Actor Fyodor Volkov: biography, creativity

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

He was called "the mover of social life", "the father of the Russian theater", and his name was put on a par with M. V. Lomonosov.

Biography of Fyodor Volkov

Fyodor Grigoryevich Volkov was born in a small town in the Kostroma region. He came from a merchant family. The father of the future actor died when he was still a child. After his death, his mother (Matryona Yakovlevna) soon met her future husband and remarried, after which the whole family settled in Yaroslavl. Fedor Polushkin (Fedya's stepfather) was a merchant and owned several factories.

Training

The boy studied reading and writing with a local pastor and already in these classes he showed his abilities in various areas. Volkov at an early age began to help his stepfather in business. In this regard, the boy gets acquainted with St. Petersburg early. Here, for the first time, he sees Italian opera, German productions and Russian performances. Noticing the boy's liveliness of mind and ability to learn, Polushkin even decided to make Fedor the heir and continuer of his life's work. Relations in the family developed well, and Fedor Polushkin perfectly accepted not only his youngest son, but also his other brothers.

To continue learningVolkov was sent to Moscow, to the academy. Here he studied the Law of God, the German language, and mathematics. The boy had a great inclination to learn languages, and mastered German to perfection. Already at that time, Fedor participated with great pleasure in theatrical productions held at the academy. He played at Christmas time in dramas, comedies and tragedies. The boy differed from his peers not only in his talents, but also in his quickness of mind and imagination, the ability to easily transform.

When Fyodor Volkov turned 17, Polushkin decides to send the boy to study accounting and trade. Fedor Volkov goes to St. Petersburg and gets a job there in a German office. It is here that the young man falls in love with the theater and he even has a desire to open a theater in his homeland - in Yaroslavl, where he could stage productions of Russian classical compositions. Petersburg with its architecture contributed to the formation of taste and sense of beauty. Here Volkov makes drawings, models and drawings, which later will form the basis of the theater he built. Actor Fyodor Volkov, whose photo can be seen in this material, even then could not imagine his future without creativity. And so it happened.

First performances

Actor Fyodor Volkov (whose date of birth is February 20, 1729) at the age of 19 is left without paternal support - his stepfather dies. As a legacy, Polushkin leaves his factories to the boy. After registering the property and obtaining financial independence, Fedor Volkov is even more interested in theater. He is with his friendsbegins to put on performances, holding performances in a barn where goods were previously stored. In June 1950, two plays were published, the music for which was composed by Volkov himself (“Esther” and “Evmon and Berfa”). Local residents appreciated the creativity of young talents, and soon Fedor manages to find patrons in high society. Governor Musin-Pushkin and landowner Maikov offer members of the high society to provide material assistance to novice actors and support them in their desire to build a theater where all residents of the city could comfortably spend time enjoying performances.

Fyodor Volkov: theater as a dream come true

At the beginning of 1751, a theater was opened, which presented the opera "Tito's Mercy", translated by Volkov from Italian. A huge number of plays were played in the theater, and subsequently many eminent actors worked under the direction of Fyodor Volkov.

Fame

The fame of the theater of the city of Yaroslavl grew day by day and soon the fame of it reached the Empress herself. By this time, the need to create a state theater increased, which was associated with the possibility of increasing the prestige of the country and the formation of a modern European state. Elizaveta Petrovna wished to see everything with her own eyes. In early 1952, the actor Fyodor Volkov was already giving performances in St. Petersburg. The comedy "On the Repentance of a Sinful Man", the tragedies "Khorev", "Sinav and Truvor", "Hamlet" and others were played at the court. The empress no longer wanted to let go of the theater, and Volkov quickly became a courtierartist and played already on the professional stage. Fedor's comrades on the stage (the most gifted ones) were sent to study in the cadet corps, and the rest - back to their homeland with a reward. The Volkov brothers were also not ignored, soon they will be enrolled to study in the cadet corps in the city of St. Petersburg.

Education in the building was carried out according to an enhanced program, the actors were taught not only standard disciplines: they also studied foreign languages, science and gymnastics, stage declamation techniques. Cadets received salaries for training.

Russian Public Theater

In August 1756, the Empress issues a decree establishing the Russian Public Theatre. The created Russian theater was very different from the previously existing court theater. All residents of the city were allowed into it, and viewing the performance was paid. A. P. Sumarokov is appointed director of the theater. Fedor Volkov becomes the main actor and assistant director. And after the death of Sumarokov, he replaces him in office (1761).

Actor's talent

Volkov was assigned the title of the main tragedian of the theater. He was very good at these roles, which he managed to play a large number of (for example, an American in "The Refuge of Virtue", Hamlet, Yaropolk in the production of "Yaropolk and Demiza" and others). However, he also played comedic roles no less well. Such a versatile talent was a rarity in the theatrical field. The nature of the game of the main actor also differed from the accepted one. He felt the theatrical art very well and subtly, knew all its rules.and canons. This allowed him to sometimes not comply with the established norms and play as he wished. Considering his talent, Sumarokov wrote many roles for him, which were easy for him and left an indelible impression on the audience. Volkov was called the most significant and best theater actor. His talent was noted by such respected people of that time as D. I. Fonvizin, Ya. Shtelin, N. I. Novikov, G. R. Derzhavin and others. Volkov is credited with at least fifteen different plays.

Volkov's other talents

Fyodor Volkov's abilities were not limited to the theater, but extended to other areas. He was an excellent sculptor - the carved royal gates in the Nikolo-Nadeinskaya church in the city of Yaroslavl were made by him. He also made a marble bust of Peter the Great. Fedor was also a skilled painter and painted many pictures.

In 1759, Fyodor Volkov, whose biography began in a small town in the Kostroma region, went to Moscow to transform the Moscow theater. To this end, he takes with him several actors from St. Petersburg.

Role in politics

Actor Fyodor Volkov played a significant role in the political life of the country. He took part in the overthrow of Peter III. He played the role of an adviser to Empress Catherine and helped her on her accession to the throne. In gratitude, Catherine elevated Volkov to the nobility. However, despite his closeness to the court and to Ekaterina Alekseevna herself, Volkov was able to resist the temptation to become a statesman and remainedtrue to himself, giving preference to the work of his life - the theater. He also refused the post of Cabinet Minister, as well as the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, which the Empress wanted to award him with.

Volkov's personal life

Devoting himself to the cause of his life and spending all his time on it, Fedor Volkov never started a family.

Fedor's brothers were granted titles of nobility for their loy alty to the Motherland and Empress Catherine.

Minerva Triumphant

During the accession to the throne of Catherine II, it was decided to arrange a big celebration in Moscow. The event took place on Shrovetide week, when mummers walked around the city and entertained the people. For this event, Volkov prepared a theatrical performance in the form of a masquerade, which was called "Triumphant Minerva". The essence of the performance was to explain to the people that the overthrow of Peter III was a great success and happiness for the population, namely, thanks to the change of power, justice could prevail. The production praised the new empress as a triumphant Minerva (Minerva is the goddess of wisdom and justice, patron of the arts, sciences and crafts). In this performance, Volkov was able to show most of his talents and deserve increased attention from the public. However, during the celebration, the great actor caught a cold and fell ill with a fever. He passed away in April 1763.

Fyodor Volkov was buried in a cemetery near the Androniev Monastery, but during the Great Patriotic War the monastery was destroyed and traces of the location of the gravegreat actor were lost. Despite this, a memorial plaque in honor of the famous actor was installed at the cemetery in Yaroslavl.