‘백학’ 러국민가수 코브존 타계

‘모래시계’의 주제곡 ‘백학(러시아명 ‘벨르이 쥬라블’)’으로 잘 알려진 러시아의 국민가수 이오시프 코브존이 지난 30일(현지시간) 향년 80세로 타계(他界)했다.

고인은 오랫동안 건강이 안 좋아 여러 차례 수술을 받아왔으며 결국 이날 운명했다. 다음 달 2일 모스크바 남서쪽 ‘보스트랴콥스키 공동묘지’에 영원한 안식처(安息處)를 구하게 된다.

전장에서 전우를 잃은 전사의 슬픔과 애수를 노래한 ‘백학(Журавли)’은 원래 러시아 남부 캅카스 지역 체첸 자치공화국의 민요였다. 북카프카즈의 시인 감자토프(Р. Гамзатов; 1923~2003)가 모국어인 아바르어로 쓴 시가 러시아어로 옮겨지고, 코브존이 리메이크해 부르면서 더욱 널리 알려졌다.

'우~우우우~'의 허밍으로 시작하는 백학은 1990년대 중반, 공전의 히트를 기록한 드라마 ‘모래시계’의 주제곡으로, 한국에서도 폭넓은 인기를 끌었다.

2차대전 독일과 소련의 전쟁에서 러시아인들과 함께 용맹하게 싸웠던 민족이 바로 북카프카즈의 오세티야인들이다. 일곱 아들을 전쟁에 다 잃은 어머니를 위로하기 위해 하늘로 날아오르는 일곱 마리 학을 기념비로 바치고 있을 정도로, 러시아만큼 치열하게 독일과 히틀러에 맞선 민족이 또한 오세티야인들이다.

모래시계는 80년 5월 광주의 비극을 TV를 통해 최초로 대중에게 알렸던 드라마로 삽입곡 백학 덕분에 더욱 유명해졌다.

코브존은 한국에서도 내한공연을 가졌다. 1995년 9월 11일 제 1회 광주비엔날레 개막공연차 방한한 그는 조순 서울시장을 방문하여 당시 유리 루시코프 모스크바시장의 친서를 전달하고 한-러 문화예술경제 우호협력방안에 관해 논의하기도 했다.

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이상 www.en.wikipedia.org

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'Russia's Frank Sinatra' Iosif Kobzon

Considering Kobzon's career, personality, spirit and singing style, many say that he is Russia's answer to the U.S. crooner Frank Sinatra. Besides their singing careers, both Sinatra and Kobzon used their popularity towards an active involvement in politics. The parallels between the two became the focus of media articles, books and novels claiming to have detailed knowledge of Russia's gangster world based on inside information obtained from the CIA. Kobzon has since sued numerous publications for propagating unsubstantiated rumours, asserting his impeccable reputation and great honour among millions of Russian-speakers worldwide. Kobzon was barred entry to the United States since 1995 when his visa was revoked on alleged mafia ties.

Vladimir Putin congratulated Iosif Kobzon on his 80th birthday. Left: Ninel Kobzon, the singer’s wife, 11 September 2017. Putin attended a gala concert devoted to the 80th birthday of Iosif Kobzon, 20 September 2017

On many occasions, Kobzon performed in disaster areas and military hot-spots such as Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War, and Chechnya during the Chechen War.

In 1986, Kobzon was the first celebrity to visit and perform in the town of Chernobyl to cheer the nuclear reactor rescuers. Two years later, Kobzon was the first celebrity to visit and perform for victims of the 1988 Armenian earthquake.

Kobzon was active in Russian politics since 1989. He was a Russian MP, and enjoyed landslide election victories. He claimed that his promotion of Jewish culture in the USSR contributed to the establishment of diplomatic ties between USSR and Israel.

For many years, Kobzon presided over numerous charitable organisations. From 1989, he was Chair of The Movement for Honour and Dignity of Russian Citizens. He was also the president of the Humanitarian Initiatives Fund, and the president of a charitable fund known as ‘Shield and Lira” which is devoted to helping families of those killed and injured in action while on law enforcement duties.

In 2002, he risked his life as key negotiator in the Moscow theater hostage crisis. His involvement resulted in the release of a mother with three children and a British citizen.

In 2007, his name was entered into the Guinness Book of Records (Russian Edition) as the most decorated artist in the country's history. In 2009, Kobzon became the 24th individual to be named Honorary Citizen of Moscow. <www.en.wikipedia.org>