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Anna German

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Anna German
Анна Герман
German in her student years, 1959
Born(1936-02-14)14 February 1936
Urgench,Uzbek SSR,Soviet Union
Died26 August 1982(1982-08-26)(aged 46)
Warsaw,Poland
OccupationSinger
Years active1960–1982
Awards
Signature

Anna Wiktoria German-Tucholska[1](14 February 1936 – 26 August 1982)[2]was a Polish singer (lirico-spinto), immensely popular inPolandand in theSoviet Unionin the 1960s–1970s. She released over a dozenmusic albumswith songs inPolish,as well as several albums withRussianrepertoire. Throughout her music career, she also recorded songs in theGerman,Italian,Spanish,English,andLatinlanguages.

Family background and early life

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Anna German was born in the town ofUrgenchinUzbekistan(Central Asia;then theUzbek Soviet Socialist Republicof theSoviet Union).

Her mother, Irma Martens (1909—2007), was the child ofPlautdietsch-speakingMennoniteswith descendants from the Netherlands who exchangedFrieslandfor the area around theVistula deltaand on EmpressCatherine the Great's invitation came to live in theRussian Empire.[3]Martens' mother Anna Friesen had been born in present-dayUkraine.[3]Later, the family settled in theKuban.Martens' native language was aPlautdietschvariant with both German and Dutch influences.[3]In the 1996 radio programmeSpoor Terugon Dutch public broadcasterVPRO,Irma Martens said that she and her family always identified as Dutch despite her Polish passport.[3]Martens studied German inOdesa,but had to leave her village due to a lack of work as a teacher and instead moved toRedkaya DubravainAltai Krai.[3]Due toNKVD Order No. 00439,[note 1]Martens fled to Uzbekistan, where she met Eugen Hörmann.[3]

Her accountant father, Eugen (Eugeniusz) Hörmann (in Russian, Герман), was also of aGerman–Russianpastor family and born inŁódźinCongress Poland(part of theRussian Empire), now inPoland.Eugen Hörmann's father, Anna's grandfather, Friedrich Hörmann, who had studied theology in Łódź, was in 1929 incarcerated inGulagPlesetskby communists for being a priest; he died there. In 1937, during theNKVD'santi-German operation,Eugen Hörmann was arrested in Urgench on false charges of spying, and executed (officially, sentenced to ten years in prison).

Thereafter Anna[note 2],with her mother and grandmother, survived in theKemerovoRegion ofSiberia,as well as inTashkent,and later in theKirghizandKazakhSSRs.

In 1946, German's mother (who had married Herman Gerner, aPolish People's Armysoldier) was able to take the family toSilesia,first toNowa Rudaand in 1949 toWrocław.

Career

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Anna German plaque in Wrocław (Trzebnicka Street)

Anna quickly learned Polish and several other languages and grew up hiding her family heritage. She graduated from the Geological Institute of theUniversity of Wrocław.During her university years, she began her music career at the Kalambur Theater. German became known to the general public when she won the 1964 IIFestival of Polish Songs in Opolewith her songTańczące Eurydyki('DancingEurydices'). One year later, she won the first prize in theSopot International Song Festival.

German performed in theMarché international de l'édition musicaleinCannes,as well as on the stages ofBelgium,Germany,United States,CanadaandAustralia.

She also sang in Russian, English, Italian, Spanish, Latin, German andMongolian.[4]She recorded several albums forPolskie Nagrania Muzain Poland andMelodiyain the Soviet Union. In 2001, six of her Polish albums were reissued on CDs. In recent years, manycompilation albumsof her songs have also been released in both Russia and Poland.

Career in Italy

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In December 1966 inMilan,German signed a contract with the CDI company to release her records, thus becoming the first performer from behind the "Iron Curtain"who recorded inItaly.In Italy, German had performed at theSanremo Music Festival,starred in a television show, recorded a programme with the singerDomenico Modugno,performed at thefestivalofNeapolitan songsinSorrentoand received the "Oscar della simpatia" award.

Car accident and treatment

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On 27 August 1967, while in Italy, on the road betweenForlìand Milan, Anna German was involved in a severe car accident. At high speed, the car driven by the impresario of the singer crashed into a concrete fence. German was thrown from the car through the windshield. She suffered multiple fractures and other internal injuries. An investigation revealed that the driver of the car – her managerRenato Serio– fell asleep at the wheel.

After the accident, German had not regained consciousness. After the plaster was taken off, the singer still lay in a hospital bed for half a year. Then it took her a few months to relearn to sit and walk.

Later, she released the autobiographical bookWróć do Sorrento?('Come Back to Sorrento?'), dedicated to the Italian period of her career. The book's circulation was 30,000 copies.

Career in the Soviet Union

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In 1964, German toured theSoviet Unionfor the first time as part of a delegation of Polish artists, performing songs byGeorge Gershwin,Mark Fradkin,Arno Babajanian.The editor of the "Melodiya"Anna Kachalina invited German to record some songs in Polish and Italian.[5]Her first songs in Russian were recorded in the fall of 1964.[6]

In the 1970s, German toured, performed and recorded in theSoviet Union,working withAleksandra Pakhmutova,[7]Yevgeniy Martynov,[8]Vladimir Shainsky,[9][10]David Tukhmanov,[8]Oscar Feltsman,[8]Yan Frenkel,Vyacheslav Dobrynin,[9]Alexander Morozovand others. She had become an acclaimed and popular artist there. She remembers: "I loved touring the Soviet Union. <...> These tours did not bring a lot of money, it was much more profitable to fly to America or even participate in some kind of concerts in Europe. But nothing can compare with the emotional reception in Soviet cities and towns."[11]

Her most notable songs in Russian are "Shine, Shine, My Star","And I like him "(Russian:А он мне нравится,lit. 'A on mne nravitsya'), "Hope" (Russian:Надежда,lit. 'Nadezhda'), "No Hurry" (Russian:Не спеши,lit. 'Ne speshi'), "Randomness" (Russian:Случайность,lit. 'Sluchaynost''), "When Gardens Bloomed" (Russian:Когда цвели сады,lit. 'Kogda tsveli sady'), "Echo of Love" (Russian:Эхо любви,lit. 'Ekho lyubvi').[12][13]

Personal life

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On 23 March 1972, German married Zbigniew Tucholski. Their son, Zbigniew Tucholski, was born in 1975. In the last years of her life, German composed some church songs. Before she died in 1982 ofosteosarcoma(at the age of 46), she joined theSeventh-day Adventist Church.[14]German was buried at theEvangelical CemeteryinWarsaw.

Remembrance

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Anna German's star on the Walk of Fame inOpole
  • The main street inUrgench,Uzbekistan,the birthplace of Anna German, bears her name.
  • Theasteroid2519 Ydiscovered in 1975 byRussianastronomerTamara Smirnovawas named in honour of Anna German.
  • TheamphitheatreinZielona Góra,Poland, has been named in Anna German's memory.
  • In 2002, theTańczące EurydykiSong Festival aimed at popularizing the musical legacy of Anna German and Polish popular music was launched.
  • The Anna German Musical High School inBiałystokbears the name of the singer.
  • In 2012, acommemorative plaquewas unveiled inWrocławat the entrance to the house where Anna German used to live.
  • In 2012, a Russianbiographicalmini-series(co-produced with Poland, Ukraine and Croatia) about the life of Anna German was filmed.
  • A star on theMoscowWalk of Fame honouring Anna German was unveiled.
  • Several streets in Polish cities includingWarsawandRzeszówwere named in remembrance of the singer.
  • In 2013, a star on the Walk of Fame of theNational Festival of Polish Song in Opoledevoted to Anna German was unveiled.

Books about Anna German

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  • 1974 Nagrabiecki Jan:Anna German.1974
  • Aleksander Zygariov:Anna German.1988
  • Aleksander Zygariov:Anna German.1998 (reissue)
  • Mariola Pryzwan:Wspomnienia o Annie German.1999
  • Adriana Polak:Człowieczy los. Wspomnienia o Annie German.2000
  • Artur Hörmann:Die unbekannte Anna German.2003 (The book was written by the uncle of Anna and brother her father Eugene Herman)
  • Mariola Pryzwan:Tańcząca Eurydyka. Wspomnienia o Annie German.2008
  • Ivan Ilichev:Анна Герман – Гори, гори, моя звезда!.2010
  • Jordan Naoum:Anna German.2011ISBN6138327977
  • Mariola Pryzwan:Anna German o sobie.2012
  • Ivan Ilichev:Мы долгое эхо(We long echo). 2012
  • Mariola Pryzwan:Tańcząca Eurydyka. Anna German we wspomnieniach.2013
  • Marzena Baranowska:German. Osobisty album Anny German.2013
  • Ivan Ilichev:Анна Герман. Белый ангел песни(White angel of the song). 2013
  • German. Śpiewający anioł. Super album.2013
  • Ivan Ilichev:Эхо любви(Echoes of love). 2013
  • Volga Yerafeyenka:Anna German. „Uśmiechaj się”.2014
  • Irma Martens-Berner:Człowieczy los. Wspomnienia matki Anny German.2014,ISBN978-83-7295-299-8(Consultants books: son A. German, Dr.Zbigniew I. Tucholskyand her husband, engineer Zbigniew A. Tucholsky)
  • Ivan Ilichev:Анна Герман. Сто воспоминаний о великой певице(Anna German. A hundred memories of great singer). 2016

Literary works

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  • 1970„Wróć do Sorrento?...”(Come Back to Sorrento?...)
  • Bajka o skrzydlatym szpaku(The tale of the winged Starling). The book is written by Anna to her son
  • 1988 «Вернись в Сорренто?...»[1]translated from Polish into Russian by R. Bello
  • 2002„Wróć do Sorrento?...”reissue
  • 2012„Wróć do Sorrento?...”reissue

Discography

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Albums

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Anna German grave inProtestant Reformed Cemeteryin Warsaw
  • Na tamten brzeg(1964) [Onto that shore]
  • Tańczące Eurydyki(1965) [Dancing Eurydices]
  • Recital piosenek(1967) [A recital of songs]
  • I classici della musica napoletana(1967) [Classics of theCanzone Napoletana]
  • Поёт Анна Герман(1968) [Anna German Sings]
  • Człowieczy los(1970) [Fate of Man]
  • Domenico Scarlatti – Arie z operyTetide in Sciro(1971) [Domenico Scarlatti – Arias from opera Tetide in Sciro]
  • Wiatr mieszka w dzikich topolach(1972) [Wind lives in wild poplars]
  • To chyba maj(1974) [It has to be May]
  • Anna German(1975)[15]
  • Anna German(1977)[16]
  • Anna German(1979)[17]
  • Pomyśl o mnie(1979) [Think about me]
  • Tylko w tangu/Dookoła kipi lato(1979) [Only in tango/Summer is all around]
  • Śpiewa Anna German(1979) [Anna German is singing]
  • Надежда(Nadezhda, 1980) [Hope]
  • Последняя встреча(1983) [Last meeting]

Singles

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  • "The Man I Love"(1964)
  • "Снежана"/"Без тебя"(1965)
  • "Не спеши"/"На тот берег"(1965)
  • "Свет звезды"/"Дай мне помечтать"(1965)
  • "Ночной разговор"/"Всё прошло"(1965)
  • "Двое"/"По грибы"(1965)
  • "Deszcz na szybie"/"Uroczysko"(1967)
  • "Chcę być kochaną"/"Cygański wóz"(1967)
  • "Cyganeria"/"Zimowe dzwony"(1967)
  • "Melodia dla synka"/"Jesteś moją miłością"(1969)
  • "Człowieczy los"/"Dziękuje ci mamo"(1970)
  • "Gałązka snów"/"Trampowski szlak"(1970)
  • "Złociste mgły"/"Za grosiki marzeń"(1970)
  • "A mama asi como"/"Quadro cartas"(1971)
  • "Поёт Анна Герман"(1971)
  • "Анна Герман"(1972)
  • "Warszawa w różach"/"Wiatr mieszka w dzikich topolach"(1972)
  • "Анна Герман"(1974)
  • "Ты, только ты"(1975)
  • "Гори, гори, моя звезда"/"Из-за острова на стрежень"(1975)
  • "Когда цвели сады"(1977)
  • "Далёк тот день"(1977)
  • "Я помню всё"(1979)
  • "Гори, гори, моя звезда"(1982)

Later reprints and compilation albums

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  • 1984:Jesteś moja miłościąLP
  • 1987: Эхо любви (Echo lubvi) – live '79 LP
  • 1989: Anna German LP
  • 1989:Znaki zapytaniaLP
  • 1990:Powracające słowavol. 1 LP
  • 1990:Powracające słowavol. 2 LP
  • 1991:Zakwitnę różąCD
  • 1991:Recital piosenekCD
  • 1994:Nasza ścieżkaCD
  • 1994:Złote przeboje neapolitanskieMC
  • 1995:Planeta Annapart 1 MC
  • 1995:Planeta Annapart 2 MC
  • 1996: Незабытый мотив (Nezabitiy motiv) CD
  • 1996: Лучшие песни (Luchshie pesni) CD
  • 1998: Когда цвели сады (Kogda tsveli sadi) CD
  • 1998:Wiatr mieszka w dzikich topolachCD
  • 1999:Tańczące EurydykiCD
  • 1999:Platynowa kolekcjaCD
  • 1999:Złote przebojeCD
  • 1999:Bal u Posejdona (Złota kolekcja)CD
  • 1999: Антология советского шлягера (Antologia sovetskogo shlagera) MC
  • 2000: Анна Герман. Российская эстрадная музыкальная энциклопедия (Rossiyskaya estradnaya muzikalnaya encyclopaedia) CD
  • 2000: Последняя встреча (Poslednyaya vstrecha) CD
  • 2001: Quiet words of love (Russian) (Любви негромкие слова) CD
  • 2001: Ваши любимые песни (Vashi lyubimie pesni) CD
  • 2001:Tańczące EurydykiCD
  • 2001:Recital piosenekCD
  • 2001:Człowieczy losCD
  • 2001:Wiatr mieszka w dzikich topolachCD
  • 2001: Domenico Scarlatti –Arie z opery"Tetida in Sciro" CD
  • 2001:To chyba majCD
  • 2001:Pomyśl o mnieCD
  • 2001: Luchshee – Zvyozdi sovetskoy estradi CD
  • 2002:Najlepsze piosenkiCD
  • 2003: Наши лучшие песни (Nashi lyubimie pesni) CD
  • 2003:Człowiecy loscollection CD
  • 2003: Золотой век русской эстрады (Zolotoy vek russkoy estrady) CD
  • 2003: Посидим, помолчим. Полное собрание песен (Posidim, pomolchim) vol.1 CD
  • 2003: Спасибо тебе мое сердце. Полное собрание песен (Spasibo tebe moyo serdtse) vol.2 CD
  • 2004:Złote przebojeCD
  • 2004: Самое лучшее (Samoe luchshee) CD
  • 2007: MP3 collection
  • 2008: Надежда CD[18]
  • 2013:Tańczące EurydykiCD
  • 2019: Анна Герман. Избранное LP

Filmography

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  • 1966:Marynarka to męska przygoda(documentary) – ensemble cast
  • 1970:Landscape After the Battle(Krajobraz po bitwie)
  • 1970:Prom– singing
  • 1970:Balladyna(TV show) – singing
  • 1970:Wyspy szczęśliwe. Śpiewa Anna German(short film)
  • 1977:Sudba(film) – singingEcho Miłości
  • 2012:Anna German(Russian TV series) – singing (her songs have been used in the series)

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Anna Wiktoria German-Tucholska – memori.pl".www.memori.pl.Retrieved2019-03-23.
  2. ^"ГЕРМАН • Большая российская энциклопедия - электронная версия".Archived fromthe originalon 2022-10-23.Retrieved2020-08-25.
  3. ^abcdef"Het spoor terug".vpro.nl.VPRO.14 January 1996.Retrieved2 July2023.
  4. ^Anna German in Mongolia
  5. ^"Светит незнакомая звезда. Чем Анна Герман отличалась от других советских певиц из Польши".Archived fromthe originalon 2021-09-07.Retrieved2021-09-07..In Russian
  6. ^"Анна Герман: почему она любила высоких мужчин?".Archived fromthe originalon 2023-07-03.Retrieved2023-07-03..In Russian
  7. ^Виталий Лейбин, Наталья Кузнецова (2015-06-26)."Слова не выкинешь. Какие песни мы поем в душе и какими стихами говорим"(in Russian). rusrep.ru. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-04-19.Retrieved2016-04-10.
  8. ^abc25 лучших песен Анны Герман(ArchiveIn Russian)
  9. ^ab10 незабываемых хитов Анны Герман. In Russian
  10. ^"Анна Герман — история песен"(in Russian).Archivedfrom the original on 2019-01-19.Retrieved2019-01-18.
  11. ^German, Anna (2013).Анна Герман. Жизнь, рассказанная ею самой.Moscow:Eksmo.p. 256.ISBN978-5-9955-0698-0..In Russian
  12. ^"Анна Герман — история песен «Надежда» (1974), «А он мне нравится» (1975), «Когда цвели сады» (1976), «Белая черёмуха» (1976), «Эхо любви» (1977) и «Весеннее танго» (1979)".Archived fromthe originalon 2020-07-22.Retrieved2022-04-07.
  13. ^Daily Afisha. 25 лучших песен Анны Герман.In Russian
  14. ^Fowler-Kline, Fylvia (2013-05-27)."Going Where The People Are".Hope Channel.Archived fromthe originalon 2021-04-19.Retrieved2020-09-25.
  15. ^33С60-05789-90
  16. ^33С60-09249-50
  17. ^С60-12725-26
  18. ^НадеждаatDiscogs
  1. ^Soviet officials mistakenly believed that Mennonites and Dutch settlers were in fact Germans due to the similarities in language and faith.
  2. ^In a 1996 documentary on Irma Martens, Anna German is referred to as Annie.
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Media related toAnna Germanat Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest
1979 		Succeeded by
to the 1994 contest
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