Recently, the country said goodbye to its beloved singer - Joseph Kobzon (09/11/1937 - 08/30/2018).
He devoted more than fifty years of creative activity to song and stage. The unforgettable performance of Joseph Davydovich's works of Soviet and Russian authors and composers remained in the chronicle of records, on phonograph records, magnetic tapes. In the songs with which the national artist pleased the listeners, there is the history of the whole country.
From deeply lyrical to passionate works in his patriotism - such is the palette of creativity of this unusual artist, singer, public figure. But, unfortunately, all people are mortal. On August 30, 2018, the artist died ... The death of Kobzon shocked the whole country.
"You know what kind of guy he was ..."
Many knew or guessed about Kobzon's extraordinary performance and devotion to art.
- During his life he recorded more than 3,000 songs, gave up to 12 concerts a day.
- On the day of his farewell to the stage, Joseph Kobzon held a concert more than 11 hours long, from seven in the evening to six in the morning.
- He was always in hot spots, supporting the traditions of Russian singers and actors and brightening up the military everyday life of our soldiers at the forefront. In peacetime, he managed to form an acting brigade traveling to the places of military operations: to Afghanistan, post-war Chechnya, the rebellious Donbass ... By the way, a monument to life was erected to I. Kobzon in Donetsk, streets and museums were named in his part.
- Iosif Davydovich Kobzon all the time gave concerts on the territory of Russia, delighting with the talented, sincere and sincere performance of songs not only by residents of the capital, but also by distant provincial cities, where he was always warmly welcomed, and concerts were held at full houses.
- Spectators were waiting for him not only at home, but also abroad, and on tour the artist traveled to 100 countries of the world.
The date of Kobzon's death is August 30, 2018. He left the stage, but the songs of Joseph Davydovich were forever in the memory of the audience.
About courage, conscience, glory
Having survived his military childhood, difficulties and hardships at an early age, the artist has always been kind to children, especially orphans.
He took "under the wing" two orphanages back in the eighties. And all the years he voluntarily and without advertising helped. These are children's homes in Yasnaya Polyana and in Tula. The best evidence is the words of Tatyana Alekseevna, director of one of the orphanages in Yasnaya Polyana:
“Joseph Davidovich is the most dear, dear person in our house. Chairman of the Board of Trustees, he solves all our problems: repair, construction, and recently presented a car for household needs. He buys a home for graduates, puts significant sums of money on their savings books so that he can start life, knows all the children by name, and is interested in the fate of those who have finished their studies. The staff pays for the holidays, for the whole house - departure for a summer vacation in Anapa. I don’t know how we would survive without him. ”
I would like to believe that the death of Kobzon will not cause too much damage to these houses, other donors will appear and not disappear, and orphans will not be left without the help and guardianship of intelligent, noble and disinterested people to match I.D. Kobzon.
It is no coincidence that the singer was awarded the title of honorary citizen in twenty-nine cities of Russia and the CIS, including in Moscow. In the capital over the past 140 years, I. Kobzon has become the 24th honorary citizen of Belokamennaya.
The photo below captures the last concert, a lifetime farewell to Kobzon of loving spectators.
Disease control
Fighting hard for life - this can be learned. Only close relatives and friends knew how courageous Joseph Kobzon was, what was required to deal with a grave illness.
- Since the beginning of the 2000s, health has been shaken for the first time: severe back pain, revealed diabetes mellitus. Without completing the procedure and examination, I. Kobzon leaves for Astana to participate in the International Assembly of major cities and capitals of the CIS countries. After three days of participation, he returned to Moscow with a serious deterioration in health and temperature, and from June 14 to 30, 2001, fell into a coma. They managed to save him.
- In 2005, Joseph Kobzon was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor; in the German clinic he underwent a very complicated tumor removal operation. But the operation led to a deterioration in the singer’s well-being, a drop in immunity, as a result of sepsis and the formation of blood clots. Secondary surgery did not bring improvement. Finally, in 2009, after the operation in Moscow, the singer was saved in the oncological center on Kashirsky. Death from Kobzon also receded this time.
Larisa Dolina told about this difficult time for the singer:
He has such a strength of character, such a strength of will and such a craving for life that he outwitted everything. He outwitted death. Five days after the most difficult operation, he arrives in Jurmala, goes on stage, unlike many of our “stars”, sings live.
And another eleven years of the fight against death, about which we, the audience, did not know anything. We just knew that the next holiday in the country would come, there would be a big concert on TV, and Joseph Kobzon would certainly come on stage and sing, so much so that goosebumps would run ...
No one knew that he was so seriously and terribly ill. Continuing treatment was required in one country abroad, then in another. And here is the sanction list, in which the name of Joseph Kobzon was made because of events in Ukraine, even Russian President V.V. Putin assisted the singer in the possibility of obtaining a national Italian visa. The treatment was too complicated, the singer was too expensive for the whole country.
The family was always there in joy and on difficult days.
How important it is for any person to receive support during the difficult days of life’s trials. Do not stay alone with adversity. A public person, famous, titled, like an ordinary simple person, also needs love, sympathy, support.
Joseph Davydovich had a very strong and friendly family, sincere love and good relations always illuminated the difficult fate of an outstanding singer.
Nelly’s wife is the singer’s muse, the first calmly and courageously said about the deadly diagnosis: “We will be treated, we will fight.” And maybe, thanks to this mood, Joseph Kobzon managed to withstand incredible health problems for such a long time.
The singer and his wife, his muse, have lived in the same breath for the past forty-seven years.
What remains after
Kobzon Joseph Davydovich had two children and seven grandchildren. Although the singer himself believed that he had ten grandchildren, as he took care of two more children of his son’s first wife, but born from another marriage, as well as his sister’s grandson.
The artist said so about his most beloved people:
I can safely go to another world, they have everything. Both children and grandchildren: all wealthy, all educated. Daughter graduated from MGIMO, son - law university. Two granddaughters became students this year: one, Polina, now studying at Moscow State University, the second, Edel - at the University of London. The rest are growing. They love my country, the songs that their grandfather sings ...
And for him, such concepts as family friendship, mutual understanding and kindness were always important, but most importantly, love for a woman, especially for a mother.
He did not cease to mourn his mother, who died in 1991. According to the singer himself, she was a moral guide for him all her life.
The artist told about his mother:
No matter where I went, I always consulted my mother. Mom always told me: “Do not spare yourself and do not spare anything for others, because good will definitely return.” My mother was a very wise woman. This is my god, my religion.
Ida Shoikhet-Kobzon passed away in 1991, but remained forever in her son’s memory the same as before: incredibly tactful and cultural, energetic and loving, I. Kobzon carried her advice and instructions through her whole life.
At the Vostryakovsky cemetery, where the mother of Joseph Kobzon is buried, the singer himself was also buried, next to his beloved mother.
"The day will come, and with the crane flock ..."
This summer was hard, especially for people with poor health. In late July, the singer felt worse and was hospitalized. By August 7, newspapers reported that he was discharged from the hospital. But the joy was short-lived, in mid-August Kobzon was again put in a hospital in serious condition.
Doctors fought for his life to the last: they managed to stabilize their condition, but not for long. The body, undermined by the disease, began to donate, it took the connection of life support devices. First came a coma. And in the last days of August, Joseph Kobzon died. Date of death - August 30, 2018. Buried on September 2. The memorial service was held in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.
The death of the singer, national artist and public figure shocked many - from ordinary citizens to people of the highest rank.
The following people arrived at the farewell ceremony in connection with the death of Kobzon: Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, Russian Prime Minister D. A. Medvedev, Belarusian President A. G. Lukashenko, North Korea’s top leader Kim Jong-un, and the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the self-proclaimed DPR Alexander Zakharchenko (now deceased), the first female cosmonaut Valentna Tereshkova, leader of the LDPR party Vladimir Zhirinovsky and many other well-known politicians and public figures.
The funeral of Joseph Kobzon was honored by the presence of Russian pop stars and famous figures of culture, theater and cinema.
September 2, at 14:00 to the sounds of the composition “How Young We Were”, the coffin with the singer’s body was transferred to the street, immersed in a hearse, and continued moving towards Vostryakovsky cemetery. In the place where the mother of Joseph Kobzon was buried, an outstanding singer was buried next to her. I. Kobzon acquired a place near the burial place of his mother in 2017.
The funeral was held with military honors. The son, Andrei Kobzon, who read over the tomb of the late father Kadish, a memorial prayer in Hebrew, participated in the burial ceremony.
The singer left this world forever. But with us were his songs and an example of selfless service to the motherland.