Choreographer Leonid Lavrovsky: biography, photo

A wonderful artist, teacher and choreographer Leonid Lavrovsky wrote bright pages in the history of contemporary dance art. With his name associated with the formation of the ballet in the Soviet Union and the triumphant tour of the stars of the Soviet ballet abroad. An outstanding choreographer, a talented organizer and a handsome man - he was so remembered by his contemporaries.

Choreographer Leonid Lavrovsky: biography, photo

There are people, at the mention of a name whose memory immediately causes associations with some phenomenon or event. These names are inextricably linked with the high service to their cause. In the gallery of persons who brought world fame to the Russian ballet, it is impossible to pass by the portrait of a talented and enthusiastic person - choreographer Leonid Mikhailovich Lavrovsky.

Childhood

Leonid Mikhailovich Ivanov (this is the real name of the choreographer) was born on June 5, 1905 in St. Petersburg. The family was not rich, working. However, the father of the future choreographer was very fond of music and once made an unexpected act. He retired from work and joined the Mariinsky Theater Choir. It is not known how, without this decisive act of his father, the creative destiny of the future great choreographer could take shape. But from that time on, little Lenya began spending a lot of time behind theatrical scenes. He began to learn the world of theater from the inside.

Theatrical art carried away the talented young man. He entered the Leningrad Choreographic College, which he graduated in 1922. During his studies with the wonderful teacher Vladimir Ponomarev, it turned out that the guy has the talent and artistry of a beginner dancer. Gradually began to form his artistic vision of the profession. At the same time, Ivanov decides to take a creative pseudonym. Apparently, his own name seems to him too simple, and the choreographic school is already finished by artist Leonid Lavrovsky.

At the beginning of the journey

After completing his studies at the technical school, Lavrovsky was enlisted in the staff of the ballet troupe of the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater as the first soloist. Ahead was the classical repertoire and time-tested performances, where he will perform the roles in "Giselle", "Swan Lake", "Sleeping Beauty". The young artist works a lot, but loves and has a good time after the performance. However, already from that time the artist had a very good quality of character: even after the night, he never allowed himself to be late for a theater or to miss a rehearsal. At the same time, Leonid Lavrovsky married for the first time. His chosen one was the ballerina Ekaterina Heydenreich.

Noisy and merry feasts in the circle of acquaintances did not become an obstacle for further study and self-education. Leonid reads a lot, takes piano lessons and music history, goes to exhibitions. Gradually, a little-educated young man from a working family turns into an erudite, well-read person. Elegant appearance and innate intelligence complete the formation of the future great choreographer.

However, the theater did not go very smoothly. Young and talented dancers were already breathing in the back. Lavrovsky began to feel that he was being clamped down, not allowed to dance. Slowly smoldering conflict with the artistic director of the ballet troupe A. Vaganova only worsened his morale. In 1936, unable to withstand the tension that prevailed in the theater, L. Lavrovsky resigned. However, in the status of an unemployed artist was not for long. Literally a week later he accepted the offer to head the ballet of the Leningrad Small Opera House. In this position, L. Lavrovsky worked until 1937.

First productions

Simultaneously with participation in ballet performances, Leonid Mikhailovich begins his staging activity. In the Leningrad Choreography School he performed the production of "The Sad Waltz" to the music of J. Sibelius (1927) and "The Seasons" (PI Tchaikovsky, 1928). On the music of R. Schuman were put "Shumaniana" and "Symphonic etudes" (1929). It can not be said that L. Lavrovsky's staging activities have always been successful. The concert program in the style of M. Fokine (1932) failed and was recognized as decadent and indulging in bourgeois tastes.

Failures did not stop the director. New time dictated that art should be accessible and understandable to a wide audience of workers and peasants. For the Leningrad Ballet School, Leonid Lavrovsky staged two ballets, Fadette and Catherine. This time he hit the target. Both performances were recognized as successful, and the young choreographer boldly undertakes new productions based on the works of NA Rimsky-Korsakov, A. Adan, A. Rubinstein and many others.

At the same time, there is one more event. Leonid Lavrovsky, whose personal life with Heydenreich did not work out, marries a second time. Elena Chikvaidze, who participated in the production of the ballet "The Prisoner of the Caucasus", directed by B. Asafiev, became his chosen one. In 1941, they had a son - Lavrovsky Mikhail Leonidovich, whose biography also inextricably linked with the art of ballet.

Kirov Theater

Meanwhile, the Mariinsky Theater did not stop the passion. A. Vaganova's unpretentious and imperious nature brought the situation in the ballet company to the point of the highest heat of passions. The leader was reproached for lack of new performances in the repertoire, the clamping of young performers, authoritarianism in making important creative decisions, old-regime and despotism. Remember her and leaving the theater, L. Lavrovsky. It's hard to say just how much all these accusations were true. But all ended with the fact that the armchair of the ballet hudrock was empty. December 31, 1937 Leonid Lavrovsky, choreographer and ballet dancer, was appointed to the position of the head of the ballet of the Leningrad Theater of Opera and Ballet. S. M. Kirov. He held this post until 1944.

S. Prokofiev, "Romeo and Juliet" (1940)

In 1940, L. Lavrovsky began work on the ballet "Romeo and Juliet" to the music of SS Prokofiev. A large-scale play was born uneasy. By this time in the world ballet, there was no tradition of staging works by W. Shakespeare. His work was interpreted by choreographers in different ways, so there were no established canons on which the director could rely in his work. But before L. Lavrovsky was another difficulty. Strangely enough, but this obstacle was the brilliant music of SS Prokofiev. Complex rhythmic canvas, unusual compositional techniques. A musical canvas woven from various themes that intertwined and created the finest lace of the author's perception of an immortal tragedy. Initially, the artists simply could not understand the composer's intention.

L. Lavrovsky was patient and persistent. But the musical score also changed in order to make the play brighter and sharper. Gradually the troupe overcame musical resistance. The production of "Romeo and Juliet" was favorably received by the public and criticized. They noted the unusual nature of S. Prokofiev's music, rejoiced at the success of the choreographer L. Lavrovsky, praised the scenery. Galina Ulanova became the unconditional triumphant of this performance. The premiere of the ballet in Moscow was brighter. The performance was recognized as the best ballet of our time. This largely predetermined the further life of the director. In 1944, L. Lavrovsky was appointed head of the ballet of the main stage of the Soviet Union.

Moscow, Bolshoy Theater

L. Lavrovsky understood that everything he had done up to that time was only a prelude to working in the main theater of the country. First of all, he became active and talented to restore the classical ballet repertoire. To the 100th anniversary of the ballet "Giselle" L. Lavrovsky makes his edition of the play. Updated "Giselle" with G. Ulanova was recognized as one of the best productions of this ballet and became a model for many generations of choreographers. Then new editions of the ballets "Raymonda" and "Chopiniana" were created.

Another large-scale work by L. Lavrovsky is the re-creation of Romeo and Juliet on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. The setting could not be mechanically transferred to a new stage. It has become larger and more significant. The accents have shifted and conflicts have intensified. Grandiose mass scenes and new scenery completed the transformation of the author's concept of L. Lavrovsky. The new edition of the famous ballet was very successful. L. Lavrovsky received the Stalin Prize, and the play for decades became the hallmark of the Bolshoi Theater.

20 years: successes and losses

L. Lavrovsky believed that there can be no dance for the sake of the dance itself. The meaning of his activity was the task of revealing new talents and promoting new names on the stage. Ballet of the Bolshoi Theater during his work gave a successful debut to many talented dancers and choreographers. The head himself, too, does not sit idle. His next production is "Red Flower". This is a new version of the ballet "Red Poppy" by composer R. Gliere. The uncomplicated story of a Chinese dancer and Soviet sailors about the solidarity of people of different countries and different skin colors. The audience loved this performance, and the artists danced with pleasure. For this production, L. Lavrovsky was awarded another Stalin Prize.

The ballet scene "Walpurgis Night" in "Faust" by S. Gounod is a small choreographic masterpiece inscribed in the canvas of the classical opera. Dancing in this scene sought all leading artists of the ballet. Fans of classical dance went to the opera in order to see their idols in a real diamond of choreographic art.

However, the next big work of L. Lavrovsky was a fiasco. It was the "Tale of a Stone Flower" based on works by P. Bazhov. It seemed that the music of S. Prokofiev, the talent of G. Ulanova and the experience of L. Lavrovsky - it was a powerful creative tool that could create another grandiose ballet work. In fact, everything turned out differently. In 1953, without finishing the work on the score, S. Prokofiev died. A year later the production was still finished, but it turned out to be too naturalistic, devoid of ballet poetics and lightness. In January 1956, L. Lavrovsky was dismissed from the post of head of the Bolshoi Ballet Company.

Foreign tours

Today it is impossible to imagine that there was a time when the world did not know about the Russian ballet. Great names, famous performances and productions of Soviet choreographers were for the Western public behind the same iron curtain as the entire Soviet Union. The breakthrough of this abyss with the help of ballet art was a political affair. The first tour of the ballet dancers to London (1956) was entrusted to head L. Lavrovsky, who is on a creative pension. Four performances in the repertoire of Soviet artists, of which two were staged by L. Lavrovsky, produced a stunning cultural impression on the sophisticated English audience. Tours were triumphal. However, after their completion, the choreographer was again out of work.

Two years later the situation repeated. Touring to France - and again L. Lavrovsky becomes the head of the tour team. And after his return, he was again excommunicated from his favorite theater. Only in 1959 L. Lavrovsky returned to the Bolshoi Theater. Ahead was yet another difficult and responsible overseas trip - touring the US.

Continuation of the dynasty

In 1961, another Lavrovsky - Mikhail Leonidovich - was admitted to the troupe of the Bolshoi Theater. Wives of the famous choreographer, and by this time he was married for the third time, no longer gave him heirs. But the only son became the continuer of the father's business and proudly carried the famous name of Lavrovsky on the stage. Mikhail Leonidovich went through all stages of the career of the ballet dancer. Father did not make exceptions for him. The brilliant ballet ability of his son, the elder Lavrovsky, was regarded solely as an occasion for increased demands and stricter rules.

After one of the prime ministers, he wrote a few lines to his son: "Everything is open to you, and everything depends on you!" Thus instructed his son Lavrovsky. Mikhail Leonidovich photo with this autographed father carried through his whole life.

Memory of the heart

After his dismissal from the theater in July 1964, L. Lavrovsky began working at the Moscow Choreographic School. In 1965, Leonid Mikhailovich was awarded the honorary title of People's Artist of the USSR. He works a lot and puts concert numbers for students. Many of them have survived to the present day in the repertoire of the famous school.

"Memory of the Heart" - the so-called last concerted number given by the famous choreographer. Leonid Lavrovsky died in Paris, where he came on tour together with students of the choreographic school. This happened on November 27, 1967.