Original LP liner notes, 1990
Once this beautiful voice enchanted us with its profound penetration into the world of Gypsy and Russian romances...
Valentina Ponomareva's star rose brightly and confidently and it seemed her place in the "constellation" of Gypsy song performers was firmly established. But as it turned out later, it was only part of her way and, having covered it, she disappeared. Sometime later the world jazz fans was fascinated by a new jazz singer – the brilliant and distinctive Valentina Ponomareva.
All these years there was hard work at herself and at her gift which could not be contained within the framework of traditional genres. Perhaps, spectators do not realize that the special impression which the film "Agony", "Scarecrow", "Cruel Romance", "Landscape in Juniper" and "Show-Booth" produced to a great extent by the voice behind the screen depicting images defying description.
And now – the first record of film music by Valentina Ponomareva – "Terra lncognita". That was the title of the film where Valentina Ponomareva sang or, rather, where Cosmos and the Earth sounded through her. "We accept without hesitation the husky, unique, extremely songful voice from behind the screen as a metaphorical voice of Nature, Cosmos", wrote the noted critic V. Demin in 1985.
In this "Terra Incognita" which is, indeed, the phenomenon of Valentina Ponomareva, the unknown land yet to be discovered.
The record is an autobiographical reproduction of the way Man discovers in himself the harmony of life. In the first pagan prayers to the Cosmos of beasts, people, forests, stories we can still distinguish the words but there also “sounds” the smell of milk, the taste of fog, the horror of the wilderness and the vastness of steppes...
What is it? Witchcraft? Where does it come from? Perhaps it is the genetic memory of her predecessors – Gypsies for whom the whole Earth was their home and Cosmos – a roof over their heads?
Plunge into the world of Valentina Ponomareva, follow her voice and you are sure to regain, at least for some time, the feeling of harmony.
Elena Sakanjan, film producer
