Natalia Barbu was born in 1979 on the 22nd of August, in Balti, the north capital of Moldova. „I spent my childhood at my grandparents, in a marvellous village in the north of the country, situated in the heart of the forest, which I all went over, listening to the wonderful warbling of birds”. Her greatest pleasure was to “make herself beautiful” and to wander from place to place, even to the forest. Every time when she found a “spectator”, she was reciting him poems or singing songs.

At the end of the concert Natalia was receiving her deserved applauses, taking the cheers and was going further. She believed that the world is hers and that every inborn artist had to keep their achievements. “My grandfather, Nicanor, an exceptional man, and my parents, have marked profoundly my personality. They educated in me the love and the respect for people, for nature and for everything that is the most beautiful in this world. My grandfather was sure that I’d become an artist and he was supporting me by telling me every time: “grandpa’s artist”". When Natalia’s grandparents were visited by relatives and guests, the stool became her stage; and on several square centimeters, the small maestro was running her show. She was receiving flowers, applauses, praise, kisses and candies. What more would a talent need?

“When I was seven, our family moved to Ribnita (a zone of Dniestrian conflict)”. Natalia’s heroic and artistic character had found its manifestation field even there. If Natalia were not understood by the children from the yard, she was getting furious on those who did not appreciate her values. The conquests were hardly achieved. Her parents insisted on Romanian school, even if the situation dictated something different. “I had to go to a Romanian school from Rezina, which was situated on the other bank of the Dniestr. During the Dniestrian War, I went to school jumping through the barricades among guns and soldiers.” Natalia also went to the Musical school. Natalia was “torturing” the violin, because she was obliged to do this, while other children were playing. However she had liked the music and yet, the childhood had its rights and requirements. The melody of the childish voices coming from the yard, dominated the violin song. Bowing diligently on the strings of the violin, Natalia imagined herself their in the yard messing with all children in the common noise. Now she does not regret this, because hard work makes an artist more valuable, especially now, when the violin is “laughing and crying” in her hands. She feels it and she plays it with all her soul.

When Natalia is twelve, she seriously begins her artistic activity, but not on the professional stage. She is invited at wedding parties - hard, but important experience for every artist. “Here, you are having real exams and if you pass them, you’ve got the chance.” Playing violin and singing at the same time, Natalia succeeds, due her talent, in conquering the sympathy even of the most “difficult” spectator. Life becomes much harder. The Dniestrian conflict makes family’s Barbu living almost impossible. “When the things went worse we had to take refuge in Chisinau, for the family’s safeness. My mother began to sing in the Folk Music Band “Mugurel” and I continued my studies in Romanian language.”

After graduating from the gymnasium class of the secondary school, Natalia continues her studies in the Music High School Stefan Neaga. She works hardly. She has the violin in her hands and she plays it in the Folk Music Band. Deeply in her soul, she is dreaming to become a performer. And finally she succeeds. Natalia appears as a vocalist in the Folk Music Orchestra from the High School, but she does not leave aside the violin. Simultaneously, she is tempted to sing jazz and pop. She is willing of freedom to improvise, just like in childhood. She does not give up. The year 1998 appears to be of great importance, even decisive one, for Natalia Barbu’s career. This year she graduates from the High School, and she becomes a violinist in the Folk Music Band MGUREL. Her dream to perform pop music, not only is getting a shape, but it comes true. This year she takes part in three pop Festivals and she gets either the first place, or the Grand Prix and the trophy. And the greatest achievement of this year is the Grand Prix and the Trophy of the Festival “Mamaia ‘98″, Romania, and Miss Festival - Press Prize.

Natalia BARBU reaches her goal. Everyone speaks about her at superlative, everyone is eager to know her; everyone recognizes her unprecedented vocal abilities. It was like she had made the string on several good octaves.
Next year Natalia tries to become a member of the band MILLENNIUM, but she does not stay there for a long time, because she decides to come back to her solo career. Simultaneously she begins to study at the State Conservatory “Gavriil Muzicescu” in Chisinau. She continues to pick her trophies from International Festivals, hurrying up. Life seems to be less interesting without several trophies per year. She does not feel comfortable, when the adrenaline level decreases, that is why she always fulfills it with the emotions during the contests. And besides all of this, being a true Leo, she needs continuous conquests. Unfortunately everything has its end. Natalia becomes mature. She has the feeling that everything is too easy to get and she takes a break.

“It’s easy to rise on the top; it’s more difficult to stay there. Even if I succeeded, I had to stop, in order to analyze everything I had done. While feeling dizzy of my success I might not notice the fact that actually I am falling. This break was for my good. I have meditated upon many things and I’m ready for the fight, because now I clearly see the path of my way.”

Here begins the period of experiments. Natalia with a group of musicians from Trigon works on the new album, a different one (jazz-folk). But the new is that in this project Natalia writes the lyrics by herself, composes the music for the majority of songs and on the arrangements works seriously the entire team. Everyone believes in this project, a lot. Natalia does not appear for while on the stage. Working in studio, takes all her time and energy. The project is not a commercial one and that is why it didn’t reach to the stage of professional recordings. It remains a demo version in Natalia’s drawer for the better times. Natalia signs a contract for three years with the Company Cat Music (Sony Music) from Bucharest. Now she has already a recorded album and a video clip for My Angel. And that’s not all… This year, Natalia will represent the Republic of Moldova in Helsinki at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest. The expectancies are great, but it is necessary to work hard and to have enough energy to manage everything. The bag for future plans is full and even if she has many achievements she always says that “everything is ahead. You have to fight!”

Participant: Natalia BARBU
Song: Fight
Writer: Elena BUGA
Composer: Alexandru BRASOVEANU
Broadcaster: TRM
National selection: Pentru Eurovision 2007

(199 votes, average: 3.32 out of 5)

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