On September 3, in his theater-jazz club “Hamlet”, the popular theater and film actor, director and pedagogue, the always masculinely charming Rolands Zagorskis-Roland, celebrated his 74th birthday in a creatively sparkling atmosphere and in the company of his closest people and best friends. »Vakaras Zinėms« had an exclusive opportunity to be present on his day of celebration and toast the jubilee’s health.
Only close and special people
In gratitude for love, selfless friendship, creative cooperation, inspiration and the many years we have experienced together, Rolanda Zagorski-Rolanda was greeted on his anniversary by his family – his beloved wife Liene and son Markus, daughter Elizabete with her husband and daughters and sister Inese Zagorska – as well as actresses and stage colleagues Raimonda Vazdika and Esmeralda Ermale, musicians Māris Balaško and Dzintars Beitāns, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Brīvā Latvija” Ligita Kovtuna, Lutheran pastor, politician and former Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Latvia Āriks Jēkabsons, and Roland’s students – once improvisations of “Hamlet” theater actors Kaspars Breidaks and Mārtiņš Daugulis, Sandra Betkere and Dace Gerasimova, as well as future actor Kurts Mitenbergs, who, by the way, took a “preparation course” with Roland, this summer was accepted into the Latvian Academy of Culture’s (LKA) Dramatic Theater Actor’s art program, both several other close and special people to the jubilee.
Say hello to a life we can enjoy!
Addressing his guests, the jubilee was grateful to everyone who found time “to meet while still alive”, because, as one of his friends said, “the bombs are falling closer and closer”…
“Many of my friends, acquaintances, colleagues have passed away in recent years… When Uldis Stabulnieks died (September 27, 2012), I promised myself that I wouldn’t go to a single funeral again, because I don’t want to listen to dirge songs in a crematorium. But when this spring (on May 14) suddenly passed away Regina Razum, with whom I share many memories of my youth, including more than one evening in the Maija Tabaka workshop, which lasted until the morning light and for two more days, I thought that maybe I should say goodbye… But then a director told me : “If you haven’t told her everything live, there’s no point in “drawing” there anymore…” So thank you, friends, for being there, for coming! It should not be the case that we live, live and then “meet” in the crematorium. You need to call, meet, even if it’s by chance, on the street. Do not miss the joy of meeting! I don’t expect a special congratulatory speech from you today, just say hello to the life we can enjoy together! Say hello to the sun, joy and autumn!” that’s what Rolands Zagorskis-Roland said on his birthday, really happy to be reunited with his friends.
The TV was never turned on
In a conversation with »Vakara Zinės«, the jubilee revealed that his summer passed “benevolently monotonously” – both in Gaujiena, where he has a beautifully maintained country house, and in Bergis, where the actor lives with his family, and visiting his old friend in Poland, whom he met the movie “Rally” (1978) during admission and, visiting each other regularly, have maintained friendship throughout these years.
But Roland’s parents taught him to celebrate the holiday. Maybe the festive table was not always abundantly covered, but, as he himself says, there were always potatoes, there were mushrooms in the forest, and everyone was already full.
“We always sang on every holiday, mom had songbooks that were distributed to those who didn’t know the words, and we could sing for three, five, even ten hours…”
The jubilee’s sister, Inese Zagorska, the artistic director of the Vidzeme concert hall “Cēsis”, also remembers that in her childhood, when celebrating the holiday, the television was never turned on and it was never allowed to sit at the table like that – everyone had to express their creativity and everyone had to sing.
“I remember how my brothers and I always prepared the concert program in the other room, then we went to announce it. I think creativity in our family comes from my father – he really liked poetry, music, songs. He recited by heart the poetry of both Pushkin and Latvian poets. And although our younger brother Jānis is not connected to the cultural sector, we are all creative,” says Inese Zagorska, revealing that, like this evening, all her anniversaries are always celebrated with music and songs.
Ines also does not hide that at the time when Roland became famous, was at the zenith of theater and cinema fame, she literally adored her brother, was very proud of him. “We have always had a very good relationship,” she claims, saying that they both live nearby – she lives in Sigulda, Roland in Bergģ – so whenever they both have free time, they are happy to see each other.
Appreciate your existence in this world
In his childhood and youth, Roland did not understand why the birthday person still had good health on his birthday, but now he realizes its value.
«But you can envy me, because my health is perfect! And, between us boys, when we talk, everything is still happening!” the jubilee states with a smile. The actor is truly in great shape, stately posture, still masculinely charming, gallant as always and with a healthy sense of humor.
“Father has always repeated that working with young people, cooperating with young people allows you to preserve your youth. During the existence of “Hamlet”, he has always gathered new people around him. It’s been the other way around for me – to get inspiration, I’ve been looking for older, more knowledgeable and experienced people than myself. But currently, working in the creative team of the future musical “Zum Zum” of “Producer Group 7″, where I am the second oldest of the singers, I am convinced of my father’s theory, because I really feel much younger in this group of young people,” concludes Elizabete Zagorska, daughter of the jubilee. After several months of absence in Canada, she has returned to Latvia with her family.
“I am glad that my father, since reaching the threshold of seventy years, now celebrates every birthday. It means that he appreciates his existence in this world and is grateful for it. If in youth, running after success, opportunities and pleasures, a person does not notice much around him, then as he grows older, other values are revealed, the essence of life crystallizes. Father is no longer afraid of old age. No longer afraid to be who he is and enjoy life, sharing his experience with those who have just started their life’s journey. That’s why I wish my father to live as long as possible to “extract” the true essence of this life as much as possible. In short, to get closer to God.»
Cool filled time
“We are not easy material,” said the former improvisers of “Hamlet”, Mārtiņš Daugulis, Kaspars Breidaks and Sandra Betkere, addressing those present to welcome the anniversary. Remembering the very fun Wednesday evenings spent together over many years, they thanked Roland for the “home” he once gave to young aspirants.
“I studied in the tenth grade, every Wednesday I drove from Ādaži to be on this stage for ten minutes. Because after ten minutes, Roland told me that it was useless… But he was patient and gave me a chance again and again, until about a year later I was already playing in the final,” recalls Kaspar Breidak, the voice of “Radio SWH”. He concludes that he has spent his ten years improvising. He never dreamed of becoming an actor, but everything he does today is related to improvisation.
“Roland is dear and dear to all of us. We used to meet not only on Wednesdays in “Hamlet”, but also on outings – in the summer in Gaujiena, boating together, hanging out in the countryside. Today we meet less often, but we call each other, whenever he has something to tell the world, I wait for him at my place “in the ražin”, and we also meet with pleasure on holidays,” says Kaspars Breidak, emphasizing that working in the “Hamlet” improvisation theater was really cool filled time.
Find the “inner Roland” in yourself
“One of the philosophers said that a person’s whole life is getting closer and further away from himself. It somehow happened to me that a large part of my life is getting closer and further away from Roland,” concludes Mārtiņš Daugulis, a lecturer at the Political Science Department of Riga Stradins University. He keeps in his memory an episode from the backstage of “Hamlet”, when, while chatting with each other and preparing to go on stage, Roland passed by and, stopping by the mirror and looking into it, said:Yell, why am I so beautiful!” “I wish all of us to find and cultivate the “inner Roland” in ourselves!” that’s what Mārtiņš Daugulis said, paying tribute to the celebrant.
But Rolands Zagorskis-Roland reveals to »Vakara Ziniam« that next year he will celebrate his semi-circular anniversary at the cinema “Splendid Palace”. “You can already plan – there will be a party on September 3 next year too!”
2023-09-30 08:31:34
#Roland #ZagorskiRoland #Scream #beautiful
