Azernews.Az

The Latvian representative at Eurovision 2012, Anmary, has not been to Azerbaijan yet, but she is sure she will remember this visit forever.

The semifinals of the contest will be held in Baku on May 22 and May 24, and the final on May 26.

The 57th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Baku Crystal Hall, which is under construction near the National Flag Square.

``The best way to learn about the country… is to visit it and talk with its residents,`` she told the Baku-based Trend news agency.

Anmary liked fairy tales and read Azerbaijani tales in her childhood.

``In the Soviet times, there was a series of books with tales about world peoples,`` she said. ``I liked fairy tales very much. They covered Azerbaijan`s nature, its green meadows and pastures, majestic mountains, murmuring rivers, and blossoming gardens, so I can imagine old Baku.``

``Your country is very colorful,`` she said. ``It has rich traditions and architectural monuments, a picturesque and varied nature. Everybody knows the Azerbaijanis` hospitality. I admire Azerbaijani folk dancing, its flexibility and grace.``

The singer is also aware that carpet-weaving is a traditional craft in Azerbaijan.

``After winning the Eurovision national tour in Latvia, Azerbaijani ambassador to Latvia Elman Zeynalov presented a very nice `flying` carpet, which will take me to Baku,`` she said.

Anmary said she has taken great interest in music since her childhood years.

``Once, when my mother was buying a gift for my birthday, I chose a tape, and it turned out that it was a Michael Jackson album. He was my idol for many years.``

She said that stressing her daughter`s passion, her mother persuaded her to enter a music school.

``I had been learning to play the piano for fifteen years, but I wanted to sing,`` she said. ``I began studying voice and today I teach vocal singing.``

One of the singer`s first steps on stage were on the ``Factory of Talents`` musical TV show where she took second place.

``I participated in various projects, sang in the musical ``West Side Story``, ``Sunny Sense`` and `Mash Mash`,`` she said. ``Hamburg University of Music and Theatre Professor Christoph Schonherr invited me to sing a solo in his musical work ``Magnificat``. Together with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, I gave concerts in Germany and other countries.``

``And now I will perform at Eurovision. I enjoy the preparation process. I wait for each appearance on the stage with a pleasant feeling of excitement.``

She said Eurovision is a new and valuable experience for her future career.

``Latvia is a very small country and it is impossible to gather such a large audience as [you would] at Eurovision,`` she said.

The Latvian singer will sing the ``Beautiful Song`` at the song contest in Baku.

``Indeed, the song is beautiful and this is a story about me, my dreams, and a little bit of humor,`` she said. ``It is easy to remember the song, so that one can sing the chorus along with me. As always, I will be sincere and I hope that viewers will like it and will accept my emotions.``