Evgeny Fedorovich Svetlanov (1928 - 2002) - an outstanding conductor, composer and pianist. For 45 years he worked at the Bolshoi Theater, combining this huge creative activity with the leadership of the USSR State Orchestra.
Brief information from childhood
Both the father and mother of the future musician of rare talent were opera singers. Or rather, the soloists of the Bolshoi Theater. And his childhood was connected, like his subsequent work, with the rehearsals of the theater and music, which he began to study at the age of six. Eugene Svetlanov sang in the choir, took part as a mime in performances and even once climbed into a chair, hearing music, and began conducting. This was noted by A. Nezhdanova and conductor N. Golovanov. They laughed heartily and predicted that there would be a conductor from such a boy.
Youth
She rushed swiftly, passing in study at the Institute. Gnesins. As a performer, even in his student years, Yevgeny Svetlanov impressed with a new deep reading, revealing the intentions of the authors of the works that he performed.
With success, he studied composition. His works are based on Russian classics. Most of all, S. Rachmaninoff influenced him. In parallel, he tried his hand as a conductor. And from the fourth year he works next to his teacher in the All-Union Radio Orchestra. The work of the conductor combines and synthesizes all the knowledge gained by the pianist and composer.
At the console of the Bolshoi Theater
In 1955, Eugene Svetlanov first spoke at the Bolshoi. It was the opera Pskovityanka. The singers considered his work extremely worthy. And the dancers noted that under his hands the orchestra sounded so that it gave creative power to the performer.
He amazingly felt the choreography. Dance and music were inseparable. Performers gained freedom, confidence and inspiration.
"Anthology of Russian symphonic music"
In the sixties, this ascetic colossal work begins. And she does not stop for thirty years. This business Evgeni Svetlanov carried through his creative life, as a mission. The beginning was made by recording Tchaikovsky's symphonies. A total of one hundred and ten discs were recorded.
Recognition abroad
For the first time in 1964, together with the Bolshoi, he performs in Italy at La Scala. The success was tremendous. He was equated with such great conductors as A. Toscanini, B. Walter and Karoyan.
Evgeny Svetlanov: personal life
The first marriage took place while working in the Bolshoi with the soloist Larisa Avdeeva (mezzo-soprano). Their son Maxim was growing up. The young journalist of Mayak radio Nina Nikolaeva came in 1974 to interview the great musician. She was by profession including a musicologist. Not only because of her specialties, but also at the behest of her soul, she attended concerts by the great maestro. The door was opened by the spouse, Svetlanova Larisa Ivanovna, and Evgeny Fedorovich himself went out behind it. He was wearing a stunningly beautiful blue robe with black satin lapels and slippers on his bare foot. All the little things of the first meeting forever engraved in the memory of Nina Alexandrovna, because she fell in love at first sight. She was divorced, but her dream was inaccessible.
Continuation of the novel
During one of the interviews, the conversation deviated from the topic, and it turned out that both of them were passionate fishermen. Then the great conductor went somewhere and brought a Japanese fishing rod of amazing beauty. They agreed to meet after work. Nina Alexandrovna did not believe that the meeting could take place. Nevertheless, Evgeny Fedorovich came and invited him to dinner at the Minsk restaurant. But for some reason it was closed. Then Nina suggested going to a small quiet restaurant where no one would recognize the musician. They quietly dined and talked about everything. The next day, Svetlanov came to her in Davydkovo, on the outskirts of Moscow, on a five-story building without an elevator and stayed all night. He was exhausted and just asleep. And in the morning he knelt down and said that he would never forget it.
Parting and a new meeting
Not easy to develop their relationship. For more than a year, Svetlanov did not make himself felt. And suddenly a call and a question: “Are you surprised? Can I come to you? ”They met and stayed together for twenty-five years. Nina’s wife dedicated his whole life to him. At first they did not think about children, and then it was too late.
Illness and death
A tumor appeared on the thigh, which practically did not bother. But analyzes showed oncology. Doctors demanded surgery. There were ten of them, and then 25 chemotherapy sessions. For 7 months Svetlanov walked on crutches and waited for the eleventh operation. He patiently endured excruciating pains. And on the last day he received 11 injections. But the pain didn’t go anywhere. It was impossible to tolerate her, and he screamed. And then, saying that it seems to be getting better, he fell asleep. In the morning he was already looking with some sort of detached gaze. He died in the evening, at 19 o’clock, on a bright May day on Easter Eve.
The funeral
He asked to be buried in the Vagankovsky cemetery, because it is more democratic than Novodevichye.
Anyone can visit him there. Svetlanov wanted some of his compositions to be performed. Perhaps, as he said, this will be the last time.
Evgeny Svetlanov is a titanium conductor. He suffered not only from severe physical pain, but also because of his beloved brainchild - the State Orchestra. A break with him because of the economic turmoil of the 90s turned Svetlanov into a lonely persecuted artist. Evgeny Fedorovich gave Svetlanov the last concert about two weeks before his death in London. The symphony “Winter Dreams” by P. Tchaikovsky and “The Bells” by Rachmaninov was performed with the BBC Orchestra.