Lev Leshchenko considers himself a popular artist, not a star

July 17, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Lev Leshchenko considers himself a popular artist, not a star. The maestro of Russian pop music spoke about his attitude towards loud epithets during the "Star Hour" at the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" arts festival, a BELTA correspondent reports. "I consider myself a star when I lock myself in the bathroom and sing," the People's Artist joked. "Epithets like 'great,' 'genius' are repugnant to me. Who are Pushkin, Lermontov, Chaliapin, Nezhdanova, Maksakova then?" he asked journalists rhetorically. Speaking about himself and his colleagues in the creative profession, he said: "We are normal popular artists. And whoever wants to be a star – let them be." At the same time, Lev Leshchenko, who holds three Russian Orders "For Merit to the Fatherland," reacted very warmly to the appearance of a star bearing his name on the Alley of Laureates of the special award "Through Art to Peace and Mutual Understanding." "I am pleased to receive a Belarusian award. Public recognition is important; it means you are awarded not by protocol, not for seniority. Apparently, I am worthy of receiving such an award," he said, and then, with a playful twinkle in his eyes, added: "Apparently, I have the right to be rolled into a star near the Summer Amphitheatre." Journalists were convinced themselves that Lev Leshchenko does not suffer from star fever. Perhaps for the first time in the entire history of "Star Hours" at the festival, an artist of such a level and scale not only was not late but arrived fifteen minutes earlier than the scheduled time. He was simple in his communication, often joking. Despite having a concert in the evening and initially asking not to be burdened with questions requiring detailed answers, he responded sincerely and fully, and then patiently signed autographs. -0-