Viktor Vasilyev ballet. Vladimir Vasiliev

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Today, the soloist of the Bolshoi and Mikhailovsky theatres, Ivan Vladimirovich Vasiliev, despite his youth, is known all over the world. Every day, a new achievement, and all thanks to diligence and dedication. However, 2015 was a truly significant year for him. He married his stage partner, the incredibly beautiful ballerina Maria Vinogradova, and also made his debut as a choreographer, staging his first performance "Ballet No. 1" in the Barvikha Luxury Village hall. In this article, we will tell you about early period life, about becoming a ballet dancer and about what kind of person the talented dancer and choreographer Ivan Vasiliev is outside the stage.

Biography

The future star of the Bolshoi and St. Petersburg Mikhailovsky theaters was born in the village of Tavrichanka (Primorsky Territory), in a family that had nothing to do with art. His father, Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev, by the way, the full namesake of the famous Bolshoi Theater premier of the 60-70s, was a military officer, and his mother did not work anywhere, remaining his faithful companion, who is everywhere, from one republic to another, from military unit to unit , followed him, ran the household and was engaged in raising their sons. When Vanya was 4 years old, the family moved to Ukraine, Dnepropetrovsk. Soon after that, my mother decided to send her eldest son to a children's folk ensemble. Vanya was still very small, but he liked it so much in the dance hall, and he began to do such things there that the head of the ensemble became interested in the musical and plastic crumbs, and decided to make an exception for him, taking him into the group with his older brother.

Introduction to ballet

It so happened in the life of a dancer that wherever Ivan Vasiliev studied, he everywhere turned out to be a couple of years younger than his classmates. At the age of 7, the boy and his mother first got to the ballet. Throughout the performance, he did not utter a word, and only his enthusiastically shining eyes spoke better than any words about what was happening in his soul. He left the theater completely in love with this view. high art. At home, he began to ask his parents to send him to a ballet school. It was not easy for the military to get used to the idea that his son wants to connect his life with such a “non-male” occupation. However, the mother managed to convince the father that their son was probably born just for this, and the father gave up. Soon in the list of those who entered the first class of the Dnepropetrovsk choreographic school Ivan Vasiliev was listed. Ballet from that moment became an integral part of his life. The boy did not particularly stand out for his physical data, on the contrary, it seemed to some choreographers that with such a type of figure, not at all slender and short legs (the main “tool” of the dancer), he would not be able to reach great heights in this form dance art However, time has shown that they were wrong. In the meantime, the boy surprised everyone with his hard work, incredible energy and determination.

Education

Further, fate brought the family of the future soloist the best theaters countries to the Republic of Belarus, and here Ivan Vladimirovich Vasiliev enters the Belarusian State Choreographic College, where he begins to study classical ballet under the guidance of Honored Worker of the Republic of Belarus, choreographer A. Kolyadenko. By the way, despite his young age (12 years old), Vanya was accepted immediately to the 3rd year, since at the entrance exam he began to perform such complex elements, which in college began to be taught only towards the end of the second year. Soon he was sent to the competition, where he performed the variations that were included in the program of older dancers and this, of course, surprised the jury members.

External Data

The dancer says that some teachers did not want to see the obvious and did not believe that something good would come out of him, based on his physical parameters. They could not even imagine that Ivan Vasilyev would bring so many new things. Ballet, for which growth is of great importance, is a rather conservative art. Ivan's height, of course, was far from high, and the choreographers doubted whether he could look beautiful on stage, and his legs were a bit short, and, as some teachers said, they betrayed his plebeian roots. But as you can see, they were wrong. Ivan Vasiliev proved that appearance is not the most important thing in order to achieve heights in the career of a dancer, although the young man worked on his body to exhaustion, as a result of training, he, the word sculptor, sculpted something perfect from him. It is impossible not to admire his torso, he is worthy of admiration, similar to an isosceles triangle turned by the top to the waist.

To Moscow

Before graduating from college, Ivan Vasilyev, whose ballet played the most important role at that time, underwent an internship at the Belarusian Bolshoi Theater and performed solo parts in productions of Don Quixote and Le Corsaire. However, all his thoughts were connected with Moscow - it was here that he saw himself in the future. And so, having received a diploma, he took a train ticket and, at his own peril and risk, went to the capital of the country, which he considered his homeland. He, of course, was dissuaded, but in Moscow, whatever you say, true talent is valued.

Premier of the main theater of the country

In 2006, the talented dancer was admitted to the Bolshoi Theater, where he made his debut in the play "Don Quixote" in the role of Basil. After 4 years, he already became the premiere of the ballet troupe, and bypassing the title of leading soloist, which was extremely rare. Here he performed the main parts in legendary performances: “Giselle”, “Spartacus”, “The Nutcracker”, “Don Quixote”, “Petrushka”. Yuri Vladimirov was its choreographer. Before becoming prime minister, Ivan Vasiliev successfully took part in the magnificent international project "Kings of Dance" (2009). Here he danced on the same stage with such famous dancers as David Holberg, Jose Manuel Carreno, Joaquin De Luz, and compatriots - Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Denis Matvienko and others.

Ivan Vasiliev: Mikhailovsky Theater

It's no secret that being the premiere of the Bolshoi Theater - cherished dream all ballet dancers, pinnacle of career. And imagine how surprised all the initiates were when they learned that Ivan Vasiliev and Natalya Osipova (his partner in many performances and his girlfriend) refused to rehearse Don Quixote and decided to go to St. Petersburg, and not to the Mariinsky, and the Mikhailovsky Theatre. Of course, it sounded like a bolt from the blue. The directorate of the Bolshoi was at a loss. Here is some strange information professional biography. Ivan Vasiliev later explained his decision by the fact that he needed a new incentive, a new tough motivation. However, the Bolshoi did not want to completely part with his pet, and today he is the “guest star” for the theater. By the way, in the same capacity he performs at La Scala, at the Rome Opera House, the Bavarian Ballet, at the Mariinsky and Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatres, and also regularly appears on the stage of the American Ballet Theatre. He managed to raise the Mikhailovsky Theater to an incredible level. Here he is the performer of the leading roles in the ballet productions of Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadère, Giselle, The Flames of Paris, Corsair, Swan Lake", "Laurencia", "Cavalry Halt", "Sylphide", "Vain Precaution" and others. Ivan Vasiliev, of course, managed to reach the very top in his career as a dancer. He is one of the highest paid ballet dancers in the world. Isn't that everything he aspired to?

Choreographer

No. I. Vasiliev says that already at the age of 12, analyzing the work of his choreographers, and in his heart disagreeing with them, he dreamed that the time would come and he would be able to make his own production. In 2015, at the end of spring, he managed to fulfill his dream. His debut performance was Ballet No. 1, where he used incredible tricks and elements, as if wanting to show where opportunities can go. human body both solo and duet parts. The premiere took place on the stage of the hall "Barvikha Luxury Village" and had incredible success. The main thing is that the choreographer himself was pleased with himself, and he said that this was only the beginning, new incredible productions were ahead of everyone.

Ivan Vasiliev: personal life

After Vasiliev arrived in Moscow and got a job at the Bolshoi Theater, he began a relationship with a colleague, Natalya Osipova. In tandem with her, for 4 years they went to the title of prime minister and prima of the country's main theater. After that, all the acquaintances were waiting for the couple to legitimize their relationship and play a grand wedding, but suddenly it broke up, and soon Ivan began to be noticed in the company of another ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater, Maria Vinogradova. They danced in a duet in the ballet Spartacus. After that, the young people got up to meet after rehearsals, and on the first date I. Vasilyev invited his girlfriend to the Bolshoi Theater, but not to the ballet, but to the opera. Probably, it was funny for them to find themselves, although in a familiar environment, but not on their own stage, but in front of it, in the auditorium.

Wedding

Vanya made his marriage proposal to Mary in a very romantic setting. He strewed the whole room with rose petals and decorated it balloons. He got down on one knee, like a medieval knight, and handed his beloved a box with an incredibly expensive ring. It turned out that it was the design work of the famous jewelry brand Graff, which cost the artist $50,000. Well, what girl could resist such a confession? Maria, of course, gave her consent, and they began to prepare for the wedding, which took place in the summer of 2015. The wedding ceremony was very beautiful, and the young people looked more than happy. Exactly one year after that, the first-born daughter Anna was born to Maria and Ivan.

Even on the Russian stage - the best ballet scene in the world - dancers rarely appear with such expression, strength, courageous beauty of the dance and the breadth of the creative range.

In 1947, Volodya Vasiliev happened to be in the classes of the choreographic circle of the Kirov House of Pioneers. The teacher Elena Rosse immediately noted the boy's special giftedness and invited him to study in the senior group. AT next year he studied already in the city Palace of Pioneers, with the choreographic ensemble of which in 1948 he first performed in a concert on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater - these were Russian and Ukrainian dances. In 1949, Vasiliev was admitted to the Moscow Academic Choreographic School in the class of E.A. Lapchinskaya.

As many of his senior colleagues and tutors recalled, at that time he did not give the impression of a dancer capable of performing such diverse roles. At that time, the dancer looked somewhat rustic, with more developed musculature than is customary according to classical canons, which is why he seemed a little squat. However, Vasiliev completely transformed on stage, and his movements and face became so spiritual that the performance of any role, from heroic to lyrical-romantic, was organic for him. Magnificent choreographic abilities, a powerful jump-flight strengthened this impression.

In 1958 he graduated from college in the class of M.M. Gabovich, the famous premiere of the Bolshoi Theatre. At the graduation concert, he not only danced traditional variations and pas de deux, but also created a deeply tragic image of the sixty-year-old jealous Giotto in the ballet Francesca da Rimini.

August 26, 1958 Vladimir Vasiliev was accepted into the ballet troupe of the Bolshoi Theater. He graduated from the school as a demi-character dancer and was not going to dance the classics. However, there was something in the young dancer that drew the attention of the great Galina Ulanova to him, and she invited him to be her partner in the classical ballet Chopiniana.

I believed in his talent and choreographer Yuri Nikolaevich Grigorovich, who then just came to the theater. He offered the eighteen-year-old graduate of the school the central part in his production of the ballet S.S. Prokofiev " Stone Flower”, In which Vasiliev immediately won the love and recognition of viewers and critics.

The role of Danila the Master was followed by other main parts of the modern and classical repertoire: Prince (Cinderella, 1959), Andrey (Pages of Life, 1961), Basil (Don Quixote, 1962), Paganini (Paganini, 1962 ), Frondoso ("Laurencia", 1963), Albert ("Giselle", 1964), Romeo ("Romeo and Juliet", 1973).

In 1964, he performed two diametrically opposed roles: the emotional, passionate Majnun (Leyli and Majnun directed by K. Goleizovsky), whose plasticity is filled with oriental flavor and expression - and Petrushka (ballet of the same name after M. Fokin, staged by Boyarsky), in whose party Vasiliev managed to combine the "mechanism" of the puppet's plasticity, its internal and external stiffness with deep drama.

All the parts of Vladimir Vasilyev were distinguished by great diversity, which required the diversity of his role from the artist. The image of the Nutcracker created by him in the production of Yuri Grigorovich was very interesting. Vladimir Vasilyev managed with his characteristic artistry to show the transformation of the Nutcracker-doll into an image full of spirituality and nobility.

In 1968, Vladimir Vasilyev created the heroic image of Spartacus on stage, performing this part in Grigorovich's ballet. The part of Spartacus was technically very difficult, the dancer needed to show in it the highest level of choreographic technique at that time, and Vasiliev coped with this task brilliantly. The artistry of Vladimir Vasiliev allowed him to create not only a choreographically perfect, but also an extremely expressive, convincing image of a hero fighting for freedom. For this role, Vasiliev was awarded the Lenin Prize and the Prize Lenin Komsomol.

His Romeo in the 1973 play Romeo and Juliet is not the young, reverent hero who usually appeared in productions of this Shakespearean tragedy. In the performance of Vasilyev, Romeo is no longer a boy. He is young, but has courage and tragedy.

In each new job Vasilyev argued that he was really "an exception to the rule", a person who could embody any image on stage.

It is impossible to talk about Vladimir Vasiliev without mentioning his constant partner, faithful companion and life partner - Ekaterina Maksimova, in a duet with whom Vasiliev's best parts were created. The fragility, childish immediacy of Maximova contrasted with the masculinity and strength of Vasiliev. The Maximov-Vasilyev duet became a symbol of the Bolshoi Theater and the entire Soviet ballet for many years.

During his creative career Vasiliev performed many and with great success abroad - in Paris Opera, La Scala, Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, Rome Opera, Colon Theatre. Maurice Béjart staged his own version of Stravinsky's Petrushka (Ballet of the 20th Century, Brussels, 1977) especially for him. The standards of performance declared by Vasiliev remain largely unattainable until now - for example, the Grand Prix of the International Ballet Competition, which he won in 1964, was never awarded to anyone at subsequent competitions.

Vasiliev was the first performer of the central parts in many productions by Yuri Grigorovich, but gradually there was a serious difference between them in creative positions, which grew into a conflict, as a result of which in 1988 V. Vasiliev, E. Maksimova, like a number of other leading soloists, were forced to part with Bolshoi Theater.

His ballet debut was the ballet "Icarus" by S.M. Slonimsky on the stage of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses (1971 - the first edition; 1976 - the second). Already in the first work appeared distinctive features choreographic style of Vasiliev - extraordinary musicality and the ability to reveal the finest shades in plastic human feelings. He staged chamber ballet evenings, in which everything is determined by music and the development of feelings, and not by a specific plot, transferred to ballet scene Shakespeare's "Macbeth" (1980), Chekhov's "Anna on the neck" ("Anyuta", 1986), created his own versions classical performances. Taking up staging work, Vladimir Vasiliev, feeling the need for special knowledge, graduated from the ballet master department of GITIS in 1982 and became a teacher there, and then the head of the department. In 1990 he received the title of professor of choreography.

In 1995, by decree of the President of Russia, Vasiliev was appointed artistic director- Director of the Bolshoi Theatre. He managed to bring the theater out of a difficult crisis. A modern contract system was approved, and the traditions of benefit performances were revived. Every year, the theater hosted premieres that helped to rally the creative potential of the troupe, including with the participation of outstanding foreign masters: Peter Ustinov, Pierre Lacotte, John Taras, Susan Farrell.

Biography

Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev - Soviet and Russian ballet dancer, choreographer, choreographer, actor, theater director, teacher. People's Artist of the USSR (1973).
Wife - Ekaterina Sergeevna Maksimova, outstanding ballerina, teacher, People's Artist of the USSR and Russia, laureate of the State Prizes of the USSR and Russia (passed away in April 2009). In 1958 he graduated from the Moscow Art Academy in the class of M. M. Gabovich, on August 26, 1958 he became a soloist ballet group Bolshoi Theatre, where he worked for over 30 years.

early years

Born April 18, 1940 in Moscow. Father - Viktor Ivanovich Vasiliev (1912-1963), worked as a driver at a technical felt factory. Mother - Kuzmicheva Tatyana Yakovlevna (born 1920), worked as head of the sales department at the same factory, currently retired.
In 1947, young Volodya Vasiliev happened to be in the classes of the choreographic circle of the Kirov House of Pioneers. The teacher Elena Romanovna Rosse immediately noted the boy's special giftedness and invited him to study in the senior group. The following year, he studied at the city Palace of Pioneers, with the choreographic ensemble of which in 1948 he performed for the first time in a concert on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater - these were Russian and Ukrainian dances.

In 1949, Vasiliev was admitted to the Moscow Academic Choreographic School in the class of E.A. Lapchinskaya. In 1958 he graduated from college in the class of M.M. Gabovich, the famous premiere of the Bolshoi Theatre. Already in the years of study, Vasiliev impressed with a rare combination of expression, virtuoso technique with an undoubted acting talent, the ability to transform. At the graduation concert, he not only danced the traditional variations and pas de deux, but also created a deeply tragic image of the 60-year-old jealous Giotto in the ballet Francesca da Rimini. It was about this role that the prophetic words of the MCU teacher Tamara Stepanovna Tkachenko were spoken: “We are present at the birth of a genius!”

big theater

August 26, 1958 Vladimir Vasiliev was accepted into the ballet troupe of the Bolshoi Theater. He graduated from the school as a demi-character dancer and did not even think about dancing the classics. And initially in the theater he really had characteristic roles: a gypsy dance in the opera "Mermaid", a lezginka in the opera "Demon", Pan in the choreographic scene "Walpurgis Night" - the first big solo part. However, there was something in the young dancer that drew the attention of the great Galina Ulanova to him, and she invited him to be her partner in the classical ballet Chopiniana. Galina Sergeevna will become a friend, teacher and tutor of Vasiliev for many years and will have a huge impact on the professional and spiritual formation of the artist.

I believed in his talent and choreographer Yuri Nikolaevich Grigorovich, who then just came to the theater. He offered the 18-year-old graduate of the school the central part in his production of the ballet S.S. Prokofiev's "Stone Flower", in which Vasiliev immediately won the love and recognition of viewers and critics. Other major roles in the modern and classical repertoire followed: Prince (Cinderella, 1959), Andrey (Pages of Life, 1961), Basil (Don Quixote, 1962), Paganini (Paganini, 1962), Frondoso ( Laurencia", 1963), Albert ("Giselle", 1964), Romeo ("Romeo and Juliet", 1973).

Almost all performances of the best period of Yu.N. Grigorovich is also associated with the name of Vladimir Vasiliev, who was the first performer of the central parts in his productions: The Nutcracker (1966), The Blue Bird (1963) and Prince Desire (1973) in P.I. Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" and "Sleeping Beauty"; the famous Spartacus in the ballet of the same name by A.I. Khachaturian (1968; for this role Vasiliev was awarded the Lenin Prize and the Prize of the Lenin Komsomol), Ivan the Terrible in the ballet of the same name to the music of S.S. Prokofiev (1975, second premiere), Sergei in A.Ya. Eshpay (1976; State Prize). However, gradually between V. Vasiliev and Yu. Grigorovich there was a serious difference in creative positions, which grew into a conflict, as a result of which in 1988 V. Vasiliev, E. Maksimova, like a number of other leading soloists, were forced to part with the Bolshoi Theater.

International recognition

In 1982, Franco Zeffirelli invited him and Ekaterina Maksimova to take part in the filming of the opera film La Traviata ( spanish dance- staging and performance). In 1987, Vasilyev performed the role of Professor Unrat in Roland Petit's production of The Blue Angel to the music of M. Constant (Marseilles Ballet). 1988 marked the first performance main party Zorbs staged by Lorca Myasin's "Zorba the Greek" to music by M. Theodorakis ("Arena di Verona"), as well as the first performance of the main parts of Leonid Myasin's one-act ballets "Pulcinella" by I.F. Stravinsky (Pulcinella) and "Parisian Joy" to music by J. Offenbach (Baron) in the revival of Lorca Massine at the San Carlo Theater (Naples).

In 1989, Beppe Menegatti staged the play "Nijinsky" with Vasilyev in the title role (San Carlo Theatre). Vasiliev's performances (and later his ballets) have always aroused a special attitude of the public - the French called him the "god of dance", the Italians carried him in their arms, in Argentina after the premiere of his production to the music of Argentine composers "Fragments of a Biography" he simply became national hero and an honorary citizen of Buenos Aires, the Americans named him an honorary citizen of the city of Tucson, etc.

In addition to Ekaterina Maksimova, the constant partner of Vladimir Vasilyev, whom he always called his Muse, such dancers danced with him. famous ballerinas, as Galina Ulanova, Maya Plisetskaya, Olga Lepeshinskaya, Raisa Struchkova, Marina Kondratieva, Nina Timofeeva, Natalia Bessmertnova, Irina Kolpakova, Lyudmila Semenyaka, Alicia Alonso and Josefina Mendez (Cuba), Dominique Calfuni and Noel Pontois (France), Liliana Kozi and Carla Fracci (Italy), Rita Pulward (Belgium), Zsuzsa Kun (Hungary) and others.

The incredible virtuosity of the dancer, plastic expressiveness, exceptional musicality, dramatic talent, depth of thought and enormous power of emotional impact new type a modern ballet dancer, for whom there are no technical difficulties, no restrictions on roles or plot. The standards of performance declared by Vasiliev remain largely inaccessible to this day - for example, the Grand Prix of the International Ballet Competition, which he won in 1964, was never awarded to anyone at subsequent competitions. It is natural that at the end of the 20th century, according to a survey of the world's leading experts, it was Vladimir Vasilyev who was recognized as the "Dancer of the 20th century."

Ballet Master's Talent

While still in the prime of his performing arts, Vasiliev feels the need for a more complete realization of his creativity and turns to choreography. His ballet debut was the ballet "Icarus" by S.M. Slonimsky on the stage of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses (1971 - 1st edition; 1976 - 2nd). Already in the first work, the distinctive features of Vasiliev's choreographic style are manifested - extraordinary musicality and the ability to reveal the subtlest shades of human feelings in plastic. Not limiting himself to only one genre, in the future he staged chamber ballet evenings in which everything is determined by music and the development of feelings, and not by a specific plot: “These enchanting sounds ...” (to the music of W. A. Mozart, G. Torelli, A. Corelli and J.F. Rameau, Bolshoi Theater, 1978; filmed on TV in 1981), “I want to dance” (“Nostalgia”) on piano music Russian composers and "Fragments of one biography" to the music of Argentine composers ( Concert hall"Russia", 1983; filmed on TV in 1985); embodies literary works on the stage: "Macbeth" (K.V. Molchanov, Bolshoi Theater, 1980; in 1984, a television recording of the performance was made); "Anyuta" (based on the story of A.P. Chekhov "Anna on the neck" to the music of V.A. Gavrilin; theater "San Carlo", Bolshoi Theater, 1986), "Romeo and Juliet" (S.S. Prokofiev, Musical academic theater named after K.S. Stanislavsky and V.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko, 1990, Lithuanian Opera, 1993, Latvian Opera, 1999), Cinderella (S.S. Prokofiev, Kremlin Ballet Theatre, 1991), Balda (based on the fairy tale by A.S. Pushkin to music by S.S. . Prokofiev, Bolshoi Theatre, 1999); offers his vision of classical ballets: Don Quixote (American Ballet Theatre, 1991, Kremlin Ballet, 1994, Lithuanian Opera, 1995), Swan Lake (SABT, 1996), Giselle (Rome Opera, 1994; SABT, 1997 ), Paganini (Teatro San Carlo, 1988, Bolshoi Theater, 1995, Teatro Argentino, 2002).

At different times, he puts on concert numbers and choreographic miniatures: "Two", "Classical pas de deux", "Russian", "Two German dances" and "Six German dances", "Aria", "Minuet", "Waltz ”, “Caruso”, “Jester”, “Petrushka”, “Elegy”, “Overture on Jewish Themes”, “Syncopes”, etc .; large choreographic compositions to the music of P.I. Tchaikovsky and Overture to the opera "Ruslan and Lyudmila" by M.I. Glinka. Vasiliev considers the most important thing in his work to be the desire to convey to the viewer what he feels in music, to make the dance tangible, to achieve a fusion of thought and feeling that can emotionally capture and captivate the viewer. Vasiliev's productions are enthusiastically received by the public, especially those where he and Ekaterina Maksimova perform the central parts - Icarus and Eola, Macbeth, Soloist in Charming Sounds, Anyuta and Peter Leontievich, Cinderella and Stepmother, heroes of Nostalgia and Fragments of a Biography ". Currently, ballets staged by Vladimir Vasilyev are performed not only on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, but also in 19 other theaters in Russia and around the world.

Work in film, opera and drama theater

Creative Interests Vasiliev extend to other areas of art - he acts as a dramatic actor in feature films"Gigolo and Gigoletta" (Sid, 1980), "Fuete" (Andrey Novikov, Master, 1986), in the oratorio film "The Gospel for the Evil One" (central roles, 1992); here, just like in the original TV ballets Anyuta (Peter Leontievich, 1982) and Road House (Andrey, 1983), he acts not only as a performer, but also as a choreographer and director.

Vasiliev staged operas: the opera-ballet "Takhir and Zukhra" to the music of T.D. Jalilova (A. Navoi Theatre, Tashkent, 1977), requiem “Oh, Mozart! Mozart..." to music by V.A. Mozart, A. Salieri, N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov (theater " New Opera”, Moscow, 1995), “La Traviata” by G. Verdi (GABT, 1996) and choreographic scenes in the operas “Aida” by G. Verdi (Rome Opera, 1993, Arena di Verona, 2002) and “Khovanshchina” by M.P. Mussorgsky (GABT, 1995).

Interesting experiments will be his work on the dramatic stage: the choreography of the fairy tale-comedy "The Princess and the Woodcutter" at the Sovremennik Theater (1969) and the rock opera "Juno" and "Avos" at the Lenkom Theater (1981), directing and choreography musically - dramatic compositions "The Tale of the Pope and his worker Balda" (Concert Hall named after P.I. Tchaikovsky, 1989), "The Artist Reads the Bible" (Museum of Fine Arts named after A.S. Pushkin, 1994).

Pedagogical activity. Big Again

Vasiliev is of great interest and pedagogical activity. In 1982, he graduated from the choreographic faculty of GITIS with a degree in choreography and began teaching there from the same year. From 1985 to 1995 Vasiliev was the head of the department of choreography at GITIS (RATI). In 1989 he was awarded the academic title of professor.

In 1995, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Vasiliev was appointed Artistic Director-Director of the Bolshoi Theatre. Vasiliev managed to bring the theater out of the difficult crisis state in which it was in those years. Every year, the theater hosted premieres that made it possible to rally the creative potential of the troupe, including with the participation of outstanding foreign masters: Peter Ustinov, Pierre Lacotte, John Taras, Susan Farrell, Hubert de Givenchy, and others. theater. In September 2000, Vasiliev was relieved of his post "in connection with its abolition."

last decade

Vladimir Vasilyev actively cooperates with many theaters of the country and the world, heads and participates in the work of the jury of various international ballet competitions, gives master classes, rehearses, prepares new performances and roles. At the end of 2000, the premiere of the play "Long Journey to Christmas Night" about P.I. Tchaikovsky (director B. Menegatti), in which the main role was played by Vladimir Vasiliev, and in 2001 - the premieres of Vasiliev's productions of Don Quixote in the Tokyo Ballet troupe (Japan) and Cinderella in the Chelyabinsk Opera and Ballet Theater, in 2002 - production of the ballet "Romeo and Juliet" at the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro.
Heading the Galina Ulanova Foundation, Vasiliev stages and conducts the annual gala concerts "Dedicated to Galina Ulanova" (Novaya Opera, 2003, Bolshoi Theater, 2004 and 2005).

The following films are dedicated to V. Vasiliev’s work: “Duet” (1973), “Katya and Volodya” (USSR-France, 1989), “And there was, as always, something left unsaid ...” (1990), “Reflections” ( 2000); photo albums: R. Lazzarini. Maximova & Vasiliev at the Bolshoi (London: Dance Books, 1995), E.V. Fetisova "Ekaterina Maksimova. Vladimir Vasiliev” (M.: Terra, 1999), Pedro Simon “Alicia Alonso. Vladimir Vasiliev. Giselle" (Editorial Arte Y Literatura, Ciudad de la Habana, 1981); monograph by B.A. Lvov-Anokhin "Vladimir Vasiliev" (Moscow: Tsentrpoligraf, 1998); encyclopedia compiled by E.V. Fetisova "Vladimir Vasiliev: Encyclopedia of a Creative Personality" (Moscow: Teatralis, 2000), V. Golovitser photo album "Ekaterina Maksimova and Vladimir Vasiliev (Moscow-New York, Ballet, 2001).

Honorary Professor of Moscow State University, full member International Academy Creativity and the Academy of Russian Art, Secretary of the Union of Theater Workers of Russia, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee Russian center International Dance Council of UNESCO.

Personal life

Free time Vasilyev mainly devotes to painting - his most serious and long-standing hobby (six solo exhibitions of his works took place). His favorite artists are Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt, Bosch, Dürer, Serov, Levitan, Korovin, Vrubel, Fonvizin, Zverev, Maslov. The main theme of Vasiliev's paintings is landscapes, in which he tries to convey the beauty of Russian nature. He writes, as a rule, at his dacha in Snegiry or in the village of Ryzhevka, Kostroma Region, where he always spends his holidays.

AT different periods fond of life various types sports: played football, volleyball, fencing, boxing, diving, swimming. Currently prefers tennis. He reads a lot - memoirs, historical literature, books on art. Favorite writers - Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Bulgakov, Astafiev; poets - Pushkin, Bunin, Akhmatova. Favorite composers - Mozart, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Stravinsky, Prokofiev.

Vasiliev had a new hobby - he began to write poetry, and in 2000 his first poetry collection, "The Chain of Days", was published.
In 1995, Vladimir Vasiliev was granted Lithuanian citizenship.
Lives and works in Moscow.

Filmography

2011 Iya Savvina. An explosive mixture with a bell (documentary)
2009 Lifelong Fuete... (documentary)
2009 Blue sea... white ship... Valery Gavrilina (documentary)
2009 Savely Yamschikov. I am registered in Russia (documentary)
2005 Vladimir Vasiliev. Bolshoi Ballet (documentary)
2005 The rise and fall of Maris Liepa (documentary)
2000 Reflections (documentary)
2000 Maya / Maïa (documentary)
1993 Comme les oiseaux
1990 Katya and Volodya (documentary)
1988

Born April 18, 1940 in Moscow. Father - Viktor Ivanovich Vasiliev (1912-1963), worked as a driver at a technical felt factory. Mother - Tatyana Yakovlevna Kuzmicheva (born in 1920), worked as the head of the sales department at the same factory, is currently retired. Wife - Maksimova Ekaterina Sergeevna, an outstanding ballerina, teacher, People's Artist USSR and Russia, laureate of the State Prizes of the USSR and Russia.

In 1947, young Volodya Vasiliev happened to be in the classes of the choreographic circle of the Kirov House of Pioneers. The teacher Elena Romanovna Rosse immediately noted the boy's special giftedness and invited him to study in the senior group. The following year, he studied at the city's Palace of Pioneers, with whose choreographic ensemble in 1948 he performed for the first time in a concert on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater - these were Russian and Ukrainian dances.

In 1949, Vasiliev was admitted to the Moscow Academic Choreographic School in the class of E.A. Lapchinskaya. In 1958 he graduated from college in the class of M.M. Gabovich, the famous premiere of the Bolshoi Theatre. The professional look of Mikhail Markovich accurately noted salient feature student's dance: "... Volodya Vasilyev dances not only with his whole body, but with every cell of it, with a pulsating rhythm, dancing fire and explosive power." Already in the years of study, Vasiliev impressed with a rare combination of expression, virtuoso technique with an undoubted acting talent, the ability to transform. At the graduation concert, he not only danced the traditional variations and pas de deux, but also created a deeply tragic image of the 60-year-old jealous Giotto in the ballet Francesca da Rimini. It was about this role that the prophetic words of the MCU teacher Tamara Stepanovna Tkachenko were spoken: “We are present at the birth of a genius!”

August 26, 1958 Vladimir Vasiliev was accepted into the ballet troupe of the Bolshoi Theater. He graduated from the school as a demi-character dancer and did not even think about dancing the classics. And initially in the theater he really had characteristic roles: a gypsy dance in the opera "Mermaid", a lezginka in the opera "Demon", Pan in the choreographic scene "Walpurgis Night" - the first large solo part. However, there was something in the young dancer that drew the attention of the great Galina Ulanova to him, and she invited him to be her partner in the classical ballet Chopiniana. Galina Sergeevna will become a friend, teacher and tutor of Vasiliev for many years and will have a huge impact on the professional and spiritual formation of the artist.

I believed in his talent and choreographer Yuri Nikolaevich Grigorovich, who then just came to the theater. He offered

To the 18-year-old graduate of the school, the central part in his production of the ballet S.S. Prokofiev's "Stone Flower", in which Vasiliev immediately won the love and recognition of viewers and critics. Other major roles in the modern and classical repertoire followed: Prince (Cinderella, 1959), Andrey (Pages of Life, 1961), Basil (Don Quixote, 1962), Paganini (Paganini, 1962), Frondoso ( Laurencia", 1963), Albert ("Giselle", 1964), Romeo ("Romeo and Juliet", 1973).

The choreographers not only offered Vasiliev the main roles, but also staged them especially for him. He was the first performer of the solo part in "Dance Suite" (staged by A.A. Varlamov, 1959), the part of Ivanushka in R.K. Shchedrin's ballet "The Little Humpbacked Horse" (staged by A.I. Spartacus" by A.I. Khachaturian (staged by L.V. Yakobson, 1960, 1962), Lukash in "Forest Song" by G.L. Zhukovsky (staged by O.G. Tarasova and A.A. Lapauri, 1961), Soloist in “Class Concert” (staged by A.M. Messerer, 1963), Petrushka in the ballet by I.F. Stravinsky's "Petrushka" (staged by K.F. Boyarsky after M.M. Fokin, 1964), performed by Batyr in "Shural" F.Z. Yarullin. In each new work, Vasiliev refuted the established opinion about his abilities as an artist and dancer, proving that he really is an “exception to the rule”, a person who can embody any image on stage - from the classical ballet Prince, and the hot Spaniard Basil, and the Russian Ivanushka, and a madly in love eastern youth, and a powerful people's leader, and a bloody despot king. This has been repeatedly said by both critics and his colleagues in art. The legendary M. Liepa, People's Artist of the USSR, premiere of the Bolshoi Theater, owns the following statement: “Vasiliev is a brilliant exception to the rule! He has a phenomenal talent in technique and in acting, and in the possession of a dance phrase, and in musicality, and in the ability to transform, etc.” And here is what F.V. Lopukhov, patriarch of the Russian ballet: “In terms of diversity, he cannot be compared with anyone ... He is both a tenor, and a baritone, and, if you like, a bass.” The great Russian choreographer Kasyan Yaroslavich Goleizovsky singled out Vasiliev from all the dancers he had ever seen, calling him "a real genius of dance." Back in 1960, Goleizovsky created especially for him the concert numbers "Narcissus" and "Fantasy" (for Vasiliev and E.S. Maksimova) and in 1964 - the part of Majnun in the ballet S.A. Balasanyan "Leyli and Majnun".

During his creative career, Vasilyev performed many and with great success abroad - at the Grand Opera, La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, the Roman Opera, the Colon Theater, etc. e. The phenomenon of Vladimir Vasiliev has always attracted prominent figures of the foreign theater: Maurice Bejart staged his own version of the ballet by I.F. Stravinsky's "Petrushka" ("Ballet of the XX century", Brussels, 1977). Later, at concerts, Vasiliev, together with Maximova, repeatedly performed a fragment from his ballet Romeo and Julia to the music of G. Berlioz. In 1982, Franco Zeffirelli invited him and Ekaterina Maximova to take part in the filming of the film-opera La Traviata (Spanish dance - staging and performance). In 1987, Vasilyev performed the role of Professor Unrat in Roland Petit's production of The Blue Angel to the music of M. Constant (Marseilles Ballet). The year 1988 was marked by the first performance of the main role of Zorba in Lorca Myasin's production of Zorba the Greek to music by M. Theodorakis (Arena di Verona), as well as the first performance of the main parts of Leonid Myasin's one-act ballets Pulcinella by I.F. Stravinsky (Pulcinella) and "Parisian Joy" to music by J. Offenbach (Baron) in the revival of Lorca Massine at the San Carlo Theater (Naples). In 1989, Beppe Menegatti staged the play "Nijinsky" with Vasilyev in leading role(San Carlo Theatre). Vasiliev's performances (and later his ballets) have always aroused a special attitude of the public - the French called him the "god of dance", the Italians carried him in their arms, in Argentina after the premiere of his production to the music of Argentine composers "Fragments of a Biography" he simply became a national hero and honorary a citizen of Buenos Aires, the Americans named him an honorary citizen of the city of Tucson, etc.

In addition to Ekaterina Maksimova, Vladimir Vasilyev’s constant partner, whom he always called his Muse, such famous ballerinas as Galina Ulanova, Maya Plisetskaya, Olga Lepeshinskaya, Raisa Struchkova, Marina Kondratieva, Nina Timofeeva, Natalya Bessmertnova, Irina Kolpakova, Lyudmila danced with him Semenyaka, Alicia Alonso and Josefina Mendez (Cuba), Dominique Calfuni and Noel Pontois (France), Liliana Cosi and Carla Fracci (Italy), Rita Pulward (Belgium), Zsuzsa Kuhn (Hungary) and others.

The dancer's incredible virtuosity, plastic expressiveness, exceptional musicality, dramatic talent, depth of thought and enormous power of emotional impact have revealed a new type of modern ballet dancer, for whom there are no technical difficulties, no restrictions on role or plot. The standards of performance declared by Vasiliev remain largely unattainable until now - for example, the Grand Prix of the International Ballet Competition, which he won in 1964, was never awarded to anyone at subsequent competitions. Fedor Vasilievich Lopukhov wrote: "... When I say the word "God" in relation to Vasilyev... I mean a miracle in art, perfection." Vasiliev is rightfully considered a reformer of male dance, an innovator, with whom his highest achievements are associated. It is natural that at the end of the 20th century, according to a survey of the world's leading experts, it was Vladimir Vasilyev who was recognized as the "Dancer of the 20th century."

While still in the prime of his performing arts, Vasiliev feels the need to more fully realize his creative potential and turns to choreography. His ballet debut was the ballet "Icarus" by S.M. Slonimsky on the stage of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses (1971 - 1st edition; 1976 - 2nd). Already in the first work, the distinctive features of Vasiliev's choreographic style are manifested - extraordinary musicality and the ability to reveal the subtlest shades of human feelings in plastic. Not limiting himself to only one genre, in the future he staged chamber ballet evenings in which everything is determined by music and the development of feelings, and not by a specific plot: “These enchanting sounds ...” (to the music of W. A. Mozart, G. Torelli, A. Corelli and J.F. Rameau, Bolshoi Theater, 1978; filmed on TV in 1981), “I want to dance” (“Nostalgia”) to piano music by Russian composers and “Fragments of a biography” to the music of Argentinean composers (Concert Hall "Russia", 1983; filmed on TV in 1985); embodies on stage literary works: "Macbeth" (K.V. Molchanov, Bolshoi Theater, 1980; in 1984, a television recording of the play was made); Anyuta (based on A.P. Chekhov’s story “Anna on the Neck” to music by V.A. Gavrilin; San Carlo Theater, Bolshoi Theater, 1986), Romeo and Juliet (S.S. Prokofiev, Musical Academic Theater named after K. S. Stanislavsky and V. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko, 1990, Lithuanian Opera, 1993, Latvian Opera, 1999), Cinderella (S. S. Prokofiev, Kremlin Ballet Theatre, 1991), Balda ( based on the fairy tale by A. S. Pushkin to music by S. S. Prokofiev, Bolshoi Theater, 1999); offers his vision of classical ballets: Don Quixote (American Ballet Theatre, 1991, Kremlin Ballet, 1994, Lithuanian Opera, 1995), Swan Lake (SABT, 1996), Giselle (Rome Opera, 1994; SABT, 1997 ), Paganini (Teatro San Carlo, 1988, Bolshoi Theater, 1995, Teatro Argentino, 2002).

At different times, he puts on concert numbers and choreographic miniatures: "Two", "Classical pas de deux", "Russian", "Two German dances" and "Six German dances", "Aria", "Minuet", "Waltz ”, “Caruso”, “Jester”, “Petrushka”, “Elegy”, “Overture on Jewish Themes”, “Syncopes”, etc .; large choreographic compositions to the music of the Sixth Symphony by P.I. Tchaikovsky and Overture to the opera "Ruslan and Lyudmila" by M.I. Glinka. Vasiliev considers the most important thing in his work to be the desire to convey to the viewer what he feels in music, to make the dance tangible, to achieve a fusion of thought and feeling that can emotionally capture and captivate the viewer. Vasiliev's productions are enthusiastically received by the public, especially those where he and Ekaterina Maksimova perform the central parts - Icarus and Eola, Macbeth, the Soloist in Charming Sounds, Anyuta and Peter Leontievich, Cinderella and the Stepmother, the heroes of Nostalgia and Fragments of a Biography ". Currently, ballets staged by Vladimir Vasilyev are performed not only on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, but also in 19 other theaters in Russia and around the world.

Vasiliev's creative interests extend to other areas of art - he acts as a dramatic actor in the feature films "Gigolo and Gigoletta" (Sid, 1980), "Fuete" (Andrey Novikov, Master, 1986), in the oratorio film "The Gospel for the Evil One" (central roles, 1992); here, just as in the original TV ballets Anyuta (Pyotr Leontievich, 1982) and Road House (Andrey, 1983), he acts not only as a performer, but also as a choreographer and director. Vasiliev staged operas: the opera-ballet "Takhir and Zukhra" to the music of T.D. Jalilova (A. Navoi Theatre, Tashkent, 1977), requiem “Oh, Mozart! Mozart..." to music by V.A. Mozart, A. Salieri, N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov (New Opera Theatre, Moscow, 1995), La Traviata by G. Verdi (SABT, 1996) and choreographic scenes in the operas Aida by G. Verdi (Rimskaya Opera, 1993, Arena di Verona, 2002) and "Khovanshchina" M.P. Mussorgsky (GABT, 1995).

Vasiliev is also interested in pedagogical activity. In 1982, he graduated from the choreographic faculty of GITIS with a degree in choreography and began teaching there from the same year. From 1985 to 1995 Vasiliev was the head of the department of choreography at GITIS (RATI). In 1989 he was awarded the academic title of professor.

In 1995, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Vasilyev was appointed Artistic Director-Director of the Bolshoi Theatre. Vasiliev managed to bring the theater out of the difficult crisis state in which it was in those years. A modern contract system was approved; the traditions of benefit performances were revived: corps de ballet, choir and orchestra; the theater's own video studio and the release of a regular cycle of programs on the Kultura TV channel were organized; a press service was created and the Bolshoi Theater's official website was opened on the Internet; expanded publishing activity(including the appearance of the periodical edition of the glossy magazine "Bolshoi Theater"); preparations have begun for the reconstruction of the theater, incl. construction of its branch; school organized classical dance the Bolshoi Theater in Brazil; many charity events were held, as well as evenings and gala concerts, directed in many cases by Vasiliev himself (a concert dedicated to the 850th anniversary of Moscow in the Kremlin, a unique New Year's ball at the Bolshoi 2000), and much more. Every year, the theater hosted premieres that made it possible to rally the creative potential of the troupe, including with the participation of outstanding foreign masters: Peter Ustinov, Pierre Lacotte, John Taras, Susan Farrell, Hubert de Givenchy, and others. theater. Newspapers wrote: "The triumphant return of the Bolshoi" (Daily Gerald), "Again the great Bolshoi" (Financial Times).

In September 2000, Vasiliev was relieved of his post "in connection with its abolition."

At present, Vladimir Vasilyev actively cooperates with many theaters of the country and the world, heads and participates in the work of the jury of various international ballet competitions, gives master classes, rehearses, prepares new performances and roles. At the end of 2000, the premiere of the play "Long Journey to Christmas Night" about P.I. Tchaikovsky (director B. Menegatti), in which the main role was played by Vladimir Vasiliev, and in 2001 - the premieres of Vasiliev's productions of Don Quixote in the Tokyo Ballet troupe (Japan) and Cinderella in the Chelyabinsk Opera and Ballet Theater, in 2002 - production of the ballet "Romeo and Juliet" at the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro.

Heading the Galina Ulanova Foundation, Vasiliev stages and conducts the annual gala concerts "Dedicated to Galina Ulanova" (Novaya Opera, 2003, Bolshoi Theater, 2004 and 2005).

Vasilyev starred in film adaptations of ballets: The Tale of the Little Humpbacked Horse (Ivanushka, 1961), Lieutenant Kizhe (Paul I, 1969), Spartacus (1976); "I want to dance" and "Fragments of one biography" (1985); original TV ballets: Trapeze (Harlequin, 1970), Anyuta (Pyotr Leontievich, 1982), Road House (Andrey, 1984); concert films and documentaries: "The way to Big ballet"(1960), "USSR with an open heart" (1961); Moscow in Notes (1969), Choreographic Novels (1973), Classical Duets (1976), Pages of Contemporary Choreography (1982), Grand Pas in white night"(1987), "Glory to the Bolshoi Ballet" (1995), etc.

V.V. Vasiliev - National artist Russia, People's Artist of the USSR, People's Artist of the RSFSR; laureate of the Lenin Prize (1970), State Prize of the USSR (1977), State Prize of the RSFSR (1984), State Prize of Russia (1991), Lenin Komsomol Prize (1968), S.P. Diaghilev (1990), Prizes of the Moscow City Hall (1997), theater award"Crystal Turandot" in 1991 (together with E.S. Maksimova) and in 2001 - "For Honor and Dignity".

V.V. Vasiliev was awarded the Orders of Lenin (1976), the Red Banner of Labor (1986), Friendship of Peoples (1981), "For Services to the Fatherland" IV degree (2000), St. Constantine the Great (1998), St. Prince Daniel of Moscow (1999) , the French Order of Merit (1999), the Brazilian Order of Rio Branco (2004).

V.V. Vasiliev won the first prize and a gold medal at the VII International Festival of Youth and Students in Vienna (1959), the Grand Prix and a gold medal at the 1st international competition ballet dancers in Varna (1964), Intervision Prize (for the TV ballet Anyuta) at the International Film Festival Golden Prague (1982), Grand Prize in the competition of musical films (TV ballet Anyuta) at the X All-Union TV Film Festival (Alma -Ata, 1983), Intervision Prize and Prize for best performance male role (teleballet "Road House") at the International TV Film Festival "Golden Prague" (Prague, 1985), prize for best performance of the season - the ballet "Anyuta" at the theater "San Carlo" (Naples, 1986), prize for the best Chekhov's performance at the Chekhov Festival (Taganrog, 1986).

V.V. Vasiliev has received numerous international awards and honorary medals. Among them: the V. Nijinsky Prize - "The Best Dancer of the World" (1964, the Paris Academy of Dance), a special award and gold medal Varna City Committee of the Komsomol (1964, Bulgaria), M. Petipa Prize "The Best Duet of the World" (together with E.S. Maksimova, 1972, Paris Academy of Dance), Prize of the Rome Municipality "Europe-1972" (Italy), medal of the Academy of Arts Argentina (1983), Simba Academy Award (1984, Italy); Prize "Together for Peace" (1989, Italy), G. Tani Prizes - "Best Choreographer" and "Best Duet" (together with E.S. Maksimova, 1989, Italy), UNESCO Prize and P. Picasso Medal ( 1990, 2000), Terracina Prize (1997, Italy), Honorary Medal of the Karina Ari Foundation (1998, Sweden), Princess Dona Francesca's Medal of Merit (2000, Brazil), Prizes for Excellence in Choreography (USA) , 2003, Italy 2005), award "For life in dance" (Italy, 2001).

V.V. Vasiliev is an honorary professor at Moscow State University, a full member of the International Academy of Creativity and the Academy of Russian Art, secretary of the Union of Theater Workers of Russia, deputy chairman of the executive committee of the Russian Center of the International Dance Council under UNESCO.

Vasiliev devotes his free time mainly to painting - his most serious and long-standing hobby (six solo exhibitions of his works took place). His favorite artists are Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt, Bosch, Dürer, Serov, Levitan, Korovin, Vrubel, Fonvizin, Zverev, Maslov. The main theme of Vasiliev's canvases is landscapes, in which he tries to convey the beauty of Russian nature. He writes, as a rule, at his dacha in Snegiry or in the village of Ryzhevka, Kostroma Region, where he always spends his holidays. At different periods of his life he was fond of various sports: he played football, volleyball, fencing, boxing, diving, swimming. Currently prefers tennis. He reads a lot - memoirs, historical literature, art books. Favorite writers - Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Bulgakov, Astafiev; poets - Pushkin, Bunin, Akhmatova. Favorite composers - Mozart, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Stravinsky, Prokofiev. Vasiliev had a new hobby - he began to write poetry, and in 2000 his first poetry collection, "The Chain of Days", was published.

Lives and works in Moscow.

envy
alfrv 2008-10-21 03:12:05

You are pathologically envious and proud!!! Eternity won't stop you..

opinion
Karaseva Natalia 2010-01-25 19:51:43

I admire this wonderful person... Amazing, strong and very Russian. I can't forget Spartak in his performance, it was in 1975 or earlier, but I can't beat him. And then, wherever I meet him on the screen, he says very important, simple and understandable things. Such people should be protected and appreciated ...

Appreciation
yaguran 2010-03-24 11:13:10

I, Vasiliev Alexander Georgievich, was born in 1946. I am a mining engineer-geologist. Now I am a water boiler engineer (fireman) and my whole family, my wife Lyubov Leontievna, my adult children, Irina and Natalya, we respect you and your spouse very much (we are very sorry about her ) firstly, as very honest and decent people, who are very, very few in our Motherland. You didn't leave us in hard time, did not leave for cardon, for the sake of personal well-being, like many "rastrapovichs", did not defile our Motherland and their people. You got it, like all the Russian robbed people, hard times. After all, you lived and worked for us workers, peasants, engineers, doctors, teachers, giving your talent, health and labor, almost disinterestedly, honestly and with love. YOU are always with us, and we are with YOU. We are proud of YOU. If you ,Vladimir, if you need our help and support, then my address is 662159, Achinsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory, YuVR house 9 kv. how YOU are very few and very sorry that many who left for another world were not told kind words support of gratitude, and that we are behind them, shoulder to shoulder, both in grief and in joy. Your Vasilyevs.

Vladimir Vasiliev was born on April 18, 1940 in Moscow. Father future star, Viktor Ivanovich, worked as a driver. Mother, Tatyana Yakovlevna, worked as the head of the sales department at a felt factory. At the age of seven, the boy accidentally got into classes dance club at the House of Pioneers. Choreographer Elena Rosse, who worked with children, immediately drew attention to the talent of little Volodya and invited him to study. So, a year later, Vasilyev first appeared on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater with Ukrainian and Russian dances.

After school in 1958 he graduated from the Moscow Academy of Choreography. Further young man accepted into the ballet troupe of the Bolshoi Theatre. Already in the years of study, he impressed with his virtuoso performance technique and undoubted acting talent, the ability to transform. He made his debut on the Bolshoi stage in the ballet The Stone Flower by Yuri Grigorovich in 1959.

Soon Vasiliev, having won the love and recognition of the audience and critics, became one of the leading soloists of the ballet troupe of this theater for more than thirty years. The artist danced the main parts of the modern and classical repertoire in the ballets: Cinderella, Pages of Life, Don Quixote, Paganini, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet.

The choreographers not only offered Vasiliev the main roles, but also staged them especially for him. The dancer became the first performer of the solo part in "Dance Suite", in Rodion Shchedrin's ballet "The Little Humpbacked Horse", in "Spartacus" by Aram Khachaturian, in "Forest Song" by German Zhukovsky, in "Petrushka" by Igor Stravinsky. Vasiliev also performed a lot and with great success abroad with such directors as Roland Petit, Maurice Bejart, Leonid Myasin.

Vasiliev created vivid, memorable images, often offering a new reading of them. In addition to Ekaterina Maksimova, Vasiliev's constant partner and wife, whom he always called his Muse, such famous ballerinas as Galina Ulanova, Maya Plisetskaya, Olga Lepeshinskaya, Raisa Struchkova, Natalya Bessmertnova, Irina Kolpakova, Alicia Alonso, Josephine Mendez, Lilian Kozi danced with him by Carla Fracci.

Being in the prime of his performing arts, Vasiliev already then felt the need for a more complete realization of his creative potential: a craving for choreography. His ballet debut was Icarus in 1971. As a choreographer, Vladimir Viktorovich also staged: “These bewitching sounds...”, “Macbeth”, “Fragments of a biography”, “Annie”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Cinderella”, “Don Quixote”, “Giselle” , "Swan Lake". Vasiliev's productions were enthusiastically received by the public, especially those where he himself, with Ekaterina Maximova, performed the central parts.

In 1982 Vasiliev graduated from the choreographic faculty of the Russian Institute Theater Arts and from the same year he began teaching there, was the head of the department of choreography, and in 1989 he received the academic title of professor.

Since 1995, for five years, Vasiliev has been the artistic director-director of the Bolshoi Theater. He also actively collaborated with many theaters of the country and the world, headed and participated in the work of the jury of various international ballet competitions, gave master classes, prepared new performances and roles. Heading the Galina Ulanova Foundation, Vasiliev stages and conducts the annual gala concerts “Dedicated to Galina Ulanova”.

As of April 2019, ballets staged by him are performed not only on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, but also in many other theaters in Russia and the world. Vasiliev's creative interests extend to other areas of art. The master acted as a dramatic actor in feature films, in original TV ballets, where he acted not only as a performer, but also as a choreographer and director.

Vladimir Vasiliev is a People's and Honored Artist of Russia, laureate of various Russian and international awards, was awarded orders and medals. Also an honorary professor at Moscow State University, a full member of the International Academy of Creativity and the Academy of Russian Art. Films and books are devoted to the dancer's work. Free time is mainly devoted to painting. The main theme of the canvases: landscapes, in which he tries to convey the beauty of Russian nature. He also writes poetry, and even released the collection "The Chain of Days".

Awards and Recognition of Vladimir Vasiliev

Honored Artist of Russia (1964)
People's Artist of Russia (1969)
People's Artist of the USSR (1973)
Lenin Prize (1970) - for the performance of the title role in the ballet performance "Spartacus" by A. I. Khachaturian
State Prize of the USSR (1977) - for the performance of the part of Sergei in the ballet performance "Angara" by A. Ya. Eshpay
State Prize of the RSFSR named after the Vasilyev brothers (1984) - for participation in the creation of the film-ballet "Anyuta" (1981)
State Prize of the RSFSR named after M. I. Glinka (1991, in the field musical art) - per concert programs recent years
Lenin Komsomol Prize (1968) - for high skill and the creation of the image of a folk hero in ballet performances of the Bolshoi Theater
Prize of the Moscow City Hall in the field of literature and art (1997)
Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree (2000) - for a great contribution to the development of the national choreographic art
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", III degree (2008) - for a great contribution to the development of domestic choreographic art, many years of creative and social activity
Order of Lenin (1976)
Order of Friendship of Peoples (1981)
Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1986)
Order of Merit (1999, France)
Order of Rio Branco (2004, Brazil)
Knight of the International Order of Saint Constantine the Great (Union of Saint Constantine, 1998)
Order of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow III degree (ROC, 1999)
Medal of the Academy of Arts of Argentina (1983)
Honorary Medal of the Karina Ari Foundation (1998, Sweden)
Medal of Merit of Princess Dona Francesca (2000, Brazil)
P. Picasso Medal (2000)
First Prize and Gold Medal for VII World Festival youth and students in Vienna (1959)
Grand Prix and gold medal at 1st at the International Ballet Competition in Varna (1964)
Prize named after V. Nijinsky - "The best dancer in the world" (1964, Paris Academy of Dance) (1964)
Special Prize and Gold Medal of the Varna City Komsomol Committee (1964, Bulgaria)
M. Petipa Prize "The Best Duet of the World" (together with E. S. Maksimova, 1972, Paris Academy of Dance)
Prize of the Rome Municipality "Europe-1972" (Italy)
Prize "Intervision" at the International TV Film Festival "Golden Prague" (Prague, 1982, for the TV ballet "Anyuta")
Big prize in the competition of musical films at the X All-Union TV Film Festival (Alma-Ata, 1983, for the TV ballet Anyuta)
Simba Academy Award (1984, Italy)
The Intervision Prize and the prize for the best performance of a male role at the International Film Festival Zlata Prague (Prague, 1985, for the TV ballet House by the Road)
Prize for the best performance of the season - ballet "Anyuta" at the theater "San Carlo" (Naples, 1986)
Prize for the best Chekhov performance at the Chekhov Festival (Taganrog, 1986)
Prize "Together for Peace" (1989, Italy)
J. Tanya Prizes - "Best Choreographer" and "Best Duet" (together with E. S. Maksimova, 1989, Italy)
UNESCO Prize (1990)
S. P. Diaghilev Prize (1990)
Theatrical award "Crystal Turandot" (1991 (together with E. S. Maksimova), 2001 - "For Honor and Dignity")
Terracina City Award (1997, Italy)
Awards "For the highest achievements in the field of choreography" (USA, 2003, Italy 2005)
Prize "For life in dance" (Italy, 2001)
Prize of the magazine "Ballet" "Soul of dance" in the nomination "Legend of ballet" (2005)
Russian L. E. Nobel Prize (2007, Ludwig Nobel Foundation, St. Petersburg)
Freedom Award for outstanding contribution to the development of Russian-American cultural relations (New York, 2010)
International Stanislavsky Prize ( International Foundation K. S. Stanislavsky, 2010)
International Prize "For the art of dance named after L. Myasin"

Creativity of Vladimir Vasiliev

Ballet parts

Grand Theatre

1958 - “Mermaid” by A. Dargomyzhsky, choreography by E. Dolinskaya, B. Kholfin - gypsy dance
1958 - "Demon" by A. Rubinstein - dance "Lezginka"
1958 - choreographic picture "Walpurgis Night" in the opera "Faust" by Ch. Gounod, choreography by L. Lavrovsky - Pan
1958 - Chopiniana to music by F. Chopin, choreography by M. Fokine - Soloist
1959 - "Stone Flower" by S. Prokofiev, staged by Y. Grigorovich - Danila
1959 - "Cinderella" by S. Prokofiev, choreography by R. Zakharov - Prince
1959 - "Dance Suite" to music by D. Shostakovich, staged by A. Varlamov - Soloist - first performer
1960 - choreographic miniature "Narcissus" to music by N. Cherepnin, choreography by K. Goleizovsky - Narcissus - first performer ("Evening of new choreographic miniatures")
1960 - "Romeo and Juliet" by S. Prokofiev, choreography by L. Lavrovsky - Benvolio
1960 - Shurale by F. Yarullin directed by L. Yakobson - Batyr
1960 - "The Little Humpbacked Horse" by R. Shchedrin directed by A. Radunsky - Ivanushka - first performer
1961 - “Forest Song” by M. Skorulsky, choreographers O. Tarasova, A. Lapauri - Lukash - first performer
1961 - "Pages of Life" by A. Balanchivadze, choreography by L. Lavrovsky - Andrey
1962 - "Paganini" by S. Rachmaninov, staged by L. Lavrovsky - Paganini
1962 - "Spartacus" by A. Khachaturian directed by L. Yakobson - Slave - first performer
1962 - Don Quixote by L. Minkus, choreography by A. Gorsky - Basil
1963 - "Class Concert" to the music of A. Glazunov, A. Lyadov, A. Rubinstein, D. Shostakovich, directed by A. Messerer - Soloist - was among the first performers of this ballet
1963 - Laurencia by A. Crane, choreography by V. Chabukiani - Frondoso
1963 - The Sleeping Beauty by P. I. Tchaikovsky, choreography by M. Petipa, revised by Y. Grigorovich - Blue Bird
1964 - "Giselle" by A. Adam, choreography by J. Coralli, J. Perrot and M. Petipa, revised by L. Lavrovsky - Albert
1964 - "Petrushka" by I. Stravinsky, choreography by M. Fokine - Petrushka
1964 - "Leyli and Majnun" by S. Balasanyan, choreography by K. Goleizovsky - Majnun - first performer
1966 - "The Nutcracker" by P. I. Tchaikovsky directed by Y. Grigorovich - The Nutcracker Prince - first performer
1968 - "Spartacus" by A. Khachaturian directed by Yu. Grigorovich - Spartak - the first performer
1971 - "Icarus" by S. Slonimsky in his own production - Icarus
1973 - "Romeo and Juliet" by S. Prokofiev, choreography by L. Lavrovsky - Romeo
1973 - "The Sleeping Beauty" by P. I. Tchaikovsky, choreography by M. Petipa in the second version by Y. Grigorovich - Prince Desire - first performer
1975 - "Ivan the Terrible" to the music of S. Prokofiev, staged by Y. Grigorovich - Ivan the Terrible
1976 - "Angara" by A. Eshpay directed by Y. Grigorovich - Sergey - first performer
1976 - "Icarus" by S. Slonimsky in his own production (second edition) - Icarus - first performer
1979 - large adagio from the ballet "Romeo and Julia" by G. Berlioz, choreography and production by M. Bejart - Romeo - the first performer in the USSR
1980 - "Macbeth" by K. Molchanov in his own production - Macbeth - first performer
1986 - "Anyuta" to the music of V. Gavrilin after A. Chekhov in his own production - Pyotr Leontievich - first performer
1988 - concert number"Elegy" to music by S. Rachmaninoff - Soloist
The Golden Age by D. Shostakovich, choreography by Y. Grigorovich - Boris
On stages of other theaters (first performer)
1977 - "Petrushka" by I. Stravinsky, choreography by M. Bejart - Youth (Theatre "Ballet of the XX century", Brussels)
1987 - "Blue Angel" to music by M. Constant, choreography by R. Petit - Professor Unrath (Marseille Ballet, France)
1988 - Zorba the Greek to music by M. Theodorakis, choreography by Lorca Myasina - Zorba (Arena di Verona, Italy)
1988 - "Parisian Fun" to music by J. Offenbach, choreography by L. Myasin - Baron (San Carlo Theatre, Naples, Italy)
1988 - Pulcinella to music by I. Stravinsky, choreography by L. Myasin - Pulcinella (San Carlo Theater)
1989 - Nijinsky, directed by B. Menegatti - Nijinsky (San Carlo Theater)
1994 - "Cinderella" by S. Prokofiev - choreographer and the role of Cinderella's stepmother (Kremlin ballet)
2000 - "Long Journey to Christmas Night" to music by P. Tchaikovsky and I. Stravinsky, director B. Menegatti - Maestro (Rome Opera)
2009 - Diaghilev Musaget. Venice, August 1929" to group music, directed by B. Menegatti - Diaghilev (Rome Opera on the stage of the Municipal Theater)

Tour

Being on tour, after 1988 he performed as a guest soloist in the largest theaters in the world: La Scala (Italy), Arena di Verona (Italy), San Carlo Theater (Naples, Italy), Rome Opera, Colon Theater (Argentina), American ballet theater, theater "Kremlin Ballet" (Moscow), took part in the tour of the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater. S. M. Kirov (now the Mariinsky Theater) in Paris, and others.

Productions

1969 - "The Princess and the Woodcutter", a fairy tale comedy by G. Volchek and M. Mikaelyan (Sovremennik Theater
1971 - Icarus, ballet by S. Slonimsky (Bolshoi Theater, 1976 - second edition)
1977 - "Takhir and Zukhra", opera-ballet by T. Jalilov (Bolshoi Theater named after Alisher Navoi, Tashkent)
1978 - "These enchanting sounds ...", ballet to music by A. Corelli, G. Torelli, V.-A. Mozart, J.-F. Ramo (Bolshoi Theatre)
1980 - Macbeth, ballet by K. Molchanov (Bolshoi Theatre; 1981 - Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre; 1984 - German State Opera, Berlin; 1986 - Budapest Opera, Hungary; 1990 - Kremlin Ballet Theatre)
1981 - "Juno and Avos", rock opera by A. Rybnikov, director M. Zakharov (Lenkom)
1981 - Memorial evening "In honor of Galina Ulanova" / Hommage d'Oulanova (director and one of the performers, Pleyel concert hall, Paris)
1981 - "I want to dance" to the music of Russian composers (State Central Concert Hall "Russia"; 1990 - Bolshoi Theater)
1981 - "Fragments of one biography" to the music of Argentinean composers (concert hall "Russia"; 1990 - Bolshoi Theater)
1983 - choreographic composition to music by P. Tchaikovsky (Champs Elysees Ballet, Paris; 1990 - Bolshoi Theater)
1986 - Anyuta, ballet to music by V. Gavrilin based on the story by A. Chekhov (Bolshoi Theater, San Carlo Theater, Riga Opera and Ballet Theater; 1987 - Chelyabinsk Opera and Ballet Theater named after M. I. Glinka; 1990 - Tatar Opera and Ballet Theater named after Musa Jalil, Kazan, 1993 - Perm theater opera and ballet named after P. I. Tchaikovsky; 2008 - Omsk Musical Theatre; Voronezh Opera and Ballet Theatre; 2009 - Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre; 2011 - Samara Opera and Ballet Theatre)
1988 - "Elegy", concert number to the music of S. Rachmaninov (Bolshoi Theater)
1988 - "Paganini", new edition ballet by L. Lavrovsky to music by S. Rachmaninov (San Carlo Theatre; 1995 - Bolshoi Theater)
1989 - "The Tale of the Pope and his worker Balda", musical and dramatic composition to music by D. Shostakovich (P. I. Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, stage director and co-director Yu. Borisov; first performer of the role of Balda)
1990 - Romeo and Juliet, ballet by S. Prokofiev (Moscow Musical Theater named after K. S. Stanislavsky and Vl. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko; 1993 - Lithuanian national opera, Vilnius; 1999 - Latvian National Opera, Riga; 2002- Municipal theater Rio de Janeiro)
1991 - "Don Quixote", ballet by L. Minkus (American Ballet Theatre; 1994 - "Kremlin Ballet"; 1995 - Lithuanian National Opera; 2001 - "Tokyo Ballet", Japan; 2007 - National Theater, Belgrade)
1993 - "Aida" by G. Verdi, choreographic scenes in the opera (director F. Zeffirelli (Rome Opera; 2004 - Arena di Verona; 2006 - La Scala Theater)
1994 - Cinderella, ballet by S. Prokofiev (Kremlin Ballet, director and first performer of the role of Cinderella's stepmother; 2002 - Chelyabinsk Opera and Ballet Theater; 2006 - Voronezh Opera and Ballet Theater)
1994 - Giselle, ballet by A. Adam, new choreographic version based on choreography by J. Coralli, J. Perrot, M. Petipa (Rome Opera; 1997 - Bolshoi Theater)
1994 - "Nostalgia" to the music of Russian composers (Kremlin Ballet Theatre, director and first performer of the main part)
1994 - "The Artist Reads the Bible", musical and dramatic composition (Museum of Fine Arts named after A. S. Pushkin)
1995 - “Oh, Mozart! Mozart…”, requiem to music by V.-A. Mozart, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, A. Salieri (New Opera, Moscow)
1995 - "Khovanshchina" by M. Mussorgsky, choreographic scenes in the opera (director B. Pokrovsky, Bolshoi Theater)
1996 - "Swan Lake", ballet by P. I. Tchaikovsky, choreographic version using fragments of L. Ivanov's choreography (Bolshoi Theater)
1996 - La Traviata by G. Verdi (Bolshoi Theater)
1997 - choreographic composition to the music of the overture to M. Glinka's opera "Ruslan and Lyudmila" (Bolshoi Theater)
1999 - Balda, ballet to music by D. Shostakovich (Bolshoi Theater; 2006 - Opera and Ballet Theater of the St. Petersburg Conservatory)
2009 - "The Spell of the Eschers", ballet to music by G. Getty (Bolshoi Theater, new stage)
2015 - “Give us peace”, ballet to the music of the Mass in B minor by J.S. Bach (Tatar Opera and Ballet Theater named after Musa Jalil)
In addition, he staged over 20 choreographic numbers and compositions on different stages of the world (“Two”, “Classical pas de deux”, “Russian”, “Two German dances” and “Six German dances”, “Aria”, “Minuet ”, “Waltz”, “Caruso”, “Jester”, “Petrushka”, “Elegy”, “Overture on Jewish Themes” to the music of the work of the same name by S. S. Prokofiev (1992), “Syncopes”), as well as choreographic compositions in numerous feature films.

Filmography

Video recordings ballet performances

1970 - "Spartacus" - Spartacus (performance of the Bolshoi Theater of the USSR, composer A. I. Khachaturyan, choreographer Yu. N. Grigorovich, conductor A. Zhuraitis)
1974 - "Romeo and Juliet" - Romeo (performance of the Bolshoi Theater of the USSR, composer S. S. Prokofiev, choreographer L. M. Lavrovsky, conductor A. Zhuraitis)
1978 - "The Nutcracker" - The Nutcracker-Prince (performance of the Bolshoi Theater of the USSR, composer P. I. Tchaikovsky, choreographer Yu. N. Grigorovich, conductor A. Kopylov)
1978 - “Stone Flower” - Danila (performance of the Bolshoi Theater of the USSR, composer S. S. Prokofiev, choreographer Yu. N. Grigorovich, conductor A. Kopylov)
1994 - "Cinderella" - Cinderella's stepmother (performance of the Ballet Theater of the State Kremlin Palace, composer S. S. Prokofiev, choreographer V. V. Vasiliev, conductor M. Pletnev)

Feature films, ballet films

1961 - "USSR with an open heart" (concert film), directors V. Katanyan, L. Christie) - soloist
1962 - "The Tale of the Little Humpbacked Horse" (directors A. Radunsky and Z. Tulubyeva) - Ivanushka
1969 - "Moscow in notes" (musical film)
1969 - "Abduction" (musical film) - artist Vasiliev
1970 - Trapeze (directed by F. Slidovker, V. Smirnov-Golovanov) - Harlequin
1975 - Spartak - Spartak
1980 - "Big Ballet" (concert film)
1980 - "Gigolo and Gigoletta" (choreographer and co-director A. Belinsky) (short) - Sid Kotmen
1981 - "50 years of the puppet theater of Sergei Obraztsov" (film-play)
1982 - Anyuta (choreographer and co-director A. Belinsky) - Pyotr Leontievich
1983 - "La Traviata" (directed by F. Zeffirelli) - matador
1984 - "Nostalgia" to the music of Russian composers, choreography by V. Vasiliev - soloist
1985 - "Fragments of a biography" to the music of Argentine composers, choreography by V. Vasiliev - soloist
1985 - "House by the road" to the music of V. Gavrilin based on the poem by A. Tvardovsky (choreographer, co-director A. Belinsky and starring Andrey)
1986 - "Fuete" (choreographer and co-director B. V. Ermolaeva) - Andrey Novikov / Master
1988 - "Grand Pas on White Night" (musical film)
1992 - "The Gospel for the Evil One" (oratorio film) - central roles
Documentary film
1973 - "Duet" - a film, dedicated to creativity E. Maksimova and V. Vasilyev
1981 - "The World of Ulanova" (documentary) (director)
1989 - "Katya and Volodya" (directed by D. Delouche, produced in France) - a film dedicated to the work of E. Maksimova and V. Vasiliev
1990 - “And there was, as always, something left unsaid ...” - a film dedicated to the work of E. Maksimova and V. Vasiliev
2000 - "Reflections" - a film about the work of V. Vasilyev - 2000, 52 min., director N. Tikhonov
2005 - “Vladimir Vasiliev. Bolshoi Ballet "- film, 2005, 4 episodes of 26 minutes, director N. Tikhonov

Participation in films

1970 - Amusement Parade (documentary)
1985 - Anna Pavlova (documentary) - film commentary
1987 - Ballet in the first person (documentary)
1991 - Revelations of the choreographer Fyodor Lopukhov (documentary)
1999 - Katya (documentary)
2005 - The rise and fall of Maris Liepa (documentary)
2006 - Aram Khachaturyan (from the series of DTV channel programs “How the idols left”) (documentary)
2007 - Maris Liepa (from the series of programs on the DTV channel "How the idols left") (documentary)
2007 - Nerijus (Lithuania, documentary)
2009 - Savely Yamschikov. I am registered in Russia (documentary)
2009 - Blue sea ... white ship ... Valery Gavrilina (documentary)
2009 - Lifelong Fuete ... (documentary)
2010 - Tatyana Vecheslova. I am a ballerina (documentary)
2011 - Iya Savvina. An explosive mixture with a bell (documentary)

Painting

Writes pictures. Ten solo exhibitions paintings were held in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Perm and other cities.