Childhood and youth
Mikhail Turetsky was born in Moscow in 1962. He was the second child in the family, and an unwanted one, at least for his father. Boris Borisovich Epstein, that was the name of the father of the hero of our article, tried in every possible way to dissuade his wife from having a second child. There were a lot of reasons: hard times, old age of the parents, sickly first-born Alexander, with whom there were always a lot of problems.
Today we can only be grateful to the musician’s mother for insisting on her own. On April 12, Bella Semyonovna gave birth to a boy, Misha. It is interesting that Turetsky is not his pseudonym at all, but the surname of his mother, which he took to perform on stage.
The nationality of Mikhail Turetsky is Jewish. This created certain problems when he was growing up, but no one paid attention to it during his childhood. Misha's parents constantly disappeared from work in order to earn money to support their two sons. Therefore, the main responsibilities for his upbringing fell on the shoulders of his older brother Alexander, who was 15 years older. This activity, of course, was a burden to him, so he often left the child next to the radio or TV on, while he went for a walk.
Creative inclinations
Apparently, this played a certain positive role in the biography of Mikhail Turetsky. When the parents found out about this kind of upbringing, they didn’t even punish Alexander, because they noticed that little Misha was constantly singing along to the songs that were played on the air. And he does it well, demonstrating good inclinations. The main hit at that time was the song “Lilac Fog”.
Mikhail Turetsky's father worked as a workshop foreman, and his mother was a kindergarten teacher. The family always had little money, but over time they managed to save up for an additional room in a communal apartment near the Belorusskaya metro station, where they all lived. There was even money left over for an old piano.
The musical instrument was purchased so that Misha could study at home with a guest music tutor, honing his talent. However, the teacher was not as optimistic as the parents. About six months later, she stated that there was no point in continuing to study, because the child had absolutely no hearing.
This upset his parents, but the persistent Mikhail Turetsky convinced them to give him another chance. He entered a music school and started learning to play the flute because it was the cheapest thing.
Education
In 1973, an important event occurred that cannot be ignored in the biography of Mikhail Turetsky. He met his father's cousin, who turned out to be the world famous conductor and violist Rudolf Barshai. Hearing that Misha was going to music school and was also trying to sing, Rudolf asked him to perform something. The boy’s vocal abilities sincerely delighted him, and soon he was able to enroll him in the prestigious choir school named after Sveshnikov. It was possible to do this only through pull.
Having become a graduate of this educational institution, Mikhail Turetsky, whose photo is in this article, enters the Gnessin Academy of Music. He graduates with honors in 1985. By this time, big changes had already taken place in the personal life of Mikhail Turetsky: he acquired a wife and daughter, but more on that later. The musician also grew professionally, having managed to take part in several major performances under the leadership of Sherling and Mravinsky.
Piccolo flute
Modern political scientists love to tell “unintelligent” citizens of Russia about how poorly they lived under Soviet rule.
They are clearly echoed by people who are quite successful, who are shown on TV three times a day - how poorly they lived. This is an outright lie. In the Soviet Union there were no poor, unemployed, prostitutes, drug addicts, corrupt politicians and officials. Yes, everyone lived exactly like this. Without personal yachts and luxury cottages in the Principality of Monaco on the Cote d'Azur. A classic example or visual illustration is the biography of Mikhail Borisovich Turetsky. The boy was born on April 12, 1962 in an ordinary Moscow family. Parents had to work eight hours a day. His father worked as a foreman at a small factory, and his mother worked as a teacher in a kindergarten. The child was looked after by his older brother Alexander, who was already 15 years old. Sasha treated little Misha with care and always turned on music for him that was played on the radio or TV. Willingly or unwittingly, Turetsky the Younger was involved in musical creativity from a young age. He started singing early and his favorite hit was “Lilac Fog.”
It so happened that the elder brother made the first, albeit modest, contribution to Mikhail’s professional guidance. When the time came, they bought the boy an old, but good-sounding, piano. A teacher was invited to teach at home. After six months of lessons, the tutor gave a damning verdict - the child has no hearing and further education is pointless. However, Misha was born persistent. He convinced his parents to enroll him in a music school in the piccolo flute class. The educational process went very well.
And once again a happy accident intervened in Mikhail’s fate. A relative came to visit his parents, who was known in musical circles as a good conductor. We talked at the table. The guest listened carefully to the boy. He assessed his vocal abilities and gave his nephew a recommendation for admission to the Sveshnikov Choir School. After college, Turetsky entered the Gnessin Academy and successfully graduated in 1985. By this time he was already married and raising a daughter.
Professional career
Mikhail decided not to say goodbye to the Gnessin Music Academy right away, but to complete his postgraduate studies. The practice had to take place at rehearsals of the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, as well as in the then famous Theater of Musical Art.
There was always not enough money to live. Therefore, in his free time, he worked part-time wherever he could. He was a loader in a supermarket and a taxi driver at night. The family needed to be fed. But even in the most difficult and cash-strapped days, he continued to dream of his own musical project.
In 1987, the first step on this path was taken. Turetsky begins to collaborate with the ensemble and choir of political songs. Working in this team gave him invaluable experience, and also allowed him to formulate for himself the basic principles of his future team, what it should be, what goals it should pursue.
MIKHAIL TURETSKY PERSONAL LIFE: A MAN GETS FOOD
There are four women in the house of Mikhail Turetsky - Natalya lives separately. It would seem that they must groom and cherish the only man continuously. But the head of the family assures that this is not always the case. “With us, a man earns food, provides for his family, gives it protection and confidence in the future. A man is the stronger sex, it is he who is obliged to patronize and care. Of course, sometimes I really want them to take care of me, but I don’t allow myself to give in, slacken and relax. After all, the wife also has enough to do - she has a house and children who need care and attention around the clock. We care how they grow up, so Liana devotes almost all her time to the girls. And they are still too small to take care of anyone else. Several years ago, Mikhail decided to put into practice his rich life experience in raising women and, in addition to the men’s choir, assembled a women’s group, which he called “Soprano 10.” — I understand women and always try to be on their side. During this time I became an excellent female psychologist. The main trump cards in communicating with girls are truth and sincerity. A woman is always a lot of emotions. Each of the soloists needs to be listened to, understood, infected with a common idea, and only then will they feel more confident. But with men everything is different. Any man is the center of the Universe. Well, at least that's what he thinks of himself. And when too many of us gather in one place, chaos can begin. With men I am a dictator. But - velvet! My artists jokingly nicknamed me the Tsar. I don’t let them talk, I maintain iron discipline. Sometimes I even punish them with rubles. But people don’t raise their hand to large fines - I feel sorry for the people, and small ones, alas, don’t work. Therefore, I rarely resort to such measures of influence. People are held back by something else: in our team, everyone depends on each other. It's like being on a football team. How well you play determines your overall success and, ultimately, your own earnings. If an artist allows himself any excesses, this is sure to be reflected in his voice. And we already have difficult conditions: sleepless nights, travel, everyday problems... Therefore, everyone tries to stay within limits. Dictatorship alone will not help here. You cannot force an artist to sparkle on stage - you can only create the right conditions for this.
Mikhail Turetsky family, house (photo 2014)
Own project
Turetsky announced the launch of his own project in 1989. Mikhail begins recruiting soloists for the men's choir for the capital's choir synagogue. Do not forget that Turetsky is a Jew, he has always adhered to his diaspora.
The idea was truly original. He planned to revive authentic Jewish sacred music in the vastness of the Soviet Union.
The program was quickly compiled and promptly rehearsed. It included Jewish liturgical songs, with which the choir went on tour throughout Russia and abroad. In particular, they were gladly received in Israel, France, Germany, and Great Britain.
Tragedy
When Turetsky was on tour in Lithuania, he received terrible news from home. His wife died in a car accident. She crashed her car on the Moscow-Minsk highway along with her brother and father. They were all returning from celebrating a relative’s birthday.
After receiving this message, Turetsky’s tour was, of course, interrupted. He urgently returns to Moscow. His mother-in-law, Zoya Ivanovna, provides him with all possible assistance, even offering to take custody of her daughter. But Mikhail refuses this option. He decides to raise the child himself, even if he constantly travels with him on tour. Soon after the funeral, they leave for America under a contract for two whole years.
Mendelssohn's first waltz and the birth of the choir
The musician met his first love in Gnesinka. Elena was his classmate and understood his passion for the performing arts quite well. In 1984, the couple got married, and Mikhail Turetsky, whose biography, family and children are still under the gun of ubiquitous journalists, began to think about how to feed his family. A few months after the wedding, their daughter Natasha was born, and in 1985 the couple graduated from Gnesinka.
Turetsky remained at the academy, deciding to get a Ph.D. To earn a living, he had to work part-time as a loader and taxi driver, while at the same time managing to attend rehearsals of the Musical Theater and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. Even then, the thought of creating his own project appeared in the musician’s head, and in 1987, after working with a political song ensemble and a church choir, he got a full idea of what exactly it should be like.
Two years later, Mikhail recruits soloists for a male choir to perform Jewish spiritual chants in the USSR. After rehearsals, the choir goes on tour around its native state and European countries. 1989 is one of the most tragic years in the biography of Mikhail Turetsky: his wife Elena died in a terrible accident along with her relatives - brother and father. The conductor himself was then on tour in Lithuania and was forced to urgently interrupt the tour.
The musician’s mother-in-law, Zoya Ivanovna, tries to help him in every possible way and even offers to take guardianship of Natasha, but Mikhail refuses and flies with her daughter to America for two years. Later in his interviews, the musician admitted that it was Zoya Ivanovna who provided him with invaluable support at that moment, and he still keeps in touch with her.
Changing format
Having become acquainted with the cuisine of American show business, Turetsky decides to radically change the format of his group, as well as the entire repertoire. He decides to add more color, spectacle and dynamics to each performance.
It is worth noting that Broadway musicals, which he regularly attended while in America, had a great influence on him in this regard. At the same time, the work of Turetsky himself deserved high praise. In 1994 and 1995 he was awarded the “Golden Crown of Cantors of the World”.
Awards and titles
- 1994-1995 “Golden Crown of World Cantors” (only 8 people in the world have been awarded this distinction);
- 2002 - “Honored Artist of the Russian Federation”;
- 2004 — National Award “Person of the Year” in the category “Cultural Event of the Year”;
- 2010 - “People’s Artist of the Russian Federation”;
- 2011 - “People’s Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania” and “Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia”;
- 2012 - Order of Honor - For his great contribution to the development of domestic musical art and many years of creative activity
[1]; - 2015 - Honored Artist of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic (November 19, 2020) - for many years of creative activity, achievements in the field of culture and high performing skills
[2].
"Choir Turkish"
With an updated format, an art group called “Turetsky Choir” returns to Russia approximately in the form in which we all know it today. In 1997, they made a real splash on the domestic stage, occupying a vacant niche. Their popularity comes after a joint performance with Joseph Kobzon, who highly appreciated the work of Mikhail himself and his team.
From 1999 to 2002, the group performed at the capital’s State Variety Theater with its own performance, known as “Mikhail Turetsky’s Vocal Show.” In 2002, the hero of our article was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Russia.
The team was finally formed by 2003. It features ten soloists who perform in a variety of voices, from tenor to bass. The repertoire itself has long gone far beyond the exclusively Jewish culture. Music critics evaluate “Turetsky Choir” as a classic crossover.
The very next year the group manages to gather the largest concert venues in Russia and abroad. These are the Ice Palace, the Olympic Sports Complex, George Hall, Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall.
In 2005, Mikhail decided to write his own autobiography, in which he sets out in detail his entire story, how he managed to achieve success, what obstacles were overcome along the way. Tells how Mikhail Turetsky's songs became popular.
In 2008, it seems that the team is reaching the peak of its popularity. They give a concert at the State Kremlin Palace. They are beginning to be considered one of the most famous and popular artists in the country, but Turetsky does not even think about stopping there.
Creative activity
Art group “Turetsky Choir”: history and modernity
After graduating from the institute, in 1989, Mikhail Turetsky began recruiting soloists for the men's choir at the Moscow Choral Synagogue. All members of the group had professional musical education. The main goal of the choir was the revival of Jewish sacred music in the USSR. The group's repertoire consisted of Jewish liturgical music, which had not been performed since 1917. According to tradition, the musicians sang all works a cappella, that is, without musical accompaniment, which required high professional training.
For eighteen months, the choir under the direction of Mikhail Turetsky prepared an extensive program of Jewish spiritual and secular music, which it successfully performed in Israel, America, Germany, Great Britain, France, Canada, Spain (the “Por Me Espiritu” festival in the company of world music stars: Placido Domingo, Isaac Stern, Zubin Mehta).
The group quickly became in demand abroad, but in Russia in the early 90s, it was difficult for artists to find their audience. In 1993, the musicians were briefly supported by LogoVAZ (Boris Berezovsky) and the President of the Russian Jewish Congress, Vladimir Gusinsky.
In 1995-1996, the team is divided into two parts: one remains in Moscow, the second goes to the USA (Miami, Florida) to work under a contract. Mikhail Turetsky has to lead both groups at the same time. During the contract, the artist makes about twenty flights from Moscow to Miami!
The experience gained by the group while working in the USA significantly influenced the choir’s further repertoire policy and understanding of the syncretic nature of the present show. The artists immersed themselves in the atmosphere of American culture with its characteristic entertainment, dynamics, brightness of musical colors, as well as everything that is included in the modern concept of action. It is in the USA, among famous Broadway musicals and first-class musicians, that the variety direction of the project is being formed for the first time.
Thanks to a joint concert tour with Joseph Kobzon, in 1997−1998. The public of the former USSR also becomes acquainted with the work of the group.
In 1998, the choir received the status of a city municipal group.
In the period from 1999 to 2002, the choir had its own repertoire performance (“Mikhail Turetsky’s Vocal Show”) at the Moscow State Variety Theater under the direction of Gennady Khazanov, which takes place twice a month. On this stage the presentation of the choir to the general public of Moscow took place.
In 2003, M. Turetsky discovered his universal concept in music, leaving a mark on the history of world and domestic show business not only as a professional musician, but also as the creator of such a phenomenon in mass musical culture as the “art group.” From that moment on, his group acquired its modern name - “Art Group Turetsky Choir”. Now it is an ensemble of 10 soloists, in which all existing types of male voices are represented: from the lowest (bass profundo) to the highest (tenor altino). The rebirth of the band opens up broader horizons for musicians. The choir's repertoire is noticeably expanding, going beyond the boundaries of one national culture; Jewish prayers and songs still remain in the repertoire, but no longer form its basis.
The essence of the concept of “art group” lies in the limitlessness of creative possibilities within one musical group. The art group's repertoire covers music from different countries, styles and eras: from spiritual chants and opera classics to jazz, rock music and urban folklore. Within the framework of the new phenomenon, all kinds of performance options coexist: a cappella (that is, without accompaniment), singing with instrumental accompaniment, show performances combining vocals with elements of original choreography.
The new style in which the Turetsky Choir works is partly defined by the concept of classical crossover (synthesis of elements of pop, rock and electronic music), however, in the creative activity of the art group there are trends that go beyond this concept: polyphonic singing and voice imitation musical instruments, interactivity and the introduction of happening elements (for example, audience participation in a dance and song program). Thus, each concert number turns into a “mini-musical”, and the concert into a show with extraordinary energy. The repertoire of the “Turetsky Choir” still includes masterpieces of classical music in their original form. Mikhail himself not only sings, but also brilliantly hosts and directs his own show. Today the team has no analogues in the whole world.
Since 2004, the Turetsky Choir has begun extensive concert activities, began its social life and experienced a rapid rise in its pop career, which is accompanied by many awards and a constant increase in the number of fans. The group performs at the best concert venues in the country and the world. Among them: the Olympic Stadium (Moscow) and the Ice Palace (St. Petersburg), the Oktyabrsky Great Concert Hall (St. Petersburg), the Albert Hall (England), the largest halls in the USA - Carnegie Hall (New York), Dolby Theater (Los Angeles), Jordan Hall (Boston).
In 2008, the Turetsky Choir attracted four sold-out crowds at the State Kremlin Palace, and at the request of the audience, gave an additional sold-out fifth concert at the Luzhniki Sports Palace, which set a kind of record.
Artists go on stage 200-250 times every year, board a plane 100 times a year, and travel 120 thousand km. on cars, buses and trains.
Despite the fact that the group has existed for more than 20 years, its core is still made up of musicians with whom M. Turetsky has known and been friends since his student years or since the formation of the choir.
Women's team
In 2010, he launches a new project called SOPRANO. Essentially, this is the female version of the “Turetsky Choir”. The girls from this group, produced by Mikhail himself, are quickly becoming popular. They perform at prestigious festivals.
For example, on “Song of the Year”, “Slavic Bazaar”, “New Wave”. 2010 becomes a successful year for Mikhail in the sense that he is awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia and the Order of Honor.
TURKISH FAMILY: I WILL STILL RIDE WITH MY GRANDSON!
“Now I’m finally calm,” says the new grandfather. “I now have confidence that the business I am doing will continue to exist when I retire. Of course, I have many daughters and each of them can become my successor, but a man at the head of a music holding is somehow more reliable, in my opinion. “Turetsky Choir” is a serious project, not a one-day project. And if you put your soul into it, it will delight people in 50 and 100 years. Although, of course, I understand that these are just my dreams and my grandson will not necessarily follow in my footsteps. For now I’m imagining how I will go skiing and going to the skating rink with him. Well, I have every chance to participate in his upbringing: I am now 51 years old, and my father was 50 when I was born. And he lived to be 96 years old, and managed to rejoice when I was given the title of People's Artist. And the last time he and I skated together was when he was 94. So my grandson and I will skate again! But Mikhail does not yet plan to play cars and trains with the new member of the family. “I played enough with the girls,” he laughs. “My daughters not only played with dolls, they were also interested in cars, so the house is still full of all kinds of toy equipment. Our girls are very inquisitive and active, they go in for sports. 9-year-old Emmanuelle stands confidently on skates, and as soon as I have free time, she and I go to the skating rink. As a rule, we spend our winter holidays skiing with the whole family. The youngest, Beate, is not yet 5 years old, but we are also gradually accustoming her to exercise. I believe that the main task of parents is to discern the child’s abilities and open the right door for him. Because if he chooses the wrong path and the door turns out to be not his size, not his liking and not his talent, the person will not be happy.
Personal life
Mikhail Turetsky built the family in 1984. His classmate Elena becomes his chosen one. In the same year, their daughter Natasha is born. It was Elena who died in the accident along with her brother and father, after which Mikhail left with Natalya on a tour of America.
His daughter liked it in the USA. There she even began performing on stage for the first time. However, her father managed to convince her to try herself in some other field, because he himself already understood what hard work it was. The main argument was that music and vocals would completely deprive the girl of her personal life. She did not dare to do this; as a result, she began studying law. Now she works as a lawyer in the office of the Turetsky Choir, promptly resolving all emerging issues.
In 2014, she gave her father a grandson, Ivan, and in 2016, her daughter Elena was born.
Mikhail Turetsky himself also had children. In 2001, an illegitimate daughter named Isabel was born, this happened after a short affair with Tatyana Borodovskaya. And in 2002, the hero of our article married for the second time. He chose an Armenian woman named Liana as his wife, whom he met during a regular tour of America, which was organized by the girl’s father.
Even before her marriage to Turetsky, Liana already had a child - daughter Sarina. Despite this, the couple decided to have children together. In 2005, Emmanuelle was born to them, and four years later Beata.
Family
In 1984, Mikhail Turetsky marries the daughter of a military man, Elena.
, his classmate at the Gnessin Institute.
Parents on both sides did not support this union, wanting for their children “a couple of their own nationality,” but kindred spirits of lovers (Elena was also a musician) defended their right to be together. In the same year, their daughter Natalya
. At that time, Mikhail Turetsky was 22 years old.
To provide his family with everything necessary while continuing his graduate studies, the young father worked in several places at the same time: as a night director in a large supermarket, as a teacher. At the same time, he began working with the Orthodox church choir and at the same time with the political song ensemble “Voice”.
In the latter, new artistic principles of a certain synthetic art are born, combining singing, elements of plastic theater and acting to varying degrees, which as a result will lead Turetsky to the creation of the first art group in history. The musician thought and dreamed about this in those years.
In August 1989, together with his friend and teacher Vladimir Semenyuk, Turetsky went to Klaipeda. At night, the musician received a telegram from his older brother with the words “Call urgently. Sasha". The next morning, Mikhail learned about a terrible tragedy: his father-in-law, his wife and her brother died in a car accident on the Minsk-Moscow highway.
The artist remains with his five-year-old daughter in his arms. During this difficult time, Turetsky was supported by his mother-in-law Zoya Ivanovna
, which, according to Mikhail Turetsky, still remains an authority for him[4]. It was Zoya Ivanovna who helped raise the girl before Turetsky left under a contract for a tour in the USA, which lasted two years. In America, Mikhail and Natasha became real friends and spent a lot of time together. There, the daughter repeatedly successfully appeared on stage and sang with the choir, finding a warm response in the hearts of American listeners. Later, the father dissuaded the girl from studying music, fearing that it would be difficult for her to secure a future for herself. At that time, the musician did not yet have his current authority and position. Today Natalya, having received a law degree, works in the office of the Turetsky Choir.
For the second time, Mikhail Turetsky decides to marry only 12 years later. During an American tour in Dallas (Texas) on Halloween, after another concert, the artist met Liana
, who later became his wife.
The girl turned out to be the daughter of an agent who was organizing tours of the “Turetsky Choir” in the USA. By that time, Liana’s life was already well arranged: a little daughter Sarina
, a house, a prestigious job as a leading programmer at a telecommunications company in Dallas.
After some time, Mikhail and Liana got married, and the girl agreed to move to Moscow. Soon two daughters were born into the Turkish family: Emmanuel
(2005) and
Beata
(2009).
He also has a daughter, Isabelle (2001), who lives with her mother in Germany. In 2014, Mikhail became a grandfather: Natalya gave birth to a son, Ivan Gilevich
[4].
Activities in recent years
Now the age of Mikhail Turetsky is 56 years old. It’s a lot for a musician and vocalist, but he doesn’t even think about leaving the stage yet. All his life he has shown himself to be a workaholic; he has recruited the same enthusiasts into his team and has no intention of slowing down.
The Turetsky Choir, together with its leader and inspirer, gives about two hundred concerts annually in Russia and abroad. At the same time, artists are actively developing social networks so that fans can watch them literally in real time.
In 2020, several important and significant events occurred in Turetsky’s life. He received the Order of Friendship for the development of culture, and also married his daughter Sarina to Tornik Tsertsvadze. Sarina is Liana’s daughter from her first marriage, whom Mikhail himself has long considered practically his own.
At the moment, the group “Turetsky Choir” has already released eight albums. The first was released in 1999 under the name High Holidays, then there were the records Bravissimo, “Turetsky Choir Presents”, “When Men Sing”, “Born to Sing”, “Moscow - Jerusalem”, “Music of All Times”, “The Show Must Go On”.
When talking about their work, artists often like to emphasize that during the year they have to board a plane about a hundred times, travel about 120 thousand kilometers by car, and also travel considerable distances by trains and buses. But they all admire their leader and respect him very much.
