Berta
Davidova was born in 1922 in Margilan in a family
which loved music and supported musical talents
of the girl. In 1935-1938 she studied at Tashkent
Medical Vocational School. During the Second
World War she worked as a nurse at Tashkent
military hospital, where she sang for wounded
soldiers, patients of the hospital.
Berta Davidova's career as a singer began in
1943, when she started to work as a soloist
of the chorus of the State Radio Committee,
and then as a soloist of "Makom" ensemble
under the leadership of Yunus Rajabiy. She became
renowned as early as in 1946 after she had performed
classical folk song "Munojat" during
the live broadcast on Uzbek radio.
In 60s of XX century, over period of work in
"Makom" ensemble, where her talent
and remarkable musical gifts showed up best,
she quickly became well-known and occupied a
well-deserved place among outstanding artists
of the country and beyond. Spiritually elevated
poetics of the invaluable asset of the national
and world culture "Shashmakom", which
has formerly been considered as elitist, palatial
music, became accessible to general public and
acquired popularity to a large extent due to
high performing mastery of Berta Davidova and
her self-sacrificing serving the cause of art.
Makoms formed the basis of her repertoire. In
makom's history there were many bright performers,
but the performance manner of Berta Davidova
rendered makoms with new inimitable sounding
amidst established traditions. Makom pieces
when performed by her were steeped in deep sensations,
disclosing not only the deep philosophic meaning
of Oriental poetry, but also richness of her
own soul.
Possessing her phenomenal musical abilities
and faculty of coordinating breath and voice,
which was remarkable due to unique strength
and beautiful tone, enabled her to perform unrivaled
ŕudjes - plangent wide-range culminations of
vocal parts.
Apart from makoms, Berta Davidova performed
classic songs, such as "Munojat",
"Figon", "Sarakhbori Oromijon",
"Samarkand ushogi", "Dugokh",
"Bayot-1", etc.
Both makoms and sing repertoire of the singer
Is included In the "Golden Stock"
of Uzbek radio. Due to outstanding talent of
Berta Davidova, a large variety of pieces of
Oriental musical art has been included in the
world treasury of musical masterpieces. A part
of these is included in the present collection.
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