groom wore a trouser suit with a matching tie and a white shirt, and the bride shone in a long light dress. The image of the young woman was completed with a wreath of peonies, which evoked associations with the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
TV presenter Sati Spivakova described her emotions from the joyful event on social networks.
“Memories of yesterday, which was incredibly happy for our family! We love you, our dear ones,” shared the wife of the People’s Artist of the USSR.
Tatyana Spivakova got married to Thomas Matalu // Photo: social networks
Numerous subscribers of Spivakova wished her loved ones happiness and health. Among those who left congratulations to the newlyweds were Tatyana Arno, Vadim Vernik, Efim Shifrin, Konstantin Mishin, Arina Borodina and many others. “Have an interesting journey for many years to come,” “How beautiful everyone is,” “Let it continue to be eventful and joyful,” “Bon voyage,” “Magic moments,” they wrote in the comments to the photographs from the wedding ceremony.
Let us remind you that in 2020, the eldest heiress of Vladimir Spivakov, Ekaterina, got married. Her mother Sati shared important news. “My happiness, my joy, my daughter got married,” the TV presenter wrote on social networks. Catherine chose to abandon elaborate and lush outfits. At the wedding ceremony, Spivakova wore a long cocktail dress and a white knitted blouse. The girl's look was completed with nude sandals and a floral clutch.
Vladimir Spivakov's daughter Katya got married
Currently, Ekaterina Spivakova and her chosen one live in New York. The daughter of Vladimir and Sati works as a producer and video director, just like her loved one. It is also known that the youngest heir to the People's Artist of the USSR also decided to connect her life with music. She performs jazz compositions under the pseudonym Anna Kova.
Tatyana Spivakova looked simply amazing // Photo: social networks
The bride was dressed in a long white dress with a veil // Photo: social networks
The image of the musician’s middle daughter was completed with a wreath on her head // Photo: social networks
Tatyana Spivakova with her mother Sati // Photo: social networks
The lovers invited only family and friends to the ceremony // Photo: social networks
Vladimir and Sati Spivakov with newlyweds // Photo: social networks
After the wedding, the newlyweds and their guests went for dinner to one of the capital’s restaurants // Photo: social networks
News of the online project StarHit.ru
Interesting Facts
- Philippine fashion designer A. Alonso made a black and gray wedding dress for the bride of Vladimir Spivakov. However, she went to the altar in a white pantsuit that her groom bought her.
- Sati has an autograph in her collection from John Galliano, who took part in one of her programs. The designer bought a T-shirt especially for Spivakova and left a friendly wish on it.
- Vladimir Spivakov is proud of his wife. Despite the presence of three children, Sati Spivakova retained her excellent figure. She hides her height and weight.
- Sati Spivakova is a natural brunette, but has been dyeing her hair blonde for many years. According to the TV presenter, her current hair color has nothing to do with her state of mind.
- Sati is on friendly terms with the son of Vladimir Spivakov from his first marriage.
- Speaks French fluently. As a child, Sati's parents brought many souvenirs from France, including records with songs by Charles Aznavour. The girl fell in love with this culture and promised herself that she would visit Paris and master the language perfectly. And so it happened. Also knows English and Italian at an intermediate level.
- Sati Spivakova's hobby is reading. Favorite genres include poetry, essays, and memoirs of famous people. He reads Sati in parallel in two languages - Russian and French.
- Doesn't like to spend a lot of time in beauty salons. Among her favorite procedures, she gives first place to body wraps.
- Does not accept plastic surgery.
- Sati Spivakova does not call herself a vegetarian, but she has not eaten meat for many years.
- Sati does not consider himself a sports person. She doesn't know how to ride a bike, she's never skated or skied, but she can swim pretty well.
Vladimir Spivakov. Biography
Vladimir Spivakov was born on September 12, 1944 in Ufa (Bashkiria). His father, Theodor Vladimirovich (1919-1977), was a participant in the Great Patriotic War and had two specialties: he worked as an engineer at an aviation enterprise and as a nutritionist. Mother - Ekaterina Osipovna (Weintraub, 1913-2002) - graduate of the Leningrad Conservatory, pianist, taught at a music school. In 1945, the family moved to Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).
In 1951-1956. At the same time he studied at secondary and music schools in Leningrad. In 1956, he continued his studies at the Central Music School at the Leningrad State Conservatory. ON THE. Rimsky-Korsakov (teachers Lyubov Sigal and Veniamin Sher), but did not finish it. In 1961 he was enrolled in the Central Music School at the Moscow Conservatory. From 1963 to 1967 he studied at the Moscow State Conservatory. P.I. Tchaikovsky, class of Professor Yuri Yankelevich. At the same time, he attended the class of Professor David Oistrakh as a volunteer. In 1970 he graduated from graduate school at the conservatory. From the same year he became a soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic.
In 1957, at the age of thirteen, he received his first prize at the White Nights competition in Leningrad and made his debut as a solo violinist on the stage of the Great Hall of the Leningrad Conservatory. Then, over the course of several years, he won a number of awards at prestigious international competitions: named after Margarita Long and Jacques Thibault in Paris (1965), named after Paganini in Genoa (1967), in Montreal, Canada (1969, first prize), at the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow ( 1970, second prize).
In 1975, after solo performances in the USA, his international career began. He has performed as a soloist with the best orchestras in the world, including the philharmonic orchestras of Moscow, Leningrad, Berlin, Vienna, etc., and the symphony orchestras of Paris, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. He was conducted by Evgeny Mravinsky, Evgeny Svetlanov, Yuri Temirkanov, Mstislav Rostropovich, Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, Lorin Maazel and others.
In 1979, Spivakov made his debut as a conductor with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (USA). This was preceded by studying conducting with Professor Israel Guzman in Russia and conductors Lorin Maazel and Leonard Bernstein in the USA (in 1984 Bernstein gave him his baton, which the musician never parted with).
In the same 1979, with a group of like-minded people, Vladimir Spivakov created the chamber orchestra “Moscow Virtuosi” (on June 15, 1982 it received official status - the State Chamber Orchestra of the USSR Ministry of Culture “Moscow Virtuosi”) and became its artistic director, chief conductor and soloist. The team toured almost all major cities of the former USSR, Europe, the USA and Japan, and took part in international festivals. Considered one of the best chamber orchestras in the world.
Since 1989 he has lived in Moscow, Spain and France.
From 1999 to 2002, while working with the Moscow Virtuosi orchestra, Vladimir Spivakov was artistic director and chief conductor of the Russian National Orchestra (RNO). He left his post early, but until 2003 he continued to conduct tours and concerts with the RNO.
In January 2003, he became artistic director and chief conductor of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia.
Since 2003 - President of the Moscow International House of Music.
For about 20 years he taught at the Gnessin Musical Pedagogical Institute (now the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music), and has the title of professor. Conducted master classes in Zurich (since 1994).
Until 1997, Spivakov played the violin made by master Francesco Gobetti (Italy, 18th century), donated by his teacher Yuri Yankelevich. Since 1997, he has been performing with a violin made by Antonio Stradivari from 1712, which was given to him for lifelong use by patrons.
Vladimir Spivakov's discography as a soloist and conductor includes more than 40 CDs. Most of the recordings were made by BMG Classics, RCA Red Seal and Capriccio. Many of them were awarded prestigious awards, including the Diapason D'Or (Golden Tuning Fork). The German newspaper Sddeutsche Zeitung has repeatedly called Vladimir Spivakov's albums “The best recordings of the year.”
Creator and director of the International Music Festival in Colmar (1989, France). In 2001 he organized the Moscow International Festival “Vladimir Spivakov Invites...”.
He has been involved in humanitarian activities for many years. Thus, after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, “Moscow Virtuosi” turned out to be the only composition that came to the “Kiev Spring” festival. Together with the orchestra, the maestro gave concerts in Armenia after the 1988 earthquake. In 1994, he founded the International Charitable Foundation, which provides services to children.
Member of the Presidential Council for Culture and Art. Member of the jury of famous international competitions (in Paris, Genoa, London, Montreal), chairman of the jury of the international competition “Masters of the Violin” in Monte Carlo and the Pablo Sarasate International Violin Competition in Spain. He headed the jury of the International Competition named after P.I. Tchaikovsky in Moscow (2002, 2007). He is the Ambassador of Culture of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Author of the book "Fleetingness". Speaks Yiddish, English, French, Spanish and German. Has 2nd category in boxing.
People's Artist of the USSR (1989). Laureate of the State Prize of the USSR (1989), State Prize of the Russian Federation (2011), Lenin Komsomol Prize (1982), Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of culture (2010, for the activities of the International Charitable Foundation). He was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples, the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II and III degrees, as well as the highest state awards of a number of countries: the French Order of the Legion of Honor (since 2000 - Knight, since 2011 - Officer), Italian Order of the Star in the degree commander, the orders of “Danaker” (Kyrgyzstan), Saint Mesrop Mashtots (Armenia), Yaroslav the Wise 5th degree and “For Merit” 3rd degree (Ukraine), Francis Skaryna (Belarus), etc. In 2006 he was recognized as an Artist of the World UNESCO, in 2009 awarded the UNESCO Mozart Gold Medal.
In his honor, one of the minor planets was named “Spivakov” (1994, No. 5410, discovered on February 16, 1967 by Soviet astronomer Tamara Smirnova).
From his first marriage to Victoria Postnikova (b. 1944, pianist, winner of several international competitions) he has a son, Alexander (Rozhdestvensky). Second wife Satenik (Sati) Sahakyants (born 1962) is a dramatic actress, author and presenter of television programs. Daughters: Ekaterina, Tatiana, Anna. His niece Alexandra, the daughter of Elizabeth’s deceased younger sister, lives in the Spivakov family.
Books have been written about the life and work of Vladimir Spivakov. In particular: Sati Spivakova “Not everything”; Valentina Kholopova “The Artist’s Path. Vladimir Spivakov"; Gabriel Breuner “The Spivakov Years. Chronicle of the International Music Festival in Colmar 1989-2003 (G. Braeuner. Les annees Spivakov. Strasbourg, La Nuee Bleue, 2004), Solomon Volkov “Dialogues with Spivakov”, etc. Several musical works are dedicated to him, including “Five fragments to paintings by Hieronymus Bosch” by Alfred Schnittke, “Yellow Stars” by Isaac Schwartz, symphony “Quiet Breath” by Vyacheslav Artemov.
