Eurovision Semi-Final

Posted by Italo on May 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment

May 12: the First Semi-Final Live Broadcast

Ivan Toporischev, Moscow, exclusively for Eurovision Mania

On the 12th of May we will see the live broadcast of the first Eurovision 2009 Semi-Final. The viewers will see the show that has been prepared for a long time. The day before, on the 11th of May, the musicians who are going to participate in the first Semi-Final rehearsed their acts in costumes, and that was their last chance to make any changes and to correct any mistakes.

On the 11th of May, the representatives of the Channel One gave a press-conference. They spoke about the conception of the Eurovision broadcasts and answered many other questions. Not only had the organizers of the broadcasting participated in the press-conference, but also the hosts of the Eurovision Ceremonies. These are Andrey Malakhov, Natalya Vodyanova, Ivan Urgant and Alsou.

Konstantin Ernst, Director General of the Channel One opened the press-conference and said: “We are happy to see all of you and we hope that this week you will get a lot of surprises and a lot of pleasure”.

Ivan Urgant was telling jokes, as usual. He told the journalists that he was very upset because he had just known that he was not going to be the only host of the Eurovision Concerts. He also mentioned that his colleagues from the “ParisHiltonProjector” Program were less fortunate than him and did not get the chance to host the Eurovision Ceremonies. When a Belarusian journalist asked him to sing some Eurovision hit, Ivan agreed and sang the famous “Diva” by Dana International, and made some caustic commentaries afterwards. He was also the one who decided to answer the questions concerning the Gay-Parade and to speak about the actress who had been invited to host the Eurovision Ceremonies but refused to come.

“I substitute the actress Konstantin Ernst was speaking about”, commented Ivan after the Director told about the negotiations with a famous American actress who insisted upon very high royalties for her participation in the Eurovision Concerts. “I mean we look alike. I don’t know exactly what actress you are talking about, probably, we are speaking about the same actress”.

Johanna, Iceland, Eurovision 2009

Photo: Gennady Cherkasov, mk.ru

“I think it is a great luck for me to work with Ivan”, said Alsou. Together with Ivan they will host the Eurovision Final. “Vanya Urgant is very professional; it is very easy to work with him. He can make people laugh when it is needed. With him, I feel comfortable on the stage. The most difficult thing for me is to learn my words, because everything is timed, you cannot deviate from the script. You have to say exactly what is written. Much of my text is in French, so I have to remember what I studied at school for 8 years. People say I sound good and my accent is OK. It is very important for me to feel confident, to say everything right, and not to let anybody down”.

After the press-conference, the second rehearsal of the First Semi-Final took place. Natalya Vodyanova and Andrey Malakhov who are going to host the First Semi-Final Ceremony spoke with the audience in Russian, English and French. Dmitriy Shepelev was telling jokes in “Green Room”.

Today everything is real here: the light, the sound and the performers. But the voting is postponed till the evening. The live broadcast of the Eurovision Semi-Final starts tonight, at 11 p.m., Moscow time.