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The first snow gently planning is falling on the evening city. The Concert Hall of the House of Unions has become deserted, the voices of the leaving audience have calmed down in the lobby. We are sitting with Natalia Ustinovich in the dressing room, talking and reminiscing. Her first solo concert in Tver has just finished, she is still excited and is yet to calm down from the stage and the applauses.

Do you remember how it all began? I ask. Natalia is smiling dreamingly: how could I forget…

Once upon a time in Kishinev, a young girl came to an audition to the People’s Artist of the USSR, the best Butterfly of our time, Maria Biesu. The girl by then had finished the comprehensive school and the school of Music and was studying at the University on a Faculty of Foreign languages. Maria Lukiyanovna Biesu highly valued her voice and immediately led her to the rehearsal of one of the operas of the State Moldavian Theatre of Opera and Ballet, where she introduced Natalia as her future student.

However, as fate would have it, after finishing the course of Foreign languages, Natalia ended up in Kamchatka where got engrossed in a research project on the Comparitive Analysis of intonation of the Russian and English languages. Nevertheless, the voice had a mind of its own and Natalia first became a soloist in Evgeny Morozov Kamchatka choir, then was a soloist in concerts, performing with famous music groups such as a well-travelled across Europe and America George Avvakumov Chamber Orchestra, Vladimir Shashin Orchestra of Folk instruments, a popular Alexander Andrianov Jazz Orchestra and others. I personally witnessed the creative development of Natalia Ustinovich and I am grateful to her that she was the first one to perform a few of my songs and romances. Her voice could be heard on the radio and television and people shouted encore in concert halls, admiring her singing. She worked with Kamchatka poets and composers and was invited by painters to pose for portraits. In the land of the volcanoes and typhoons to this day, you can hear the recordings of Natalia Ustinovich’s velvet mezzo-soprano voice.

When the singer travelled to Kishinev from Kamchatka during her holidays, she’d come to the Department of Solo Singing at the Music Academy in Moldova, where, alongside with Professor Maria Beisu, a famous all over the world opera singer, she established warm relations with Peoples Artist of USSR, Professor Tamara Alyoshina, also the outstanding opera singer, very valued and respected in many countries, who became Natalia’s vocal coach and even presented the young singer her own photograph as a gift with the inscription “To a beautiful talent, to a true pearl of nature Natasha Ustinovich with the hope for conquering by her of creative vocal heights!” Before that, another gift made it into Natalia’s family album – a photograph with bodly written “To the lovely Natasha! May your cherished dream come true, with best regards Maria Beisu”.

Having moved to Tver, Natalya Ustinovich continued her concert activity, working with Tver creative groups, local poets and composers. She was performing with Aleksey Mikhno Choir, with Valentina Ozerova Children’s Choir, as well as taking part in a few “Stars of Tver” programmes. At the end of October, the sold out opera of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata took place in the city, in which the singer brilliantly performed the role of Flora Bervois. Alongside with the Tver performers, other roles were performed by soloists of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia and the Mussorgsky Theatre of Opera and Ballet from Saint Petersburg.

And here is the first solo concert on the land of Tver. Natalia has been carefully preparing for it, choosing a list of works. In the opera part of the concert, she included an Orfeo aria from Gluck’s opera Orfeo ed Euridice, which was included in Tamara Alyoshina’s repertoir and notes of which were once presented to her by the People’s Artist for luck. Natalia also sang Lel’s song from the Snow Maiden and Lyubava’s recitative and aria from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sadko. Afterwards, followed by P.I.T Tchaikovsky’s romances, a few city romances, two songs in English, songs and romances to the music of composers of Kamchatka and Tver, in particular, the new song from Vladimir Uspensky,”The girl fell in love” (Devchonka Vlyubilas). The duet of Theodor and Mister X from Imre Kalman operetta, The Circus Princess, which the singer performed with the winner of republican contest, George Vakulin, was met by a long round of applause. The accompanist Evgeny Volkov, has not only shown a profound understanding of performer’s individualities but also the ability to highlite the beauty of their voices. Old romances and modern songs performed by Natalia and accompanied by a quartet of folk instruments composed by Vladimir Pravnikov, Alexsandr Ivanov, Igor Smirnov and Sergey Melnikov were particularly especially warmly met. Lyudmila Adamchuk hosted the concert with warmth and smiles, to which the audience smiled back. Then there were a lot of flowers, a huge box of sweets and chocolates, presented by grateful spectators, and a joyous exhaustion.

Natalia looked at her watch: “It’s time to go home, to get some sleep and get ready for a trip”. I am going to Moscow tomorrow for another master-class lesson with an academician of the Russian Music Academy, Professor Mikhail Demchenko. I am lucky that higher vocal education I get from the Professor whom people regard as a teacher-jeweler of vocal arts.

We were walking and snowflakes of the first snow were festively dancing in the air in a yellow street lighting – the messengers of purity and kindness that will announce the 21st Century as the century that promises new and happy encounters with the audience.

Evgeny Sigarev,
Honoured Worker of Culture of Russia.
December 7, 2000, the newspaper “Tver life”

Almost two years ago, on December 1, 2016, Yevgeny Morozov, an honorary resident of Kamchatka, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, died…

Yevgeny Morozov is a wonderful musician, a wonderful conductor, a bright devotee of choral art on a peninsula located in the most remote eastern corner of our Motherland, which is truly considered the Morning of our Fatherland, where Russians wake up in the country first …

A sculptor of miracle voices, Evgeny Ivanovich Morozov was the founder and permanent artistic director of such a unique creative team as the Kamchatka Choir for almost five decades.

Thanks to the delightful, highly professional sound of the choral ensemble and the performing art of Merited Artist of the Russian Federation Valery Trofimovich Kravchenko, a constant accompanist of an outstanding team, the whole world learned about Kamchatka-Musical, enthusiastically and loudly applauding this remarkable team not only in Russian cities, but also in many countries different continents of the planet, where the Kamchatka Choir has been on tour. Proud and fond of Morozov’s offspring and his own Kamchatka audience, he is always eagerly awaiting the artists in their songs from distant concert tours.

I am grateful to fate because I knew Yevgeny Ivanovich, we talked together, because I was his work colleague in the Kamchatka regional music college, sometimes took part in the same concert programs, sang on the same Kamchatka scenes, where the voices of the Kamchatka choir sounded under the magic wand of Evgeny Morozov.

Invaluable assistance in my development, as a singer, in mastering vocal skills for me there were master classes, vocal consultations with Yevgeny Ivanovich Morozov and the chief choirmaster, as well as the soloist of the Kamchatka choir (now named after Yevgeny Morozov), Honored cultural worker of the Russian Federation Violetta Alekseevna Butuchel, for which my immense gratitude.

I remembered Evgeny Ivanovich as a man of unshakable will, a bright leader and, at the same time, an incredibly charming, smiling, with sparkling eyes, boyishly gambling, enthusiastically and mischievously rubbing his hands, sometimes with a tuning fork in one of them, always humming something … I remembered him as a tireless mentor of talented Kamchatka youth.

Evgeny Morozov is by far the largest phenomenon of our time, a man who made an invaluable contribution to the treasury of the musical art of Kamchatka and Russia as a whole, singing reverent musical creativity of the indigenous peoples and ethnic groups of the peninsula and the Far North, as well as turning to world masterpieces of musical classics.

The Blessed Memory of the Great Musician, Outstanding Person and Magnificent Man …
Soloist of the Twice Red Banner Order of the Red Star of the Academic Ensemble of Song and Dance of the Russian Army named after A.V. Alexandrov of past years, the winner of international and all-Russian competitions, Natalia Ustinovich.

On the run-up of the Victory Day, the most dear holiday for every Russian, when thousands and thousands of our compatriots walk around the Red Square with a stately gait and carry the portraits of their Grandfathers-Heroes of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, I would like to recall and remember our tragically dead Alexandrov – colleagues in a TU-154 plane crash in the Sochi area on December 25, 2016, who died in a combat position, fulfilling their duty to the Motherland. By this I want to pay tribute to the Memory of wonderful people who have now left us, with whom I was lucky to work in the same team, in the legendary Twice Red Banner …

It is hard to realize, it’s hard to accept that our friends are no longer among us, that the celebration of Victory Day this year will pass without their participation, and other artists, new Aleksandrov-artists, will participate in the concert programs – people, who have put their shoulders in a difficult moment for collective. But the Red Banner-colleagues, who have gone untimely, gone on their last trip, and on these holydays for every Russian will be near us, in our grateful hearts, the hearts of colleagues, friends, relatives, and their loyal fans. I thank them for being so sincerely loving their viewers, their listeners. Addressing to the minds and hearts of their fans, admirers of high art, our dead colleagues tried to invest their contribution in strengthening relations between people in order to bring nations and peoples closer together. They generously gave their unlimited talent, powerful energy – all the heat of their soul to their beloved audience, shaking its imagination and evoking delight with their brilliant performances. These wonderful people, surprisingly modest, and at the same time, real masters of performing art, whom I was lucky to know personally, have done a lot for the Motherland. With unforgettable concerts, they performed in front of our compatriots in all its corners, including the most distant ones, on its entire boundless expanse, both in its large and small cities, and in garrisons in front of our servicemen, and also represented Russia abroad, for all continents, thus contributing to the promotion of a positive image of our country. Words by A.S. Pushkin “… the verb burn the hearts of people” was the main principle in their lives! They all remain in our hearts as the best of people!

For the Red Banners, the main life principle has always been and is selfless service to the Motherland. People with a keen sense of patriotism, people passionately striving to give all their purest thoughts, the whole fire of their soul to the righteous cause of the struggle for peace and mutual understanding between nations, between people of different skin color and cut eyes, come to this illustrious team. Alexandrov-artists are doing everything possible in their place, everything that is only in their power so that in the world of people there always reigns mutual friendship, respect, sincere and deep interest in culture, history and achievements of each other, so that nowhere and never on the planet there was a war!

Now our colleagues, other wonderful people – everyone who suddenly so shrilly left us in that viscous heavy mist of the harsh December morning of 2016 – will be forever joined the proud ranks of the Immortal Regiment of Russia. Their faces will not be forgotten, their works will not be forgotten!

It is on such Heroes that our young generation, the generation of future Heroes – the defenders of the Fatherland, will be equal.

I believed, I knew for sure and now is very pleased that the Double Red Banner of the Order of the Red Star Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army named after Alexandrov has been restored and revived! Though I understand that there are still many important tasks ahead to accomplish so that the renewed team could feel the elbow next to each other. But our Aleksandrov-artists can do it, they will cope, they can do everything and this is on the shoulders! New, very talented people came to the team.

They are highly skilled artists. With the help of the ensemble’s leadership, the Red Banner-artists carried out a serious, painstaking work on mastering the concert repertoire. And now the revived ensemble of February 16, 2017 with the concert program for the first time entered the biggest stage of Europe, the stage of the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army! The success was overwhelming, many viewers could not hold back tears.

Opening the concert, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Nikolai Pankov said: “I am sure that new voices will give a powerful impetus to the development of the ensemble and at the same time increase the glorious traditions of the main creative team of the Russian Army.”

And for this, the legendary team has everything: the richest experience of successful work, accumulated over decades, tradition, creativity, and most importantly, the spirit of the ensemble itself that many beloved and preserved by their beloved old-timers, the elders of Alexandrov choir, who stood at the beginnings when it was still beginning:

This is the grandson of the founder of a distinguished team, Evgeny Vladimirovich Alexandrov, a former instrumentalist of the ensemble, and now a keeper of not only the museum of the Red Banners, but also of memory; as well as, in previous years, the soloist of the choir Aleksandrovtsev, and today its chief administrator, Honored Artist of Russia Viktor G. Kadinov.

With many years of experience working in a team and, as they say, in a duty, his brilliant conductors: appointed to lead the ensemble Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation, Colonel Gennady Sachenyuk and Honored Artist of Russia, Captain 2nd Rank Nikolai Kirillov.

Summarizing everything said, live, my beloved Ensemble, continue your Glorious Path in the name of Peace and Good! And the dead colleagues will remain forever in our hearts …

Happy Renaissance!

With the Great Victory!

Soloist of the Twice Red Banner Order of the Red Star of the Academic Ensemble of Song and Dance of the Russian Army named after A.V. Alexandrov of past years, the winner of international and all-Russian competitions, Natalia Ustinovich

Soloist of the Alexandrov Ensemble wrote about her colleagues on April 10, 2017, society, Sergey Taranov.

This material edition of “New Izvestiya” received, as they say, “by gravity” – from the former soloist of the Alexandrov Ensemble Natalia Ustinovich. At the call of heart and soul the artist remembers her friends and colleagues who died on December 25 in the crash of Tu-154 in Sochi.

Shortly after the incident, the horrific crash in Sochi on 25-th of December 2016, the year one of the journalists turned to me with a request to give an interview regarding the incident of the tragedy. Because of the surging grief, my answers were incoherent, I could not concentrate, I was choked with tears…

I remember that the last question to me in our conversation was the question of what I remember most of all after the years, working as a soloist in the Alexandrov Ensemble. At the same time, a flurry of memories flooded over me, and of such power that I only had the strength to answer: “I Remember everything! Life in the Ensemble is a very happy time!».

After this piercing sad interview time, days and nights went by, and memories of one of the most beautiful periods of my creative, and just life did not give me any rest… Pictures of life in the Ensemble were constantly standing in front of my eyes … Lines of sentences, one after another, lay down in my thoughts in straight rows, turning into the story below…

What did they leave in my memory, my colleagues, friends, comrades, now tragically departed from us?..

As if in reality now I see them young, beautiful, full of strength, full of plans for the future … How could all this happen?!…

I can’t believe…

Vladimir Brodsky

Honored. art. Russia Vladimir Brodsky (glasses)

I met with Vladimir Arkadievich when applying for a job in the Ensemble…

In appointed day and time I came in the building of the Ensemble, climbed on the second floor, as it was agreed with leadership of a famous Musical Group over the telephone. From some unknown door of the office a man with glasses on came up to me with a hurried step without much enthusiasm and offered to go to the rehearsal room of the Ensemble, while adding: “Useless idea. Women-singers, and good singers, also from musical theaters to audition for all the years came into the ensemble a lot, but the staff we didn’t hire anybody. However, one singer in the state we have in the ensemble still there, but she never sings with the orchestra and choir, never goes with the team on tour. She has her own individual creative program. Sometimes she’s singing pop backing, sometimes used by the master accompanist. (Later I met and became friends with this talented soloist and musician, a great man, Honored artist of Russia Tatyana Deryabkina.) Among the musicians, – continued Vladimir Arkadyevich, – we have essentially the same men: in the choir, and among the soloists, and in the orchestra – a strict male team. Only in the dance group we traditionally have women. As singers, we sometimes disposable to be included in their concerts or malagnini tour”. “And I’ll take it,” I smiled in the affirmative.

“Well, let’s hear it now,” he replied, looking at me in surprise over his glasses. I sang first a folk song, then a romance, then Opera arias … Vladimir Arkadievich wonderfully accompanied, scattering beads on the keyboard, lowering his head and not uttering a word. I didn’t know what to think. And suddenly he raises his head with glowing eyes and somehow stingy, business-like says:”Come on such a day, you will sing with the orchestra in front of the whole team.”

And, fortunately, that appointed day the collective voted for me unanimously!

And I came to the Alexandrov ensemble, loved and admired by me since childhood, because I am the granddaughter of Grandparents-Heroes, one of whom went to the front as a volunteer during the great Patriotic war of 1941-1945 despite the reservation. She was given to him because of his high leadership position. He had 2 higher education (a rare case for that time) and was needed to work in the rear. My Grandfather heroically died on October 2, 1941, when he raised the soldiers in the attack, protecting Leningrad from the Nazi invaders (as it is written in the “funeral”). The other Grandfather was in the military. Being a highly qualified specialist, he trained pilots, bomber pilots on high-speed 3-month courses. He finished the war with the orders (three of which –the order of the red Star) and numerous medals, such as the medal “for military Merit”, medals “for Impeccable Service”, medals for valiant work, medals for each Anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany and many others. Many other men from our big family gave their lives for their Homeland, and some of them returned with state awards on their chests!

Therefore, the family of our military songs loved, they sang and, of course, loved the Alexandrov ensemble. My work in the ensemble is a tribute to My Grandfathers-Heroes.

Began working days… Vladimir Arkadyevich did not depart from me, in everything helped me that it was easier and quicker to get used to collective, to learn and rehearse the necessary works for solo work. Aria Eboli from the Opera don Carlos by Giuseppe Verdi was orchestrated especially for me (thanks to Vyacheslav Alekseevich Korobko, chief conductor and hood. leader of the ensemble at the time) and other vocal works. Began rehearsals, concerts, tour. in General, – life in ensemble.

It should be noted that Volodya treated all the vocalists of the ensemble so paternally, especially the newcomers. Almost all the soloists are singers who started working in the ensemble as chorus artists. And this is a great merit of Vladimir Brodsky. He did a lot with them individually, helping them to hone their vocal skills.

Our working relationship with Vladimir Arkadievich has turned into a real creative friendship. We have developed a decent joint repertoire, which is sometimes used in the ensemble, for example, in one of the concert programs in the Cultural center of the Armed forces of the Ministry of Defense on its legendary stage.

He accompanied me sometimes in foreign trips (for example, in one of the trips to the Czech Republic), amazing the audience and listeners with his virtuoso performance, his incomprehensible talent of concertmaster, subtly feeling the individuality of each soloist. Once on tour, the accompaniment was in four hands with the participation of one great pianist. Such leaders are very few. Few internationally. And the team was incredibly lucky that one of them worked in the ensemble. A. V. Alexandrov. The success of the team as a whole largely depended on his professional, extremely talented activity.

And anyway, I’d like to add about Vladimir (since it mostly appealed to the team, I always continued to call him by name-a patronymic, not realizing the causes of this fact. Now, I understand, it happened at the subconscious level, in view of the deepest respect for this great Master and Man)

The life of Vladimir Arkadyevich is still interesting and the fact that he is not the first of the Brodsky family worked in this team. The first was his father, a soloist of the choir, who was employed by Alexandrov himself (!), so Volodya was one of the few hereditary Alexandrova and very proud of it, but not boasted. He could have made a world solo career as a pianist, but until the end he was devoted to this creative organization, treating it as a father’s home and as a native child at the same time. All events in the ensemble, his luck and difficulties took to heart. Always generated new creative ideas, was glad to the embodiment of original compositions as the child. The house of Vladimir Abramovich is a huge collection of CDs with the world’s unique masterpieces. He often gave me a chance to listen to some of them, for example, my favorite Opera singers…

And Vladimir Arkadyevich has a daughter Mashenka – a young promising pianist, a very talented girl who sometimes looked to her father for work. We know her. It is very good that she also came to the team of alexandrovites to continue the Brodsky dynasty in the third generation. Have Vladimir Abramovich and little grandson, who probably will say its a good creative word in the Twice red banner! Especially now it has become so significant…

Andrei Sonnikov

Deputy Director of the ensemble Alexandrova, Colonel Andrei V. Sonnikov.

Andrei V. Sonnikov … Deputy Director of the ensemble for educational work, Colonel. Intelligent, strict, and in some degree responsible for the job they do, self-possessed, reticent Russian officer, honest in the highest sense of the word… In the team he is very respected, and many feared, mean young kids aleksandrovets: so Andrey was a model of perfection in all – a wonderful family man (his wife is a former employee of the ensemble, its chief accountant in the past, Lydia A. Sannikova) and the service-professional.

Interesting and surprising for me was the fact that Andrei and I were countrymen born in the same city, our childhood city, a beautiful and beloved Kazakh city of Aktobe (now Aktobe). Lived there in the neighboring streets I was on the Avenue of Victory – street of Kirov and met, working in an ensemble. In the process, I learned Andrei Valentinovich, as a kind, gentle, somewhere a little sentimental person.

Once, being on tour abroad, I, as usual, was allocated a wonderful, very comfortable hotel room. But as it turned out, quite noisy. The windows looked out on a very busy roadway. A couple of days later, Andrei noticed that my eyes were somewhat swollen and turned red. He asked if I had caught a cold by offering to use drugs in the ensemble’s first-aid kit, if necessary. I reassured Andrew that everything is fine with me, admitting that I just do not get enough sleep because of the noisy hotel room. Andrew immediately immediately gave me a magnetic card (key)
from his number, taking my magnetic card to myself. Unlocking was useless. To my question “Andrei, how are you?”, Andrei Valentinovich answered: “Remember, first of all, the administration I belong to is necessary for organizing the work of artists, and not the artists for the work of the administration. This is an immutable law. Besides, I, after all, a man, – he smiled, – and, moreover, a military man, and most importantly – your countryman! Well, seriously, ”he continued,“ in relation to His Majesty the Woman, the old people and children are judged on the country as a whole, on the degree of its development and civilization, ”which means it is about respect for the country. Russia deserves it! And the soloist of Alexandrovtsi is the face of the ensemble! Men of the Red Banner must wear it in their arms! ”He laughed altogether.

I must say, on arrival, Lida, Andrey’s wife, highly appreciated the noble deed of her husband and was very proud of him. After this incident, we became even closer to her.

And on that day, on tour in Poland, our conversation continued … to admit, I was very pleased to hear such arguments of my countryman. He reflected: “In general, it’s very good that we have a singer in the state. It’s like a breath of wind, like a breath of fresh air for the ensemble. A female solo voice noticeably diversifies the concert repertoire of Aleksandrovtsi, moreover, when the soloist is as wonderful as you, he smiled, and the very presence of the girl soloist somehow mobilizes, inspires, keeps in tone all the strict male team. ”

Here I also added enthusiastically: “Andrei, after all, not only men, but also women, have defended the world in Russia for centuries. And how many artists have been on the front line with concerts for soldiers during the Great Patriotic War! Recall Lydia Ruslanova, Claudia Shulzhenko, Lyubov Orlova, and many, many other female singers. So, in the ensemble there must be soloists – women! – I reasoned with all vehemence, – And why, so far, the Red Banners did not have their full-time singer?

“So, the time has come right now, for the Aleksandrovites to have their own soloist. And it was you who managed to break this gap, it is you who are our first soloist, ”the deputy director of the ensemble significantly summarized.

I remember this conversation forever … A very important conversation, in my opinion. This topic is also important for today, when the Alexandrov Ensemble is holding a competition to fill the vacant positions of soloists and other artists after this terrible tragedy, after the crash of TU-154 in the Sochi region on December 25, 2016. I, as the first soloist in the staff of the ensemble, really want to believe that again the Red Banner will have a female soloist and maybe not one!

… I learned that Andrei was supposed to fly to Syria on the first flight that reached the destination safely, but this time he gave up his seat on the plane to a young man who had a birthday and he was in a hurry to go back home to Moscow to mark an event with the family. Andrey flew the second flight, which turned out to be fatal …

And this was all Andrew … He left an adult son and daughter.

Photographer’s comment: I, in my time, unfortunately, had to leave work in the ensemble. For family reasons. Worsened the health of the mother. Long touring was no longer for me. This decision was not easy for me, but … Mom is the most precious thing in the life of every person.

Life does not stand still, everything flows, everything changes, as they say. Some artists leave (for different reasons), others come, replenishing their ranks. But the Alexandrov Ensemble lives and will always live! On that we stand and we will stand! And there are no former Red Banners, they are always real, because “Aleksandrovets” is a constant quantity!

Victor Sanin

Victor Vasilyevich Sanin … Honored Artist of Russia … A wonderful, touching person, in a word, “The Sunman-person rolls into the soul”, as my grandmother used to say about very good people. The professional, the vocalist of the highest level, whose stage skills were fascinating, Victor was very modest, easy to talk to, incredibly charming. As a devoted friend, always came to the rescue. All to his last cell was woven from music. Records, headphones – always with you. In the buses, while on tour, I constantly listened to my favorite singers, the brightest vocalists of the world opera stage. I also let them listen to me, sharing my opinion on the features of the vocal technique of each of them. I remember once on tour in Poland, in early spring, after a regular concert, with our close soloists, as they say, the soloists, Vladimir Arkadyevich Brodsky, our irreplaceable accompanist, as always, with us, celebrated the birthday of Vadik Ananyev, the famous to the whole world “Mr. Kalinka.” Vitya revealed that evening also as a great connoisseur and lover of poetry. He told me that his twin sister, his beloved niece, and other relatives lived in Canada, which misses him very much, living in different countries … He spoke a lot about art … I felt then a kindred soul in him, I saw in him a deep and sophisticated man soul, kind and romantic, bright, absolutely devoted to music … 3 days after the disaster, on December 28, Vitya would celebrate his birthday … Victor has a wife, Victoria, whom he loved very much …

Ivan Stolyar

Сity of Brussels. Natalya Ustinovich with duet partner, soloist of the ensemble Ivan Stolyar

When I first heard Vanya Stolyar sing, I immediately understood: this is a worthy change for the soloist of the ensemble, the greatest bass of modernity (I say this without a shadow of exaggeration), Nar. art. Of Russia Gavva Valeriy Nikolayevich – a veteran of the famous team. His voice will enter the treasury of world vocal art. And how fortunate that this outstanding bass went to the Alexandrov Ensemble! Until now, listening to the recordings of Valery Nikolayevich’s performances, I don’t get tired to admire the beauty of his timbre, the power of his voice, his vocal technique, his stage skills!

This is my opinion shared by Ivan. We talked a lot about the performance skills of Gawwa, talking with Vanya, when he went from solo to choir soloists, began singing in concerts of the ensemble already solo, and in some concert programs we began to sing a duet. Ivan eagerly tried to learn from the stage experience of the senior master. And it was his most talented follower! He had not only excellent vocal, a beautiful timbre, reminiscent of Shalyapinsky, polished vocal technique, but was also very emotional, authentic on stage! Without a doubt, Ivan Stolyar is a rare talent, long-awaited joy for music lovers and connoisseurs, for spectators and listeners of the most respected and prestigious concert halls of the world! His singing was fascinating! He wanted to listen and listen! I want to hear this soulful voice now. Well, that left a record …

I was lucky to learn Ivan not only as a great performer, partner in the scene, but also just as a great guy, a good friend. Jokes, laughter, humor – over the edge! I learned that he and the perfect family man. I was … I will not forget how the three of us, with Vanya and Zhenya Smirnov, an artist of the choir, in Belgium, Brussels, on the day of the ensemble’s departure by evening plane after the tour, having talked, decided to walk around the city and go shopping, so as always, to buy Relatives and friends to remember something about the beautiful hospitable capital and other cities of the visited country. How Vanya chose gifts for his beloved wife, other family members, as he was looking for the best toys for his little son, with what interest and with what love! This was a must see!

Now Ivan already has three sons. They can be proud of their Dad …

Pavel Zhuravlyov

Ensemble soloist Pavel Zhuravlyov

We met Pavel in the Moscow State University of Arts and Culture (today IPCC), the vocal faculty of which both graduated. There we took part in student concerts of the University, sang with his orchestras. He sang his repertoire, I sang. Communicated. Pavel was a unique vocalist, the owner of the richest baritone with a velvet timbre. The strongest voice. And vocal technique! Restrained, intelligent manner of performance. He was a very competent musician, besides, an excellent pianist – accompanist. They say about these: “Fount of knowledge!”

I am sure that such a vocalist would get the best opera houses in the world with pleasure. And he chose an ensemble. Paul, in essence, was a very modest guy, about becoming famous, did not think, it was not his end in itself. It was very pleasant to communicate with him. As a musician, Pavel Zhuravlev was a very erudite person, he knew a lot, could tell a lot, could argue, prove his case. As it turned out, among the mezzo-soprano, his favorite performer was the American opera singer of the 20th century (1897-1993) Marian Anderson, who had a real contralto in the lower register. To me, this opinion of Pasha regarding low female voices was especially important and interesting, because my voice is also mezzo. Pavel admired the interpretation of this dark-skinned singer of her works, her phrasing and the nuance of the vocal line. We talked a lot, besides that, Paul knew how to be a caring friend …

Undoubtedly, Pavel Zhuravlev is the pride of the vocal faculty of MGUKI (now IPCC), his immature fledgling in the past, fostered with love within the walls of our native alma mater and, as a result, turned into a proud, majestic bird – a magnificent crane … Paul highly appreciated as vocalist, and Head of the Department of the Vocal Faculty of the University, People’s Artist of Russia, Mikhail Ivanovich Demchenko (in whose class I received a higher vocal education). Pasha was loved and respected by both faculty and students. He will always be remembered! By decision of the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky in memory of Pavel Zhuravlev and 13 other graduates and students of the IPCC (MGUKI) who died in the TU-154 crash near Sochi, a memorial plaque was installed and opened on the building of the university on February 2, 2017.

Viktor Mikhalin

The soloist of the ballet ensemble Viktor Mikhalin, the famous “story

Another graduate of our University (now IPCC) is the soloist of the dance group of the ensemble Aleksandrova Viktor Mikhalin. You do not need to be a professional in the field of ballet and dance to understand that the guy was incredibly talented. He shook the viewer with his solo numbers, his famous “raznozhka” (twine in the air) with an inimitable highly jump.

When he was 15 years old, he was accepted into the studio of the State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble of Russia named after Igor Moiseyev, where he was noticed and invited to cooperate by Mikhail Lavrovsky himself (!), And Viktor chose the Aleksandrov ensemble.

Vitya was wonderful, somewhere a bit shy, bright person. All hung up with photo-video equipment on tour, always helped me to deal with mine, explaining when and what buttons to press, sometimes even repairing something on the go. Such he was: “Vitya – Golden Hands and Golden Heart”. This will always be in our hearts!

Vitya has a young child …

Sergey Kotlyar

Artist of the choir of the ensemble Sergey Kotlyar

Vladislav Golikov

Ensemble soloist Vladislav Golikov

We became friends with Sergey when we both served in the NI Sats MGADMT.

When we recruited new singers for the vocal troupe of the theater and auditioned on its main stage, I, being in the auditorium with my colleagues, from a multitude of applicants, noted him, Sergey, as a highly skilled talented singer with a very beautiful voice. As a contestant, Seryozha sang then Onegin’s aria from the opera by P. I. Tchaikovsky “Eugene Onegin” and classical romances. And it was an impressive performance!

Other artists of the theater expressed the same opinion. I even remember what Sergei looked like that day – it was a tall, well-built, very, well, very thin young man with pitch black hair over his shoulders and a white sweater with a high collar (in the ensemble, Sergey already looked like a dense, powerful physique as an adult man , quite unlike that timid boy in the walls of the Temple of Arts on Vernadsky Avenue). Everywhere there were replicas of artists, especially theater artists: “What a beautiful guy and how beautiful she sings!” When Sergey was accepted into the troupe, I was very glad that this voice would now be heard on the stage of our legendary theater, which was founded by the outstanding woman Natalia Ilinichna Sats.

Work has begun. We talked a lot with Sergey, talked about vocal technique, sometimes we worked together in rehearsal cabinets, left for our favorite singing, and sometimes we talked. We were bound by the tender friendship of two colleagues who fanatically loved the vocal art. I want him to become a good singer. And he did it! His mother can be proud of her son! Vladislav Golikov, whom I, unfortunately, didn’t meet. Vladislav Golikov came to the ensemble after me. I do it on television and they make a deep impression on me. Kakafa from the opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini is worth something! Without a doubt, Vladislav was a very successful change to the soloist of the ensemble of the older generation, Nar. art. Russia to Vasily Ivanovich Stefuz, our beloved tenor, a veteran of the ensemble who explodes from enthusiastic sources, applauded the entire planet for 40 years from his work in the Alexandrov ensemble. His star-high, endlessly long top note in the same Calaf seemed to pierce the skies and shake the public’s imagination. Aleksandrovtsy with their concert programs, met and escorted Vasily Ivanovich on the stage standing. I had to repeat in my fate …

Sergey and Vladislav were married people. They have two small children left.

Lyubov Guzhova

Hong Kong. Costumers Alina Ivashko (lost) and Lyubov Guzhova

About the Good Hostess of the ensemble, costume, Honored Worker of Culture, the lead singer of the ballet ensemble in the past, Love Guzhova can talk for a long time and endlessly … What an amazing, kind-hearted man it was! I want me to look irresistible! I love to take care of every artist. They just adored! How did our Lyubushka-Golubushka-Magic Pens tried and did everything so that the ensemble would look both on the stage, and on the video, and on the photo superbly, in the best light!

Lyuba was a gentle, romantic, smiling and very modest man. How many times we went on tour and back home, to Moscow … We talked about everything, laughed, laughed …

It is important to add that Lyubov Alexandrovna is a representative of the great friendship of Alexander’s family, which lost in the terrible TU-154 crash, even as part of one of their relatives, members of the national dynasty and director of the ensemble, People’s Artist of Russia Vyacheslav Yermolin. For many years of fruitful creative work, for his contribution to the development of culture and professionalism, President of Russia Vyacheslav Ivanovich Yermolin was awarded the Order of Friendship state awards, and was also awarded a large number of medals and thanks. His daughter Xenia, the soloist of the dance group of the ensemble, wrote about her father: “He loved his profession very much. Versus truly served his beloved ensemble until the end of his days. And all this was written in the ensemble, first by the soloist of the ballet, and then by the costume of the outstanding collective. He continues to work now. In this December tragedy of 2016, Lena lost both her sister and husband, with whom he lived all his life, and his life, and his daughter, Ksyusha, a talented dancer, with whom her husband (also Alexander) and two young children, one of whom Born Two months before the tragic events … Lyuba still has a daughter, Katenka (soloist of the group’s ballet) and beloved grandchildren … I believe that the Alexander dynasty of a wonderful family, wonderful people will be replenished by new generations!

Alina Ivashko

Nikolaev have the brightest memories … I would like to tell the main mom of the ensemble about this. He was very serious, ready to discuss, to keep women at ease. I remembered Alina as a very kind, emotional person capable of cordial frankness … Later, Alina Nikolaevna moved to the position of costume designer. Her son also works in the ensemble.

Andrey Savelyev

Andrew … angelic soul man! A guy with creative ambitions, talented! A generous man, with exquisite manners, incredibly tactful and charming. For a period of time, Andryusha left the Ensemble, built his solo career. And it succeeded! Having a powerful voice (tenor) of the most beautiful tender timbre and possessing amazing vocal technique, he was the soloist in many Opera Theaters of Russia, as well as in the near and far abroad, collaborated and communicated with many Stars of the world opera stage. Everything was great! But, nevertheless, the soul stretched back to its native ensemble … Everyone loved him … Andrew had a teenage son, Daniel, a magnificent professional figure skater …

Natalya Ustinovich with artists of the choir and soloist of the ensemble Andrey Saveliev (dead) to her right

Anatoly Sokolovsky

Tolya … A wonderful guy, a merry fellow, an unmatched friend who can support both in word and deed of a friend in a difficult moment. Great driver, virtuoso driver! I know this firsthand. And, of course, the vocalist is a professional, totally devoted to the military music theme. Tolya had a light character, it was a pleasure to communicate with him. I remember, on tour, it happened, it would suit me, I would embrace fraternally and with a daring voice say: “Natalia! Uh-uh! Hang on, our beauty! ”Once, in Hong Kong, we talked after the concert … Tolik admitted that he misses his home, his family, his beloved wife and his beloved sons – he hadn’t seen them for almost a month. He said to me with such a warm, radiant smile on his face: “Natasha, and you know what my wife is, what kind of boys … I will never give me any offense! Sometimes, the youngest will run up to his wife, pull her hand and demand: “Mom, do not hurt pa-a-pu! He is GOOD with us! ”And we both laughed … Yes … it was … Actually, Anatoly was very gentle, kind, I would even say, a shy person, very decent and honest. They say about such people: “I would go out with him in reconnaissance …”

Hong Kong. Natalia Ustinovich with choir artist Anatoly Sokolovsky

Dmitry Babovnikov and Oleg Korzanov

Friends – do not spill water, even though they worked, as they say, in different creative workshops. Dima was an artist of the choir, and Oleg was an artist of a dance group. At first, I even thought that Dima was also a ballet dancer, because he was often surrounded by our favorite dancers, moreover, he was so wonderfully built … Sometimes, on tour, he would run up to help me with a travel bag … Such a Soul-Boyfriend! (I have to thank many and many Aleksandrovtsy guys for such help-care, some of them, unfortunately, are no longer among us …)

Hong Kong. Choir Artist Dmitry Babovnikov

Once, on a tour in China, before the evening concert, an interesting conversation ensued between the three of us, we wandered around the most beautiful area around the hotel where the ensemble lived, and did not notice how we were at the pools. The guys, of course, did not pass by. I accidentally had a camera with me, and I photographed my friends. Here they were so … funny, mischievous, with an open heart for good deeds. And most importantly, they loved Life, loved Art, loved their Ensemble, loved their Homeland!

Hong Kong. Ballet Performer Oleg Korzanov

Together with Oleg, his wife Katya, also a ballet dancer, died in a plane crash. Now their four-year-old son will be raised by a grandfather …

Dima has a preschool daughter left …

Valery Khalilov

I would like to express my admiration, infinite respect, say a lot of warm words to Valery Mikhailovich Khalilov, an amazing Person, an eminent Musician, a unique Person with whom I was lucky to be familiar, communicate through work and even in an informal setting at the holiday table, celebrating Victory Day with the staff of the Moscow Military Conservatory., where I worked. A lot of very good words about him are written in the press, said from television screens, the best ones and you will not find … but still, nevertheless, all the same …

Khalilov brothers

What a Man it was! Man – Lump! Man – Giant!

I remembered Valery Mikhailovich as a man of iron will, exceptional decency, endurance, gentlemanly courtesy, an indisputable leader and, at the same time, an incredibly charming, smiling, with sparkling eyes, boyishly gambling …

So I left it in my memory… And I will always remember all this!