Zakharov Baletmeister Biography

He did a lot for the development of the country's choreographic art, laid the foundation for the Soviet ballet Pushkinian and putting the ballets “Bakhchisarai fountain”, the “copper horseman”, which he subsequently repeated on scenes in Budapest, Tokyo, Helsinki, Belgrade. He delivered the ballets "Caucasian captive", "Red Flower", "Cinderella". Rostislav Zakharov was born in Astrakhan on September 7.

About what this city means for him, he will write in one of his books “The Word of the Dance”. The first chapter of the “Salt of the Earth” begins with the words “Volga, Volga, Mother Mother, Volga, Russian river ... How grateful I am for everything that you gave me! The multinational noisy city, according to him, contributed to the assertion of the feelings of internationalism, which was carried through his whole life.

Zakharov’s children's impressions of Astrakhan: “The houses in the city were almost all wooden, one-story, with carved, like lace platbands and shutters that were closed all day to somehow keep the remains of night coolness in the rooms. The real oasis was the urban garden of Arkady, where wealthy trees, blooming shrubs and a lot of flowers grew ... The pride of the Astrakhan was a wooden, rather roomy theater, located in this garden, with a pretty good scene, which was performed by many gastroly -famous gastrodlers at that time.

The place was considered rich-there were a lot of money from the Astrakhan merchants, and therefore the best theatrical forces were often complained of there. ” Zakharov’s first acquaintance with art is connected not with the theater, but with a street barrel organ. At that time, the charming men were universal phenomenon. They traveled throughout Russia as stray artists.

Boys and girls often performed under the musical accompaniment - as they say, for a piece of bread, and the appearance of them left much to be desired. But then children, including the future legend of ballet, were waiting for these performances with enthusiasm. Rostislav Zakharov’s debut took place on one of the Astrakhan streets, to the fervent sounds of a barrel organ. Later he will say that it was she Sharmnyka who became for him the first “conservatory”, introducing the magical world of music.

The art of the Zakharov family was not alien - the father of Rostislav Vladimirovich played perfectly on Mandolin, Balalaika and other instruments. And the mother, who, among other things, was an excellent storyteller, became for him the first “choreographer”. She taught her son to dance to play a role in an amateur performance in the Balabanov house. Astrakhan childhood with street performances, the sounds of “Danube waves” on the embankment, performances of an amateur orchestra definitely played an important role in the life of the future artist.

The Zakharov family left Astrakhan because of the war and Petersburg-then Leningrad, became the next city city for the choreographer. The decisive turn in the fate of Zakharov was the admission to the State Academic Theater Ballet School, into which he, by the way, fell by chance. The fact is that his sister Lelya was going to enter the school. And when the mother and his sister went there, he simply did not want to be left alone at home.

And later, on the famous Rossi Street, on the wall of the school, he will see his name on the list of accepted. He will be able to truly master his profession and find personal happiness in Kharkov-young singers and ballet artists were typed there. Including - Rostislav Zakharova and his future wife - Maria Smirnova. Here the first solo performance took place in the “Humpbacked skate”, the second was the pirate dance in Corsara and the first independent ballet.

And in Kyiv, young spouses were handed over to a class in a ballet studio. He did not want to repeat the existing repertoire. The clavier of the composer of the Schaeer of Fantasy was a full -fledged debut. The studios were not able to dance the leading roles, so the teacher performed it himself. The success of the performance surpassed all expectations, and the group inspired by the first success decides to make a few more.

So, soon the audience will see Valpurgiev Night from the opera Faust, Polovtsian dance from the Principles of Igor and the Driginad’s two -haired ballet. The success of productions again brought Zakharov to Astrakhan - on tour. With a feeling of deep excitement, he sailed on a ship to his native city, where he was not 15 years old, recognizing familiar berths, dusty streets, rows of wooden houses, among which was the one where I was born.

Zakharov is called the founder of a drama. It was he who brought into life the following idea: "Like any dramatic or opera performance, it should be deeply substantial, understandable without reading the libretto." Zakharov went down in history and as a wonderful teacher who raised the galaxy of talented figures of the Soviet and foreign ballet. In Astrakhan, in honor of the flight of Rostislav Zakharov, a commemorative board was installed in the Astrakhan State Musical Theater in the Astrakhan Musical Theater.