Unforgettable Holy Fool from the film "Boris Godunov", powerful Faust, opera singer, twice awarded the Stalin Prize and five times awarded the Order of Lenin, creator and leader of the first and only opera ensemble. This is Ivan Semenovich Kozlovsky - a nugget from the Ukrainian village, who became the idol of millions.
Parents and childhood of Ivan Kozlovsky
The future famous artist was born in 1900 near Kiev. With his talents, Ivan was like his father and mother. No one taught music to the peasants, it was in their blood, inherited from their ancestors. Ivan's father, Semyon Osipovich, was easily given any melody, he could masterfully play it on the Viennese harmonica. And my mother, Anna Gerasimovna, had a strong and melodic voice.
The teachers noted Ivan's talent and diligence. He was even allowed to conduct music lessons in one school group. Semyon and Anna hoped that after school at the monastery, their son would continue his studies at the seminary. However, the guy didn't want that.
Ivan Kozlovsky: The first adult scene
In 1917, Ivan became a student at the Music and Drama Institute. The teachers, having heard his tenor, decided to teach for free. After graduating from the institute, Ivan Kozlovsky decided to devote himself to military service. In the Red Army, the unit where the future soloist of the opera stage volunteered was commanded by a former tsarist colonel, who was well versed in music.
Hearing Kozlovsky's singing, the colonel, amazed by the guy's talent, spoke with the commissar of the unit. And Kozlovsky was sent to serve in the Poltava Music and Drama Theater. It was during the army service that Kozlovsky made his debut on the opera stage. Once an artist of the local theater fell ill, and a graduate of the musical institute was asked to help out.
Career: star roles and victories of Ivan Kozlovsky
The musical whirlwind "picked up" Ivan Kozlovsky, so as not to let him out until the end of his days. From 1923 to 1924 the talented performer performed on the Kharkov opera stage, then at the Sverdlovsk opera. When the contract with the Ural theater ended, Kozlovsky became a Muscovite. In 1926, the Bolshoi Theater acquired a new soloist. And Kozlovsky's tenor sounded in the operas "La Traviata", "The Snow Maiden", etc.
The year 1938 was marked by a special event. In order to popularize classical compositions, he created the USSR State Opera Ensemble. It was an attempt to bring classical music closer to the general public, which is closer to the stage. This work was awarded the Stalin Prize.
War and post-war time
When the Great Patriotic War began, Kozlovsky and his colleagues considered it their duty to support the fighters who fought for their homeland. Concerts at the front and in hospitals, recording of radio shows - this was the contribution of the stars of the opera stage to the victory of the Soviet people over fascism. In 1944, thanks to the efforts of Kozlovsky and the conductor Sveshnikov, a boys' choir appeared, which later became a school.
When the Great Patriotic War ended, he again shone on the stage of the big opera. And his Holy Fool in Faust again delighted fans of the artist's talent. And the singer was awarded another Stalin Prize. Joseph Stalin highly appreciated the artist and loved to enjoy Kozlovsky's voice. Sometimes the artist, even at night, could be called to the Generalissimo, because Iosif Vissarionovich wanted to listen to a beautiful tenor.
In 1954 Kozlovsky left the Bolshoi Theatre. Ivan Semyonovich was now engaged in another matter. He spent a lot of time touring the Land of the Soviets. He also collected folklore and old romances. By the way, it was Kozlovsky who first performed the romance "I met you ...". The singer accidentally discovered the score with music by Leonid Malashkin in a second-hand bookstore.
In the post-war years, the singer starred in several films, his activity was enough not only for music, but also for cinema. And in his native Maryanovka in 1970, the famous opera singer decided to open a school for young musicians.
Family life of the artist Ivan Kozlovsky
His first wife was Alexandra Gertsik, a Poltava prima donna. Alexandra was 14 years older. However, this did not prevent Ivan from losing his head with happiness to be next to this ballerina. After 15 years, Kozlovsky met another woman with whom he wanted to connect his life. For several years, Kozlovsky, loving the actress Galina Sergeeva, continued to live with Gertsik, until the smart woman herself offered him freedom.
With Galina Sergeeva, the marriage lasted several years. Galina gave birth to two daughters, but a strong family did not work out. Galina was upset that Kozlovsky was attentive to the requests of strangers. And he never gave her gifts. He believed that the wife should live modestly and fulfill the requirements of her husband. This annoyed and annoyed the actress. And one day she left Kozlovsky. The abandoned husband never remarried. Now all his life was filled only with music.
Legacy of Ivan Kozlovsky
Ivan Semenovich Kozlovsky toured and gave concerts until the age of 87. In addition to concert activity, he was engaged in literary creativity. His memoirs were published a year before the death of the opera singer, in 1992.
Ivan Kozlovsky died on December 21, 1993. Relatives of Kozlovsky after the death of the performer established a fund named after him. This organization supported artists taking their first steps towards success. In Russia, an annual festival named after I. S. Kozlovsky was held, which brought together young tenors to demonstrate their skills.
