Russian theater director Vladimir Vorobyov: biography, creativity, personal life

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

The famous Russian theater director Vladimir Vorobyov was born in Leningrad in 1937. For over 15 years he staged performances at the Leningrad Theater of Musical Comedy, and is considered the founder of the Russian musical genre. In addition, he made films, wrote scripts and taught. He has the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR, received in 1978.

Years of study

The first profession of Vladimir Vorobyov, at first glance, has nothing to do with his work. In 1960, he completed his studies at the Leningrad Shipbuilding Institute and for some time worked in his speci alty by distribution. Three years later, Vorobyov enters the director's course at the Leningrad Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography. However, the love of the sea and ships forever remained in his heart. This is proved by the famous film "Treasure Island", which the master shot in 1982. adventurethe movie performed by talented artists immediately fell in love with the Soviet audience, and many years later they still continue to watch it.

At the theater institute, the teacher of Vladimir Vorobyov's course was the famous Georgy Aleksandrovich Tovstonogov, director of the Bolshoi Drama Theater in Leningrad. He brought up a whole generation of talented directors, paying great attention to the Stanislavsky system. Vorobyov was considered one of the most gifted students of the institute. At the same time, he was distinguished by a complex character, which manifested itself later in his work. So, he could simply not go on stage if the role or production did not meet his requirements.

Vladimir Vorobyov's classmates were famous directors Efim Padve and Boris Gersht, Kama Ginkas and Henrietta Yanovskaya studied in the parallel group. Students noted Vorobyov's high efficiency, they said that he could rehearse from morning to night, not knowing fatigue. Interesting directorial finds, staginess and originality - all this was skillfully embodied in his work by Vladimir Vorobyov. His biography is full of events in which hobbies for ships intertwined with a thirst for adventurism and adventure, but at the same time there was also the ability to handle the crew, as Tovstonogov taught.

Period of work at the Leningrad Lenin Komsomol Theater

In 1968, Vladimir Vorobyov graduated from the institute and came to work at the Lenin Komsomol State Theater in Leningrad, now known as the "B altic House". From 1969 to 1971 he workedhere as artistic director. Several productions were made during this period. Among them:

• Performance-concert "Visible song", consisting of two parts. Efim Padve also took part in the production, directed by Georgy Tovstonogov.
• Musical and dramatic poem "West Side Story", which was attended by young artists Emmanuil Vitorgan, Alla B alter, Vadim Yakovlev, Viktor Kostetsky and other actors, mostly graduates of Georgy Tovstonogov.

In 1972, Vladimir Vorobyov had to leave Lenkom due to personnel changes.

Working in the musical comedy theater

Thanks to the support of his mentor Georgy Tovstonogov, in 1972 Vladimir Vorobyov became the chief director of the Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) Theater of Musical Comedy. Here the master works until 1988. The performances staged during this period are rightfully included in the golden fund of the history of the Russian musical theater. Vorobyov's performances were distinguished by high skill, where all facets of the art of impersonation were harmoniously combined: drama, plasticity, voice. In Soviet times, the concept of "musical" did not exist, but it was his performances that became the basis for the development of this genre.

Most famous productions:

• "Krechinsky's Wedding" (1973) based on the play by Alexander Sukhov-Kobylin. Composer - Alexander Kolker, poet and playwright - Kim Ryzhov.
• "Truffaldino" (1977) based on the play "Servant of Two Masters" by Carlo Goldone. Music by Alexander Kolker.
• "Case"(1977) based on the trilogy by Alexander Sukhov-Kobylin. The musical was written by Alexander Kolker.

Vladimir Vorobyov was a truly brilliant director. He was able to raise the classical operetta to such a high artistic pedestal that the period of his work was dubbed the golden age of the Leningrad Musical Comedy Theater.

Vladimir Vorobyov - director of musical films

In addition to working in the theater, Vorobyov made several television films that were very fond of the Soviet audience. His film "Truffaldino from Bergamo" in the lead roles with Raikin and Gundareva gained national fame. The rest of the roles were approved by the actors of his theater. Vladimir Vorobyov is called the last director in whom all the characters sing with their own voices. Modern cinema more often practices a different approach, when some actors are filmed and others are voiced. "Truffaldino" is interesting in that a film was first shot, and after Vorobyov transferred it to the stage.

The two-episode television film "Krechinsky's Wedding", on the contrary, was filmed after the premiere of the play at the theater and was released in 1974. All the roles were played by the same musical comedy actors, surprising with the amazing harmony of acting and vocals. This musical comedy ranks among the best works of Soviet cinema, and modern viewers still enjoy watching it with pleasure.

In 1982, viewers saw the three-episode film Treasure Island. Here Vladimir Vorobyov not only acted as a director, but also played the role of the pirate George Mary. Together with him in the rolethe young pastor's son Konstantin was filmed. The TV movie is known to have been censored twice, resulting in several scenes being cut.

Movie roles

In addition to the role of a pirate in his television movie "Treasure Island", Vorobyov starred in several more films. He first appeared on the screen in 1967, his hero is Semyon Mochalkin in the film "Bracelet-2". Later, the audience saw him in the role of deputy director in the film "From paycheck to paycheck" (1985), in 1986 he starred in the film "Fuete", playing the secretary of the regional party committee. In the TV movie "The Extraordinary Adventures of Karik and Vali" Vorobyov played the role of a police colonel.

In addition, the director wrote scripts for television films. So, in 1972, according to his script, director Igor Usatov shot the film "Tobacco Captain" on a historical theme.

The director's family and personal life

The parents of the outstanding director were peasants from the Tver region: Egor Dmitrievich and Anastasia Grigorievna Vorobyov. It is known that the Great Patriotic War claimed his father's life.

There is little information about the personal life of the actor, one thing is for sure - a theatrical dynasty appeared in St. Petersburg, and Vladimir Vorobyov became its founder (photos are presented in the article).

His children - Konstantin and Dmitry - famous theater and film actors, two grandchildren also chose the stage path.

A tragic accident ended the life of a brilliant master at the age of 62, when there is stillthere were many plans, new productions and benefit performances. But the name of Vladimir Vorobyov will forever be inscribed in the theatrical history of Russia and Soviet cinema.