Born in Havana in 1930, Cuban singer Omara Portuondo became internationally famous in 1996 with the release of Ry Cooder's "Buena Vista Social Club," on which she was the only female performer. Of course, she had been famous for decades in Cuba, having started out in the Havana clubs in the '50s, formed the influential Cuarteto Las D'Aida with her sister, and released her first album, "Magia Negra," in 1959. Her '50s style was called "filin" - Cuban slang for "feeling" - which combines Afro-Cuban motifs, bossa nova and American jazz. Portuondo was even known as "la novia del filin" (the fiancee of filin), a nickname which has stuck with her. After her work with groups in the 1950s-1970s, Portuondo pursued a solo career in Cuba until "Buena Vista" and worldwide acclaim came along. Since then, she has continued to win legions of fans with her magical voice and warm stage shows. As her Moscow show was approaching, LifeStyle conducted an e-mail interview with Portuondo, who was touring in Europe.

Tell me about your influences. You grew up surrounded by Cuban music, of course, but what other music, from which other countries, were you listening to when you were growing up and starting out as a singer? What kind of music and musicians influenced your style most?

I grew up surrounded by my parents singing at home while they were working. Besides the Cuban music, I enjoyed listening to Mexican boleros, Argentine tangos and Spanish music, too. Also very important in my career were the American jazz standards and bossa nova, which created the filin movement. It was the style of music I sang for a long period with Cuarteto Las D'Aida. [Among my most influential] musicians, there are many, such as Nat King Cole, Agustin Lara, Carlos Gardel, etc.

You've been compared many times in the press to legendary French diva Edith Piaf. Do you see any similarities between your careers and do you regard yourself as a "diva" at all?

Yes, people have compared me with Edith Piaf lots of times. It is a great honor for me; she is a wonderful artist. I don't think I'm the right person to talk about similarities between she and I. I try hard every day to improve myself and give to my audience all my best. I think they deserve it.

You've been quoted as saying: "since the world is in a state of constant stress and commotion, it's good to listen to music that relaxes you and brings a smile to your face." What is it about your music that is so relaxing and warm, given that a lot of your audience can't understand your lyrics?

I believe that when you have love and when you sing with love, the language doesn't matter. Love can break any idiomatic frontier or barrier. And love makes people sensitive and warm.

You have sold thousands of records in your career and earned worldwide acclaim and accolades. What more do you want to achieve with your music? Do you set distinct goals for yourself? And do you ever see yourself retiring?

I would like to do everything in music - I would like to sing with artists I have never [had] the opportunity to sing with, I would like to record with lots of other different artists. I don't think I could retire, ever. It is worthwhile to keep singing for life. I hope I [will be able to] sing for much longer. If there comes a time when my vocal cords leave me, then I could do something else in the artistic world.

Omara Portuondo performs with her orchestra at Moscow's Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theater on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. Call 933-3132 for tickets.