NADEZHDA PLEVICKAYA

Pop singer (mezzo-soprano). Sang Russian folk songs, mostly urban songs. After 1920 lived abroad.

They are unlikely to come in "simple" - simple, provincial girl, who achieved much in life, otrinuvshie their environment. In vain, the guardians of the people are trying to introduce our heroine such "good Russian woman," "dolls," naively opened its dull blue eyes. Nadine if and embodies something the Russian character, it really was not in the openness and tearfully compassionate counter-cross, but rather - in the sly wit, the desire not to miss "The Firebird" in a desperate, often unreasonable risk - "Sink or Swim"

In a village near Kursk Vinnikov half of the residents wore name Vinnikov, which, of course, indicates that they are that neither is 'Aboriginal' origin. Yes, and lifestyles, habits have not changed for at least five hundred years. At harvest was supposed to work up a sweat, because the field to gather the whole village, and gradually went "pritsenka" - which the groom stronger so what girl big trouble, so do not be ashamed to bring home.

Nadia, as well as all long-legged of her contemporaries, she tried to face in the dirt does not strike, with thirteen years turned his bags at five pounds, was preparing to become a "treasure in the house. "

However, Childhood in Dezhki (the name of the girl's mother) was free and easy, with the typical rustic amusements and joys - Whit festivals, Easter cakes, eyeless wooden doll from the water, he brought a stream. In elementary school Vinnikov Nadia gave to her plaintive request, but especially on educational achievements do not care - would be good, well-married. So when her young fellow who came in mind - to break the usual canons to change lifestyles - is unclear. Only a year her father's death - 1897-th - Dezhka begged his mother to take her to a convent. To take the veil, it was necessary to survive, carrying obedience, not less than three years. Initially, Nagy could not imagine a different future, diligently following the monastic rules of procedure. But no sooner had she turned sixteen, as a "wicked devil", so she wrote Plevitskaya, troubled her soul and "soul zabuntovala.

And zabuntovala it to such an extent that young novice changed his cassock on a swimsuit circus artist, and did it so suddenly and directly, that none of the convent sisters had no time to recover. The Easter Rising Hope wandered into the circus, and stayed there forever.

True, that first time "dissolute" daughter still found a mother, and since returned to the monastery bogohulnitsu not possible, Hope to dwell in his native village, attempted to marry, but to no avail. The second time, escaping Dezhki failed - she came to stay with relatives in Kiev and quietly disappeared, joining the chorus of a certain restaurant in Lipkin. Singing it was paired with a noisy, but always fake Anyone instructing, so Hope to monitor the purity of musical romances.

Students in the choir Lipkin kept in a "tight rein", not let alone walk around the city, learned quite strictly, and after finishing the program, feed, immediately drove to sleep. And although the program ended at two o'clock, in-restaurant is considered early. As luck would have it soon went the chorus for two weeks in Kursk.

Photo — «Nadezhda Plevickaya»

There and held a "historic" meeting with the relatives (the city still was small), which resulted in the mother laments about the "unlucky" daughter, gracious forgiveness and resolution, ultimately, to become "ahterkoy.

Started a new life Dezhki - cafes chantans singer, and who knows where would have resulted in her restaurant passion, if only their choir Lipkin . . . not stolen. Yes, yes, stolen. The rich man took the Lipkin-pers on his yacht in Baku. A choir collapsed. Hope in getting on tour in Kiev, the Polish dance troupe that was seen quite well. Nijinsky himself sometimes posed with the troupe performances.

In letters to his mother Dezhka explains to what the ballet and how she "overpowered", but at the same time in one of the messages passing asked Hope to bless his marriage to singer troupe Edmund Plevitskaya. So it was Nadia Vinnikov wearing sonorous name Plevitskaya.

Polish engagement did not last long, one unsuccessful trip to the Ukrainian cities of the director went bankrupt and secretly went into hiding, which in itself was not such a rarity. Artists, as usual, dispersed to other teams, but Hope and her husband came into the company Mankiewicz, who became famous for nothing, but with his help Plevitskaya finally got to St. Petersburg, though not at the stage of "large and small theaters, and on the stage of country restaurants, but here there is a chance to be "seen", noticed. Hence, there has been a direct route to Moscow, where in those days there was a real demand for that genre, which owned the Plevitskaya.

"Jar" - a fashionable restaurant, where merchants came sometimes with their wives - the restaurant has become a place where talent singer appreciated. Staged a charity concert Leonid Sobinov Plevitskaya invited to sing at the same stage with him. The success was tremendous. Since 1909, I felt I Plevitskaya she began her "way with a song. "

Glory Plevitskaya in Russia early twentieth century was enormous. Her standing ovation crowded rooms conservatories and theaters. She was surrounded by crowds of fans and a sea of ??flowers. One day after a speech at the Hermitage fans rushed to the singer, and she almost paid with his life for the extraordinary popularity. Only time students formed a chain around Plevitskaya rescued from the artist pick apart. She somehow got to the car, which already shivering in the most pitiful sight of her assistant, Mary, saying: "Shocking, what we have success. Shocking. "

"Kursk Nightingale called it Nicholas II. Plevitskaya was what is called a court singer. Fashion for all the people, "peasant" was embodied in the fact that Nadine is not only often invited to the concerts directly to the palace, not only generously presents, but sazhivali such as "easily" at home, to the king's table "for tea" , talk to the grand duchesses. Plevitskaya probably was to symbolize the closeness of the imperial family to his people, and children, it was considered worthy of receiving education, getting acquainted with the talented peasant.

Highest recognition has opened many doors for Plevitskaya elite salons. Maecenas Mamontov introduced to Nadine with Shalyapin. On the first evening a great singer learned from Nadine song - "I remember I was still molodushkoy.

Photo — «Nadezhda Plevickaya»

In parting, Fyodor Ivanovich singer grabbed his herculean arm and said: "God help you, dear Nadya. Sing songs that brought on the earth, I have none, - I Slobozhanin, not a village. "

Perhaps these little sugary words invented itself Plevitskaya as they are in her memoirs. But the fact that Nadine interested in their singing of many people in the arts - an indisputable fact. Even such hereditary artists such as Alexander Benois, could not resist the temptation to pilfer "folk tricks" Plevitskaya in their works. Benoit, who wrote the libretto for the opera "Petrouchka" by Stravinsky, including the number of "Uwharrie merchant" in the text, under the direct influence of popular song Plevitskaya.

Singer long identified the forward manner of singing Russian songs on stage, she became the only decades performing model. She listened to the records when the singer was no longer alive, anonymous, used her repertoire.

Around her name, of course, there are often disputes. Some believed that Plevitskaya invented, tavern manner of performance of folk songs, appropriate only for a glass of strong vodka. But the force of impact Plevitskaya on the musical culture of Russia has been very high. One need only list the songs that Plevitskaya first brought into a mass execution: "Dubinushka", "There is a cliff on the Volga," "Because of the island," "Among the open valley", "On the wild steppes of Transbaikalia", "Kalinka", "All something I've traveled the universe, "Lutchina", "Glorious sea, sacred Baikal", "Lipa Ages" . . . Is not it true, it is virtually the entire repertoire of folk songs, which owns a modern Russian man, not particularly interested in folklore?

"I'm an actress, and I sing for everyone. I - out of politics" - has repeatedly said Nadine. Rodis it at another time, perhaps, such a statement and it would be true. But she was too famous, too much to gain from the powerful and by nature too "public" to stay away from social turmoil. By their nature Plevitskaya was extremely active woman, otherwise she would be unable to acquire such a high public profile, but this is excessive and ruined it. Not once . . . Gradually, she catapulted to the catastrophe of revolutionary upheaval. During the First World War Plevitskaya in a burst of patriotism left the scene and left the front nurse. And it passed the Civil Guard, with the white way of the cross to the Crimea, then 14000th Russian army was evacuated on ships in the Dardanelles. Together with the white army left Russia and Plevitskaya.

They say if one of the Bolshevik firing squad Nadine rescued the young general Skoblin and though ever since between the two began a love relationship. I must say that her first husband Plevitskaya spent so little time, what people could not mention if the singer did not stay for life celebrated its same name and if Nadine for years would not keep him friendly, warm relations. Second husband Plevitskaya in the difficult years of exile was Nikolai Vladimirovich Skoblin.

They settled in Paris, confused and devastated. For a folk singer, who had a thousandth of an audience, it was a tragedy. Just the usual efficiency and acumen saved Nadine. She did, unlike many, descended to the bottom, was able to buy a house, was able to earn, was able to stay "afloat".

Photo — «Nadezhda Plevickaya»

She even organized a tour to America, where he was greeted with joy Rachmaninoff, who wrote for Plevitskaya accompaniment of a song, and bustled about the recording plate Russian singer.

But it has not escaped the fate of those unfortunates who for the sake of privilege to return to Russia to take on a slippery slope espionage, intrigue and crime. In the history of Plevitskaya much is unclear - his word must still say the researchers, but the situation was as bad crime drama. Nadine's husband serves on the board of the Russian Union of Combined Arms (EMRO), the organization is very dark, brought the French police, like other Russian emigre associations, many troubles. On the night of 23 to 24 September 1937, he suddenly disappeared, along with him gone, and "leader" EMRO, General Miller. The fate of these two white generals unknown until now: whether they were killed, fled there in the USSR or worked for the Nazi intelligence and disappeared in Germany.

A few days later the case was arrested Plevitskaya. In December 1937, Paris hosted process in which the former Russian singer was accused of complicity in the kidnapping of General Miller, and, apparently - of espionage. Sentence to impose severe - twenty years of hard labor. Thus, the "Kursk Nightingale became a prisoner in a strange French town of Rennes.

In prison Plevitskaya became depressed. She hardly ate, sometimes writing something, sometimes softly, softly singing. Praying, she fell in front of the iconostasis and lay until she could not take power from the cold church boards. What sins atone for this last great winner? May regret that once ran from the monastery and entered the bustling way of worldly success?

In the spring of 1940 she asked to be invited into her chamber of the priest-confessor. And on Oct. 5, she suddenly, mysteriously and strangely died in his cell. France had already been occupied by the Nazis. And very soon the German Gestapo exhumed corpse Plevitskaya and subjected it to careful examination. For what it's needed? What was needed chemical analysis? What mystery lies behind the actions of the Gestapo? State? . . Political? . .

One thing is: the body in a box was taken to the cemetery and buried again, but in a common grave.

In 1915, admiring Plevitskaya, one newspaper wrote: "Now is a great fashion N. Plevitskaya and toured in" Buff "and received the name of folk singer prowess and national grief. It is amazing career . . . spent seven years in a monastery. Drew on the scene. married a ballet dancer. started dancing and singing in kafeshantanah, operettas. Performed with Sobinov and one . . . In the Buff "among the sparkling chandeliers of the guests sang Russian and Gypsy songs . . . What a beautiful, flexible, expressive voice. Her listened to, admired . . . and suddenly began singing as a very old, forgotten folk song. About peasant funeral. everything was quiet, turned around . . . What's the matter? What impertinence . . . How to Buff a coffin? ". . " quiet horse trudges along the way wanders, the coffin covered with a mat in a sleigh driven by . . . "Everything froze. Something terrible was born in her performance. heart sank. naive and terrified. It would be naive, like life, and eerie, as the death of .

. . "