Songwriter Dobronravov Nikolai Nikolaevich: biography, family, creativity

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

The names of Pakhmutov and Dobronravov always go together. Both on the creative path and in life, being an example for many people not only with an attitude to life, but also a guiding beacon, thanks to their creations: songs, melodies and poems created over many years of successful creativity.

Short biography of Dobronravov Nikolaev Nikolaevich

So, first things first. Dobronravov Nikolai Nikolaevich was born in St. Petersburg (then, in 1928 - Leningrad) in a family of intelligent people who from a young age instilled in him a love of art. When the boy was 14 years old, he had to be evacuated to the Moscow region - the war spared no one. These years will forever be engraved in his memory, subsequently pouring out into texts of poems and songs that are amazing in their depth.

Received two educations: an actor and a teacher. For a long time I did not dare to make a choice in favor of teaching literature or writing books. Meeting with the woman he loved put everything in its place.

Private life

The poet considers his meeting with Alexandra Pakhmutova in 1956 one of his most successful days, when they began to work on the firstcommon project: a children's song for the program. This is exactly the same Love that is written about in novels and films are made about: for fifty years the couple has never parted, and the fire of love, lit more than half a century ago, still shines in their eyes.

They got married six months after the first date, and continuing to go hand in hand all their lives: in the family, at home and at their favorite work. Unfortunately, the brilliant couple has no children: the family of Nikolai Nikolaevich Dobronravov is only his beloved Alechka. But who knows: would they have created such a record number of songs, poems and melodies if there were children? Maybe it is the will from above that they do not scatter their talent on other aspects of life, completely devoting themselves to art?

One of the best tandems of the Soviet space

The creative union "Pakhmutova and Dobronravov" for many years of activity has created a great many of the brightest songs, popular not only on the territory of the Union of Republics, but also abroad. The spouses did not get hung up on one topic of propaganda necessary in Soviet times and with pleasure created hits on the topic of love, sports, the topic of astronautics, geology, which was relevant in the 60s and 70s. The romance of bonfires - that's how their hits were lovingly called by lovers of spiritual relaxation by the fire, with a guitar and a warm company. “The main thing is not to grow old with our hearts”, “How young we were”, “We cannot live without each other”, “Bird of happiness”, “You are my joy” - this is just a minimal list of what was written by a tandem of brilliant authors.

The song "Goodbye, Moscow", which became the anthem of the Olympics in 1980, served as world recognition, under which thousands of spectators cried, seeing off an eight-meter inflatable bear into the sky.

Literary creativity

Dobronravov Nikolai Nikolaevich began to write while working at the Theater for Young Spectators, in the distant 50s: even then, in collaboration with the actor Grebennikov, the first New Year's dramatizations, children's plays and fairy tales were written, which were staged in theaters. Even now, some theaters are happy to present them.

At the dawn of the 60s, a play for children “The Lighthouse Lights Up” was written, which is still performed at children's holidays, and soon a libretto was created, according to which Ivan Shadrin was staged a little later. In the biography of Nikolai Nikolaevich Dobronravov, there is close cooperation with the publishing house "Young Guard" - one of the largest in the Soviet space. Thanks to this, the following works were released:

• Hawkhorn Island.
• “The beacon lights up.”
• "Desperate, push off!".
• "Vacations are coming soon."
• "The third is not superfluous."

The poems of Nikolai Nikolayevich Dobronravov are a separate story, moreover, this is a whole era of lyrical, soulful and heartfelt lines that plied the expanses of the Russian-speaking space. Even now, the brilliant poet does not give up his positions, presenting the world with another brainchild. For fifty (!) years of creativity, many collections of poems were released, which formed the basis of many songs, poetic short stories and reflections on the eternal theme of good andevil, attitude to life, the soul of man and his actions. He very sharply touches on the theme of the war, which has passed as a thick red line in the biography of Nikolai Nikolaevich Dobronravov, which is deeply reflected in the well-known songs: “Children of War”, “And the Battle Continues Again”, “Belarus”.

There is no song without destiny

These lines from Dobronravov's poems became his guiding thread in his work: the author believes that a good song must be "experienced" in the process of writing, that is, felt with all the fibers of the soul before bringing it to the listeners' judgment. And Nikolai Nikolayevich succeeds like no one else, because songs based on his poems have been performed for several generations. The list of performers includes: Muslim Magomayev, Valentina Tolkunova, Iosif Kobzon, Sofia Rotaru, Yuri Gulyaev, Edita Piekha, Nikolai Baskov, Lev Leshchenko, Alexander Gradsky - that is, the masters of the stage, bringing the light and height of the human soul to the masses.

Also in the list of performers of songs based on Dobronravov's verses there are well-known groups: "Pesnyary" (the well-known "Belarus" and "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" won the hearts of millions of fans of Nikolai's work), "Syabry", "Gems".

Most popular pieces

Songs based on Dobronravov's verses have been heard for several generations. But, as before, they do not lose their relevance, freshness and depth of transmitted emotions. In the biography of Nikolai Nikolaevich Dobronravov, such hits will forever remain:

• "Tenderness" is a global hit: it was covered not only by domestic, but also by foreign performers:Frida Boccara (France), Lourdes Gil (Cuba), Modern Talking soloist Thomas Anders (Germany), Ingrid (Italy), Slava Przybylska (Poland). The text was translated into the languages of many countries, many recognized this song as a "hymn of love." For the first time "Tenderness" was performed by the great Maya Kristalinskaya, who, during the performance, could hardly hold back tears of enthusiastic emotions from this unique work.
• “A coward doesn’t play hockey” is considered the unspoken anthem of Russian hockey players, which was also covered several times by modern performers: Sergey Mazaev, the Brilliant group, and for the first time back in 1968 it was performed by Vadim Mulerman.
• "Bird of Happiness" - an optimist's song, performed by various artists: V. Leontiev, Vitas, Nadezhda Chepraga.
• "I can not do otherwise" - the song was performed by Valentina Tolkunova, all subsequent years remaining her hallmark. The melody of the singer's voice perfectly emphasizes the lightness and purity of the song, loved by many women for its sincerity.



• "You are my melody" - the brilliant performance of Muslim Magomayev gave this work many years of popularity and numerous attempts to cover it.
• "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" - written in 1975. The song became the unofficial anthem of Belarus. Performed by the group "Pesnyary", "Syabry".

Dobronravov's catchphrases

Some lines from the songs so pleased the listeners that they became common nouns, and are widely used to express some special states and feelings.

• "Wedo not live without each other" - Gradsky performed for the first time as a soundtrack to the film "Oh, sport! You are the world!”.
• "The Earth is empty without you." This is one of the most famous songs - "Tenderness".
• "Bird of Tomorrow's Happiness". This is the song "Bird of Happiness" from the repertoire of Nikolai Gnatiuk and Vitas.
• “The main thing, guys, is not to grow old with your heart” - in the song of the same name, which was performed by Valery Syutkin.
• "We have already played the first half" - a composition from the movie "My love in the 3rd year".
• “I can’t do otherwise” - words from the famous song by Valentina Tolkunova.

Awards

Nikolai Nikolaevich Dobronravov was repeatedly awarded honorary titles, prizes and orders.

The poet received his first recognition from the authorities back in 1978 - it was the Lenin Komsomol Prize, a rather significant award in those days. This was followed by the State Prize of the USSR in 1982, then the Order of the Banner of Labor and the Order of Honor in 1984.

Orders for Services to the Fatherland of the third and second degrees, the Bunin Prize, the Prize of the Ministry of Defense in 2016 - this is not a complete list of all the awards of Nikolai Nikolayevich, whose contribution to the development of art is incredibly huge and will be appreciated by more than one generation.