They called him a man-holiday. Eric Kurmangaliev was the star of any event. The artist was the owner of a unique voice, he hypnotized the audience with his unique countertenor. An unbridled, outrageous artist lived a bright and eventful life.
The childhood of the musician Eric Kurmangaliev
Erik Salimovich Kurmangaliev was born on January 2, 1959 in the family of a surgeon and a pediatrician in the Kazakh Socialist Republic. From childhood, the boy showed a love for music, which caused his father's displeasure. Later, the singer recalled that dad often beat him for singing. Like many Eastern men, the father believed that the boy should do something else. Singing is for women, it cannot become a profession for a man. However, his father died when the future singer was small. His mother has always supported him.
Passion for music began with the songs of Zykina. As a teenager, Eric became interested in the classics. He recorded concerts, then listened to them and repeated the parts. The first performance of Kurmangaliev took place while studying at school in a theatrical production.
After graduating from school, the guy moved to Alma-Ata and entered the conservatory. The teachers had no idea how to teach him, because there were no such voices at that time. He contradicted all the laws of nature and human anatomy. As a result, Kurmangaliev left for Moscow and entered Gnesinka. Then he realized what an unusual voice he has.
The singer said that each exam ended with a lengthy discussion of his vocal abilities. Unfortunately, he was expelled. The performer served in the army, where he played drums in the orchestra. Then he recovered at the music academy. After graduating from it, the artist entered graduate school. Then there was distribution to the Philharmonic, the first concerts and international competitions.
Musical career
Kurmangaliev's debut on the big stage took place in 1980. Then he performed in Leningrad at the Philharmonic. In general, the year was important for his career, since he met Alfred Schnittke. The composer was struck by the unusual voice of the singer. Subsequently, they collaborated several times.
The 1980s were marked by the development of a creative career. The singer performed with several symphonies. A cantata was written especially for him. In 1988, he performed in Boston, where he received the nickname of a modern phenomenon.
The situation changed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. What was happening in the country was new and incomprehensible, the musical sphere was in the background. Kurmangaliev never adapted. There were no concerts, no tours, no earnings. Salvation was Roman Viktyuk with his play “M. Butterfly".
We are talking about the artist again. Eric could go to the theater, perform on the big stage. However, he dreamed of singing, not acting. Later, he met Pierre Cardin and performed at his show.
Kurmangaliev told that things worsened again after the death of his mentor. There were no more concerts and performances, the financial situation worsened, although Kurmangaliev worked with many celebrities. He performed on the same stage with Raisa Kotova, Rozhdestvensky and Mansurov.
Personal life of musician Eric Kurmangaliev
The performer lived a rich life in all aspects. The question of his personal relationships is of interest to many. It is known that he was married. However, the marriage did not last long, and there is no information about the wife. Kurmangaliev periodically hinted at non-traditional sexual orientation, attended gay parties. By this he shocked the audience. Then the relationship with his wife worsened. Eric also had a younger brother who died. He left two children, but it is not known whether his uncle communicated with them or not.
Interesting Facts
Eric considered himself a man of the world. Despite numerous rumors, he did not identify himself with any of the religions.
They said that the singer went to the monastery. Therefore, in the last years of his life there was little information about him. Of course, this turned out not to be true.
Kurmangaliev sometimes spoke of himself as a woman. Several times one could hear from him that the performer feels like a woman, while remaining a man. He considered gender differences to be a convention.
The singer was called the first countertenor in the Soviet Union.
Career achievements
The talent of Erik Kurmangaliev was recognized during his lifetime. He won music competitions in Boston and the Netherlands. In 1992, he was recognized as the best actor for his role in the play "M. Butterfly". In 1996, in his native Kazakhstan, the artist became a people's artist for his contribution to classical music. He had 7 albums and 6 movie roles.
The last years of life and death of the singer
In the last years of his life, Kurmangaliev did not appear at parties and various "parties". Such an audience no longer interested him. He continued to give concerts, but under a pseudonym. The artist used the names of his parents, resulting in Eric Salim-Merouet.
In September 2007, Kurmangaliev fell ill. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and started treatment with antibiotics. However, the drugs were so strong that they caused other problems. In October, the artist was hospitalized with liver failure. Doctors fought for his life, but on November 13, the singer died.
And then there were 6 months of difficulties. That is how many Kurmangaliev could not be buried. The performer was cremated, however, the question of burial arose. He had no one left in his native Kazakhstan, because his parents and brother had died earlier.
In recent years, he worked alone, and there were no colleagues. Everything was decided thanks to Mikhail Kolkunov. With his help, the ashes of the performer now rest at the Vagankovsky cemetery. The famous soloist of the Bolshoi Theater Galina Nechaeva bequeathed her grave to Kolkunov. It was there that the singer was buried. The ceremony was attended by the closest people. None of the celebrities and friends of the tenor came.
