Vladimir Vasiliev. encyclopedia of creative personality

Choreographer Vladimir Vasilyev has always had a fresh look even at classical works and unparalleled performance.

Vasiliev himself also starred in ballet films. It can be seen in the color TV ballet "Trapeze", TV ballets "Spartacus", "Gigolo and Gigoletta".

Work as a choreographer

When Vasiliev realized that his stage career was coming to an end, he did not want to leave the ballet. For this, in 1982 he received a diploma state institute theatrical art(GITIS) at the choreographer's department.

At the same time, he began to teach at this university himself, sharing the secrets of his mastery with students. Ballet master Vasilyev worked as a teacher until 1995. At the same time, he has been in charge of the department of choreography for ten years. In 1989 he received the title of professor.

At the head of the Bolshoi Theater

Until 1995, Vladimir Vasiliev was a first-class choreographer. He staged more than one ballet, which is still successfully performed on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater.

In 1995, his career begins new stage. He receives the post of artistic director of the Bolshoi Theater, which he simultaneously combines with the position of director of this cultural institution. He served in this position for five years. The Bolshoi Theater is associated with Vladimir Vasiliev today by many domestic and foreign viewers.

At the head of the Bolshoi Theater, he was remembered not only for the appearance of new productions, but also for the fact that in 1999 he founded ballet school The Bolshoi Theater in the distant city of Joinville, located in Brazil.

IN last years the name of Vladimir Vasiliev, choreographer, is less and less common in media mass media. He came into the spotlight in 2003, when he was on the jury of the prestigious Eurovision Song Contest for Young Dancers in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam.

In 2014, Vasiliev returned to the stage for a while. In the mini-ballet "The First Ball of Natasha Rostova" he played the role of Ilya Andreevich, the father of the heroine. This work was shown to the audience as part of the winter Olympic Games which took place on the territory of Russia, in Sochi.

Personal life

Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev was married only once. Artist's personal life - a prime example strong and unconditional love. Ekaterina Maksimova became his chosen one. She was a ballerina, for many years they appeared on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater together.

Ekaterina Maksimova and Vladimir Vasilyeva were not only spouses, but also colleagues, friends and partners. Truth, in life, entirely dedicated to creativity had to sacrifice something. Children at married couple it wasn't.

Despite this, Ekaterina Maksimova and Vladimir Vasiliev lived a long and happy life. life together, full of joy and disappointments. But most importantly, they were together all the time.

Maksimova passed away in 2009. She was 70 years old. Since then, Vasiliev lives alone. According to him own words, he lost a piece of his soul and constantly mourns for his beloved. All the latest productions on which he works, the hero of our article invariably dedicates to the memory of his beloved woman.

Social activity

Vasiliev is known not only for his stage career, but also for social activities. In addition, Vladimir Vasiliev received awards from both the Soviet and Russian authorities. Everywhere he was appreciated and cherished.

One of the first significant achievements- the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR, received in 1964. Vasiliev also had the Lenin Komsomol Prize, the Lenin Prize, the Order of Lenin. Since 1973, Vladimir Vasilyev has been a People's Artist.

In 1981, he received the Order of Friendship of Peoples, five years later, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor. Already in 2000, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented him with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, fourth degree, with the wording for his invaluable contribution to the development Russian art choreography. In 2008, Vasiliev received the same order and the third degree. This time for many years of bright public and creative activity.

Vasilyev also has many foreign awards. In France, he became the owner of the Order of Merit, in Brazil, the Order of Rio Branco, in Italy, the Order of the Star of Italy, in Japan, the Order of the Rising Sun.

Vasiliev has many merits in the pedagogical field. He is an honorary professor at Moscow State University, a member of the International Academy of Creativity, as well as the Academy of Russian Art. Until now, he is the deputy head of the executive committee of the national center of the International Dance Council at UNESCO. Member of the jury of the independent creative award "Triumph". For almost two decades, he has been managing the fund in memory of the ballerina Galina Ulanova.

Great importance in creative world has a competition of ballet dancers "Arabesque". Vasiliev headed the competition jury for five years, and since 1996 became its artistic director. This open competition ballet dancers, which is held annually in Perm.

Vasiliev, together with his wife, made a lot of efforts to make this competition famous and famous all over the world.

A significant event took place in 2008. It coincided with the fiftieth anniversary creative activity legendary married couple. Therefore, the competition was dedicated to them. He became a benefit performance for Vasiliev and Maximova.

In the year of his seventieth birthday, Vasiliev danced in tandem with Daria Khokhlova at the Arabesque competition, and also acted as director-choreographer of the miniature Ballad, set to music by Frederic Chopin.

Now Vasiliev is 77 years old. Despite his age, he continues to be active in creative and social activities.

Friends and acquaintances about Vasiliev

Everyone who knew him and worked with him spoke with warmth and admiration about Vasiliev. Or at least seen on stage. Ballet master of the Bolshoi Theater Igor Moiseev recalls that Vasiliev's performance is poetry, a burst of spirit. He is an artist with phenomenal technique, he simply subjugates music and ballet.

Theater director and People's Artist of the RSFSR Boris Lvov-Anokhin claims that the hero of our article has a gift of stage and plastic transformation, rare today. He personifies the Russian ballet.

One of his most good luck, according to Lvov-Anokhin, the role of the Nutcracker in the production of the same name.

In this film, Vladimir Vasilyev talks about how he, a boy from working family touched for the first time wonderful world ballet. He recalls his first teacher Elena Romanovna Ross, the first years of his studies at the choreographic school, the teachers of the Bolshoi Theater - Mikhail Gabovich, Olga Lepeshinskaya, Galina Ulanova, Vyacheslav Golubin, Elizaveta Gerdt, Alexei Ermolaev. In the film in included fragments of ballets with the participation of dancers of the Bolshoi Theater, recordings of lessons at the choreographic school.

Film one



The work of Vladimir Vasiliev coincided with two the best eras The Bolshoi Ballet - the era of L. Lavrovsky and the era of Yu. Grigorovich. He came to the theater when the great creator of "Romeo and Juliet" Leonid Lavrovsky headed the Bolshoi Ballet. It was the era of Lavrovsky, "the era of drama ballet", as historians called it, that set Big ballet to the positions in the world that it has been occupying for several decades now.

Film second.



Leonid Lavrovsky was distinguished by an amazing quality - he was not a dictator in those difficult times. Together with him, choreographers R. Zakharov, V. Vainonen, V. Chabukiani, A. Messerer, K. Goleizovsky, L. Yakobson created their great canvases. V. Vasiliev met everyone in his work. Vasiliev's story is complemented by a panorama of the chronicle - fragments of ballets and rehearsals of great masters, which only film has preserved for history.

Film three



Ballet stamps are what ruins the art of ballet. Musical clichés harm not only the music, but also violate the meaning of the ballet language. Yuri Grigorovich was the one who declared an irreconcilable war on ballet clichés, including musical ones. With his arrival at the Bolshoi Theater came a new aesthetics, a new ballet language, new era. He staged the ballets The Nutcracker, Spartacus, Ivan the Terrible, Romeo and Juliet, The Legend of Love, The Golden Age. The Bolshoi ballet troupe went on tour abroad with Grigorovich 96 times. A special place is occupied by the ballet "Spartacus". The image of Spartak Vasilyev stood in the same row immortal creations in the ballet, as Galina Ulanova's Juliet, Anna Pavlova's Swan. Vladimir Vasiliev names the years of work with Yuri Grigorovich the best pages his biography. There are records of performances and fragments of rehearsals that can give an idea of ​​the amazing atmosphere in which Grigorovich's ballets were created.

Film Four



short biography

Vladimir Vasiliev is an outstanding dancer, who amazed more than one generation of spectators with his artistry and technical performance. In addition, Vladimir Viktorovich is a member of the Russian Academy of Arts and the International Creative Academy. However, few people know that creative heritage ballet genius is not limited to dancing.

Vladimir Vasiliev was born in Moscow on April 18, 1940. Father future star, Viktor Ivanovich, worked as a driver. Mother, Tatyana Yakovlevna, worked as the head of the sales department at a felt factory.
At the age of seven, the boy accidentally got into a dance club at the Pioneer House. Choreographer Elena Rosse, who worked with children, immediately drew attention to the talent of little Volodya and invited the boy to study. So, a year later, Vladimir Vasilyev first appeared on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater with Ukrainian and Russian dances.

The creative biography of Vladimir Vasiliev continued within the walls of the Moscow Choreographic School. The teachers noted not only undeniable talent Vladimir, but also acting skills: the young man, in addition to the perfect technical performance, put emotions and expression into the dance, easily transforming into the heroes of the productions like a real artist.
In 1958, Vasiliev, having completed his studies, began to serve in Bolshoi Theater by becoming an official member ballet troupe. At first, Vladimir Viktorovich got characteristic roles: in "Mermaid" the dancer performed a gypsy dance, in "Demon" - a lezginka. But soon the inimitable Galina Ulanova drew attention to the novice dancer, offering Vasiliev a part in the classical ballet production"Chopiniana". It was not just a party, but a duet with Ulanova herself. After that, Galina Sergeevna will remain a friend and mentor of Vladimir Vasiliev.

Drew attention to Vasilyev and Yuri Grigorovich, theatrical choreographer. Vladimir seemed to Grigorovich a very promising dancer. Vasiliev soon received main party in the ballet Stone Flower". This performance gave the dancer the first admirers and admirers who were not alien to art. Following this, Vladimir Viktorovich performed the main roles in Cinderella (the part of the prince), Don Quixote (Basil), Giselle (the part of Albert) and Romeo and Juliet (young Romeo).
For a long 30 years, Vladimir Vasiliev devoted the Bolshoi to the stage. From 1958 to 1988, the dancer was listed as the leading ballet soloist of the theater. Ballerina Ekaterina Maksimova, the wife of Vladimir Vasiliev, became a permanent partner of a talented ballerina.

Vasiliev's dancing success was seen not only by the walls of his native Bolshoi Theater. The dancer went on tour at the Paris Grand Opera, the Italian theater La Scala, the New York Metropolitan Opera, London's Covent Garden.
In 1988, Vladimir Vasiliev and his permanent partner and wife Ekaterina Maksimova left the Bolshoi. The reason was a creative dispute with Yuri Grigorovich. Vladimir Viktorovich continued creative career as artistic director of the State Academic Bolshoi Theater, this position will remain with the dancer until 2000.

In the 1990s, Vasilyev worked on productions of Tahir and Zuhra, Oh, Mozart! Mozart...”, “La Traviata”, “Khovanshchina”, “Aida”, “Cinderella”. After a break, in 2010, Vasiliev presented the ballet The Red Poppy in Krasnoyarsk. 2011 was marked by the production of the Balda ballet for children.

In 2014, Vasiliev had the honor of personally performing in the ballet Natasha Rostova's First Ball. This mini-production was prepared specifically for the concert on the occasion of the opening of the Sochi Olympic Games. Vladimir Viktorovich got the part of Ilya Andreevich Rostov. In the same year, Vasiliev presented to the audience a project based on the works of Viktor Astafiev. The performance consisted of six dance miniatures.
In 2015, in honor of the 75th anniversary of the dancer, there was a premiere ballet performance"Donna nobis pasem" to music by Bach. The hero of the day acted as a director of the ballet, while the dancers of Tatarsky performed the parts. academic theater named after Musa Jalil.


Vasiliev, Plisetskaya. "Don Quixote"



Vasiliev, Maksimova. "Don Quixote"



Vasiliev, Liepa. "Spartacus"



Vladimir Vasiliev - teacher, choreographer, choreographer, People's Artist of the USSR, winner of the Nijinsky Prize as "the best dancer in the world."

Leaving the stage as expected ballet dancer, at the age of about 40, Vladimir Vasiliev continued to dance, and was in demand on best scenes peace. And not only as a dancer, but also as a wonderful choreographer. Over the years it multifaceted personality revealed from other, most unexpected sides.



"Whatever work the artist does, he passes everything through himself.", - this is how Vladimir Vasiliev speaks of the creations of all creative people different professions. His production of Bach's Mass in B minor on the stage of the Tatar Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after. M. Jalil is a grandiose performance in which ballet and opera troupe, became the realization of Vasiliev's long-cherished dream.

"stage" roleVladimir Vasiliev, which provided greatest influence on the viewer, on the generation, on the art of ballet as a whole, was Spartacus. In the performance of Vasiliev, he was not a lump, a legend, Spartak was a vulnerable, doubting person. Talking about his experience as a choreographer and choreographer.



"I want to do something only when I see music: its real plastic embodiment, its expression in light, in color, in people's relationships. After I heard the first waltz, I immediately understood: this is absolutely in the top ten Gavrilin and Chekhov merged for me in a single chord, "- so VladimirViktorovichrecalls the work on the ballet Anyuta, which won many prizes at international film festivals.

A huge part of the creative biography Vasiliev. Here, in the salon historical photography them. Karl Bulla hosted the first exhibition of Vasiliev the painter, and every time he comes here, It memories of people he met and who are dear to him. One of them is Savely Yamshchikov. Thanks to him, Vasiliev fell in love with painting, and it has long occupied a special place in his life.



"You have to love your job, and then the place in which you will make your efforts does not matter at all".

Vladimir Vasiliev can be called "a man of the world." He recalls the first trips to America, to Japan, a trip to France, which became a real honeymoon trip him and Ekaterina Maximova. Coincidentally, on the second day after the wedding, they went to Paris to present the Soviet-French film "USSR with open heart", in which they played the main roles.


When asked in which country he could live, if not in Russia, Vasiliev always answers - in Italy, in Rome. The first meeting of Vladimir Viktorovich with Italy took place in 1968, then known ballet couple invited to the production of "Giselle" on the stage of the Rome Opera famous choreographer Hot Prebil. Vasiliev still remembers Funny case how, before the premiere, the chairman of the local clacker society came into his make-up room and tried to "negotiate", for which he was expelled from the dressing room. And without collusionMaksimovAndVasiliev was waiting for a phenomenalsuccess. The Roman Opera is the beginning of their love for Italy.



"The monotony scares me. I can't always play the same roles, constantly do only one thing", - this is how Vladimir Vasilyev explains the craving for different types occupations: to painting, to poetry. In recent years, Vladimir Viktorovich has been actively involved in social activities, and there is a special position that he values ​​\u200b\u200b- the position of president of the Galina Ulanova Foundation. WITH big love Vasiliev talks about the legendary ballerina. For him, she is an example of those great people whose inner fullness is much higher than their outer expression. Vladimir Viktorovich recalls the Bolshoi Theater, which was his home for more than fifty years, about his dismissal ... And to the forced departure from the theater after five years of service as director and artistic director, he answered with a poem:

I thought for my love

Hate can't answer

And the conscience of the enemy will gnaw,

And he will not spoil my blood.

Yes, that's what I thought...But in fact

Love and hate merged

And enthusiastically accepted

To torment my soul and body.

Press service of the TV channel "Russia K"

Vladimir Vasiliev was born on April 18, 1940 in Moscow. After graduating from the Moscow Choreographic School in 1958, Volodya was accepted into the ballet troupe of the Bolshoi Theater. Already in the years of study, he struck virtuoso technique performance and undoubted acting talent, the ability to transform. On the stage of the Bolshoi, he made his debut in the ballet "Stone Flower" Y. Grigorovich in 1959.

Soon Vasiliev, having won the love and recognition of the audience and critics, became one of the leading soloists of the ballet troupe of this theater for more than 30 years. He danced the main parts of the modern and classical repertoire in ballets: Cinderella, Pages of Life, Don Quixote, Paganini, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet and others. The choreographers not only offered Vasiliev the main roles, but also staged them especially for him. He was the first performer solo part in "Dance Suite", in R. Shchedrin's ballet "The Little Humpbacked Horse", in "Spartacus" by A. Khachaturian, in "Forest Song" by G. Zhukovsky, in "Petrushka" by I. Stravinsky ... Vasiliev also performed a lot and with great success abroad with such directors as R. Petit, M. Bejart, L. Myasina.

He created vivid, memorable images, often offering a new reading of them. In addition to Ekaterina Maksimova, Vasilyev’s constant partner and wife, whom he always called his Muse, such dancers danced with him. famous ballerinas, like G. Ulanova (she will become a friend, teacher and tutor of Vasiliev for many years), M. Plisetskaya, O. Lepeshinskaya, R. Struchkova, N. Bessmertnova, I. Kolpakova, A. Alonso, J. Mendez, L. Kozi , K. Fracci and others. Being in the prime of his performing arts, Vasiliev already then felt the need for a more complete realization of his creativity- Craving for choreography. His ballet debut was Icarus in 1971. As a choreographer, Vasiliev also staged: "These bewitching sounds ...", "Macbeth", "Fragments of a biography", "Annie", "Romeo and Juliet", "Cinderella", "Don Quixote", "Giselle", " Swan Lake" and others.

Vasiliev's productions were enthusiastically received by the public, especially those where he and Ekaterina Maksimova performed central parties. Currently, ballets staged by him are performed not only on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, but also in many other theaters in Russia and around the world. Vasiliev's creative interests extend to other areas of art - he starred as a dramatic actor in feature films, in the original television ballets, where he acted not only as a performer, but also as a choreographer and director. Vasiliev is also interested in pedagogical activity.

In 1982, he graduated from the choreographic faculty of GITIS and from the same year began teaching there, was the head of the department of choreography (1985-1995), and in 1989 he was awarded academic title professor.

In 1995-2000, Vasiliev was Artistic Director-Director of the Bolshoi Theatre. At present, Vladimir Viktorovich actively cooperates with many theaters of the country and the world, heads and participates in the work of the jury of various international competitions ballet dancers, gives master classes, prepares new performances and roles. Heading the G. Ulanova Foundation, Vasiliev stages and conducts the annual gala concerts “Dedicated to Galina Ulanova”.

Vasiliev - People's Artist of the USSR, laureate of various Russian and international awards, was awarded orders and medals. He is an honorary professor at Moscow State University, a full member of the International Academy of Creativity and the Academy of Russian Art, etc. Films and books are devoted to Vasiliev's work. Free time Vladimir Viktorovich mainly devotes to painting. The main theme of Vasiliev's paintings is landscapes, in which he tries to convey the beauty of Russian nature (six personal exhibitions his works). He also writes poetry, he wrote the poetry collection "The Chain of Days".

Choreographer Vladimir Vasilyev became Commander of the Order of the Star of Italy (Ordine della Stella d'Italia). State award of the Italian Republic is awarded for contribution to friendship and cooperation with Italy, it is received by Italian residents of other countries and foreigners by decision of the President of the Italian Republic. In a solemn atmosphere at the Embassy of Italy, the award was presented to Vladimir Vasiliev by Ambassador Cesare Maria Ragaglini.

“Vladimir Vasilyev has a special relationship with Italy,” said Ch.M. Ragaglini at the ceremony of presenting the Order. The Ambassador recalled that V. Vasiliev danced Giselle for the first time in Italy in 1968, with his wife, ballerina Ekaterina Maksimova. Since then, 50 years have passed.

Later, Vasilyev had a chance to work a lot in Italy, including in tandem with the great Italian dancer Carla Fracci. “Vladimir Vasiliev is the finest, most gallant partner and friend,” she said about the dancer.

Ch.M. was also impressed by the professionalism of Vladimir Vasiliev. Ragaglini. “Next to me is a dance legend,” said the Ambassador. – For 30 years he was not only the premiere soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre, but also a dance innovator. F. Nietzsche said that a person must have chaos within himself in order to reproduce the dance. This internal chaos allowed Vasiliev to give freshness to the dance. The head of the Italian embassy recalled the sparkling pirouettes, impeccable jumps and bright stage images of the Order bearer of the Star of Italy.

“I love Rome more than any other city in the world,” choreographer Vasiliev once said in an interview. In his opinion, the capital of Italy is “the greatest city”. But he also admits that he could never live outside of Russia for a long time.

Biography of Vladimir Vasiliev

Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev was born in Moscow in 1940, on the eve of the Great Patriotic War, in strong loving family driver and administrator. The Vasilievs went through the war, endured the hardships of the post-war reconstruction and contributed to the development of the child. Vladimir Vasiliev recalled that the father bought the piano for his son with the last money. “If I had a different mother, everything would be different for me,” the choreographer said and claimed that he inherited his love for music from his mother, and his love for life from his father.

In 1947, Vasiliev began to dance, and the teacher E.R. Rosse noticed the outstanding abilities of the child. At the age of eight, as part of the choreographic circle of the House of Pioneers, the boy first appeared on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, performing Russian and Ukrainian folk dances. At the same time, he felt the scene of the Bolshoi as native home and ignited the desire to work here.
At the age of nine, Vladimir Vasilyev made a conscious choice and went to the Moscow Choreographic School (today it is called the Moscow state academy choreography), in the class of M.M. Gabovich. Even at an early time, the teacher noted that the young dancer dissolves in movements, “every cell” of the body participates in them.

Upon completion of his studies at the Choreographic School, in 1958 Vladimir Vasilyev was accepted into the troupe of the Bolshoi Theater. Here he attracted the attention of the great Galina Ulanova, who became the dancer's partner in the ballet Chopiniana. “I gave you everything that was in me,” Ulanova wrote on one of the gifts to Vasiliev and his wife. And that, he said, was true. As a sign of respect and gratitude, Vladimir Vasilyev is the President of the Galina Ulanova Foundation.

For 30 years, the dancer performed in leading roles at the Bolshoi Theater, often in the first productions. During his work here, Vladimir Vasilyev had a chance to dance almost all the main roles in ballets. He and the Prince in Prokofiev's Cinderella, and Basil in Don Quixote, and Spartacus in the ballet of the same name to the music of A. Khachaturian, etc. The dancer himself, by the way, does not consider himself a genius, none of his own dances has ever satisfied him.

Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev is familiar to viewers in many countries of the world. He toured to Italian theaters La Scala, Arena li Verona, San Carlo, and also performed in the USA, France, Brazil and other states.

In 1982, Vladimir Vasilyev was educated as a choreographer - choreographer, graduating from the specialized faculty of the Institute of Theater Arts (today Russian Academy theater arts). He later admitted that the choreography attracted the ballet dancer from school years, but hands did not reach her for a long time. Since 1990, Vladimir Vasiliev has become a professor at the department of choreography.

In 1995-2000 choreographer Vasiliev was the artistic director of the Bolshoi Theatre. According to his own assurances, at that time he "served the theater, and did not lead it."

Ekaterina Maksimova and Vladimir Vasiliev at the premiere of Don Quixote at the Bolshoi Theatre. Photo: Wikipedia

In addition to professional studies, Vasiliev has a passion for drawing. “I try to paint every day, whatever the weather,” he says. This love arose in childhood almost simultaneously with the love of dance, even a little earlier. But the family did not have enough money for drawing lessons.

The personal life of choreographer Vasiliev fits into one phrase - he was happily married to his dance partner Ekaterina Sergeevna Maximova. Married in 1961, they became inseparable until the dancer died in 2008. The couple had no children.

Choreographer Vladimir Vasiliev

The first production made by choreographer Vladimir Vasiliev in 1971 for Kremlin Palace congresses, there was a ballet based on Slonimsky's libretto ancient Greek myth about Icarus. The idea of ​​the ballet belongs to Yuri Grigorovich.

This ballet was followed by others, in the capital, regions and other countries. Among the productions of choreographer Vladimir Vasilyev is Macbeth based on the plot of W. Shakespeare to the music of Kirill Molchanov. The composer wrote this ballet for his wife, the ballerina Nina Timofeeva, and died of a heart attack during the premiere. Macbeth opened the repertoire of the Kremlin Ballet Theatre.

Vladimir Vasilyev arranged the Soviet rock opera "Juno and Avos" into a dance and made a number of musical and dance numbers to the music of Russian and European composers.

For his work, Vladimir Vasilyev received the title People's Artist Russia in 1973, Lenin Prize for Spartak, Russian and foreign orders.

“I have never worn them - there are very, very many. Probably, all my awards can be seen when they already carry me, ”Vladimir Vasilyev said in an interview. The choreographer stands up not so much for awards as for true creativity.

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