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Interview with Sergei Manoukian, a famous vocalist from Armenia, keyboarder and drummer.
Good afternoon, Sergei. Congratulations from us on your birthday anniversary.
We were told that today you are celebrating several anniversaries and that 35 years ago you graduated from the Musical Academy of Grozny.
Sergei Manoukian, vocalist, keyboarder and drummer: Yes, the Music School of Grozny.
Can you remember something from then? Do you have some memories about it?
Well, I don't only have the memories, new ones appear all the time. I have a lot of memories about how we had jazz and rock concerts at school.
We were allowed to play all the popular music existing at that time in the Academy.
The administration and the director were very shocked by the number of people, taking down the doors, but they had a generally good opinion about it,
because the biggest part of the members of the band were students of the school.
The school of Grozny had a liberal atmosphere?
Absolutely, yes. Despite the fact that the school was very academic, with high requirements, and it was not oriented towards jazz music,
it regarded us with a homey attitude, like to its own kids: the kids are having fun, well let it be.
What is your impression of tonight's concert, after the first part? How is the audience receiving you?
Very well. First of all, good people are in the audience. Everything is great. I like everything.
Valery Grohovsky has confessed to us that you once tried your hand at acting. Can you remember something about that? Did you film in the US?
It was a film called Passenger from San Francisco. It hasn't been released and I am not sure whether it will ever be released. It was a very interesting attempt.
There was also another film that was directed by the ex-wife of Valery Grohovsky, in which I was acting the role of a pianist who came to a concert which did not take place.
What impression do you have of cinematography?
Frankly speaking, music has more truth than the cinema. Cinema has lots of lies: if something is filmed in the wrong way or not synchronized - we'll re-film it tomorrow.
If one compares them, it is very similar to how a disc is recorded. If you didn't like it you can repeat it. And I like the concert.
You cannot lie in a concert: it is the way it is. It is like theater. You come to the theater and it is just the way it is.
If you fell in the orchestra pit, then you really did. It is a totally different atmosphere. I also like to compose music.
It is interesting and engaging, when the emotions seem to go nowhere, but they do go somewhere.
Let's return to the topic of your anniversary. I suppose you received many wishes today, but what would you like to wish yourself?
I would wish that my kids grow. I have a ten-year-old son and I want to watch him growing up, becoming mature, to see his grandchildren.
I want to see it all. I have older children, but I would also like to watch my youngest son growing.
I just want to stay longer with people who are close to me. I have this especially towards my kids. And at the same time I don't want to be a burden to my children.
So far I am not and thank God for that.