Yulia Nachalova's Father on Family Life and Daughter's Art
Her debut album «Oh, School, School,» written by her father, quickly gained popularity and drew international producers« attention.
On the last day of January, one of the sweetest and most charming singers of the Russian stage would have turned 45. But instead of toasts to her health, there will be beautiful memories of a sunny girl who turned into a beautiful bride, beloved wife, and mother. Almost 7 years have passed since the death of the 38-year-old singer, and neither Yulia«s parents, nor her fans, nor her daughter Vera, who was only 12 at the time, can come to terms with this tragedy. Fortunately, Yulia»s parents, Taisia Nikolaevna and Viktor Vasilyevich, have become the main support in life for Vera Aldonina. The girl«s father—a famous footballer—has also not abandoned caring for her. MSK1.RU spoke with Yulia»s father, composer, producer, and teacher Viktor Nachalov about how the singer«s close ones live today.
Winning the «Morning Star» contest at 11 with her father«s song turned her into a celebrity across the Soviet Union.
«She Brought the House Down from Age 5»
Irina Ponarovskaya was the first established performer to take the 16-year-old star under her wing, singing a duet with her.
«Just please, let»s not talk about Yulechka«s illness, about her tragic death,» Viktor Vasilyevich Nachalov asked immediately. «It»s very bitter. I don«t want to recall the hard days for her. They say »cherished memory,« and that»s exactly what it is for us—bright, just like Yulia herself was.«
In her final years, she recorded songs and an album in Los Angeles with Grammy-winning composer and producer Walter Afanasieff.
«On your daughter»s birthday, will you gather in a family circle or will fans be able to come to a concert in her memory?«
The 19-year-old is a second-year acting student at VGIK, studying under People«s Artist of Russia Alexander Mikhailov.
«We always celebrated Yulia»s birthdays with the closest ones, with family, and we will gather this time too. The idea for a memorial concert exists, but we are planning it for closer to autumn. Right now, we are posting all her songs and albums on digital platforms so they can be easily found and listened to.«
Her parents baptized their 8-month-old daughter in a Moscow church in 2007, with singer Larisa Dolina and footballer Rolan Gusev as godparents.
«Viktor Vasilyevich, do you have a favorite song of hers?»
She graduated school with a gold medal and achieved top scores on her national exams in literature and Russian language.
«I like all the songs, after all, I made them with my own hands. And I often listen to them. When I teach vocals to my students or give master classes, they serve as examples for learning. Yulia possessed world-class performance skills. And these aren»t just my words, it«s a fact: she received the Grand Prix at the serious international competition Big Apple-95 in New York, then toured Europe with great success. And it»s hard for me to choose any one song, because Yulia«s work and mine are inseparable.
The 46-year-old former footballer broke his long silence with a post expressing hope in his fight against the disease.
Perhaps I would single out the composition «Hero Not of My Novel,» which became very popular. It«s not that we planned to write a hit, but Yulia already needed a different image. Since »Morning Star,« she sang for children, teenagers, recorded the »Children«s Album» about school. These compositions had the most complex vocal techniques, although everyone is used to thinking that songs for children should be simple. Vladimir Shainsky, after listening to the «Children»s Album,« told me that many try to write like him, and no one succeeds, but Yulia and I went a different way, and that»s great! But Yulia grew up, and she needed to transition into an «adult» singer. And this transition, thanks to the song «Hero Not of My Novel,» happened beautifully, easily, without vulgarity or dirt.«
«And how was she received by our stage veterans?»
«She was already one of their own for many famous singers and composers, as she performed from childhood. At 11, she won the »Morning Star« competition. Tukhmanov, Dunaevsky entrusted their songs to her. As a schoolgirl, she toured with Irina Ponarovskaya and had her own number in her program. She was on stage from age 5. When I led the »Carousel« ensemble of the Voronezh Philharmonic, I took Yulia with me on tours. I composed a little song for her, and she performed it in our concerts all over the country. She always brought the house down!»
«And at such a young age, she wasn»t afraid of the stage?«
«First, her parents were nearby—that, of course, helped. And second, by age 5 she had excellent command of her voice, because I started working with her from early childhood. Yulia was about one and a half years old, she wasn»t even speaking yet, when I heard her sing a musical phrase, hitting the notes perfectly! Good music was always playing at my place: Stevie Wonder, «Joe Diffie.» Then I played a little piece for Yulia—she sang it! And from then on, I started giving my daughter musical phrases—from simple to complex, she repeated them. That«s how it became clear that a singer was growing up in the family.»
«Vera»s Voice Timbre Is Exactly Like Her Mother«s»
«And do you consider your granddaughter Vera a singer too? After all, her voice is very similar to Yulia»s.«
«This happens incredibly rarely, one in a million, for children to inherit their parents» voice timbre, but Verochka«s voice is exactly like Yulia»s. Verochka sings very well, has performed since school days, and now I write songs for her. Although she is a second-year student at the acting department of VGIK (the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography), she hasn«t given up singing—they constantly stage plays, come up with numbers, and very often Vera chooses musical ones. She performs Yulia»s songs too, because I also started teaching her vocals from childhood, instilled technique and purity of singing.«
«Yulia noticed an acting gift in her daughter and wanted her to choose this profession. Does Vera herself like it? Any successes?»
«She really wanted this education, studied excellently at school, graduated with a gold medal and was admitted to the state-funded program. Now in her second year, she is very busy at the institute, always tied up with studies and rehearsals, but she likes it. Vera studies under Alexander Yakovlevich Mikhailov, a wonderful teacher, a truly People»s Artist of Russia. He is a singing person himself, knew Yulia well, knew her work. And he praises Vera, considers her talented and disciplined.«
«In your opinion, is it difficult for Vera to be the daughter of famous parents—a popular singer and a well-known footballer?»
«Vera is proud of her parents, and ahead of her is her own creative path. I hope, a happy one!»
«There Is a Chance»
«Our family has decided not to give any comments regarding news about my dad»s health condition—Yevgeny Aldonin. Now we are waiting for only one comment, which will be said by dad himself—about his full recovery. We all believe in this very much and pray for it...«
This heart-wrenching comment was posted on her page on VKontakte by 19-year-old Vera Aldonina. Despite the fact that after her mom«s death from blood poisoning and heart failure, caused by what seemed like a trivial finger wound, the girl lived with her grandmother and grandfather, she spent weekends with her dad and his family—wife Olga, 9-year-old brother Artyom, and 6-year sister Angelika. Yulia and Yevgeny»s family life was short—only 4 years, but they parted as good friends and maintained that relationship. The girl was not deprived of parental love. But now Vera has faced another trial—her father has been battling cancer for a year now.
The public was informed about the athlete«s need for medical help and financial support by the Russian Premier League and the »Krasno-Sinee Community«—CSKA Moscow»s charitable partner.
«Our help is now very much needed by Yevgeny Aldonin, former player and captain of the Russian national team, UEFA Cup winner as part of CSKA Moscow, 2-time champion of Russia, 5-time winner of the country»s Cup. He has been diagnosed with a serious illness requiring lengthy and expensive treatment.«
Since then, 46-year-old Yevgeny Aldonin has undergone several courses of treatment, and now specialists in chemotherapy at one of the clinics in Germany are helping him defeat the illness. Recently, the footballer«s friend, journalist Dmitry Shnyakin, contacted him and shared the conversation in his Telegram channel with everyone concerned about the athlete.
«Got in touch with Aldonin. Zhenya is in Germany, in good spirits and under the supervision of top specialists, relaying his words: »Thank you all very much for the warmth and words of support! I hope to overcome the illness. There is a chance—I«m holding on to it with all my might.»«
And on the athlete«s birthday, 22 January, his wife Olga posted joint photos with her husband on social media. »Happy birthday, I«ll tell you everything in person. The children miss you,» she captioned the shots.
