Interview with Cecilia Cabrera - the wife of Chile's ambassador Pablo Cabrera

Passing the gallery

Interview prepared: Dilara Muradova

A photo: Sergey Morgunov, Ekaterina Morgunov

Magazine: (81) 2004

In the very center of Moscow, at the intersection of Khlebniy and Maly Rzhevsky lanes, stands a house, which in two years will be a hundred years. This house was built by the famous Russian architect Roman Ivanovich Klein. The building, made in the English neogothic style, was part of the urban estate, which occupied the area between Khlebny and Skatertny lanes and belonged to the rich gold miner Ivan Ignatievich Nekrasov, a well-known patron of the day. After the revolution, the owners have changed. For many years here was the residence of the ambassador of Spain, not so long ago the ambassador of Chile Pablo Cabrera moved here. What the house looks like now is the merit of Cecilia Cabrera, his wifeSALON: Have you lived in Moscow for a long time?Cecilia Cabrera: Just over three years.S: And in this house? - We moved here 6 months after arrival. Previously, the residence of the ambassador was located near Kuskovoy, far from the center. It was not very convenient. But we were lucky, we found this house in the very center of Moscow.S: The house does not look like an official residence ... - Indeed, residences often have a specific atmosphere: they feel that they do not belong to their owners, that the tenants are constantly changing ... But for my husband and I, it was always important to come to a new country to settle in it: surround yourself with your own things to live in a place that we perceive as our own home. We wanted to make it beautiful and cozy. We really like everything that relates to interior design. In addition, I have a certain experience: I have always been interested in art and even worked as a decorator in my country.S: Do you have your own home in Chile? - Yes.S: Is it different from this? - Very much. Our home in Chile is much more modest, and the style is completely different - more modern. The ceilings are much lower, there are no such large spaces. In this house the ceilings are high, and in general it is very elegant ...S: Have you changed a lot here after moving? - After the ambassador of Spain left here, the house was completely restored and re-equipped. Inside, everything was white. I painted the walls, hung the curtains, dragged the furniture ... Everything about the interior decor, I did myself.S: What do you usually follow when making your residences in different countries? - For me, the proportions of things and their distribution in space are very important. Lighting is also important. But most importantly, whether the house is suitable for housing, how it looks, how things are combined in it. We like to combine classic and modern furniture, items from different countries. And since we do not live in our own home, it’s not always possible to do everything the way we want. Within the framework of those opportunities that I have at my disposal, I try to create a warm, comfortable and adapted home for our work. For example, if I expect a lot of people to visit, I tidy up the furniture so that everyone fits. But for everyday life, I like it the way you see it now.S: Is furniture yours? - Part of the furniture belongs to the embassy, ​​but I changed the finish. We mixed the embassy furniture with ours, hung pictures ... In London, I like to attend auctions: there I bought, for example, this bookcase and tables. Pottery - from Portugal. There are things from China, Egypt, Bolivia, Central Asia. They gave us something for a wedding ... Having settled in Moscow, we were carried away by Russian art. When someone comes to us, I first lead a guest to the Kremlin, and then to the Tretyakov Gallery. I have been there many times. In Russia, a lot of interesting artists - we managed to collect a good collection of modern art. In addition, we have pictures of some Chilean masters. As well as some interesting paintings from Romania ...S: Looks like you collect not only pictures ... - Yes. Этот дом очень большой, и мы должны чем-то заполнить пространство. (Смеется.) Нам нравится коллекционировать. В России много чудных ремесленных вещей: матрешек, самоваров и т.п. Они такие красивые!S: If we talk about furniture, what exactly do you like? - It is hard to say. Depends on the specific thing. I love English furniture ... when things have something to remember. As a decorator, I tend to tend to the classic style. Some modern things attract me, but it seems to me that they look better in empty spaces.S: Do you have any favorite colors? - I love strong colors, especially red. This is one of the reasons why I feel good in Russia: red is everywhere. Red houses, red churches ... S: In Chile, not so? - We are much more restrained. S: Do you often invite guests? - Is always. This is part of our work. In addition, we constantly have delegations from Chile.S: Who is involved in the preparation of techniques? You? - I have a good staff, and I lead them.S: In which countries have you lived? - My husband's career began in Bolivia. Then we went to Venezuela, lived in Canada, in Romania, in the UK, in Spain. Once again in London, and then in Moscow.S: Is it difficult to be married to an ambassador? - When I got married, we were very young. Then he was the first secretary, and I did not think about it. I enjoyed traveling. I got used to living abroad, I was not afraid at all, I easily adapted, I easily learned new languages: I lived in Italy for 5 years with my parents (my father was ambassador to the Vatican). I think it helped me a lot in marriage.S: Have you been married for a long time? - Today is the 30th anniversary of our wedding.S: Congratulations. Do you have children? - Three. The oldest is now twenty nine. The average is twenty-five, he is married. The youngest daughter is twenty-three; she is going to get married next year. They no longer need me; rather, I need them.S: Three children is a lot. At least for Russia ... - But this is not much for Chile. My family has nine children, I am the youngest. In the family of her husband, too, nine. He is the fourth. When relatives gather for Christmas only on my part, seventy people turn out. We believe that family is very important. This is also very important for my children.S: If your life was different, what kind of career would you choose? - I started with music: I finished music school in Chile, played the flute and guitar. Perhaps I would continue to do this. In any case, would choose a profession related to art. After all, I was educated in the field of decor. This is what I always liked.S: What do you do in Moscow? - Diplomatic life is very active. But also to do something completely unrelated to it. I sing in the choir and take singing lessons. I enter the architectural group of the International Women's Association.S: Do you like this lifestyle? - Yes. Это совсем не то, что обычные туристические поездки. Вы живете в стране, погружаетесь в ее культуру, историю, лучше узнаете здешний народ. Это очень интересно. Хотя, конечно же, сложно. В этот раз мы живем без наших детей - они уже выросли. Мы далеко от дома. Но Россия - уникальная страна. Я получаю огромное удовольствие от пребывания здесь.