Actor Fyodor Volkov: Biography, Creativity

He was called "the driver of social life," the "father of the Russian theater," and his name was put on the same level as MV Lomonosov.

Biography of Fedor Volkov

Fedor Grigoryevich Volkov was born in a small town of the Kostroma region. He was a descendant of a merchant family. The father of the future actor died when he was still a child. After his death, his mother (Matryona Yakovlevna) soon became acquainted with her future husband and married again, after which the whole family settled in Yaroslavl. Fedor Polushkin (stepfather Fyodor) was a merchant and owned several factories.

Training

The boy studied literacy from a local pastor and already showed his abilities in various fields. Volkov at an early age began to help his stepfather in business. In this regard, the boy gets acquainted with St. Petersburg early. Here he first sees the Italian opera, German productions and Russian performances. Noticing the boy's liveliness of mind and ability to learn, Polushkin even decided to make Fedor heir and continuer of the cause of his life. Relations in the family developed well, and Fyodor Polushkin perfectly received not only the youngest son, but also his other brothers.

To continue training Volkova was sent to Moscow, to the academy. Here he studied the Law of God, the German language, and also mathematics. The boy had a great propensity to learn languages, and he mastered German perfectly. Already at that time Fedor with great pleasure participated in theatrical productions held at the academy. He played the saints in dramas, comedies and tragedies. The boy differed from his peers not only with his talents, but with his mind's animation and imagination, his ability to transform easily.

When Fyodor Volkov turned 17, Polushkin decides to send the boy to study accounting and trade. Fedor Volkov goes to St. Petersburg and settles there in a German office. It is here that the young man falls in love with the theater and he even has a desire to open the theater in his homeland - in Yaroslavl, where he could stage the productions of Russian classical works. Petersburg with its architecture contributed to the formation of taste and a sense of beauty. Here Volkov makes drawings, models and drawings, which later will form the basis of the theater he built. Actor Fyodor Volkov, whose photo can be seen in this material, already then did not think his future without creativity. And it happened.

First productions

Actor Fyodor Volkov (whose date of birth February 20, 1729) at the age of 19 years is left without paternal support - his stepfather dies. In the inheritance Polushkin leaves the boy to his factories. After registration of property and reception of financial independence Fedor Volkov is even more carried away by theater. He began to stage plays with his friends, conducting performances in the barn, where goods were stored earlier. In June 1950, two plays were released, for which Volkov himself composed music (Esther and Eumont and Berfa). Local residents appreciated the creativity of young talents, and soon Fyodor manages to find patrons in high society. The voevoda Musin-Pushkin and the landlord Mikey offer members of the upper world to render material assistance to the beginning actors and support them in their desire to build a theater where all the inhabitants of the city can comfortably spend their time enjoying the performances.

Fedor Volkov: theater as the embodiment of a dream

In the beginning of 1751 the theater was opened, at which they presented the opera "Titovo mercy", translated by Volkov from the Italian language. In the theater, a huge number of plays were played, and later many eminent actors worked under the guidance of Fyodor Volkov.

Fame

The fame of the theater of the city of Yaroslavl grew day by day and soon the glory of it reached the empress herself. By this time, the need to create a state theater was growing, which was connected with the possibility of increasing the prestige of the country and the emergence of a modern European state. Elizabeth Petrovna wished to see everything with her own eyes. In early 1952, actor Fedor Volkov was already giving performances in St. Petersburg. At the court were played a comedy "On the Repentance of a Sinful Man", the tragedies "Khorev", "Sinav and Truvor", "Hamlet" and others. The empress did not want to let go of the theater, but Volkov quickly became a court artist and played on the professional stage. Fyodor's comrades on stage (the most gifted ones) were sent to study in the cadet corps, and the rest - back to their homeland with a reward. Volkov's brothers were also not overlooked, soon they are enlisted for training in the Cadet Corps in the city of St. Petersburg.

The training in the building passed through a strengthened program, the actors were taught not only standard disciplines: they also studied foreign languages, science and gymnastics, scenic recitations. The cadets were paid for their education.

Russian Public Theater

In August 1756 the empress issued a decree establishing the Russian public theater. The created Russian Theater was very different from the previous court theater. All residents of the city were allowed to enter it, and viewing the performance was paid. The director of the theater is AP Sumarokova. Fedor Volkov becomes the main actor and assistant director. And after the death, Sumarokov replaces him at his post (1761).

Talent of the actor

For Volkov entrenched the title of the main tragedian of the theater. It was very well given to him these roles, which he managed to play a large number (for example, the American in "Sanctuary of Virtue", Hamlet, Yaropolk in the production of "Yaropolk and Demiz" and others). However, he played no less good comic roles. Such a diversified talent was a rarity in the theatrical sphere. The character of the game of the main actor also differed from that adopted. He very well and subtly felt theatrical art, knew all his rules and canons. This allowed him sometimes not to comply with the established norms and play as he wished. Given his talent, Sumarokov wrote for him a lot of roles that were given to him easily and left an indelible impression on the audience. Volkova was called the most significant and best actor of the theater. His talent was noted by such respected people of the time as DI Fonvizin, Y. Shtelin, NI Novikov, GR Derzhavin and others. Volkov is credited with no less than fifteen different plays.

Other talents of Volkov

Feodor Volkov's abilities were not limited to the theater, but extended to other areas. He was a fine sculptor - the carved imperial gates in the Nikolo-Nadeinskaya church in the city of Yaroslavl were made by him. He also made the marble bust of Peter the Great. The painter Fedor was also skillful and painted many pictures.

In 1759, Fedor Volkov, whose biography began in a small town of the Kostroma region, goes to Moscow to transform the Moscow theater. To this end, he takes with him several actors from St. Petersburg.

Role in politics

Actor Fyodor Volkov played a significant role in the political life of the country. He took part in the overthrow of Peter III. He played the role of an adviser to the Empress Catherine and helped her with the accession to the throne. In gratitude, Catherine erected Volkov in the nobility. However, despite his proximity to the court and to Catherine Alekseevna himself, Volkov was able to resist the temptation to become a state man and remained true to himself, giving preference to the work of his life - the theater. He refused, and from the post of Cabinet Minister, as well as from the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, whom he wanted to reward the Empress.

Personal life of Volkov

With a devotion to the cause of his life and spending it all the time, Fedor Volkov never got a family.

Fyodor's brothers were granted noble ranks for loyalty to the Motherland and Empress Catherine.

"Triumphant Minerva"

During the accession to the throne of Catherine II, it was decided to arrange a big celebration in Moscow. The event was at the Shrovetide week, when people were walking around the city and entertaining the people. To this event, Volkov prepared a theatrical performance in the form of a masquerade, which was called "Triumphant Minerva." The essence of the presentation was to explain to the people that the overthrow of Peter III was a great success and happiness for the population, namely, thanks to the change of power, justice was able to triumph. The performance praised the new empress as a triumphant Minerva (Minerva is the goddess of wisdom and justice, patroness of the arts, sciences and crafts). In this view, Volkov was able to show most of his talents and earn the attention of the public. However, during the celebration, the great actor caught a cold and got sick with fever. In April 1763, he passed away.

Fedor Volkova was buried in a cemetery near the Androniev Monastery, but during the Great Patriotic War the monastery was destroyed and traces of the location of the grave of the great actor were lost. Despite this, a memorial plaque in honor of the famous actor was installed in the cemetery in Yaroslavl.