Vasily Kachalov - leading actor of the Art Theater

Actor Vasily Kachalov is known in the theater world just like Leonardo da Vinci in the art world. He embodied all that today we call a talented Soviet artist. The figure is a textbook, he never studied acting, possessing a stunning scenic charm.

Origins

11.02.1875 in Vilna (modern Vilnius) in the family of priest John Shverubovich, rector of the Orthodox church, the third son was born. This was Vasily Kachalov. The biography of the actor is described in detail by V. Ya. Vilenkin, who told about the childhood years of the future brilliant artist. His father came from Belarusian gentry, his mother had Polish and Lithuanian roots. In the family they adhered to a severe school of upbringing, in childhood Vasili was flogged for his faults. In addition to the two older brothers, the difference in age with which was 10-15 years, later two girls were born: Sonia and Sasha. They were early widowed and for the past 26 years were under the care of V. Kachalov, with whom they lived together.

The young man received a brilliant education in the 1 st gymnasium, which was simultaneously graduated from FE Dzerzhinsky. Under the influence of his father, who conducted services with great artistry and pathos in his voice, he climbed onto the closet and engaged in recitation. A great impression on him was made by the performance of the Vilnius Theater "Demon", which determined his preferences. On the stage of the hostel of the gymnasium, he, as a sixth grader, made his debut as Khlestakov, immediately becoming a local celebrity. And then there were the roles of Nozdryov and Podkolyosin, a real passion for the local theater. However, the young man went to St. Petersburg University in the footsteps of his elder brother Anastasia, demonstrating what it means to be educated. Vasily Ivanovich Kachalov leaves his parents' house in 1894.

The beginning of an acting career

Having enrolled in the Faculty of Law, the young man immediately becomes a member of the theatrical circle and in parallel spends all his time in the Alexandria Theater. On the recommendation of the actor, M. I. Pisarev tries in the role of Valera in Moliere's play "Miser" in a small theater (director E. Karpov), having received a blessing on the stage and recognition in the possession of talent. Scenic skill Vasily Kachalov (pictured in his younger years in the article) comprehended the great actor VN Davydov, who at that time led the student theater group. His first creative success was the role of Neschastlivtsev (AI Ostrovsky, "Forest"), which in 1895 was presented to the general public. To applause, VN Davydov came out with a young talent.

At 21, the young man is already becoming a professional actor in the Suvorin Theater with a salary of 50 rubles. When drafting the contract, AS Suvorin recommended Vasily Ivanovich to change Shverubovich's name to a more euphonic one. So the actor has a pseudonym, according to which he is known all over the world. The young man successfully combined professional activity with education, although creativity and bohemian life completely captured him. But the role of Suvorin (he played them 35) was only a comedy and vaudeville character, so on the recommendation of VN Davydov, the actor goes to the provinces, leaving the university after four years of study.

Provincial period

Having got to the talented entrepreneur MM Boroday, 2 years and 6 months, Vasily Kachalov played two cities, performing in Saratov and Kazan. He was obsessed with work, playing for this period about 250 roles. At the age of 23 he created the image of Cassius in the Shakespearean "Julia Caesar", receiving a unanimous confession. The viewers were impressed by the external appearance of the actor: with a high growth (185 cm) he was rather thin and pale, but at the same time he masterfully owned the body. The artist actively connected his hands with incredibly long fingers from nature. But the main treasure was his enchanting voice. Sound baritone literally fascinated those sitting in the hall.

After the brilliant role of Shakhovsky in "Tsar Feodor" and the creation of the Moscow Art Theater in Moscow (1898), he began to dream of a big stage. In Kazan, he met his future wife, actress Nina Litovtseva (Levesta), who was a student of VI Nemirovich-Danchenko. This finally predetermined the departure to Moscow.

Appearance in the Art Theater

Upon arrival in February 1900 in the Moscow Art Theater, V. Kachalov was to appear to Stanislavsky. A scene was chosen where he should alternately appear in two images: Boris Godunov and Ivan the Terrible. The stamps produced in the provinces played their negative role - the show was hopelessly failed. Vasily Kachalov did not drop his hands and continued to go to the theater every day, watching the performance of the outstanding actors of that time. The production of "Snow Maiden" was prepared for the production, but Berendey's role did not yield to anyone. Stanislavsky decided to give the beginning actor another chance and was not mistaken.

After the rehearsal, he embraced V. Kachalov, who did a great job on himself and caught the demands of the artistic directors of the theater. The triumphant debut took place in September 1900, opening a brilliant prospect for the actor. Among his first vivid works:

• The role of the Baron in the play "At the bottom", about which M. Gorky responded with admiration.
• Caesar in the same play of V. Shakespeare.
• Roles in the plays of A. P. Chekhov "The Cherry Orchard" (Trofimov) and "Three Sisters" (Tuzenbach).

Career peak

Real success came to Vasily Ivanovich in 1905, and until the revolution, Moscow will be so enamored of him that the maid will risk for a lot of money to sell things from his wardrobe, which was hunted by numerous fans. Poet S. Solovyov will call him "the king of girlish ideals", and the audience will know all his roles in the face. In each he invested his understanding of the personality of the hero, offering an unexpected, but hard-won interpretation. So, he painted a completely different image of the Prince of Denmark, having overthrown that from the pedestal to which he was elevated in previous years. He shows the tragedy of Hamlet through a spiritual contradiction: an understanding of the imperfection of life and the powerlessness to change anything in it (1911).

Glumov in the play of AI Ostrovsky always played a rascal and a careerist. Vasily Kachalov will propose a new reading of the image, where he will appear talented and ironic, for whom the whole life is a game. And in this game he wants to be a winner (1910). The role of Ivan Karamazov (FM Dostoevsky) - one of the most difficult on the stage. Once playing it, the actor will use the central monologue in concerts, revealing through him the Karamazov understanding of the world (1910). Later, he admits that he loved in Karamazov his rebellion against God and faith in the power of reason. This illuminated him even the hero's defeats, which he justified with an amazing thirst for life.

Touring

VI Kachalov's attitude to the revolution was ambivalent. On the one hand, he was acquainted with the revolutionary N. Bauman and considered meeting with him one of the most important in life, on the other - his son Vadim fought in the White Army. Since 1919, he led a part of the troupe, who went on tour in the south of the country. The war forced the actors to leave their homeland, and their tour continued in Europe: Sofia, Prague, Berlin, Zagreb, Paris. The West applauded the talent of the Russians, and Kachalov Vasily Ivanovich also performed with concerts, the first time reciting the "Scythians" by Alexander Blok. A man of phenomenal education, he read Homer in ancient Greek, and Horace in Latin.

After interrupting for a short vacation, the troupe went on new trips, having made a tour to the USA, where it successfully began touring with the play "Tsar Feodor". By that time, the family moved to a German village, and Stanislavsky began to fear that many artists would not return from the tour. He sent out letters, inviting the company to gather in the theater. In August 1924, V. Kachalov returned to Moscow.

Personal life

In Vasiliy Kachalov there was a barbarity and scope, but at the same time, kindness and unwillingness to upset people. He loved communication, nature, long walks and feasts, happily arranging them at home. His apartment was visited by a large number of famous personalities, among whom was Sergei Yesenin. He made friends with the Doberman of the owner, nicknamed Jim, writing a beautiful poem "Dog Kachalov."

From 1900 until his death, Vasily Kachalov was married to Nina Nikolaevna, who, after illness, remained lame and could not perform on stage. He helped her to do directing. On his 50th birthday he played Nicholas I in the play about the Decembrists, staged by his wife. He is credited with a huge number of novels, including a long relationship with the actress, the wife of a great man. But he did not leave the family, loving his only son Vadim.

He generously gave himself to people, endlessly adoring the scene. In addition to the performances, he led a grand concert activity, leaving behind a huge number of records available today. In 1928 he starred in the silent movie "White Eagle" (director Ya. Protazanov). During the filming of "Let's Go to Life" (1931), he was entrusted with reading poems about homeless children, creating the mood of the picture. The state appreciated his merits by conferring the title of People's Artist of the USSR (1936).

last years of life

After the Great Patriotic War, which was spent in the evacuation, the actor no longer left the stage of the Art Theater. His last significant role was Bardin on M. Gorky's play Enemies. He fell ill with diabetes, but continued to participate in radio performances and concert programs. 09/30/1948 after 50 years of service Melpomene Vasily Kachalov left his life. A brief biography does not allow you to convey the scale of the personality of the great actor, with the departure of which you can talk about the completion of a whole theatrical era.