The Soviet era gave the world many talents and interesting personalities. Among them, it is worth highlighting the performer of folklore and lyrical songs Nina Matvienko - the owner of a magical "crystal" voice.
In terms of purity of sound, her singing is compared with the treble of the "early" Robertino Loretti. The Ukrainian singer still takes high notes, sings a cappella with ease.
Despite her venerable age, the voice of the famous artist is not subject to time - it remains as sonorous, gentle, iridescent and powerful as it was many years ago.
Childhood of Nina Matvienko
People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR Nina Mitrofanovna Matvienko was born on October 10, 1947 in the village of. Week of the Zhytomyr region. Nina grew up in a large family, where, in addition to her, 10 more children were raised.
From the age of four, the baby helped her mother with the housework. She looked after her younger brothers and sisters, grazed cows with her parents and did other hard, not at all childish, housework.
The Matvienko family lived very poorly - there was not enough money for basic needs. In addition, the father of the family was a big fan of pawning the collar. Need forced the Matvienko couple to save on everything, even to starve.
As soon as Nina was 11 years old, she was sent to a boarding school for large families in order to somehow alleviate the burden of the family. It was the stay in a specialized educational institution that tempered the character of the future artist and taught her how to achieve her goals.
She was often punished for the slightest offense, forcing her to kneel in a corner for hours. But this fact did not break the spirit of the future star of the Soviet scene.
Matvienko did an excellent job not only with the school curriculum, but also participated in sports competitions, went in for athletics and acrobatics, sang at musical evenings, and especially loved the compositions of Lyudmila Zykina.
Reading was another hobby of hers. “The lights were turned off in the whole building, and only a lit lamp remained above the ficus in the corridor,” recalls Matvienko, “it was there that I read another literary work.”
The path to success and difficult choices
Being a pupil of a boarding school, Nina dreamed of a career as an athlete and did not consider the profession of a singer at all, considering music to be a hobby and nothing more.
However, one of the teachers of the boarding school saw the girl's talent and advised her to try to enroll in some course at a music school or college.
Nina listened to the opinion of her beloved teacher, found a vocal studio at the choir. G. Veryovki, but did not dare to audition.
Having received a certificate of secondary education, the girl got a job at the Khimmash plant, first as a copyist, then as an assistant crane operator. Hard work and a small salary did not frighten Nina. She devoted herself completely to work, and in the evening she attended vocal lessons.
Having accidentally learned about the recruitment into the women's singing group at the Zhytomyr Philharmonic, Matvienko immediately went to the audition.
However, her talent was not appreciated, and the girl was refused. According to the commission, she lacked authenticity in her voice. The vacant seat went to the no less popular Ukrainian folk singer Raisa Kirichenko today.
But Nina did not lose heart. It was at this moment that she made a fateful decision and went to Kyiv to show off her vocal abilities in front of the members of the famous folk choir. G. Veryovka and teachers of the vocal studio with him. And she succeeded. Matvienko's talent was appreciated.
After graduating in 1968, she was offered to become his soloist.
Creative path and career
Success and fame came to the aspiring singer during her studies in the studio. The teachers predicted a great vocal future - and they were not mistaken. In the piggy bank of the performer there are several high awards:
- People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (1985);
- Laureate of the State Prize of the Ukrainian SSR. T. Shevchenko (1988);
- Order of Princess Olga III degree (1997);
- prize to them. Vernadsky for intellectual contribution to the development of Ukraine (2000);
- Hero of Ukraine (2006).
Victories in all-Union, national competitions and festivals, collaboration with famous composers of Ukraine (O. Kiva, E. Stankovich, A. Gavrilets, M. Skorik, singers A. Petryk, S. Shurins and other artists), solo parts and singing in as part of the trio "Golden Keys", the ensembles "Berezen", "Mriya", "Dudarik" - this is an insignificant part of Nina Mitrofanovna's creative successes.
Since the 1970s, the artist has toured with concerts not only in the Soviet Union, but also traveled to European countries, South and North America.
In 1975, Matvienko received a diploma of higher education, having graduated in absentia from the philological faculty of Kyiv University.
The People's Artist of Ukraine declared herself not only as a singer. She is the author of several poems and short stories. The most famous literary work is the biographical story “Oh, I will plow a wide field” (2003).
Nina voiced a number of scientific and documentary films, television and radio programs. She has played roles in New York's La Mama ETC theater productions and has appeared in several feature films and television plays.
In 2017, another nominal star in honor of Nina Matvienko was solemnly opened at the Kyiv "Square of Stars".
To date, the artist has 4 discs, participation in more than 20 films, theatrical performances, dubbing work on radio and television.
Family happiness
Nina Mitrofanovna Matvienko has been married since 1971. The artist's husband is the artist Peter Gonchar. Three children were born in the marriage: two weather-friendly sons Ivan and Andrey, as well as a daughter Antonina.
Having matured, the eldest son took monastic vows, and Andrei followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a sought-after artist. Tonya decided to take over her mother's experience and conquer the stage.
Nina Matvienko is a grandmother twice. Two granddaughters (Ulyana and Nina) were given to her by her daughter.
Their family is the embodiment of a family idyll, the standard of relations between spouses who have retained quivering feelings of love and loyalty to each other for so many years.
Interesting facts from the biography
- The artist's favorite dish is real Ukrainian borscht.
- In the 9th grade, a young pupil of the boarding school had a short affair with one of the teachers.
- Despite her age, Nina Mitrofanovna enjoys visiting the gym.
- The singer is not afraid of reincarnations, trying on new, rather extravagant roles with interest. The appearance on stage in a pink wig, stilettos and a sheath dress with a wide black belt during a joint performance with Dmitry Monatik in 2018 shocked the audience, as did the image of a punk with a white mohawk for a photo shoot. Not every lady at 71 will allow herself such a transformation.
- Rod Matvienko - descendants of Princess Olga. A distant ancestor Nikita Nestich was a second cousin of the ruler of Kievan Rus.
