Anna German is a singer with a magical, crystal clear voice and a special dramatic manner of performance. Her life is like an exciting novel, in which there were shocks, victories, fame, personal happiness and, alas, an early and sad end.
Biography and career
Anna's father Herman Eugen (Eugene) is a German with Dutch roots, whose family settled in Ukraine. With the advent of Soviet power, the family was dispossessed, numerous relatives were scattered throughout the country. Eugen ended up in the Uzbek SSR, where he met his second wife, Irma Martens, who came from a family of Dutch Protestant Mennonites. In the marriage, two children were born, daughter Anna-Victoria and youngest son Friedrich.
The family, together with Irma's mother, settled in the small town of Urnech. My father worked as an accountant, but he was very fond of music and even composed songs himself. The idyll did not last long - shortly after the birth of his son, Eugen was arrested and, after a short trial, was shot on charges of espionage. The family of the repressed had to flee, after long journeys she ended up in Kazakhstan. By this time, the family consisted of only 3 women, Anna's younger brother fell ill and died.
In 1942 Irma Herman married a Polish officer, but a year later he was killed. The woman with her daughter and mother moved to her husband's homeland, Poland. Anna entered the gymnasium, and after graduating from it, she went to study as a geologist. However, the future specialty did not particularly attract the girl, she dreamed of a stage and even performed in the student theater as a singer.
After graduating from university, Anna passed the exams and received the right to perform in concerts. Her singing career began with mini-tours and very small fees. However, an unusual clear voice - a lyric soprano with a very rich range - immediately brought her the love of the public. Gradually, the young singer honed her skills, and in 1963 she was honored to represent the country at the international festival in Sopot. The first award was the 3rd place, but in the next competition Anna became the winner, received a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture and went to Italy to study vocal. Thanks to victories in international competitions, the young singer was offered a three-year contract with the studio, which she gladly signed.
Anna German's career developed rapidly, the producers actively promoted her as a new European star. The victorious procession with concerts, advertising shows and victories in competitions was interrupted by a terrible car accident - during the night crossing, a sports car with a sleeping driver crashed into a concrete fence. Anna received severe injuries and was bedridden for two long years.
After a rehabilitation period, the singer was transported to Poland, where she underwent treatment. Despite the unfavorable forecasts of doctors, she began to get up and walk, and already in 1969 she appeared on the stage. Her return was greeted with delight, the audience did not forget Anna and welcomed her every performance. The singer toured the country and often came to Moscow, giving concerts and recording numerous gramophone records. Each performance gathers full houses, the press calls Anna the most sincere, charming and beloved singer.
The only thing that darkens these happy years is sharply deteriorating health. Gradually, old injuries make themselves felt, the woman is tormented by constant pain in her legs. At first, she blames everything on thrombophlebitis, aggravated after pregnancy, but after visiting specialists she learns the terrible truth - the rapidly developing bone cancer. Despite her deteriorating health, Anna does not stop touring, not wanting to disappoint her fans.
For some time, the singer heals herself, but there is no improvement. Anna ends up in the hospital, where she undergoes several operations. However, doctors' forecasts do not leave hope - the process is irreversible. In 1982, the singer dies - by a mystical coincidence, death occurs exactly 15 years after a car accident in Italy.
Personal life
In 1960, Anna met a man who became the most important person in her life. Zbigniew Tucholski happened to be next to her on the beach, the young people got into conversation and immediately felt sympathy for each other. However, they lived in different cities, and there were other obstacles to frequent meetings. But Zbigniew was persistent, came to the singer's concerts. Gradually, sympathy grew into love and the couple began to live in a civil marriage. Anna herself rejected marriage proposals. But after the accident, which confirmed the love and devotion of the young man, she gave up. In 1979, Anna and Zbigniew got married, marking an event in the family circle.
Doctors categorically forbade even thinking about children, but the young singer passionately dreamed of a baby. He was born after a difficult pregnancy, when the singer was already 40 years old. Anna left her job for 2 years and plunged into the upbringing of Zbyshek Jr. In 1978 she bought a spacious house with her royalties, where the family moved in full force. Anna always called the following years the happiest in her life, despite her progressive illness.
After the death of the singer, the husband and son stayed in the family home, taking care of each other and the elderly Irma Martens. Zbyshek became a scientist, got a good position, but never created his own family. Zbigniew Sr. devotes a lot of time to preserving Anna's memory, from time to time giving interviews and advising journalists, writers and directors who create new works about the great Polish singer.
