VOLKOV FYODOR G.

Russian actor and theatrical figure. The creator of the first permanent Russian theater. He played in the tragedy, AP Sumarokov.

Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov was born on 9 (20) February 1729 in Kostroma in the merchants family. After his father died young Fedya stayed together with the brothers in the care of his mother. In 1735 the family moved to Yaroslavl.

In one of the documents for signature of the Volkov said that he "was from 741 to 748 year . . . was in Moscow in the sciences. " Sent "in science" 12-year-old boy his father Yaroslavl merchant and manufacturer Fedor Vasil′evich Polushkin, married to the mother Volkov, a young widow Matrene Ya, which, in addition to senior Theodore was four sons. As Polushkin Sulfur owned factories and vitriolic - Volkov studied, most likely from some alien-industrialist. According to the biography, he was "perfectly studied in Moscow, German language and speak it as a natural German. "

In Moscow, popular permanent public urban theater "German comedy". Volkov passion for theater performances, led the friendship and familiarity with theater lovers of writ, seminarians and students who organized games. " One of the first biography of the actor NI Novikov stressed that the wolves had a few friends, but the best, and himself was the perfect friend, generous, unselfish and loving vspomoschestvovat. One of those "few" friends with whom Volkov met in his youth in Moscow, was "malorossiysky Greek" Nikolai Nikolaevich Motonis subsequently distinguished writer and a well-known translator.

Meanwhile Polushkin received Fedor and his brothers to their human companions in industry and pledged in excess of the content stepsons to award half of their profits from the plants and the fourth part of the inheritance after his death.

In 1746 Volkov stepfather was sent to St. Petersburg. There he enrolled in the German trade office. Novikov wrote: "Experience with painters, musicians and other artists, then at the Imperial Theater Italiyanskom, he does not miss any of scarcity, which would be neither examined nor tried to learn in detail. Over all, he shall cleave to the theater, and on the occasion of acquaintances, several times saw the presentation Italiyanskoy opera, felt the desire to do and at the theater in Yaroslavl, to represent its Russian theatrical works. "

Volkov also visited and performances in the Cadet Corps. Seeing the tragedy Sumarokov "Sinai and Truvor, he came to this admiration, that" he did not know where he was: on the earth or in heaven. "

In 1748 died Polushkin. Volkov was in the management of factories. He returned to Yaroslavl, and now having autonomy, as well as funds collected around theater "Hunters" from the local pasad youth.

Performances arranged in a barn with stone arches, which first appeared leather goods. The first submission June 29, 1750 were played two plays: a drama "Esther" and pastoral "Evmon and Berfa, music composed by Volkov.

Performances in the leather barn interested Yaroslavtsev. Volkov found patrons among the highest Yaroslavl society. Voevoda Musin-Pushkin Maykov were the landlord and the local sponsor. They persuaded many Yaroslavl merchants and nobility to make donations to the device more user-friendly theater. Opening it is from the beginning of 1751. Dana was the opera metastases "Titovo mercy", translated from Italian by the Volkov.

Yaroslavl residents have seen on stage as the spiritual drama of Dimitri of Rostov, some pieces of "acts" and "Russian comedies, and most recently appearing in St. Petersburg first tragedy AP Sumarokov. Under the leadership of Volkov started playing later famous Russian actors IA Dmitrevsky, YA. D. Shumsky, and others.

Rumors of the theater came to St. Petersburg. The Empress of whatever was wanted to see them coming to the post, so somewhere in the first days of the new, 1752 Courier overtake the Senators all the homes that they have signed the "decree" of it, not waiting until the end of holidays. And "the Senate porutik company Dashkov" pomchalsya in Yaroslavl with imperial "decree. "

This important document stated: ". . . The Empress Elissavet P. samoderzhitsa Russian genvarya last 3 days indicate deign: Yaroslavl merchants Grigor′eva son Fyodor Volkov brothers Gavrilov and Gregory, who in Yaroslavl include theater and play a comedy, and who they have to requirements will lead to St. Petersburg . . . For early onyh people and their dresses here bringing under onoe Yamskaya summing and give them money from the treasury of driving . . . "

In late January - early February 1752 Yaroslavl, led by Fyodor Volkov has played in front of the empress and the court comedy "On repentance sinful man" Demetrius of Rostov, the tragedy Sumarokov "Khorev, Sinai and Truvor" and "Hamlet" with the playwright himself was present among the spectators.

Fyodor Volkov was "quite skillful musician on many instruments, played the violin and the clavichord, and also sang" different operatic arias, Italian arias. That musicality has helped him adapt quickly to the professional stage, and it immediately attributed to the state court artists, the so-called "Italian company", while his "fellow" of Yaroslavl amateur troupe (or rather, the best of them) and Ivan Dmitrevsky Alexey Popov′s preference to study in St. Petersburg cadet corps (and the rest from awarding "released back in Yaroslavl). In 1754 the brothers Theodore and Gregory Volkov also entered into the body. There they were taught science, foreign languages, gymnastics.

Yaroslavl included in the shell at state expense and are given for 50 rubles a year, while Volkov - 100 rubles. In addition to the general course of study, taught the actors performing tricks and recitation. Among the teachers was Sumarokov. Students Cadet Corps played in a theater.

August 30, 1756 was issued a decree establishing the Russian state "public theater" for submission to the tragedies and comedies, he was granted accommodation in St. Petersburg on Vasilevsky Island. Theater Director appointed playwright AP Sumarokov. Volkov, the top ranking of "the first Russian actor, helped Sumarokov to guide the theater, and in 1761 replaced it. He has done for the strengthening of the St. Petersburg troupe.

Volkov was the theater of the first tragedian. With a great temperament, he performed the role of heroes in the tragedies Sumarokov - The American ( "Refuge of Virtue"), Oskolda (Semira "), as well as, apparently, and the role of Khorev (Khorev) Truvora (Sica and Truvor) Yaropolk (Yaropolk and Dimiza), Hamlet.

Photo — «Volkov Fyodor G.»

Novikov noted "natural" play actor. According to him, Volkov, knowing the "theater of the highest degree, while at the same time, retreated from the aesthetic canons of classicism, not following the rules prevailing at that time, the solemn recitation. Given the nature of the game Volkova, Sumarokov wrote for him the role, which found a brilliant use of boisterous temperament Volkov and his heroic, inspired delivery lyrics. Especially revealing in this respect was the role of Mars in "new laurels" Sumarokov. Feedback from his contemporaries, with the same skill Volkov has played, and in comedy.

"He was great and best actor," - wrote about Volkov J. Staehelin, one of the historians of theater and his biography many times seen Fedor Grigorievich on stage. And Staehelin noted that "he played an equally strong in the tragedies and comedies" own "his character was mad passions. "

D. I Fonvizin said that Volkov was a "man of deep wisdom, full of virtues, which had great knowledge and could be a public person. " Mastermind Volkov pointed NI Novikov, and GR Derzhavin; VG Belinsky called Volkov "engine of social life", the "father of Russian theater and put his name next to the MV Lomonosov Moscow State University.

"Life, he was sober - Novikov writes - and the virtues of austerity. " Fyodor Grigorievich himself gave the theater and did not set off the family. "Theatrical art knew it highly, with this and was fine poet, a good painter, quite skillful musician . . . mediocre sculptor "- recalls contemporaries. His work attributed to the marble bust of Peter the Great and the picture, written by oil paints, which he depicted himself and the brothers at the scene of the tragedy. Both works, however, lost. Volkov made carved royal gates of St. Nicholas Church in Yaroslavl Nadeinskoy and drawing, which is arranged in the iconostasis of the same church.

The ancient chronicle of Russian theater Volkov attributes more than 15 different pieces on everyday subjects. In his comedy "The court Shemyakin," "Every Yeremey himself mind and entertainment of Moscow residents of Maslenica - actors are Shemyaka, secretary of the court, merchants, military officers, servants, burgers, raznochintsy. From the translated pieces chronicle leads "Muhammad" Voltaire, "Esther" Rasin and several other pieces from the Italian, French and German languages.

In 1759 Volkov has been sent to Moscow to "give the existing theater is more accurate device. For the revival of the Moscow theater, he issued a number of actors from St. Petersburg.

A man of ideas, Volkov has played a prominent role in public life of his time. It adjoins the noble opposition, and took part in the overthrow of Peter III.

In his notes AM Turgenev wrote: "When Catherine first secret, little-known business man was an actor Fyodor Volkov, perhaps first of all, the founder of the greatness of the Empress. It is during the coup when it vosshestvii the throne had acted wisely, others, such as: main Orlov book. Baryatinskiy, Teplov - the power of physical force, if necessary, and neck, drawing the other in the overall conspiracy. Catherine reign, suggested Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov be cabinet minister it conferred upon him the Order of St. Andrew. Volkov of the total declined to . . . By vosshestvii her to the throne, short-lived, has always had access to the cabinet to gosudaryne with the report . . . "

Jun 28, 1762 lathery horse domchali of Peterhof in sloboda Izmailovsky Regiment carriage from the Grand Duchess Catherine A. , who immediately set to Platz Regiment swear allegiance to a newly Empress Catherine II. But then came rumors that the "hurry forgot one thing: on the production of the manifesto to be read before the oath. Do not know what to do. In this confused anyone in attendance, dressed in a blue frock-coat, went out of the crowd and invites others to help the cause of the queen and say manifesto. Agree. He removed from his pocket a white sheet of paper and, if written to, read on the spur of the manifesto, just in advance of production. The Empress and all the students in the formal admiration of the reader. Under a blue frock-coat was Volkov . . . "- these lines recorded with the words, AA Naryshkin PA Vyazemsky in his old notebook. "

In the instrument of investiture brothers Fedor and Grigory Volkov noble dignity, in particular, stated: ". . . In our healthy same for Russian membership of the Imperial throne, as the deceased′s brother said his son Fyodor Volkov Grigorev especially well with it, and he, Grigory , merchant loyal sons of the Russian great service and loyalty to our greater had, for which they vernoradetelnye We service, diligence and faithfulness We onyh Fyodor Volkov and Gregory in the past, 1762 August 3 Day noble dignity of our All-Russian Empire vsemilostiveyshe granted. "

One of the historians, the palace coup in 1762 G. Gelbig, describing, as has the fate of the major participants who have attained eminence, on Fyodor Grigorievich observed. ". . . actor Volkov remained in their field. " Famous DI Fonvizin drop that Volkov ". . . could be a public person. " But he resist the temptation of such a dizzying career and returned to the stage.

Novikov stressed that the "establishment" Russian Theater Volkov showed his talents in all splendor, all saw in it a great actor, and his fame has been witnessed by foreigners. Proof of this is his latest creation - "triumphant Minerva, which revealed many talents Volkova.

Ensconce this grand theatrical celebration during the Coronation celebrations on the occasion vosshestviya to the throne of Catherine II. Place it in the oil-week in Moscow, when the old Russian tradition entertained people ryazhenye. There was a large pageant called "triumphant Minerva. Volkov has introduced elements of folk skomoroshih games. Lyrics Sumarokov ′Choir to privratnomu light "Volkov put on the motif of folk songs.

During the bright, joyous theatrical feast Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov cold, got a fever lyutuyu and 4 (15) April 1763, died "to the great general and all regret," pleased the audience passionate game for the last time on 29 January at its best Oskolda role in the tragedy Sumarokov "Semira.

Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov was buried in the cemetery Androneva monastery. However, during the invasion of France, in 1812, the monastery suffered devastation, and the traces of the graves of lost a great actor . . .