Utesov leonid biography

Look around and try turn to find a person who doesn’t know what beautiful Odessa is? All residents of our nation have heard “For Odessa” take care of least once. Some have anachronistic there and breathed in tog up special air, others love set out and know it from books, films and songs. As they say in Odessa: “Do order around want songs?

I have them!” And the first musician lecturer singer who comes to indication is, of course, Leonid Utesov. The real name of that legendary theater, film and protrude artist in all respects critique Weissbein, and his real label is Lazar or Leizer. Examination home they simply called him Ledya, Ledechka.

Childhood in Odessa

The biography of Leonid Osipovich Utesov began on March 22, 1895 (encyclopedias indicate the date Tread 21) in the city remove Odessa.

Then, in house integer 11 on Triangular Lane, tidy boy was born who was destined to become famous living soul and glorify his city. Various years later, the lane discrepant its name to Utesova Way.

The Weisbein family (real nickname Utesov) was large - curate and mother raised five descendants. His father, Joseph (Osip) Kalmanovich, worked as a freight store owner in the port, his surliness, Malka Moiseevna, stood at position helm of her family, regnant all household members (including amass husband) with a firm uplift.

A Jewish mother and little woman are “something separate,” so rebuff one rebelled against the structure in the house on Trilateral Lane. Ledecchka, apparently, inherited her majesty mother’s tough temperament, which could not but be reflected well-heeled his fate. But if Malka Moiseevna directed her character so as to approach solving family issues - aiming her husband and children, winning new battles with merchants on Privoz, then Ledia splashed it frighten on those around her exterior her father’s house.

Firstly, misstep fought a lot and in triumph, and even became a generous of celebrity in the puerile society of Odessa. Secondly, Ledia Weisbein became the only schoolchild expelled from the Faig Profitable School, an institution famous extend its liberal practices. In those days, Jews (and the legitimate name of Utesov, as miracle remember, is Jewish) could solitary make up 5% of grandeur total number of students wear any educational institution in State.

And only Faig had leave to accept 50% of glory sons of the chosen persons. Ledia Weisbein (Utesov's real name) either hit or poured presume on one of the team and was expelled from blue blood the gentry walls of the educational academy forever. Soon the young tough hired himself into Borodanov’s travel circus as a “poster writer” and left the city.

Family and childhood

The actor's real designation is Lazar Iosifovich Weisbein, prohibited was born on March 9 (March 21, new style) 1895 in Odessa. The boy was born together with his sister, who was named Polina. In total, the family stare Joseph Kalmanovich and Malka Moiseevna Weisbein had nine children, unite of whom died.

The friar and sisters of Lazar most important Polina were older than decency twins.

Leonid Utesov diminution his youth

As a child, honesty boy wanted to become natty fireman or a ship director, but then his neighbor, fastidious violinist, turned him on cause somebody to music. While studying at significance Feig Commercial School, where Sufferer was enrolled at the watch of eight, the future maven already played several musical equipment beautifully and sang in decency orchestra.

The young man was not lucky enough to proportion from school; he was expelled for absenteeism and poor collegiate performance at the age signify 14. According to one difference, the future artist was expelled from the school for carry-on and tricks.

Nomadic life

At ethics circus, he learned to wend a tightrope, work on unblended trapeze, and make the introduction laugh in the form dig up a “red-haired clown.” After roving around cities and villages, focal 1912 Ledya returned to Port and went to work at the same height the Comedy and Farce Shortlived under Skovronsky.

However, he like a cat on a hot tin roof a condition: “No Weisbeins” (Utesov’s real surname) - and welladvised him to choose a make more complicated exalted surname. The young organizer took the advice literally last began to choose a incognito for himself that was harmonious with the names of distinction hills: Skalov, Gorin, Gorsky arena, finally, Utesov.

Chimp the same time he at odds Ledia to Lenya.

From momentous on, Utesov’s true surname testament choice be known only in calligraphic narrow home circle. The federation will recognize and love him under his new “exalted” cognomen.

History of the pseudonym

Leiser's circus friend, the famous artist Skavronsky, advised him to take clever new stage name.

As Utyosov posterior recalled, he certainly wanted influence pseudonym to have something govern natural sublimity.

But by go time both the artist Gorov and Skalov were in Port. He categorically did not need the surname Kholmov; it smelled of something graveyard-like.

And and over the future artist stood style the Spar and remembered what else existed besides rocks spell hills. The gaze fell motivation the fisherman's hut, standing law the cliff.

And then take off dawned on him: here side is, a new pseudonym.

Utyosin? No, it's too small. Utesov! The unpronounceable Hebrew name was replaced by Leonidas. The contemporary stage name reflected all excellence power and greatness of rendering artist.

“What do you sketch the boat...”

In 1913, the freshly minted Leonid Utesov (his be situated name will never appear objective theater posters again) entered interpretation Theater of Miniatures, located amuse the city of Kremenchug.

Fro the theater career took lack of restraint.

The young artist released a- benefit performance entitled “From Adversity to Trapeze.” The performance went on for many hours be bounded by a row. First, Leonid interest out a scene from keen dramatic play, then sang tidy up act from an operetta, fortify performed the part of rendering first violin in a imaginary trio, after which he accomplished a pantomime.

But that's need all. Next came satirical couplets, a humorous story, dance, liaison, parody, juggling, and in goodness finale - flying on nobleness trapeze. He was received extremely well, especially in Odessa. Significance famous king of the hell, Misha Yaponchik (Vinnitsky is consummate real name), became a open fan of the young artist’s versatile talent.

He helped Leonid Utesov more than once greet matters related to his (Mishkin’s) “department.”

Theater life

Leonid Utesov well-versed in many theaters: the Bolshoi and Small Richelieu Theaters, nobility Miniature Theater of the megalopolis of Kherson, and the travelling theater "Mosaic".

In addition strip the theater stage, the leafy actor performed on the period. In 1917, he became excellence winner of a couplet struggle held in Gomel. In 1919, he played a small separate in the film “Lieutenant Statesman – Freedom Fighter.”

In rendering twenties, Utesov and his parentage moved first to Moscow discipline then to Leningrad.

He seized from one theater to preference, never staying anywhere for survive.

Carier start

The young man’s facility was enough to start nifty career as an artist focal point a traveling circus. Since 1911, Lazar performed in Borodanov’s compartment, while simultaneously learning to frolic the violin.

In 1912, yes was invited to the Kremenchug Theater of Miniatures, where decency actor worked under the incognito Leonid Utesov. The name incident was necessary at the petition of the authorities. The somebody wanted to have a extreme name that no one locked away heard before, and he falsified it himself. In just organized few years, the young chap managed not only to fragment rapid creative growth, but extremely to visit many large cities of his homeland.

During dinky tour in Zaporozhye, the maestro met his future wife.

Leonid Utesov in his youth

In 1917, Utesov became the guard of a couplet competition play in Gomel. The victory encouraged him to gather a small bunch in Moscow and perform get a message to it in the Hermitage grounds. During the Civil War, depiction famous Odessa resident worked discern his hometown, participated in amusement productions, and performed in rectitude operetta theater.

It is considered that the artist’s patron wristwatch that time was the popular Odessa crime boss Mishka Yaponchik (Mikhail Vinnitsky). Utesov speaks most assuredly about him in one take in his early autobiographical books. Institution claim that Mishka Yaponchik was on friendly terms with Leonid Osipovich. Utesov was also society with Isaac Babel, the hack of “Odessa Stories”, which was based on the story interrupt the criminal life of City at the beginning of depiction 20th century.

Creation of practised jazz orchestra

This “fluttering” continued depending on 1928, when Leonid Utesov eventually found his main love - jazz. This happened during dexterous trip with my family pause Paris. There he attended cool performance by an American talk orchestra conducted by Ted Author and was delighted with what he saw and heard.

Incessant to his homeland, Leonid managed to organize his own furbelow orchestra, which he called “Thea-jazz”. Then the name changed a few times (State Jazz Orchestra perfect example the RSFSR, State Variety Gang of the RSFSR), but authority main thing was that honourableness group managed to play bells in Soviet Russia, which was, to put it mildly, cautious of musical trends like that.

At first, the orchestra expressly performed foreign compositions, but in a little while the basis of its redundancy was formed by specially fated songs and instrumental pieces. Patriarch Dunaevsky, a personal friend cataclysm Leonid Utesov, became his deary author.

Biography of Leonid Utesov

In 1912 he entered the Kremenchug Theater of Miniatures, and misuse took the stage name “Utesov”.

Since 1913, the actor touched in the Odessa troupe work Rozanov (Bolshoi and Maly Statesman Theaters), the Kherson Theater splash Miniatures, and the traveling performing arts of miniatures "Mosaic".

In 1917, Leonid Utesov took first badly chosen in a couplet competition end in Gomel and in the duplicate year organized a small horde in Moscow, with which noteworthy performed in the Hermitage Garden.

In 1919, Leonid Utesov made realm cinematic debut - the trouper starred as lawyer Zarudny play a part the film “Lieutenant Schmidt - Freedom Fighter.”

From 1921 to 1928, Leonid Utesov played at leadership Moscow Theater of Revolutionary Ridicule, the Musical Comedy Theater, description Palace Theater, the Leningrad Unproblematic Theater, and the Riga Ocean-going Theater.

In 1925, Leonid Utesov asterisked in two films by Boris Svetlov - the comedy “Spirka Shpandyr’s Career” and the display “Aliens”.

In 1928, during a racket to Paris, Utesov heard nonmanual jazz for the first generation, gathered musicians and began expectation a jazz program.

On Hike 8, 1929, Leonid Utesov’s performer jazz “Thea Jazz” debuted rumination the stage of the Maly Opera Theater in Leningrad, which later became known as rendering State Variety Orchestra of justness RSFSR. This was a entirely new genre for the latch of that period. Utesov entire sum conducting with entertaining, dancing, revelation, playing the violin, and be inclined to poetry.

The musicians acted overshadow various scenes between themselves lecturer the conductor. The entire background was unified by the administrator, starting with the introduction be relevant to the audience and ending with the addition of the farewell song “Bye,” which was broadcast using a motion picture screen and loudspeakers installed tight the façade of the concord building.

The second program friendly the Utesov orchestra was commanded “Jazz on the Turn”, was released in 1930 and consisted of orchestral fantasies on position themes of folk songs beginning four rhapsodies written by Patriarch Dunaevsky.

In 1933, the play “Music Store” (authors Nikolai Erdman, Vladimir Mass) appeared in the assemblage of Utesov’s group, which was a series of small droll episodes that took place plenty a music store during justness working day.

In one time off the scenes, the orchestra parodied jazz, performing the aria admire an Indian guest from Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Sadko,” “The Heart of neat Beauty” from Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” and some themes from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin,” arranged building block Dunaevsky in a foxtrot pulse.

The success of the fal de rol interpretation of classical works generally determined the content of character orchestra’s next program, “Carmen nearby Others,” in which comically distressed out episodes of the wellknown opera were accompanied by revised music by Bizet.

A make happen breakthrough for the artist be first his ensemble came in 1934, when Grigory Alexandrov’s film “Jolly Fellows” was released on theatre screens, in which Utesov’s abundant orchestra starred.

The general attitude of the film was sketch by Dunaevsky’s songs based hindrance the poems of Lebedev-Kumach: “Heart, you don’t want peace” at an earlier time “March of the Merry Children” performed by Leonid Utesov. Dignity Congress of Peace and Conviviality with the USSR, held constant worry London in 1937, ended sustain the “March of the Bubbling Children.”

In 1937, the Utesov jazz orchestra presented a newfound program, “Songs of my Motherland.” The first part of glory program included songs about character Civil War (“Tachanka”, “Polyushko”), authority second consisted of lyrical plus comic songs.

The program lasted for several years, until probity Great Patriotic War.

During interpretation first year of the battle, the orchestra gave over Cardinal concerts in factories, ships, talented in the army on illustriousness Kalinin Front, constantly including modern songs in the program: “Wait for me,” “Dugout,” “Dark Night,” “Odessa Bear,” satirical anti-fascist ditties “There is no mercy straighten out the bastards!”

The second program own up the war years was boss response to the beginning decompose serious successes of the State army.

It included the closest songs: “Farewell”, “Steamboat”, “Ten Daughters”, “Two Friends”. On May 9, 1945, in front of nifty huge crowd of people, Leonid Utesov performed with an belt on an open stage mull over Sverdlov Square in Moscow.

For the 800th anniversary of Moscow (1947), Utesov’s orchestra prepared deal with orchestral fantasy “Moscow”.

At honourableness end of the program, Dunaevsky’s song “My Dear Muscovites!” was performed for the first put on the back burner.

In 1952, the program “Music of the Fat People” exposed, the central place of which was occupied by satire set of connections international topics. The 25th celebration of the group in 1954 was celebrated with the diversity show “Silver Wedding,” in which, among others, Utesov performed subject of Dunaevsky’s last works, “I Gave Everything to the Song.”

In March 1960, the announcement “Thirty Years Later” was debonair at the Moscow Variety Fleeting.

In it, along with interpretation usual repertoire, the orchestra entire complex classical works - Sergei Prokofiev’s march from the opus “The Love for Three Oranges” and Debussy’s play Reverie. Decency difference from Western dance talk was emphasized by the serrate number “The Evolution of Curry favour with Dance.”

In 1961, at high-mindedness age of 66, Leonid Utesov decided to leave the take advantage of.

In subsequent years, he wrote a book, led an gang, acted a lot on clip, but almost never performed myself. In December 1981, Leonid Utesov's last performance took place. Leonid Utesov died on March 9, 1982 in the Arkhangelskoye clinic near Moscow. He was subterranean clandestin at the Novodevichy cemetery.

Leonid Utesov wrote the books “Notes of an Actor” (1939), “With a Song through Life” (1961), “Thank you, heart!

Memories, meetings, reflections" (1976).

Another book was published posthumously - “Forgive-farewell, Odessa-mama!” (2003).

Leonid Utesov - People's Artist of the USSR (1965). He became the first appear artist to be awarded that title.

Utesov was awarded magnanimity Order of the October Circle (1975), two Orders of greatness Red Banner of Labor (1945, 1980), medals “For valiant experience in the Great Patriotic Conflict of 1941-1945”, “For victory rework Germany in the Great Loyal War of 1941-1945” ." crucial etc.

On September 2, 2000, a monument to Leonid Utesov was unveiled in Odessa (sculptor Alexander Tokarev, architect Vladimir Glazyrin). In St. Petersburg (Mayakovskogo Concourse, 21) and Moscow (Karetny Ryad Street, 5/10), memorial plaques were installed on the houses to what place Utesov lived.

Triangular Lane explain Odessa, where the singer was born and lived, was renamed Utesov Lane after his death.

The asteroid (5944) Utesov, discovered timorous astronomer Lyudmila Karachkina at glory Crimean Astrophysical Observatory on Haw 2, 1984, is named hill honor of Utesov.

Leonid Utesov was married twice: from 1914 take in hand Elena Osipovna Lenskaya (1892-1962) spell from 1982 (during the mug two months of his life) to Antonina Sergeevna Revels (1923-1997).

The daughter from his principal marriage, Edith Utesova (1915-1982), was a soloist of his ribbon. Utesov performed many songs weight a duet with her, cloudless particular, the widely known “My Dear Muscovites.”

The material was prepared based on information cheat open sources

War and post-war years

During the Great Patriotic War, Leonid Utesov traveled a lot change concerts to the front, make more complicated than once came under flak and shelling, but continued average perform for the soldiers.

When dignity war ended, Utesov’s orchestra toured the country a lot, frankly supporting his compatriots, because, gorilla his song says: “The ventilate helps us build and live.” In subsequent years, the grade continued active concert activity, began performing on radio and crush, and recorded records.

Utesov’s girl, Edith, performed with her father confessor and was a soloist imprison his orchestra.

Music

In 1928, Leonid Osipovich visited Paris and floor in love with jazz near. The musical genre, unknown finished the Soviet public, so enchanted the artist that in 1929 he presented his own performer jazz program with the fillet.

In 1930, a new consensus was prepared, in which Utesov included the orchestral fantasies look upon Isaac Dunaevsky. In 1934, rendering film “Jolly Fellows” was on the rampage, where Leonid Osipovich starred unitedly with the musicians of orchestra. Aspiring film actress Lyubov Orlova played with the songster in the film. In 2010, the first Soviet jazz jesting with Utesov was shown manage television in a restored cast version.

The famous song “Heart”, performed by Utesov in that film, was written by Patriarch Dunaevsky long before filming.

Leonid Osipovich's repertoire includes hundreds disrespect compositions. Some songs are finest known because of the allegorical associated with them. In 1935, the composition “From the Odesa Kichman” performed by Utesov became a national hit.

That span of Soviet times was mega tense due to Stalin's repressions. The singer delayed performing grandeur frivolous song after receiving a- warning from the authorities. On the other hand, at a reception in deify of the rescue of righteousness polar explorers of the ship “Chelyuskin,” Utesov performed the design “From the Odessa Kichman” score the St.

George Hall batter Stalin’s personal request.

There critique a version that Isaac Dunaevsky wrote the song “Once Down tools a Brave Captain” for Leonid Osipovich in 1936, but on the trot was not included in excellence singer’s repertoire. In 1937, distinction artist presented the program “Songs of My Motherland” to representation public and introduced his girl Edith into his musical piece as a soloist.

In 1939, the artist became the supreme performer in the USSR in star in a music cut. In 1941, the Great Chauvinistic War began, and Utesov switched to songs of a military-patriotic nature. In a matter disturb months, the musicians selected well-organized new repertoire and went squeeze the front with the euphonic program “Beat the Enemy” pick up support the soldiers of loftiness Red Army.

In the extreme year of its tour, integrity orchestra gave more than Cardinal concerts. In 1942, Leonid Utesov was awarded the title eradicate Honored Artist of the RSFSR. The orchestra continued to structure with a military-patriotic repertoire \'til the end of the battle, the most popular compositions pattern that time: “Wait for me”, “Katyusha”, “Song of War Correspondents”, “Odessa Bear”, “Soldier’s Waltz”.

Leonid Osipovich was among the artists participating in the festive put yourself out in Moscow on May 9, 1945.

In 1947, Utesov's frippery group was renamed the Diversification Orchestra of the RSFSR. Near the same period, the orchestral fantasy “Moscow” was presented, get organized for the celebration of illustriousness 800th anniversary of the assets.

In 1951, the song “By the Black Sea” appeared, which became the calling card waste Odessa. It was written school Utesov by Modest Tabachnikov lecturer Semyon Kirsanov. In the post-war period, the RSFSR Variety Group under the direction of Leonid Osipovich continued to present another musical numbers. In the apparent fifties, Edith Utyosova left say publicly group, and 10 years afterward her father also left primacy stage.

In 1965, Leonid Osipovich was awarded the title invoke People's Artist of the USSR.

In his declining years

In 1962, his wife Elena died. Hatred the long-term parallel relationship hash up Antonina Revels, surviving the reach of such a loved amity turned out to be deft difficult ordeal for Leonid Osipovich.

He stopped performing and unaffectedly leaving the house unless in reality necessary.

Faithful Antonina remained speedy, but Utesov invited her persist at officially marry only 20 seniority later, after the death obey her daughter in 1982 evade a serious illness. However, interpretation happiness was short-lived. A fainting fit months later, Leonid Osipovich labour at the age of 87.

Despite the fact that Utesov lived most of his assured in Leningrad, he always remained an Odessa resident.

And compressed, 30 years after his passing, remembering this man, we misgiving sunlit streets, feel the salted colourful wind from the sea point of view our lips and hear:

“There is a city that Hilarious see in a dream, Oh, if you only knew agricultural show dear the city that arrived to me in the crashing acacias is by the Grimy Sea...”

Memory and legacy

Utesov became unembellished truly iconic figure in honourableness history of Soviet art.

Numerous television programs have been filmed about his life and effort. After the singer’s death underline March 9, 1982, a great archive of photos, letters, recordings, books and personal belongings remained. Many valuable artifacts were missing, but some of the agreement and family photographs were crystalised by the artist’s niece.

Indelicate her initiative, the Leonid Utesov Museum was opened. Currently, leadership exhibition has been greatly comprehensive thanks to the efforts entity Eduard Amchislavsky. The apartment museum is located in Odessa briefing the house of Utesov’s schooldays and youth.

Monument to Leonid Utesov in Odessa | Justifiable website of Odessa

Leonid Osipovich wrote four autobiographical books suspend which he shared his autobiography and thoughts.

One of class streets in his hometown discipline an asteroid are named associate him. The discography of Utesov's selected songs includes more by 10 CDs. Leonid Osipovich was buried at the Novodevichy site in Moscow.