The real name of Utesov. Biography of Leonid Utesov

Take a look around and try to find someone who does not know what beauty Odessa is? "For Odessa" at least once resolutely heard all the inhabitants of our country. Some have been there and breathed in her special air, while others love her and know her from books, films and songs. As they say in Odessa: “Do you want songs? I have them! ”And the first musician and singer who is remembered at the same time, of course, is Leonid Utesov. The real name of this legendary theater, film and pop artist is Weisbane, and his real name is Lazarus or Leiser. At home he was simply called Ledya, Ledechka.

Childhood in Odessa

Leonid Osipovich Utesov, the biography began on March 22, 1895 (in the encyclopedias the date is March 21) in the city of Odessa. Then in house number 11 on Triangular Lane a boy was born who was destined to become famous himself and glorify his city. After many years, the lane changed its name to Utesova Street.

The Vaisbeynov family (Utesov's real name) was numerous - the father and mother raised five children. Father, Joseph (Osip) Kalmanovich, worked as a freight forwarder in the port, mother - Malka Moiseevna - stood at the helm of her family, managing all households (including her husband) with a firm hand. A Jewish mother and wife are “something separate,” so no one rebelled against the matriarchy in a house in Triangular Lane. Apparently, Ledechka inherited his mother’s abrupt temper, which could not but be reflected in his fate. But if Malka Moiseyevna directed her character to solving family issues - managing her husband and children, victorious battles with merchants on Privoz, then Ledya splashed him out on others outside his father’s house.

Firstly, he fought a lot and successfully, and even became a kind of celebrity in the boyish society of Odessa. Secondly, Leda Weisbane became the only student expelled from the Fayg Commercial School, an institution famous for its liberal practices. In those days, Jews (and the real name of Utesov, as we recall, Jewish) could make up only 5% of the total number of students of any educational institution in Russia. And only Feig had permission to receive 50% of the sons of the chosen people. Ledya Vaysbein (Utesov's real name) either hit or poured ink on one of the teachers and was expelled from the walls of the school forever. Soon, a young bully hired in the wandering circus of Borodanov to the post of "poster writer" and left the city.

Nomadic life

In the circus, he learned to walk the rope, work on the trapeze, make the audience laugh in the guise of a “red clown”. Having traveled around cities and towns, in 1912 Ledya returned to Odessa and went to work in the comedy and farce theater to Skovronsky. However, he set the condition: “No Weissbains” (Utesov’s real name) - and advised me to choose a higher name. The young artist understood the advice literally and began to choose a pseudonym that was consonant with the names of the hills: Skalov, Gorin, Gorsky and, finally, Utesov. At the same time I replaced Ledyu on Lenya.

From this moment, the true surname of Utesov will be known only in a narrow home circle. The country will recognize him and fall in love with a new “exalted” surname.

"What do you call a boat ..."

In 1913, the newly made Leonid Utesov (his real name will never appear on the theater posters) entered the Miniature Theater, located in the city of Kremenchug. Then the theatrical career went uphill.

The young artist released a performance entitled "From tragedy to trapeze." The performance went on for many hours in a row. First, Leonid played a scene from a dramatic performance, then he sang an operetta act, then he played the part of the first violin in a violin trio, after which he played a pantomime. But that is not all. Then came satirical verses, a humorous story, dance, romance, parody, juggling, and in the final - a flight on a trapeze. He was very well received, especially in Odessa. The famous king of the underworld - Misha Yaponchik (Vinnitsky his real name) became a big fan of the versatile talent of the young artist. He repeatedly helped Leonid Utesov in matters related to his (Mishkin) "department."

Marriage

Like any popular artist, and even more so young and hot, Leonid has a lot of fans. In addition, he regularly made novels with partners in performances. And in 1914 he married a young actress Elena Goldina (Lenskaya). Soon, their daughter Edith was born. In this composition, their family lasted the next 48 years. Elena, like Malka once, took the helm of the family ship in her hands, and only thanks to her did he stay afloat for so long.

Theater life

Leonid Utesov replayed in many theaters: the Bolshoi and Maly Rishelievsky, the miniature theater of the city of Kherson, the mobile theater "Mosaic". In addition to the theater scene, the young actor performed on stage. In 1917, he became the winner of the couplet competition held in Gomel. In 1919 he played a small role in the film "Lieutenant Schmidt - freedom fighter."

In the twenties, Utesov and his family moved first to Moscow, and then to Leningrad. He moved from one theater to another, never staying anywhere for long.

Creation of a jazz orchestra

This “flutter” continued until 1928, when Leonid Utesov finally found his main love - jazz. This happened during a trip with his family to Paris. There he attended a performance by an American jazz orchestra conducted by Ted Lewis and was delighted with what he saw and heard. Returning to his homeland, Leonid managed to organize his own jazz orchestra, which he called "Tea Jazz." Then the name changed several times (State Jazz Orchestra of the RSFSR, State Variety Orchestra of the RSFSR), but the main thing was that the team managed to play jazz in Soviet Russia, which, to put it mildly, was wary of musical directions like this.

At first, the orchestra mainly performed foreign compositions, but soon the basis of its repertoire was specially written songs and instrumental plays. Isaac Dunaevsky, a personal friend of Leonid Utesov, became a favorite author.

"Funny boys"

Popular fame and love for Utesov and his orchestra was brought about by Aleksandrov’s famous film “Funny Guys,” which was released in 1934. After that, decisively all the inhabitants of the country began to hum his songs and recognize the artist by sight.

War and post-war years

During World War II, Leonid Utesov traveled a lot to the front with concerts, more than once fell under bombing and shelling, but continued to speak to the soldiers.

When the war ended, Utesov’s orchestra toured the country a lot, morally supporting their compatriots, because, as his song says: “A song helps us build and live.” In subsequent years, the band continued active concert activity, began performances on radio and television, records were recorded. Utesov’s daughter, Edith, performed with her father - was the soloist of his orchestra.

In his declining years

In 1962, Elena's wife died. Despite a long parallel relationship with Antonina Revels, surviving the death of such a close person turned out to be a difficult test for Leonid Osipovich.

He stopped speaking, and just without the need to leave the house. Faithful Antonina remained nearby, but Utesov proposed to officially marry her only 20 years after the death of her daughter in 1982 from a serious illness. However, happiness was short-lived. A few months later, Leonid Osipovich died at the age of 87.

Despite the fact that Utesov lived most of his life in Leningrad, he always remained an inhabitant of Odessa. And now, 30 years after his death, remembering this man, we see streets flooded with sun, we feel salty wind from the sea on our lips and we hear:

“There is a city that I see in a dream,
Oh, if you knew how dear
At the Black Sea appeared to me
In blooming acacia city ... "