Opera and chamber singer Fyodor Chaliapin became famous as the owner of a deep voice. The work of the legend is known far beyond the borders of his native country.
Childhood
Fedor Ivanovich is from Kazan. His parents were visiting peasants. The mother did not work and devoted herself entirely to the introduction of the household, and the head of the family held the position of a writer in the administration of the Zemstvo.
He has the most pleasant memories of his childhood. Caring parents surrounded their son not only with attention. In particular, parents did not interfere with the development of the creative potential of their offspring.
In early childhood, Fedor discovered amazing abilities. The main asset of little Chaliapin was a chic treble. Thanks to his vocal abilities, he was enrolled in the church choir. Within the walls of the local church, he began to study musical notation. The head of the family did not believe that singing could enrich his son, so he gave him training as a shoe repair master. But, we note that he did not interfere with the formation of Fedor as a singer.
Chaliapin spent several years studying at school, and graduated with honors. Then Fedor was sent to work as an assistant clerk. He would later write that these were the most boring years of his life. His voice broke, and Chaliapin could no longer afford to sing. The work did not give Fedor absolutely no pleasure. He was on the brink of despair.
Perhaps, if not for one interesting case, Fedor would have spent the rest of his life in a boring job. Once he visited the Kazan Opera House. Chaliapin was amazed by what he heard on stage. He decides to completely change his life.
The youth of the musician Fyodor Chaliapin
When he turned 16, he decides it's time to act. By that time, his voice had ceased to "break", and he came to audition at the opera house. Despite his obvious talent, Chaliapin was sent home. Soon he was accepted into the Serebryakov Theater.
Very little time will pass and the young man will be entrusted with performing the leading role in the opera Eugene Onegin. The first significant success inspires Fedor and after that he moves to a more promising, in his opinion, troupe.
For a long time he manages to maintain the status of a talented self-taught. Minor failures provoke Fedor into action. It improves the vocals. Soon he joins the wandering theater from Little Russia, which was directed by the talented G. I. Derkach. With the troupe of the leader, Chaliapin went on a long tour. The tour ended with the fact that he decided to stay in Tbilisi.
In Georgia, Fedor's talent also did not go unnoticed. He was noticed by the teacher Dmitry Usatov. The latter was known as one of the most talented tenors of the Bolshoi Theatre. Dmitry saw great potential in Fedor. He takes it under his protection. In parallel with the vocal lessons that Usatov organizes for him, the young singer works in one of the theaters in the capital of Georgia.
Fyodor Chaliapin: Creative way
At the end of the century, he enters the service of the Imperial Theater of St. Petersburg. The Imperial Theater was imbued with rigor and order. This situation began to tire Chaliapin. Once Fedor's performance was noted by the philanthropist Savva Mamontov. He made a lucrative offer to the young vocalist. Savva lured the young talent to his theater.
Mamontov immediately realized that in front of him was a real nugget. Savva saw great creative potential in Fedor. He gave Chaliapin complete freedom of action in his team. Day after day, the singer revealed vocal data. No one limited him or adjusted him to a certain framework.
In the troupe, he managed to cover the popular bass parts of Russian operas. His performance of the role of Mephistopheles in Charles Gounod's Faust remains a benchmark. In a short period of time, Fedor Ivanovich managed to become an international star.
At the beginning of the new century, he again appears within the walls of the Mariinsky Theater. Now the doors to the best cultural institutions of the country are open to the opera singer. At the Mariinsky Theater he was enrolled as a soloist.
With the St. Petersburg theater he tours European countries. Once he was lucky enough to perform on stage at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. With his appearance, Fedor also pleased Moscow fans. He often performed on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre.
Awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR
From 1905, he increasingly began to perform as a solo singer. Chaliapin performed romances and folk songs. The audience especially remembered the presentation of the songs "Dubinushka" and "Along the Piterskaya". During this period of time, he gives the earned funds to workers in need of help.
The singer's performances resembled peaceful political actions. Such actions have received a good response from the current government. Fedor was in good standing with the current government. But, unfortunately, he still failed to retain the status of a “good citizen” in his native country.
After the revolution, positive changes began in the life of Fedor Ivanovich. He was appointed head of the Mariinsky Theatre. In addition, he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR.
In the new status, he did not stay long. After the first tour abroad, he decided not to return to his homeland. Chaliapin took with him a large family. Fedor Ivanovich no longer performed on the stage of his native country. A few years later, it was decided to deprive the singer of the title of People's Artist.
Interestingly, the creative biography of the famous singer is not only music. He was an incredibly versatile person. It is known that he was fond of painting and sculpture. He was lucky to star in several films.
Fyodor Chaliapin: Details of his personal life
Fedor Ivanovich was an amorous man. He met his first wife in his youth, when he worked in the theater of his patron Savva Mamontov. Chaliapin was subdued by the pretty ballerina Iola Tornaga.
In a girl, the singer was subdued by an obstinate temper and Italian origin. More than anything, he didn't want anyone to get her. He made her a marriage proposal, and Tornaga answered the man in return.
During her family life, the ballerina gave birth to six children from Fedor. More family did not keep Chaliapin from changes in life. He liked to take risks, besides, he was distinguished by windiness.
He often had to live in St. Petersburg, away from his family. The distance played a cruel joke with the couple. Soon he had a new woman. He met with Maria Petzold in secret. They did not advertise the relationship, since both were officially married. Soon they began to live together, and she gave birth to children from Chaliapin.
He continued to lead a double life until moving to Europe. When he went on tour, he took his second family with him. Some time later, children from his first marriage moved in with him.
At home, he left the eldest daughter and ex-wife. Despite the fact that Fedor acted dishonestly towards his first wife, she did not hold a grudge against her husband. In the 60s of the last century, Iola moved to Rome, but before leaving, the woman turned to the Minister of Culture with a request to create a museum in their house in honor of her ex-husband.
Interesting facts about the singer
- As a child, he was expelled from school for kissing a girl.
- He sought the location of his first wife for a long time. She gave up after he sang at the rehearsal of the opera "Eugene Onegin": "Onegin, I swear on the sword, I'm madly in love with Tornagi!" It was after this that the first wife decided to reciprocate his courtship.
- Rumor has it that he died not from cancer, but from the "hands" of the Soviet authorities.
- He helped visiting Russian emigrants who chose Paris for life.
- In the early 30s, he published the book Mask and Soul. In it, the singer spoke out harshly in relation to the Soviet regime.
The death of the artist Fyodor Chaliapin
In the mid-30s, he went on his last tour of the Far East. He has performed over 50 concerts. When the singer returned to France, he felt very unwell.
He didn't put off going to the doctor. At the end of the 30s, he was given an uncomforting diagnosis - "blood cancer". Doctors say that Chaliapin has no more than one year left to live.
The singer died in 1938 in his apartment, which was located in Paris. His ashes were buried in France, and only in the mid-80s of the last century, the son insisted on burying his father's ashes at the Novodevichy cemetery in the Russian capital.
