Анастасия Полякова

Anastasia "Nastia" Poliakova (1877, Tula, Russian Empire — 17 October 1947, New York, USA) was a renowned Russian-American mezzo-soprano/contralto and "Gypsy romances" performer, sister of Egor (1871—1931) and Dmitry Polyakov (1878—1948), and aunt of Vladimir Poliakoff (1887—1985). Performing since early teenage years, in 1920, Nastya immigrated to Constantinople, Turkey, later moving to France and subsequently relocating to the United States. She produced many gramophone records since 1911 on Pathé, Gramophone Concert Record, Decca, Seva, and other labels. Name variations: Анастасия "Настя" Алексеевна* Полякова, Anastasia "Nastya" Alekseevna* Poliakova, Polyakoff. (* Several sources erroneously provide her patronymic, derived from the father's first name in Slavic naming conventions, as Vasilievna, or "Васильевна.") Nastya was born at a nomadic Romani camp in the suburbs of Tula to a family of distinguished traditional choir singers; in 1882, when she was five, her parents relocated to Moscow. In 1889, twelve-year-old Nastya joined a prolific N. I. Khlebnikov's Gypsy Choir with her brothers, often performing at "Yar" (Яръ) restaurant. Polyakova gained critical acclaim after starring in the gala show at "Paradise" operetta theater in Moscow with Raisa Raisova and Sasha Davydov; she was only 14-15. One of her crucial early patrons was Countess T.K. Tolstaya, a great admirer of Gypsy romances and songwriter. She helped Polyakova to arrange early concert programs and encouraged Nastia to develop her unique style instead of mimicking Polyakova's idol, Varya Panina. In 1898, twenty-one-year-old Anastasia Polyakova got married and decided to give up her stage career. A few years later, she returned to singing thanks to Panina (who spotted Nastia in the audience at one of her Moscow concerts and practically dragged her up on stage for an improvised duo met by standing ovation; since then, Polyakova never gave up singing.) In 1911, Nastya debuted at the Small Hall Of The Moscow Conservatoire, soon touring across the Russian Empire. In 1915, Polyakova directed a critically acclaimed performance of her Gypsy Choir of Famous Performers of Gypsy Songs (Цыганск. Хоръ знам. исп. Цыганск. пѣсенъ) at the House of the Noble Assembly, raising funds for wounded WWI soldiers and officers. She continued performing at various Moscow cabarets and operettas until the 1917 revolution. In 1920, Nastia Poliakova and her family immigrated to Constantinople in Turkey, where exiled White Army officers and the "first wave" Russian émigrés settled. She performed at the Stella restaurant, operated by a Russian entrepreneur of African-American descent, Fyodor Tomas, né Frederick Bruce Thomas (1872—1928). Polyakova soon partnered with Greek-Russian baritone singer Yury Morfessi, and they opened a Russian-themed restaurant, Strelna ("Стрельна"). The venue was short-lived, however, shut down by Turkish tax authorities. Poliakova and Morfessi hastily fled the country to avoid potential charges; after traveling across Europe for two years, Nastia finally settled in Paris in 1923. She gave solo recitals and shared the stage with Alexander Vertinsky and Nadezhda Plevitskaya at prestigious Russian restaurants, including Shéherazade cabaret on Rue de Liège, and toured France and Germany. Nastia reformed her Gypsy Choir in a smaller formation co-directed with her brother Dmitry Polyakov; some of the notable vocalists who joined them included Nuyra Masalskaya (18xx—1949), Aliosha and Valia Dimitrievitch, and Nastia's nephew, Vladimir Poliakoff. Polyakova celebrated her 30th anniversary on stage in 1926 with a celebratory concert in Paris; renowned writer Alexander Kuprin was an honorable guest and compère. Circa 1933, Nastia Poliakova immigrated to the United States, settling in New York City. She performed at the White House for President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the late 1930s. Polyakova hosted her retirement show on 14 May 1945 at Club House in New York, featuring Sarah Gorby, Marusia Sava, Yury Vasilevsky, Theodore Zarkevich, and other notable Russian artists and musicians.