Arkhipova Irina Konstantinovna: biography, photo, personal life, husbands. Vladislav Piavko and Irina Arkhipova

Irina Arkhipova - opera singer, winner of a wonderful mezzo-soprano, People's Artist of the Soviet Union, teacher, publicist, public figure. It can rightly be considered a national property of Russia, because the genius singing gift of Arkhipova and the world scale of her personality are unlimited.

The main events that Irina Konstantinovna Arkhipova experienced in her life, the singer's husbands, her achievements in music and in public activities - today is our story about this outstanding woman. On what internal principles did the opera queen of the Soviet Union live, and because of what did she quarrel with the great Galina Vishnevskaya? The reader will find the answers to all these questions in our article.

Childhood memories

Irina Arkhipova is a singer whose biography began in Moscow. The girl was born in January 1925 in a family of intelligent and very musical people. Her father - engineer Konstantin Vetoshkin - was an incredibly creative person, he played four musical instruments - a piano, a balalaika, a guitar, a mandolin. This commitment to music stretched from the old times of the Vetoshkin family. Once in the family of Konstantin Ivanovich's parents there was a whole family orchestra. Mama Arkhipova - Evdokia Efimovna Galda - sang in the Bolshoi Theater. Irina Konstantinovna recalls: "Mom had a very beautiful voice with a soft timbre, Dad always admired her talent. Parents liked to attend concerts, opera performances, ballet. " Live music constantly sounded in the parents' house, Irina heard it from childhood.

Parents tried to instill a comprehensive education and, of course, love for the music of their daughter. I must say that Irina was a gifted child in many things - she was able to draw, not bad singing. It was decided to give it to study at a music school with a conservatory in Moscow for piano. However, education had to be interrupted - the girl suddenly fell ill and was unable to attend classes. Later, Irina again made an attempt to get closer to the world of music - she entered the school of the Gnesin sisters and began studying with Olga Fabianovna Gnesina. Simultaneously with playing piano, Irina Konstantinovna sang in the school choir.

Choice of profession

Parents, of course, understood that their daughter has a musical talent, but they were of the opinion that singing is not the best occupation, which makes it possible to settle well in life. Whether it's the profession of an architect, to which Arkhipova did not have a hefty ability. In addition, Irina Konstantinovna has always admired the works of famous female sculptors A.S. Golubkina, V.I. Mukhina and seriously thinking about how to relate his life to architecture.

The war made a choice for Irina Konstantinovna. The Vetoshkins' family was evacuated to Tashkent. There the future opera diva entered the Architectural Institute, which by coincidence was also in Tashkent, in the evacuation. In parallel to studying in the university, Arkhipova Irina Konstantinovna studied in the vocal studio at the institute. Her teacher was Nadezhda Malysheva, who opened a music world to her student, introduced her to opera. According to the very Irina Arkhipova, it was Nadezhda Matveyevna who initially brought the student to the correct interpretation of musical works, taught them to feel the form and content, introduced them to romance and opera literature.

In the walls of the Architectural Institute Irina Arkhipova gave her first speech before the public. I must say that music and theater enjoyed great respect both among teachers and among university students and similar concerts were an important part of students' lives.

In 1948, Irina Arkhipova defended the "excellent" thesis project and distributed in an architectural studio, which was engaged in Moscow projects. With the participation of Irina Arkhipova, residential houses were built on the Yaroslavl highway. According to her project, the Moscow Financial Institute was built.

Singing career. Start

In the year of 1948 evening lessons became available at the Moscow Conservatory, and Irina, without leaving the work of the architect, entered the first year of the school in the class of the artist of the RSFSR Leonid Savransky. In 1951, the singer made her debut on the radio. In 1954, Irina Arkhipova switched to a full-time form of training, for which she took leave at her own expense. She sincerely believed that after graduation she would definitely return to the architectural work, but this did not happen. Irina Konstantinovna brilliantly defended the thesis work, with honors passed the state examinations and entered postgraduate study. Unfortunately, she did not pass any tests to the troupe of the Bolshoi Theater.

In 1954, Irina Arkhipova went to Sverdlovsk, where she worked in the opera theater for a year. The first popularity came to the singer when she won the International Vocal Competition. Taking the Grand prix in a musical contest, I decided not to stop at the reached Irina Arkhipova. Biography of her creative formation continued with concert activity in the cities of Russia. Two years later the future opera diva turned out to be in Leningrad. She performed very successfully on the stage of the Maly Theater, after which she was offered to stay in the cultural capital. However, unexpectedly for all by order of the Ministry of Culture Arkhipov was transferred to Moscow. Since March 1956, Irina Konstantinovna was officially listed in the troupe of the Bolshoi Theater.

Work at the Bolshoi Theater

April 1 of the same year Irina Arkhipova made her debut on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. She performed with great success in the opera "Carmen" by Georges Bizet. Her partner in the scene was the Bulgarian dramatic tenor Lyubomir Bodurov. Of course, in the career of a young and beginner actress, it was a sharp turn. Irina Arkhipova, whose biography of creativity began a few years ago, did not have time to work at the Bolshoi Theater for a year. And now she has already received the main part in the great opera.

As Irina Arkhipova herself recalled about that period of time: "All my thoughts were only occupied with one thing: to prepare and perform well in the play. In my youth and ignorance of life, I did not expect that to be afraid is not the first time on stage. Beware of her debut appearance on her as a soloist of the production of "Carmen". I then thought that this is a simple pattern - the first time in the Big and immediately in the main role. I could not think that this was an exceptional case. "

In May 1959, in the career of Irina Arkhipova, another important event occurred: she performed one of her most beloved roles in the play "Khovanshchina" by Moussorgsky - the party of Martha.

World Recognition

In June 1959, the tour of the tenor from Italy by Mario Del Monaco was organized in the USSR. The opera singer took part in the play "Carmen", becoming Irina Arkhipova's partner on the stage. His arrival in the Soviet Union was an incredible event that had a public resonance. The duet with the world star was the culmination event in the creative career of Irina Arkhipova, who opened the doors to her for world popularity. The television and radio broadcast of the performance in European countries contributed to the instant recognition of the talent of the Russian opera queen. Arkhipova Irina Konstantinovna, whose photo now does not leave the covers of Soviet magazines, did not have time to accept numerous proposals for work from abroad.

She had joint performances with Mario Del Monaco in the cities of Italy. By the way, this was the first performance of a Russian singer on the Italian stage in the history of all Soviet opera. Irina Arkhipova was a pioneer in promoting the national opera school in the West. Soon the first internship of young Soviet singers in Italy - Milashkina, Vedernikov, Nikitina, and others became possible.

Getting to know Wustman and Caballe

In the summer of 1963 Irina Arkhipova went to Japan, where she gave 14 concerts in many cities of the country. In 1964, the singer performed on stage "La Scala" in the performances: "Boris Godunov" (the party of Marina Mnishek), "War and Peace" (party Helen Bezukhova), "Queen of Spades" (Pauline). Irina Arkhipova also managed to go overseas - she held several performances in the US. In New York, the singer met John Vustman - a famous pianist, with whom they recorded a record with the works of Rachmaninoff and Mussorgsky at the firm "Melody". Joint work was awarded the Grand Prix "Golden Orpheus" in France. By the way, John Vustman became for Arkhipova creative friend for many years.

Thanks to the festival, held in the south of France, Irina Konstantinovna met Montserrat Caballe and was incredibly surprised with the dignity of the world star. "During our work in the play" Troubadour "Montserrat never allowed herself" royal "whims. She was always attentive to her colleagues on the stage, without suppressing either of them with her glory. Her behavior confirms the immutable truth - the great artist has nothing to boast about - for him says art, his own talent and great ability to work. "

Personal life

Active creative activity did not become an obstacle to the personal happiness of the singer. The opera diva several times tried to create a family. Husbands Irina Arkhipova belonged to different professional circles. The first husband of Irina Konstantinovna was Eugene Arkhipov, who in 1947 she gave birth to Andrei's son. However, the marriage soon disintegrated. The second husband of the singer was her colleague in the shop. Irina Arkhipova and Piavko Vladislav - opera tenor - met in the walls of the Bolshoi Theater. Once upon a time this relationship was predicted by an unfortunate finale, but the ranchers made a mistake in their forecasts.

According to the relatives of the Soviet opera diva, she was happy in marriage. Life of Irina Konstantinovna except creativity was filled with women's happiness. Vladislav Piavko and Irina Arkhipova lived together for more than forty years. Although the relationship of two talented people began with a loud scandal, which was learned not only in the Soviet Union, but also far beyond its borders. The conflict between Irina Arkhipova and Galina Vishnevskaya - another prima of the Bolshoi Theater - flared up precisely because of the young and promising opera singer - Vladislav Piavko. Details of this scandalous story became known to the public thanks to the story published by Irina Konstantinovna in the book of her husband (Vladislav Piavko) "Tenor: from the chronicle of lived lives ...".

And it all happened like this. When the beginning singer just appeared on the threshold of the Bolshoi Theater, he immediately began to take care of Galina Vishnevskaya, but, rather, not as a man, but as a fan of her great talent. Vladislav's friend sent him from Riga a huge number of carnations, which the tenor presented to Galina Pavlovna as a sign of devotion and boundless respect. When Irina Arkhipova came to the theater, Piavko unexpectedly "switched" to her. The singer made it clear to the man that he would not succeed, even if he was much younger than Irina. However, this did not alienate the admirer, but only made him more excited.

The official version of the quarrel between the two opera divas was their dispute over participation in the same play, but the true cause of the conflict was far from being working, and personal. Between women there was a hard conversation, during which Arkhipova spoke, not hesitating in her expressions. It came to the point that Galina Vishnevskaya wrote a statement to Arkhipova in the party committee. The woman was summoned to the party meeting with a demand to apologize. Arkhipova offered to apologize only for the form, refusing to apologize for the content. This meeting of the party committee was over.

Soon about the novel prima Bolshoi Theater and Vladislav Piavko became known to others. Men under the onslaught of Siberian obstinacy Irina Arkhipova saves. And fate certainly played here not the least role.

Vladislav Piavko and Irina Arkhipova had a significant age difference, which was sixteen years. In marriage, singers did not have common children, but Vladislav was already the father of four. Irina Arkhipova had only Andrey's son. After a while, Andriush's grandson was born to the opera diva, who later graduated from the conservatory and became an actor of the Bolshoi Theater. Andrei once had a daughter, Irina, named after her famous grandmother. Unfortunately, the great Irina Arkhipova survived her son for four years.

Social activity

Career Irina Arkhipova as a public figure began with her participation as a member of the jury in the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1966. Then there was the chairmanship of the Glinka contest, participation in many world forums, for example, Verdi's Voices, the Queen Elizabeth Competition in Belgium, the vocal competition in Paris and Munich, the Maria Callas and Francisco Viñas Contests in Greece and Spain, respectively.

Since 1986, Arkhipova is the head of the All-Union Music Society, later renamed the International Union of Music Figures. In the 90s, Irina Arkhipova became the chairman of the commission in the Bulbul Competition, timed to the 100th anniversary of the birthday of this singer from Azerbaijan. In 1993, in Moscow, a special fund named after Irina Arkhipova was established, which supports the beginning musicians in every possible way. However, the large-scale activity of Arkhipova is not limited only to the musical sphere. Irina Konstantinovna participates in various international congresses and symposia that deal with the global problems of mankind.

His heights in life Irina Arkhipova achieved thanks to the titanic work, perseverance, and love of the profession. This woman is a unique phenomenon. In addition to all the above directions in the activity, she is a great hard worker.

Arkhipova is Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of the State Prize of Russia for Education, laureate of the Prize of the Moscow City Administration in the field of literature and art. Her activities are marked by the International Prize of the St. Andrew Foundation. In the treasury of regalia of Irina Konstantinovna, three Orders of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, the Order of Merit for the Fatherland. The singer was awarded the Cross of St. Michael of Tver, the distinction "For Charity and Charity", a medal named after Pushkin. In addition, Irina Arkhipova is a People's Artist of several countries - Kyrgyzstan, Bashkortostan and Udmurtia. Also, Irina Konstantinovna holds several honorary titles: "Man of the Year", "Man of the Century", "Goddess of Arts".

Arkhipov. Who is she?

In the year of her eightieth birthday Irina Arkhipova gave an interview to journalists izvestia.ru, in which she shared her memories and life guides. The singer said that in her dizzying musical career, she experienced a lot. Arkhipova did not always sing what she wanted. Often she had to perform chamber programs in order to be something busy. Arkhipova Irina Konstantinovna, whose biography of creativity counts a huge number of facts and events, nevertheless regrets something. She never had to sing from the stage of the "Orléansque virgo".

By the way, Arkhipova did not have powerful patrons, she was never anybody's favorite. People loved her for her talent, and that was enough. Irina Arkhipova was often nominated to deputies without her knowledge, in absentia. She did not resist and tried to help her voters than she could. Basically, we had to solve the housing problem. By the way, according to the singer's own admission, she was often met by decent people in the Supreme Council. Irina Arkhipova organized the construction of a church on the Prokhorovsky Field, where she invested large sums of money.

A little bit about yourself

The woman claims with certainty that she has a happy ticket in her life. She had wonderful parents, friends and relatives. She always did what she liked; A lot of countries have traveled; Met with outstanding people of his time; Felt the love of fans of his work. And all my life felt itself necessary. Arkhipova always tried to live by the principle: "Whatever the age in which you live, there will not be another time for you. Therefore, now it is important to do something that will leave a mark on the hearts of people for many years to come. " In addition, I felt myself and just a happy woman Irina Arkhipova. Her personal life was formed and was long and full. She is grateful to her partners for everything. At each of them the woman learned something. Irina Arkhipova and her husbands were always more than just cohabitants. They were friends.

At one time, the woman helped to ensure that her grandson Andrei Arkhipov got into the troupe of the Bolshoi Theater. But not just because it's her relative. The singer really saw in her Andriush great musical talent.

About herself she said that her character is complex, and not everyone liked it - Arkhipova always had a habit of telling people the truth in person. From this she was often considered harsh. And she was not harsh, but just quick-tempered. Could break and commit a rash act, which then regretted. Irina Arkhipova died in February 2010 at the age of 85. Buried in Moscow at the Novodevichy Cemetery.