The real name of Utyosov. Biography of Leonid Utesov

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Look around and try to find a person who does not know what beautiful Odessa is? “For Odessa” at least once was definitely heard by all the inhabitants of our country. Some have been there and breathed in its special air, others love it and know it from books, films and songs. As they say in Odessa: “Do you want songs? I have them!” And the first musician and singer who is remembered at the same time, of course, is Leonid Utyosov. The real name of this legendary in all respects theater, film and stage artist is Weissbein, and his real name is Lazar or Leiser. At home they called him simply Ledya, Ledechka.

Childhood in Odessa

Leonid Osipovich Utyosov's biography began on March 22, 1895 (encyclopedias indicate the date March 21) in the city of Odessa. Then, in house number 11 on Triangular Lane, a boy was born who was destined to become famous himself and glorify his city. Many years later, the lane changed its name to Utesova Street.

The Weissbein family (real name Utyosov) was numerous - father and mother raised five children. Father, Joseph (Osip) Kalmanovich, workeda freight forwarder in the port, her mother - Malka Moiseevna - stood at the helm of her family, managing all the household (including her husband) with a firm hand. A Jewish mother and wife are “something separate,” so no one rebelled against matriarchy in the house in Triangular Lane. Ledechka, apparently, inherited his mother's tough temper, which could not but be reflected in his fate. But if Malka Moiseevna directed her character to solving family issues - managing her husband and children, victorious battles with merchants on Privoz, then Ledya splashed it out on those around her outside her father's house.

Firstly, he fought a lot and successfully, and even became a kind of celebrity in the boyish society of Odessa. Secondly, Ledya Weissbane was the only student expelled from the Feig Commercial School, an institution famous for its liberal practices. In those days, Jews (and the real name of Utyosov, as we remember, is Jewish) could only make up 5% of the total number of students in any educational institution in Russia. And only Feig had permission to receive 50% of the sons of the chosen people. Ledya Weissbein (real name Utesova) either hit or doused one of the teachers with ink and was expelled from the walls of the educational institution forever. Soon the young hooligan was hired by Borodanov's traveling circus as a "poster writer" and left the city.

Nomadic life

In the circus, he learned to walk the tightrope, work on the trapeze, make the audience laugh in the form of a "red clown". Having traveled around the cities and villages, in 1912 Ledya returned to Odessa and went to work in the theater of comedy and farce to Skovronsky. Howeverhe set the condition: “No Weissbanes” (Utesov’s real name) - and advised him to choose a more ex alted surname. The young artist took the advice literally and began to choose a pseudonym for himself, consonant with the names of the hills: Skalov, Gorin, Gorsky and, finally, Utesov. At the same time I changed Ledia to Lenya.

From now on, the true name of Utyosov will be known only in a narrow home circle. The country will recognize him and fall in love with him under a new "sublime" surname.

What would you name the boat…

In 1913, the newly minted Leonid Utyosov (his real name will never appear on theater posters again) entered the Theater of Miniatures, located in the city of Kremenchug. Here the theatrical career went uphill.

The young artist released a benefit performance called "From Tragedy to Trapeze". The play went on for many hours. First, Leonid acted out a scene from a dramatic performance, then he sang an act from an operetta, then he played the first violin part in a violin trio, after which he played pantomime. But that's not all. Then there were satirical couplets, a humorous story, dance, romance, parody, juggling, and in the final - a flight on a trapeze. He was received very well, especially in Odessa. A great admirer of the versatile talent of the young artist was the famous king of the underworld - Misha Yaponchik (Vinnitsky is his real name). He helped Leonid Utyosov more than once in matters related to his (Mishkin's) "department".

Marriage

Like any popularartist, and even more so young and hot, Leonid had a lot of fans. In addition, he regularly had affairs with partners in performances. And in 1914 he married a young actress Elena Goldina (Lenskaya). Soon their daughter Edita was born. In this composition, their family lasted the next 48 years. Elena, like Malka once, took the helm of the family ship into her own hands, and only thanks to her did he stay afloat for so long.

Theatrical life

Leonid Utyosov played in many theaters: the Bolshoi and Maly Rishelievsky theaters, the theater of miniatures of the city of Kherson, the mobile theater "Mosaic". In addition to the theater stage, the young actor performed on the stage. In 1917, he became the winner of the couplet competition held in Gomel. In 1919, he played a small role in the film Lieutenant Schmidt - Freedom Fighter.

In the twenties, Utyosov and his family moved first to Moscow and then to Leningrad. He moved from one theater to another, never staying anywhere for long.

Creating a Jazz Orchestra

This "flutter" continued until 1928, when Leonid Utyosov finally found his main love - jazz. It happened during a family trip to Paris. There he attended a performance by the American Jazz Orchestra conducted by Ted Lewis and was delighted with what he saw and heard. Returning to his homeland, Leonid managed to organize his own jazz orchestra, which he called "Tea Jazz". Then the name changed several times (State Jazz Orchestra of the RSFSR, Statepop orchestra of the RSFSR), but the main thing was that the team managed to play jazz in Soviet Russia, which, to put it mildly, was wary of musical trends like this.

At first, the orchestra mainly performed foreign compositions, but soon specially written songs and instrumental pieces formed the basis of its repertoire. Isaac Dunayevsky, a personal friend of Leonid Utyosov, became his favorite author.

Funny Guys

People's fame and love Utyosov and his orchestra brought participation in the famous film by Alexandrov "Merry Fellows", which was released in 1934. After that, decisively all the inhabitants of the country began to sing his songs and recognize the artist in person.

War and post-war years

During the Great Patriotic War, Leonid Utyosov traveled a lot to the front with concerts, more than once came under bombing and shelling, but continued to perform in front of the soldiers.

When the war ended, Utyosov's orchestra toured the country a lot, morally supporting his compatriots, because, as he says in his own song: "The song helps us to build and live." In subsequent years, the band continued active concert activity, began performing on radio and television, recorded records. Utyosov's daughter, Edith, performed with her father - she was a soloist in his orchestra.

Declining years

In 1962, his wife Elena died. Despite a long parallel relationship with Antonina Revels, it turned out to be difficult to survive the death of such a loved one. Leonid Osipovich ordeal.

He stopped performing, and just without extreme need to leave the house. Faithful Antonina remained nearby, but Utesov offered her to officially marry only 20 years later, after the death of her daughter in 1982 from a serious illness. However, the happiness was short-lived. A few months later, Leonid Osipovich died at the age of 87.

Despite the fact that Utyosov lived most of his life in Leningrad, he always remained an Odessa citizen. And now, 30 years after his death, remembering this man, we see the sun-drenched streets, feel the s alty wind from the sea on our lips and hear:

There is a city that I see in a dream, Oh, if you only knew how expensive

By the Black Sea the city that appeared to meIn blooming acacias…"