Rimas Tuminas: If I don’t have faith that my work can save someone, I simply don’t do it - dem_2011. Rimas Tuminas: I bought myself a big TV

Photo: Vladimir Fedorenko/RIA Novosti

The award for the director - the Order of the Badge of Honor - was presented by the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky on the 10th anniversary of his work as artistic director of the theater named after Evg. Vakhtangov.

Rimas Tuminas shared with the Vecherka correspondent the plans that will be implemented in the new theater season.

— Rimas Vladimirovich, at the troupe’s meeting you again announced that you would stage Goethe’s Faust.

- Yes, but I admit that I feel some fear before this work. Stanislavsky also wanted to stage Faust, but kept putting it off. Nemirovich-Danchenko explained this by saying that as soon as it came to staging, something... not entirely good happened to Stanislavsky. I sleep with Goethe’s novel “Faust”, travel, it’s on my desk, in my briefcase, in my head, in my heart... It won’t let go! But first I’ll try to stage Tchaikovsky’s opera “ Queen of Spades" V Bolshoi Theater- Same fateful story...

— Why do you want to stage “Faust” so much?

— There is a lot of humor in this work, which is close to me. The only person, who lacks it, is Doctor Faustus. Therefore, in my production there will be very little of it. True, there are not many roles in the work, and the actors of the Vakhtangov Theater are indignant: “Why do we need a foreign Goethe when we have our own Tolstoy?” There is logic to this. I will be staging a play based on the script by Sergei Bondarchuk “War and Peace”. Very good script. Thanks to Mosfilm director Karen Shakhnazarov for giving it to us to work with.

— I know directors who, when choosing between staging the works of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, give preference to Tolstoy because of his endless search for truth. Who is closer to you?

— I staged Dostoevsky at the Swedish theater in 2004, but never Tolstoy. Dostoevsky, in my opinion, is easy to stage, but Tolstoy is difficult. Let's not forget that Tolstoy had a somewhat skeptical attitude towards the theater. Paradox! Dostoevsky loved the theater, but did not write a single play, and Tolstoy hated the theater, did not go to it, and wrote very good plays.

Of course, it is more interesting to deal with the personality of Tolstoy, if only because he was a count who wore bast shoes.

— At the troupe’s meeting, you carefully said the title of Carlo Goldoni’s comedy “Country Fever.” Why did you decide to take this particular work for the production?

— I’m tired of hearing: “When will you finally stage a comedy? Why are all your tragedies and Russian classics?” “Country Fever” is somewhere between tragedy and comedy. Seriously, there is a role for one wonderful artist, and I have long promised to stage a play for him. I have a lot of debts to actors.

It's time to give them away.

Moreover, it is a pleasant activity. I really want to have the chance to work with actors I’ve never worked with. For example, I did not work with Maria Aronova, and this is my biggest omission in 10 years of work at the Vakhtangov Theater. There are still artists I want to play with.

The new stage of the Vakhtangov Theater opened with the premiere of Rimas Tuminas' "Minetti" based on the play by Thomas Bernhard. This story is about an actor named Minetti, who, one might say, became obsessed with Shakespeare's tragedy "King Lear" and... lost everything - fame, money, profession, audience. Rimas Vladimirovich walked with Moscow-Center correspondent Anzhelika Zaozerskaya along Old Arbat, and on the way he talked about new job. We were the first to hear the news about the awarding of the Pushkin Prize to Rimas Tuminas.

Our journey began from the artistic director's office, perhaps the largest office of all Moscow theaters, where we drank coffee and chocolate bars (artistic director Tuminas's favorite candy). Rimas Vladimirovich himself brings cups and makes coffee, explaining that he kicked out the secretary (although in fact, he promoted Alina to international relations assistant). Tuminas can confuse the gullible and inexperienced with its humor. He asks me: “How much sugar?”, and ahead of the answer, he counts: “One, two, three - really three?” There is a portrait of the theater founder Yevgeny Vakhtangov hanging on the wall, and Rimas Vladimirovich, approaching the portrait, suddenly says: “That’s how Vakhtangov looks at me piercingly every day.” As soon as we sit down to talk, they ask him to come to Shchukinskoe drama school to watch the work of a novice director (Tuminas teaches at the directing department of ShchUK), and Rimas Vladimirovich suggests finishing his coffee and taking a walk along the alleys of Old Arbat.

Leaving the theater building, Rimas Vladimirovich talked with a security worker, who shared with him his impressions of the performance he saw at the Vakhtangov Theater “Miss Nobody from Alabama”, and admires the performance of the young actress Adelina Gizatulina in the role of Fitzgerald’s wife Zelda. Tuminas listens carefully and comments: “Gizatulina - good actress, and the performance is wonderful, only due to pregnancy we will have to make serious changes to the repertoire.” Security Guard – elderly man in a snow-white shirt (at the Vakhtangov Theater all employees wear smart clothes to work) wishes Rimas Vladimirovich health and asks him to take care of himself.

We continue our journey. Tuminas wraps himself in his checkered scarf and asks:

What's your name?

Angelica, but you can come up with another name for me,” I answer.

The name Loretta will suit you. However, remain Angelica.

We walk along Old Arbat, and the artists invite Tuminas to draw me, and the flower girls offer bouquets. Rimas Tuminas bought a bouquet of wild flowers and gives it to me. You will smell like Tatyana Larina,” Tuminas smiles. The director has money stuffed into his pockets - not at all European (Rimas Tuminas is Lithuanian).

This is very Russian - no cards, no wallet, no savings - that’s how it is,” Tuminas noted.

Have you seen my Onegin? How do you like my Tatyana?” Tuminas asks cautiously.

I wouldn't do what she did. “I wrote an idiotic letter, perplexing the man, then I rummaged through his papers, found out his secret thoughts, and then completely married someone I didn’t love,” I reason.

And I wanted to name the play in honor of Tatiana, because she sacrifices herself for the sake of a general maimed in the war. This great sacrifice of the Russian woman delighted me.

We approach the Shuka building on Bolshoi Nikolopeskovsky Lane and the young people standing at the entrance cheerfully greet the director of the theater in which they dream of serving. No servility on the part of students. Rimas Vladimirovich, smiling, tells them that he has taken on a new student who is applying high hopes, and lets the mench forward.

Why are you dressed so lightly? Where is your scarf? The weather is dangerous now,” jokes Tuminas, heading to the wardrobe.

He is very gallant. Without showing off. While we have a free minute, let’s go to the classroom and talk.

In the play "Minetti" main character refuses all the classics, except for Shakespeare's tragedy "King Lear", from all authorities, from all the wisdom of the world, except for the only one. How do you feel about such a revolutionary solution? former director Minetti Theater?

It’s wrong to live by someone else’s wisdom, but you can’t live without teachers and idols. There is no need to impose authorities. A person should have the right to choose his own geniuses, teachers, and all those whom he can rely on in life.

In our last interview, you said that you know the history of Russia well, in particular the history October Revolution. What happened to our country in 1917 (Rimas Tuminas’s mother is Russian)?

In 1917, the following happened: the loss of God, the loss of faith, the loss of pain and the meaning of life. I am a supporter of the monarchy, a strong hand, autocracy. A person needs to have strong support. The great Russian artist Mikhail Ulyanov, shortly before his death, asked me a question: “Rimas, tell me, who is our hero today, who should we look up to? After all, we used to play heroes, but who should we play today?” Mikhail Ulyanov himself was a hero, rooting for the country, for the people, for the theater, and for him life in a non-heroic world was impossible. Yuri Butusov’s performance “Running,” in my opinion, is a search for a hero.

Rimas Vladimirovich, you have staged wonderful performances based on Russian classics: “The Inspector General,” “Woe from Wit,” “Uncle Vanya,” “Woe from Wit,” “Eugene Onegin.” Please give advice - how can we live when we are not sure of tomorrow when all over the world as “in the Danish kingdom”?

There is only one piece of advice: “You have to be patient.” I wasn't the first to say this. Remember, Dostoevsky, at the opening of the Pushkin monument in 1880, said: “Humble yourself, idle man, and first of all, work in your native field.” We need to work, work hard and talk less empty words.

Are there any thoughts of staging a play based on Dostoevsky?

In Sweden I dramatized the novel The Idiot. It is possible that I will contact Fyodor Mikhailovich quite soon. Now in my thoughts there is an extensive list of authors - from Goethe to Gorky...

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On January 20, the artistic director of the Vakhtangov Academic Theater Rimas Tuminas turns 67 years old. Today Vakhtangov Theater, with a troupe of 320 people, is the largest drama theater Russia and by many indicators - the most successful. The Vakhtangov Theater managed to preserve the elders of the theater and discover new stars. On January 17, the theater celebrated the 85th birthday of Vasily Lanovoy, and it was a grandiose celebration. The website of the Vakhtangov Theater has already published a congratulation from all Vakhtangov residents to their leader, Rimas Tuminas, where they thank him for turning the theater and their lives into a holiday.

On the eve of his birthday, Rimas Vladimirovich told VM about what he understood as a holiday, and how he would celebrate his birthday.

Rimas Vladimirovich, do you love your birthday?

Oddly enough, but I love it. In general, I love the process of birth - a person, a performance, a flower. As a child, my mother worked a lot, and we celebrated my birthday, like my brother’s birthday, very modestly. Mom said that “I was born late at Epiphany and therefore I will always be late in life.” By by and large, this is how it all happens - I try to make it in time, but it doesn’t always work out.

Why didn't you have time? Created wonderful theater in Vilnius and under your leadership, the Vakhtangov Theater flourished.

I didn't have time to do a lot of things. Didn't like it, didn't study it enough, didn't read it enough, didn't rest enough, didn't work enough... There is always something to do better.

They say that you rehearse every performance, regardless of when it premiered?

There is no other way. Every day, every moment makes its own adjustments that need to be reflected in the performance.

Surely you don't mean politics?

And her too. Bought big TV to better see what is happening in the world. I gave myself a birthday present.

Does politics affect the theater?

Theater influences politics, but this does not mean that we should stage plays on political topics. Everything happens by chance, on a mental level.

-Surely you are preparing a new premiere?

Going to. I want to stage both “War and Peace” and “Faust”, and now I’m thinking - which of them to choose - Russia or Germany, tragedy or comedy?

Do you want to say that Goethe's Faust is a comedy?

Of course it's a comedy. I admit, “Faust” is my reference book. She goes with me everywhere - even on planes. When I start to feel sad, I read Goethe.

What else helps you avoid sadness?

Holidays. There are holidays at the Vakhtangov Theater from morning to night. On January 17, Vasily Lanovoy’s birthday was celebrated. We had such a good time that we had no energy left for our birthday. Lanovoy’s anniversary turned out to be a celebration of youth.

Vasily Lanovoy hopes for a new role?

He will have a role either in the play “War and Peace” or in “Faust”. Vasily Lanovoy - theater knight, our general.

Do you perceive theater as an army?

In a way. True, I don’t know who the commander-in-chief is, but it’s clear that all the artists are soldiers of the theater.

Which theater directors are you friends with?

Perhaps with everyone who studied at GITIS. I am friends with the head of the Moscow Art Theater Sergei Zhenovach, I am friends with the head of the School Theater Modern play Joseph Raikhelgauz, I’m friends with Mark Zakharov. I have no enemies, at least I really hope so.

Perhaps you don’t like everything that’s happening in the Russian theater movement?

I don’t like it when theater is treated as PR, as business projects. Certain gangs come to the leadership and organize “gatherings” and “shooters” in theaters.

DIRECT SPEECH

Sergey Zhenovach, artistic director Moscow Art Theater A.P. Chekhova:

I love Rimas Tuminas very much. I love him as a person, I love him as an artist, I love him for everything he does. Rimas, I congratulate you on your birthday and confess my love.

The artistic director of the Vakhtangov Theater, director Rimas Tuminas, spoke about loneliness, his performances and hobbies.

In defense of beauty
- Rimas Vladimirovich, you were nominated for “ Golden mask"for the play "Oedipus the King". Does Oedipus the King have traits that embody a ruler that are common to all rulers?
– Of course, otherwise the tragedy of Sophocles would not be a great work that has been staged for so many centuries.
The difference between King Oedipus is that the scale of his grief and tragedy raises his personality to the heights where angels soar and where holy souls are.
- King Oedipus was not the only one who injured himself. What is his holiness?
- To end the war. He went blind to stop hostility and war. Power is rarely relinquished.
- Few people refuse even a small power - to run a theater. Power is a great temptation. By the way, do you have a successor?
- The Vakhtangov Theater is not my theater, not even close. I'm a guest director. And at the Maly Theater in Vilnius, of course, there is a successor. I gave orders for him.
- At the Bolshoi Theater you staged Tchaikovsky’s opera “The Queen of Spades”. The critics were not very enthusiastic about your production. Are you upset?
- I don’t agree that “The Queen of Spades” is my failure. On the contrary, this is the best thing I have staged in my life, because I completely detached myself from myself. I staged Tchaikovsky's opera in its purest form. Composers are not very attentive to literature; music is important to them, and they take liberties with the plot.
Opera by Tchaikovsky - shining example free attitude to Pushkin's story. I could not afford to ignore the work of Alexander Sergeevich, because I love him very much. I still reminded Tchaikovsky a little about Pushkin - that’s all I did.
- Rimas Vladimirovich, you always criticize yourself, but this time you defend yourself?
- Yes, I do. We staged a very beautiful and stylish performance. I love St. Petersburg, and I wanted to transfer its beauty to the stage. I dealt with beautiful music Tchaikovsky, with beautiful city, with the beautiful Bolshoi Theater, with beautiful performers, I bathed in beauty, and I protect our beauty from those who do not appreciate it. Who likes a different aesthetic, please watch Serebrennikov and others.
- Are you not close to the aesthetics of Kirill Serebrennikov?
- No. But I have nothing against the personality of this artist.
- They say that from the first performance you bet on the stars and that success lies in acting works. What do you say?
- That's all true. I agreed to head the Vakhtangov Theater because there are the best artists here, and almost each of them can also be a director. I dream of working with Maria Aronova - she is a wonderful actress.
- At the Sovremennik Theater it’s already 18 years go by your play “Playing Schiller”. Elena Yakovleva returned to play “Mary Stuart” after a seven-year break. Do you love this performance?
- I used to be good performance. And over time everything gets worse. But the audience loves this production and goes to see it. I am glad that Elena Yakovleva returned - a subtle, sensitive actress, with a special intonation, and she returned with my rosary, which I gave her 18 years ago.

About falling in love
- Moscow is full of rumors about your falling in love. That you were in love not only with all the actresses in Moscow, but even with the usherettes?
- I am in love with Moscow - the most beautiful woman. Fell in love with student years and I walk around enchanted. I am not in love with a specific woman, but with Moscow, with all its women.
- Maybe here you don’t feel inner loneliness, like in other cities?
- I'm always lonely. My parents are gone, and many of my friends are gone too. Fortunately, there are daughters who communicate with each other like sisters, there is a wife who endures and forgives everything, there is a theater and there are spectators. But I'm still alone. When I was little, I lived on a farm, and the world seemed huge, huge to me, but now I am a man of the world, and the world has become as big as the palm of my hand for me.
-Are you thinking about returning to Lithuania? You probably miss your native Maly Vilnius Theater, and you have family there...
- I admit that I am thinking about returning. This time it's final. And I miss you.
We need to raise our grandchildren, otherwise they will grow up and not remember their grandfather. I am strict with them in raising them, although I love them very much. But I also became attached to the Vakhtangov Theater. Of course, relationships suffer when they are left to chance. Love needs to be nourished.
- If you retire, what will you do?
- I love a lot of things. I love to build, repair, listen to the rain and watch TV when there is bad weather outside. When I retire, I’ll probably get a dog and talk to it.
- Where do you like to walk in Moscow?
- I take a car and go to parks where there are a lot of trees. I really love Kolomenskoye Park. There are trees up to the sky.

Dossier
Theater director, artistic director of the State academic theater them. Evg. Vakhtangov (since 2007). Master of metaphors and ironic riddles. Since 2012, Druskininkai has hosted international festival Rimas Tuminas Vasara (“Summer”).

Anzhelika Zaozerskaya, “Southern Horizons” (ugorizont.ru)