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 Å•udjes
- 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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