A Home And A Heart In Music

After his most recent concert in Chisinau held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary since the beginning of his career as a musician Constantin Moscovici was interviewed by our special correspondent.

Welcome: Constantin, your concerts are always a full house and this anniversary one was even more so with additional standing up tickets. What do you believe is the secret of your success?

Answer: There is no big secret in this because I prepared the audience myself as long as twenty years ago by giving numerous concerts not only in Chisinau but in different villages across Moldova. Former pupils have grown up and now attend my concerts with pleasure. Besides I was always tender toward my audience, striving to impress and give pleasure, that is why I play not only classical but contemporary music as well.

You have obviously surprised everybody by playing the popular Titanic movie soundtrack. You interpretation of Moldovan folk is also highly appreciated.

I have traveled practically half the world and in all countries Moldovan music enjoys great popularity. Many fashionable ladies cry at the concerts to the sounds of Doina, fermented on the sufferings of our people. Our music does not leave anybody indifferent especially when it is combined with elements of contemporary sound.

The Nai acquired a tendency to sing through your heart stirring the hearts of people. Why did you choose this instrument and not any other?

I did not choose it, the nai chose me. Besides I believe in fate and that in the life of every human being the chance plays a great part. In my home village Carpineni the profession of a doctor was greatly revered. My mother wanted me to become a doctor, my father thought it would make a good living and I decided to live up to their expectations. Music always had been a hobby for me – thanks to a wonderful ear I could instantly hum any tune or pick it up on the accordion. I started music school as late as the eighth grade simply to learn how to play. By pure chance the dean of the department of national instruments Vasile Coval stopped by in the village. He was the one that noticed me and offered to apply to university. Later he persuaded me to try the nai after which I became Vasile Iovu’s pupil. While still in university I started working in the Mezon factory orchestra of folk instruments directed by Coval. This was the first milestone in my musical career. We toured across Moldova, doing several concerts a day and often traveling over the borders of the country to get a warm welcoming abroad. The Nai is a classical instrument. Its distinctive melodiousness attracted the attention of many classical composers. For example in the opera The Magic Flute Mozart included a part for the nai, and Rimski-Korsakov used this instrument in act three of his ballet-opera Mlada. It was always exciting for me to look for something new in long-forgotten old things. I have tried playing classical and folklore tunes as well as popular pieces on the nai and the audience enjoyed it.

What was your first project in this particular aspect?

Duet Rodnichok with folk bard Victor Pavalachi brought about a big and rather unexpected success giving us the opportunity to tour all around the former Soviet Union. We received a warm welcome in Turkmenistan where I made friends with a popular band called Tiunesh. At the 1982 International Festival we were awarded the grand prix.

Constantin, Iurie Sadovnic mentions you with much praise. When did you work with him and in what ways was it interesting to you?

Iurie Sadovnic is a very talented artist, a gem. In 1985 I was attached to the National Philharmonic where I met Sadovnic. He created the Legend band, which played its own ethno-folk-jazz music. He wrote a special piece for me that my audience and I really loved. We performed a great deal together and working with him was a school of skill perfection as well as interesting traditional and contemporary music arrangements.

You are capable of seeing something extraordinary in every musician and you seem to completely lack any feeling of envy. How is that?

It is true that I have never envied anybody, on the contrary I have rejoiced in the successes of other people. That may be why they like me. With Vladimir Goikhman we took European folklore and introduced contemporary sounds to it. In concert format this piece gradually transforms into a traditional Moldovan melody. It turned out very nice. I have been lucky with meeting good people. With composer Iurie Alyabiev we tried playing Latin American, Turkish, and Greek melodies on the nai. We even released a CD in Germany that gained praise.

Do you remember your first CD? How many do you have now?

My very first CD entitled Soul Confession was recorded with composer Marian Stircea. Several years afterwards the music that was on it had not lost its influential power and the CD is still in demand in many international rehab centers. Overall I have six CDs and one video CD.

You have traveled extensively. Concerts in which countries do you remember most? Have you had any curious real life situations?

Before the beginning of the economic reform in the country I had been working for some time in an ensemble with talented Moldovan composer Anatolie Chiriac. Once we were taking a break after a concert. Looking at the world map Anatolie said: “We’ve been pretty much everywhere but haven’t paid a visit to Africa”. I thought he was joking but he was seriously set on going to Africa, the only country Moldovans haven’t been to. Nearing land and ready for landing I saw that the airport was crowded with our traditional planes. For a minute I felt tense thinking that we could crash into one of those airplanes. But later local citizens explained that that was the way in which African pilots learned to navigate. Africa is a country of contrasts. You can gather harvest three times a year but there is widespread famine with about 10 or 20% of the population being very well off. In the 21st century they believe in magic. They have one very special belief, which is that if a black woman touches a white man good luck will be bestowed on her in the future. We did not know anything about that at first. In Africa we performed at a big textile factory mostly with female employees. After the concert several hundred women in a surge for luck heaved upon us. It was a bit scary having thousands of hands all over your body! It’s a good thing they do not have similar traditions in other countries. They do not have that in Moldova because once I performed at Ionel factory and there was no touching.

It is difficult to be a musician in Moldova. Most people in the industry are on the brink of poverty. What helped you overcome the hardships of the past decade?

In 1990 the state authorities let music sink into oblivion. After being awarded the title Maestru in arta (Master of Art) materially I only had 260 lei with a market basket of 1200 lei. Many left their professions to seek tangible provision for the families. Anatolie Chiriac, a talented composer, became a businessman. I tried to leave too, made vain attempts to trade imported goods. In Romania, in Mamaia I was offered a show biz job. For over five years I worked as the artistic director of a big tourist entertainment center in Brasov. I invited musicians from many different countries. Eventually I got engrossed but when my contract ended I realized how tired I was of the show business. This wasn’t my thing. I was a musician with God’s flicker of a talent that I was trying to extinguish with my own hands. Something snapped in my soul and in 1997 I returned home to Moldova, to the Philharmonic where I have been working since then.

Your popularity has crossed the Moldovan borders. You were introduced to many prominent figures of our time that have grown to love your music.

I often traveled to Belarus to the Gold Hit Festival and the Slavonic Bazaar. President Lukashenko has been to my concerts many times. Now I have nai master classes in the University of Culture in Minsk and the Academy of Music in Moghilev. I performed in five Nations of the World festivals in Russia concert hall in Moscow with famous Russian stars like Pugacheva, Kirkorov, Leontiev, Baskov, Dolina and others. Representatives of the government always attended these concerts.

Was the President of Moldova Vladimir Voronin present at your anniversary concert?

No, the President did not come, instead Vice-Minister of Culture Veaceslav Madan wished me success in the future. On the whole it is always difficult for me to hold concerts in Moldova because there is the debasing negotiating with officials on the issue of renting a concert hall. Five times a year I give compulsory concerts in the Philharmonic with a capacity to hold up to 750 people. In the National Palace with 1800 seats it is a lot more complicated even though outside Moldova I have concerts for a 30-40 thousand auditorium. Here the life of a musician is full of obstacles.

Is it fair to say that during your travels you led a luxurious way of life?

I hardly make a living because public utilities consume most of what I make and food in Moldova is very expensive considering the average salary level of $20!

Why don’t you leave the country like many other musicians do?

My parents, my friends, and my home are all here. I am a Moldovan and this soil draws me like a magnet Abroad I would die of nostalgia.

People believe in guardian angels. Some say that you have several of those. Why?

When we were touring with Chiriac in Japan there was a fire on the boat that carried away many lives. We got severe burns but survived. That was on May 17, 1988, almost like being born again. That is why my friends and I often get together on this day. On the tragic day of September 11 there was supposed to be a new psychedelic CD presentation at the World Trade Center. My friends called me and I decided to reschedule my concert for another day, thus escaping peril. Perhaps it was my guardian angel that helped me but my music was played in commemoration of all those that were killed in the terrorist attack.

Popular Russian singer Nikolai Trubach was present at your anniversary concert. Where did you meet him?

Nikolai and I met in 1995 on a boat, where I was working as the coordinator of cultural activities. At the time Nikolai was a music teacher in Nikolaevo, who wrote songs and dreamt of coming out on stage. We started performing together. Currently we are planning a joint project with Nikolai whose real last name is Kharkovets. I am really grateful to him for leaving his concert rehearsals to come and support me. A popular Belgian guitarist Francis Goya on hearing me play proposed another joint concert. I am really lucky when it comes to meeting gifted people.

Constantin, a talented person like you must have somebody he can share his art with after twenty years of hard work. Is there a woman that accompanies you through life, sharing in the happiness and the hardships?

In my personal life I was really lucky. My wife Valentina is also a performer: she dances in Joc, is very familiar with the complicated life of an artist; she supports me in everything. Right now she is studying to become a lawyer. My son Victor is 13 years old, he is in school and also attends clarinet classes in music school. He is a swimmer, a member of the national swimming team of Moldova. His interests are very diverse and I don’t know what he will choose in the end. I am not insisting on his becoming a musician. It’s very hard work but for me there was always the support of the audience.

Good luck to you, Constantin, and success.

Ludmila Mamaliga
(Translated by Natalia Corobco)