Childhood and youth
Joseph Davydovich was born in September 1937 in the city of Chasov Yar (Donetsk region). His mother was forced to “become an adult” quite early, since her father left the family when the girl was barely 13 years old. At such a young age, Ida began to earn her living by growing and selling tobacco.
Joseph Kobzon in childhood and recent years | Nnm.me
Shortly before the birth of her son, Ida Isaevna Shoikhet-Kobzon became a people's judge. Joseph Kobzon has repeatedly said in interviews that it is his mother who, in many aspects, is still his moral guide.
Joseph Kobzon's childhood was quite eventful. The future celebrity repeatedly had to change his place of residence. Before the start of World War II, the family moved to Lviv. From there, little Joseph’s father went to the front as a political instructor, and his mother moved again - this time the “destination” was Yangiyul in Uzbekistan. Joseph Kobzon’s father never returned to the family: after the injury, the man underwent rehabilitation for a long time. In the hospital he met a woman whom he married and stayed to live in the Russian capital.
Joseph Kobzon with his mother, stepfather and brothers | Dubikvit — LiveJournal
In addition to Joseph, three children grew up in the family. In 1944, the mother and children returned to the Donetsk region, to the city of Kramatorsk. It was there that Joseph Kobzon went to first grade. In 1946, his mother remarried. This marriage brought the future People's Artist of the USSR two more half-brothers. True, Kobzon’s family did not live long in Kramatorsk - at the end of the 40s they moved again. This time to Dnepropetrovsk. In this Ukrainian city, Joseph graduated with honors from the eighth grade and entered the Dnepropetrovsk Mining College.
At this educational institution, Joseph Kobzon became interested in boxing, but after the first serious injuries, the artist decided to leave the dangerous sport and took up creativity. The stage of the mountain technical school was the place where the beautiful baritone of the young singer was first heard.
Family
Parents: David Kunovich Kobzon and Ida Isaevna Shoikhet-Kobzon (1907-1991). Brothers - Isaac, Immanuel, Lev. Stepfather - Moisey Moiseevich Rappoport (1905-1970). Sister - Gelena Mikhailovna Kandel (born October 1, 1948), widow of the famous neurosurgeon professor Eduard Izrailevich Kandel (1923-1990).
First wife (1965-1967) - Veronika Petrovna Kruglova (born 1940), singer. Second wife (1967-1970) - Lyudmila Markovna Gurchenko (1935-2011), actress and singer, People's Artist of the USSR (1983). Third wife (1971-2018) - Ninel Mikhailovna Kobzon (maiden name Drizina) (born December 13, 1950), Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation (2015), Graduated from the All-Union Creative Workshop of Variety Art, became a specialist in the spoken genre.
Son - Andrey Iosifovich Kobzon (born January 1, 1974) - businessman, restaurateur. Graduated from the Musical Institute in Hollywood. In the mid-1990s, together with Arthur Kurylenko and Andrei Zuckerberg, he created the Giusto club. In the past, the drummer of the group “Resurrection”, then the “Moral Code”, played with Alexei Romanov and Andrei Sapunov (musicians of “Resurrection”), then became a businessman; author of several restaurant projects on Novy Arbat (“Zhiguli”, “Gazgolder”), on Bolshoi Tolmachevsky Lane (Japanese restaurant), co-owner of the Paris-Moscow establishment “Maxim”. Dealing with real estate.
Daughter - Natalya Iosifovna Rappoport-Kobzon (born December 7, 1976). She worked as a press secretary for fashion designer Valentin Yudashkin.
Grandchildren:
- Idel Rappoport (born 1999),
- Polina Kobzon (born 1999),
- Michelle Rappoport (born 2000),
- Anita Kobzon (born 2001),
- Ornella-Maria Rappoport (born 2004),
- Mikhail Kobzon (born 2008),
- Alain-Joseph Rappoport (born 2010).
Joseph Kobzon
Creation
In 1956, the future patriarch of the Soviet stage, and then a promising 22-year-old singer, Joseph Kobzon, was called up for military service. Until the end of the 50s, he sang in the song and dance ensemble of the Transcaucasian Military District.
Joseph Kobzon in the army | Skif-tag.livejournal.com
After his dismissal, Kobzon returned to Dnepropetrovsk. Here, in the local Students' Palace, the singer met his first mentor - choir director Leonid Tereshchenko. He undertook to prepare Joseph for admission to the conservatory. Tereshchenko worked with the student according to an individual program, realizing that he had a unique talent.
The teacher also made sure that his student did not go hungry. He got Kobzon into the Institute of Chemical Technology, where the guy spent several months cleaning gas masks in a bomb shelter with alcohol for a fairly modest fee. The teacher guessed that his talented student would certainly make a brilliant career, but he did not even suspect that this modest young man would soon become a star.
Joseph Kobzon | Library Youth Center
In 1959, Joseph Kobzon became the soloist of the All-Union Radio. Here he worked for 4 years. At this time, his individual performing style was formed, by which the singer began to be recognized. This is a harmonious combination of bel canto technique and ease. In 1964, Kobzon was a two-time laureate. He won the All-Russian competition of pop artists and the festival in Sopot, Poland. In the same year, Joseph Davydovich became Honored Artist of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
Since the mid-1960s, song competitions, music festivals, the presentation of prizes, awards and titles have become a fixture in the life of Joseph Kobzon. The young performer is delegated to the international competition “Friendship”, which was held in socialist countries. In Warsaw, Budapest and Berlin, the Russian singer managed to win first places. In 1986, Joseph Kobzon became People's Artist of the USSR. There is not a person in the vast country who does not know his name and has not heard this lyrical baritone.
Joseph Kobzon | Ivona
Since the mid-1980s, Joseph Davydovich Kobzon has been teaching pop vocals at the famous Gnesinka. He has many talented students, among whom the brightest are Valentina Legkostupova, Irina Otieva, Valeria.
Joseph Kobzon visited all Soviet construction sites with concerts. He spoke to the military contingent in Afghanistan and the liquidators of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. His repertoire includes more than 3 thousand songs. Among them are many hits of the 30s, which were previously performed by Klavdiya Shulzhenko, Isabella Yuryeva, Vadim Kozin and Konstantin Sokolsky.
Despite his venerable age - the master turned 80 in 2020 - he was a regular guest at the Song of the Year festival, the New Year's Blue Lights and at all holiday concerts. Sometimes Joseph Kobzon appeared on screen in the most unexpected duets with popular youth groups and singers. So, in 2016, at the Blue Light, he surprised and pleased with his joint performance with Yegor Creed. His joint compositions with the group “Republic” became interesting and unusual. Some of their songs (“Dress”, “White Light”, “Blackbirds”) became hits.
Joseph Kobzon | Radio Chanson
Many fans of Joseph Kobzon’s talent love his song “Daughter” based on the verses of Irina Gribulina. The composition “Evening Table” performed by the master with Grigory Leps and Alexander Rosenbaum is one of the favorites for many. And yet, the artist’s main song is called “Moments” from the cult film “Seventeen Moments of Spring.” No one managed to perform this composition more soulfully than Joseph Kobzon.
Policy
Joseph Kobzon has always been a person with an active life position. He is a famous political figure. He began his political career in 1990 as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The artist was repeatedly elected to the State Duma of the Russian Federation from the Aginsky Buryat Autonomous Okrug.
In 2002, Joseph Kobzon was not afraid to enter into negotiations with the invaders of the Theater Center on Dubrovka.
Joseph Kobzon in the State Duma | Vesti.Ru
Like many other Russian artists, Joseph Kobzon actively responded to the coup in Ukraine - he was among those who signed the appeal of cultural figures sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This appeal indicated that Kobzon supports the president’s policies on Crimea and Ukraine. Joseph Kobzon’s position led to the fact that the European Union included the artist on its “black list” of Russian citizens who are prohibited from entering the EU.
Due to scandalous and condemning statements, the artist was included in their “black lists” by Ukraine and Latvia. In many Ukrainian cities, the singer was deprived of his “honorary citizen” status. In January 2015, Kobzon’s “honorary citizenship” was taken away from his native Kramatorsk.
Due to EU sanctions, all of the artist’s assets in Europe are frozen, as are the assets of other sanctioned colleagues. But Joseph Kobzon assured that this did not bother him much - he continued to travel with concerts to Donetsk and Lugansk, and also publicly supported the militias. At the end of November 2014, Joseph Kobzon was awarded the status of honorary consul of the Donetsk People's Republic in the Russian Federation.
Joseph Kobzon with a passport of the Donetsk People's Republic | KP Ufa
Joseph Kobzon created another scandal with his own hands, refusing the status of People's Artist of Ukraine in 2014. He also made this decision under the influence of his political convictions.
The famous artist also considered the right decision of the Russian Federation to refuse to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Ukraine in 2017.
Farewell and funeral of Joseph Kobzon: online broadcast
19:29 Poignant text by Irina Bobrova from Vostryakovsky. There was a fly in the ointment “At Kobzon’s funeral, some could not resist self-promotion”
19:25 Report by our photojournalist Gennady Cherkasov from the Vostryakovsky cemetery “Funeral of Joseph Kobzon: the singer’s grave was surrounded by hundreds of people”
19:20 Video of the funeral from our correspondents “At Kobzon’s funeral, the entire Vostryakovskoe cemetery was covered with flowers”
18:20 Great frank report from our columnist Tatyana Fedotkina from the scene of the events “Farewell to Kobzon lasted six hours: there were enough tears for everyone”
17:46 During the entire farewell ceremony, our photojournalist Natalya Gubernatorova worked in the Tchaikovsky Hall. The photo of Natasha Koroleva seemed to us the most touching - like Kobzon, a native of Ukraine, she did not hide her tears.
See photo report on the topic: From Putin to Natasha Koroleva: photo of farewell to Kobzon
51 photos
17:43 The song that brought Joseph Kobzon popularity after being shown on TV was “And in our yard”... Here is its archived video recording.
16:49 The last two shots from the Vostryakovsky cemetery. Our photojournalists are preparing a large report from the Tchaikovsky Hall. We will publish it soon.
photo: Gennady Cherkasov
photo: Gennady Cherkasov
The graves of Joseph Davydovich and his mother.
16:43 Sergei Sobyanin proposed naming the theater center on Dubrovka in honor of Kobzon. When suicide bombers took hostages, spectators and performers of the musical “Nord-Ost” in October 2002, Joseph Davydovich went to negotiate with the terrorists twice. This is what he said in an interview with MK.
“When they began to list who came to the Center, they said: “We will not communicate with anyone, only with the president,” but when they heard “Kobzon,” they answered: “Kobzon can come.” They knew me, I sang something like an anthem for them. “Song, fly, song, fly, go around all the mountains.” This is a song about Grozny. Their parents knew me." After negotiations, five people were saved: Lyubov Kornilov, two of her own children, another child whom she called her own, and a British citizen.
16:25 Listen to what the “stars” said today outside the Tchaikovsky Hall.
Watch the video on the topic: “Volochkova, Panin, Moiseev said goodbye to Kobzon: video footage”
06:58
16:10 Next to the grave is a portrait of Joseph Davydovich. He is captured as many of us remember him: in an immaculate white suit, with a microphone, singing on stage. Our columnist Alexander Melman wrote a text about those who criticized Joseph Davydovich for being in power, in the State Duma, and supporting Donbass after the events in Ukraine. Read the material “Kobzon was cursed by dwarfs”
photo: Natalya Belova
16:00 A close friend of the deceased, religious figure Mikhail Abramovich, speaks philosophical words: “We often cry when a person dies and rejoice when he is born. It is not right. When he was just born, we don't know how he will live his life. Is it good or bad? But here we all know and should rejoice, because he was a wonderful man who lived a very good life. I don’t have enough words to describe all his virtues.”
15:59 There have probably never been so many flowers at the Vostryakovsky cemetery before. The main alley is filled with wreaths, people walk and walk to the grave, stroking the sand, laying bouquets.
15:46 The singer's resting place is covered with spruce branches - spruce branches. The rabbi tells the crowd: “Don’t be sad, don’t cry, smile. He feels good now, and your smiles will make him feel better.”
photo: Natalya Belova
photo: Gennady Cherkasov
15:41 At the grave. On the right you can see a monument to Kobzon’s mother, Ida Isaevna. The life of the family in Ukraine was not easy: the father fought, but did not return to the family, he found another woman. Mom worked in factories and factories, then remarried. And she worked as a people's judge. Of course, when Joseph Davydovich began to earn money, the first thing he did was support his mother and relatives.
photo: Natalya Belova
15:37 The approach to the grave of Joseph Davydovich was covered with a green carpet and fenced off with posts.
photo: Natalya Belova
15:33 People are still walking, carrying wreaths and flowers. A strong and sad photo.
15:30 Many of those who are now at the Vostryakovsky cemetery attended the memorial service for the singer in the Tchaikovsky Hall this morning. We collected mournful footage of the “stars”, Joseph Davydovich’s colleagues on stage, those who loved and respected him.
See photo report on the topic: Pugacheva, Lolita, Petrosyan at farewell to Kobzon: sad shots
65 photos
15:25 Everyone is abandoning the earth and abandoning it - a lot of people.
photo: Natalya Belova
15:20 A military band is playing. There is a sea of flowers around.
photo: Natalya Belova
photo: Gennady Cherkasov
15:17 The tents in the distance are the burial place of Joseph Davydovich. The rabbi says a prayer and the coffin is lowered into the grave. Handfuls of earth are thrown on him. Orthodox priests approach the grave to throw earth on the coffin.
photo: Natalya Belova
photo: Natalya Belova
15:15 Boris Moiseev felt very bad: the funeral was still going on, but the singer was taken out by the arms and put into the car. This morning, accompanying people helped the seriously ill Moiseev enter the Tchaikovsky Hall.
photo: Gennady Cherkasov
15:08 The entrance to the cemetery has been opened. For all.
photo: Alexander Kulibanov
14:58 Problems arose among those who arrived in their own cars, and not centrally from the Tchaikovsky Hall - by bus. But now order has been restored.
photo: Gennady Cherkasov
14:56 For some reason, they stopped letting in even those who had invitations. People are waving white “business cards”, but they find it difficult to get through the crowd.
14:50 Kobzon bequeathed to bury him according to Jewish custom. Jewish religious figures performed at his farewell in the Tchaikovsky Hall.
photo: Tatyana Fedotkina
14:45 Ordinary fans of Kobzon, who are not allowed into the cemetery, are indignant, even screaming, some are crying. A stampede began near the fence. The rabbis came, they obviously do not have invitations to the funeral - they say that “religion is not respected.” But the family of Joseph Davydovich has every right to the fact that their will was respected and the funeral was held in the circle of only their closest relatives and friends.
photo: Alexander Kulibanov
14:30 The hearse with the singer’s body arrived at the cemetery, buses with guests are arriving. We talked with one of the women. She says she knew Kobzon as a 16-year-old girl. He came to her native Grozny and gave a concert there. And he singled her out especially, then, after the concert, he personally sang three songs to her.
14:13 The cordon and closure will last until 16.00 People without invitations are waiting for the funeral cortege a kilometer from the entrance. Cemetery employees come to pick up the invitees and escort them through the police.
photo: Gennady Cherkasov
14:11 All outsiders were removed a kilometer from the cemetery, and the passage was fenced off.
photo: Natalya Belova
14:10 This is what the honor guard rehearsal looked like.
photo: Natalya Belova
14:05 In the morning, wreaths began to be brought to the Vostryakovskoye cemetery. Then the military arrived there - they trained an honor march, carrying the Russian flag in front of them. Meanwhile, police with dogs were searching the cemetery area.
photo: Natalya Belova
14:03 A tent was erected over the site where Kobzon will be buried.
photo: Natalya Belova
14:00 As our correspondent reports, everything was blocked from 8 am - those who came to visit the graves of their relatives were asked to take a roundabout route.
13:59 Joseph Davydovich bought a place for himself at the Vostryakovsky cemetery in advance. There is the grave of his mother, Ida Isaevna Shoikhet, and the mother of Kobzon’s widow, Nelly (Ninel) Mikhailovna.
13:51 Our correspondents are preparing detailed reports and photo reports from the farewell to Joseph Davydovich, and are also working at the Vostryakovsky cemetery, where the artist’s funeral will take place.
13:47 The coffin with the body of Joseph Kobzon is sent to the Vostryakovskoye cemetery. The song “How young we were…” is playing. Crowds of people stand on both sides of the Garden Ring, seeing off the hearse.
The Garden Ring was temporarily closed - cars and 10 buses for those allowed to attend the funeral were sent to the Vostryakovskoye cemetery.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
13:42 Yevgeny Petrosyan walked behind the coffin. He looked very confused and sad.
photo: Irina Bobrova
13:39 Frank Sinatra's song “My Way” sounds: “I drank life to the dregs, I tasted everything in it, I won’t hide it, But what’s more important, I was myself.”
13:37 Boris Moiseev removed the assistants who were helping him walk.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
13:32 Mayakovsky Square is filled with people. Riot police keep order. The security forces are also sad.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
13:28 In the center in the background, with red hair, is Klara Novikova.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
13:26 In the front row on the street are Joseph Prigozhin with his wife Valeria and Ukupnik.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
Prigozhin, Valeria, Arkady Ukupnik.
13:23 Singer Alexander Malinin also came to say goodbye.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
13:22 TV presenter Elena Malysheva waits for the coffin to be carried out next to the church servants.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
13:15 Our correspondent sent several more photos of Vladimir Putin in the hall.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
On the left is Kobzon’s son Andrei, Valentina Tereshkova. On the right is Nelly Kobzon.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
With Nelly Kobzon.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
13:08 The applause for the great artist in the Tchaikovsky Hall lasted at least a quarter of an hour.
Watch the video on the topic: “Kobzon was seen off on his last journey with an ovation”
00:56
13:07 The military carries out mourning wreaths.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
13:05 The seriously ill Boris Moiseev is led out by the arms.
photo: Irina Bobrova
13:00 Alla Pugacheva, Kristina Orbakaite and Maxim Galkin come out with everyone else. People leave the hall.
photo: Irina Bobrova
12:57 A huge outburst of common grief... In the hall are “stars”, politicians, ordinary people who loved and respected Joseph Davydovich.
Watch the video on the topic: “Video of Alla Pugacheva at farewell to Kobzon published”
00:11
12:56 The mournful ovation continues. Nelly Kobzon burst into tears...
12:52 There is applause in the hall, shouts of “bravo” - Joseph Davydovich is being seen off on his final journey. Not everyone who wanted to say goodbye had time to say goodbye; they will no longer allow Tchaikovsky into the hall.
12:51 On the street they are opening metal detectors, preparing to remove the coffin with the body. Kobzon’s son Andrei says: “For my father, there was nothing more important than the love of the audience. So let's give him one last round of applause."
photo: Irina Bobrova
A hearse in which the coffin will be taken to the Vostryakovskoye cemetery.
12:48 The singer’s widow seemed petrified in terrible grief. They lived together for 47 years. Last September we celebrated the 80th birthday of Joseph Davydovich... My wife was there all the time - during operations, in hospitals... Both in sorrow and in joy.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
12:43 The head of the LDPR, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, spoke both at the entrance and from the stage. “They are strategic missile forces, if we speak in military terminology. He could sing all night and knew thousands of songs. Through his songs we felt the whole country... If the CPSU had at least 5% of people like Joseph Davydovich, the party would have ruled for a long time. And if it were possible to give the title “Man of Planet Earth,” we would give it to him first.” Zhirinovsky also compared Kobzon to a spaceship.
Watch the video on the topic: ""The last witness of a great era": Zhirinovsky said goodbye to Kobzon"
01:26
12:41 We will soon publish a video with Pugacheva, Galkin and Orbakaite. They didn’t say anything to the journalists - they were in a hurry to say goodbye to Joseph Davydovich.
On the street they began to prepare for the removal of the coffin. The line does not dry out - people are worried that they will not have time to pay their last respects to their idol.
12:38 Stas Mikhailov has arrived. And also Dmitry Malikov with his wife and sister Inna.
photo: Irina Bobrova
12:33 The legendary cosmonaut Alexei Leonov was helped to walk through the hall by Mikhail Shvydkoy and Valentina Tereshkova.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
12:32 Some of those gathered at the farewell felt ill. The ambulance team runs out of the building. The doctors argue with the guards: “There are doctors on duty on the street on all sides, an intensive care vehicle is parked in the yard, why pull us out of the hall? What if something happens there?
12:28 Maxim Galkin supports the Diva on the arm.
photo: Irina Bobrova
12:25 Kristina Orbakaite in sunglasses.
photo: Irina Bobrova
12:22 Alla Pugacheva, Maxim Galkin and Kristina Orbakaite arrived.
photo: Irina Bobrova
12:20 Alexander Shirvindt spoke. Very bitter words: “I’m a little tired of something. Tired of seeing everyone off. I have no strength to cry anymore. The power of this figure’s usefulness complex is unique... It’s scary that Joseph is on stage for the first time in his life “not on stage”...
12:19 Video footage of President Putin at his farewell to Kobzon.
Watch the video on the topic: “Putin hugged his family at his farewell to Kobzon”
00:50
12:16 A hearse drove up to the Tchaikovsky Hall. At the Vostryakovskoye cemetery, where Kobzon will be buried next to his mother and mother-in-law, special security measures have been taken. You can only attend the funeral with special passes.
Wreaths are taken out of the hall and loaded into cars. The funeral service in the hall continues,
photo: Irina Bobrova
12:12 Alexander Gradsky, passing by the guards, swore obscenities - it is not entirely clear at whose address: “Move away, .... It’s a mess here, not a funeral.”
photo: Irina Bobrova
12:10 Valery Meladze went in the wrong direction from his worries, but the stewards quickly oriented him.
photo: Tatyana Fedotkina
12:03 A few more shots of Putin. The President also spoke briefly with Kobzon’s family friend Valentina Tereshkova and Doctor Leonid Roshal - they are always close to the deceased’s relatives.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
Putin with Kobzon's son Andrei and Valentina Tereshkova. On the left is Sergei Sobyanin.
11:55 The President entered from a special internal entrance, not where all the “stars” entered the hall. He remained in the hall for about half an hour. Bringing condolences to the family of Joseph Davydovich.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
11:48 Vladimir Putin has arrived. Behind him is Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
11:47 The figure of Natasha Koroleva seemed very small. The singer, like everyone else, went through the metal detector.
photo: Irina Bobrova
Natasha Koroleva.
11:42 Gennady Onishchenko and other immigrants from Ukraine speak in Moscow on behalf of the Donbass community. “Today Zakharchenko (the head of the DPR, “MK”, ) should be here. He was planning to come here. But the villains did not allow this to happen. He is also being buried today... Kobzon was in Donbass 9 times. He led us very well here in Moscow and never let us get bored. And I’m sure that if he were alive, he would be with us at Miner’s Day (in Donetsk - “MK” ).
11:37 Today is the most terrible day for the family of Joseph Davydovich. The widow, Nellie (Ninel Mikhailovna) is in the center. She became Kobzon's third wife (the first was singer Veronica Kruglova, the second was Lyudmila Gurchenko). Joseph Davydovich met Nellie when she came to Moscow from Leningrad to visit relatives. And a few months later he proposed to her.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
Son Andrey. Nelly, daughter Natalya
11:33 Actor Vasily Lanovoy, who is 74 years old, does not want to sit down. “Vasily Semyonovich, you should have been standing for an hour...” “I can’t sit when Joseph is lying down.”
The artists, approaching the coffin, bow and only then lay flowers.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
11:26 Vladimir Zhirinovsky at the entrance: “Only Kobzon could express sincere feelings in his patriotic songs, no one else. I saw him in the State Duma, he is always with us, in care, we all, State Duma deputies, mourn and regret. We will always remember him."
11:22 Alexander Kalyagin and Alexander Shirvindt go inside.
photo: Irina Bobrova
photo: Irina Bobrova
11:18 Lev Leshchenko spoke. He said that he was in touch with Joseph Davydovich all the time. “Every day everyone asked: how is Kobzon? And everything seemed to be tolerable, but suddenly there was a sharp deterioration...” The singer spoke very warmly about the widow: thanks to her, Joseph Davydovich was happy.
“He was a complex, contradictory person. But always with the truth.”
photo: Tatyana Fedotkina
11:10 In the farewell line, which was suspended for the duration of the prime minister’s arrival (perhaps the president will also arrive), they are wondering whether Alla Pugacheva and Maxim Galkin will be at the ceremony. The day before they returned from Jurmala to Moscow - read about this in our material.
Meanwhile, Anastasia Volochkova appeared at the entrance. The ballerina told the journalists that there was no need to make a show out of the tragedy. Journalists, my dear, were also fans of Joseph Davydovich’s work. And our job is to tell those who cannot come to say goodbye about how the star was seen off on his last journey.
photo: Irina Bobrova
11:07 Dmitry Medvedev sat down with Kobzon's relatives.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
11:02 Many people have already spoken from the stage. Conductor Viktor Eliseev said: “He had this catchphrase before going out - well, let’s go and humiliate ourselves. As a joke, of course. And all because he loved everyone very much, respected everyone very much... We often forget to say kind words to our loved ones. But I made it. I managed to tell him that he is the kindest, the most generous, the most beloved. I’m so happy I got to tell him this.”
Actor Boris Klyuev: “An extraordinary, loyal patriot of his country. Afghanistan, Chernobyl, Dubrovka, Syria... he was everywhere. The person leaves, but the memory remains. Blessed memory of Joseph Davydovich."
Nadezhda Babkina also spoke - she was holding a bouquet in her hands.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
11:00 The Prime Minister shakes hands with Kobzon's son.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
10:58 Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in the hall. He offers condolences to Kobzon's widow Nelly.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
10:54 The VIPs are greeted by two women. They hold business cards in their hands - this is a way to say goodbye, to a cemetery, to a funeral service in a restaurant. “We’ll get to the cemetery ourselves,” says one of the artists. - You won’t get there, everything is blocked there, cars won’t let through. We have organized buses. Go there."
10:52 Lev Leshchenko was very sad. And very elegant. Lev Valeryanovich is five years younger than Joseph Davydovich.
photo: Irina Bobrova
10:48 The singer Lolita arrived in tears and could not speak.
photo: Irina Bobrova
10:46 Nikita Mikhalkov's wife Tatyana brought a bouquet of snow-white flowers.
photo: Irina Bobrova
10:42 Widow of Mikhail Krug Irina. Krug was killed in 2002. Bandits broke into his house in the suburbs of Tver and mortally wounded the chanson singer.
photo: Irina Bobrova
Widow of the Circle Irina
10:37 The stream of pop stars and cultural figures does not dry up: singer Zara, Diana Gurtskaya with her husband, Zapashny with his wife... Nikolai Karachentsov’s wife Lyudmila Porgina came.
photo: Irina Bobrova
Diana Gurtskaya with her husband
10:34 The “Turetsky Choir” lined up in front of the entrance and began to perform a song from “Seventeen Moments of Spring.”
10:28 TV presenter Yuri Nikolaev, actors Alexander Shakurov and Alexander Pankratov-Cherny came to say goodbye. Singer Larisa Dolina - all in black.
photo: Irina Bobrova
photo: Irina Bobrova
Alexander Pankratov-Cherny
10:26 Movement in the queue has been stopped for now. “There are a lot of people inside. Will have to wait". “Please, I’m late for the train,” the man asks. “I came specially.”
He is about 60 years old. Travel bag, tired. In the hands of several withered flowers.
— Did you come from another city specifically to say goodbye?
— I’m passing through Moscow. I'm going to see my family. To Saratov. I found out that today was farewell and couldn’t help but come. I even changed my ticket.
— Is your wife upset?
- She understand. We met under his song.
10:25 Actor Alexey Panin brought his daughter to say goodbye.
photo: Irina Bobrova
10:18 In the hall, Igor Krutoy offers condolences to the relatives of the deceased. Kobzon's widow Nelly is trying to hold on.
photo: Tatyana Fedotkina
10:15 There is a conversation between the ladies on the street. “I’m already on my fifth.” “And I buried the twelfth” (writes it down in his book).
- Excuse me, are you counting deceased artists?
“We are seeing off the great dead.”
10:13 Singer Boris Moiseev was held by the arms; it was difficult for him to walk. He suffered a stroke and was said to be suffering from cancer.
photo: Irina Bobrova
Moiseev with a white bouquet is in the background.
10:10 Governor of the Moscow Region Andrei Vorobyov, sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, State Duma deputy, wrestler Aleksandr Karelin go inside.
10: 05 Anita Tsoi and Oleg Gazmanov appear. Anita Tsoi: “We have been friends for many years, as long as I can remember. Joseph Davydovich surrounded himself with decent people. He was always supportive and came if needed. We knew that he was in the hospital and wanted to come, but his relatives reassured him that everything was fine with him. Now it’s better to remember him rather than say words.”
photo: Irina Bobrova
Oleg Gazmanov: “Kobzon is not just a singer, we were together for many years, I went on stage with him many times. It's hard to count how many people he helped. If you gather everyone he saved, it will be more than one concert hall.”
photo: Irina Bobrova
10:03 The first female cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova is speaking in the hall, with her fellow cosmonauts with her. Tereshkova cries into the microphone. Tereshkova cries into the microphone: “We didn’t lose him, he will remain forever... He saw us off, met us at Baikonur. We have been friends since 1962..."
10:00 Artist and set designer Boris Krasnov is in a wheelchair. He suffered a stroke and was paralyzed. Now he can walk with a stick. In front of the entrance, Krasnov stood up and walked further on his own, leaning heavily on his stick.
photo: Irina Bobrova
9:57 No one is speaking in the funeral hall yet. silence. On the stage there are letters made of flowers: “Grandfather”, there are ten chairs next to each other. In the front row are Dr. Roshal, Valentina Tereshkova, and Kobzon’s relatives. Flowers and wreaths are quickly taken out of the hall, loaded into cars and taken to the cemetery.
9:56 Legendary figure skating coach Tatyana Tarasova.
photo: Irina Bobrova
9:53 TV presenter Angelina Vovk wore a black and white suit to say goodbye to the singer.
photo: Irina Bobrova
9:50 Actor Vasily Lanovoy quickly climbed the steps.
photo: Irina Bobrova
9:47 Politicians, Kobzon’s colleagues in the State Duma, where he served as deputy head of the culture committee, begin to arrive. One of the first to arrive was the head of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Gennady Zyuganov. With red flowers.
photo: Irina Bobrova
9:45 Valeria says: “If it weren’t for Kobzon, my fate would have turned out differently. It was Joseph Davydovich who opened the way for me to the stage. And he always gave me huge bouquets of flowers at my concerts.”
Joseph Prigogine: “Despite his status, Joseph Davydovich was an earthly man. There were people like this in the last century, but there are no more like them. You could turn to him for any question, and he always helped.”
Actor Boris Klyuev: “Kobzon was a real man, a patriot, a man of the era.”
9:44 On the police radio they transmit information about the number of people who said goodbye to Kobzon at the moment - 3,000 people.
9:43 Singer Yuri Antonov did not talk to the press and quickly walked into the hall.
photo: Irina Bobrova
9:40 Actor Boris Klyuev.
photo: Irina Bobrova
9:39 Valeria and Joseph Prigogine arrived.
photo: Irina Bobrova
9:35 There are three young girls in line at the Tchaikovsky Hall. Tanya, Anya, Ksyusha. Each of them has a carnation in their hands. I ask: “Are you fans too?”
“He came to our conservatory once,” says one of the girls. “He touched my hand once.” Maybe by accident, I don't know. I decided that this was a blessing. Now I will sing."
The majority of those who came were older people. An 80-year-old Muscovite walks with difficulty. When she learned that she would have to go far to get behind the fence, she handed the carnations to the younger ones: “Put them down for me. Tell me - from Anna Nikolaevna.”
The line to bid farewell to Kobzon starts from the Satire Theater.
9:31 Composer and producer Viktor Drobysh arrived. And in the hall, Mikhail Shvydkoy, speaking in a funeral speech, remembered the heroism that Joseph Davydovich showed during the hostage-taking at Dubrovka, at the musical “Nord-Ost”. The former Minister of Culture also spoke about his loss - his mother recently passed away. “She really loved Kobzon’s songs.”
9:30 Very strict screening at the entrance of large items. They inspect the basket of flowers.
photo: Tatyana Fedotkina
9:27 This is what the Tchaikovsky Hall scene looks like.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
9:24 Meanwhile, a special regime has been introduced at the Vostryakovsky cemetery due to Kobzon’s upcoming funeral. There are also overlaps.
9:23 Now ex-Minister of Culture Mikhail Shvydkoy is speaking in the hall.
9:20 View of the foyer of the Tchaikovsky Hall. On the wreaths are the inscriptions: “From State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company “Culture”,” “From Mikhail Gutseriev.” And from the whole city - “From Rostov-on-Don.”
photo: Irina Bobrova
9:17 The ceremony takes place in complete silence. At the piano is pianist and composer Levon Oganezov. He plays the melodies of songs performed by Kobzon.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
9:15 For some reason Igor Nikolaev is without flowers.
photo: Tatyana Fedotkina
9:11 Singer Alexander Marshall arrived. He is met and escorted through a separate entrance.
photo: Tatyana Fedotkina
9:06 Close-up of Joseph Davydovich's awards. Perhaps the main one is the Order of Courage, which Kobzon was awarded after rescuing a number of Nord-Ost hostages. He went to negotiate with terrorists.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
9:00 People who came to say goodbye say that Kobzon is a dear person to them, that they came to say goodbye not to the artist, but to a relative. And that his song from the film “17 Moments of Spring” is for life, for centuries, and no one should sing it anymore. “She’s Kobzonov’s.”
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
8:58 In the center is Kobzon's widow Nelly. On the right is Doctor Roshal.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
Valentina Tereshkova, Nelly Kobzon, Doctor Roshal
8:54 The stage in the hall is already littered with flowers.
photo: Irina Bobrova
8:53 Lyudmila Semyonovna Stegalkina, 83 years old, says: “I buried everyone. Dementyev was buried, Hvorostovsky was buried. Came from Novye Cheryomushki. I thought I’d say goodbye to Yusif Davydovich in my mind, you know. I'll sit and remember. But it was impossible not to come.
8:50 Military personnel stand on the honor guard at the coffin. Kobzon’s relatives and friends are sitting in the front row.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
8:48 On the stage there is a coffin with the singer’s body. Nearby, on red pillows, are many Kobzon’s state awards.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
8:45 More and more wreaths are being brought. Some will not even be brought into the hall - they will be taken straight to the Vostryakovskoye cemetery.
photo: Ivetta Nevinnaya
8:40 “I have a feeling that my own grandfather died,” says Prokhor Chaliapin. “I was worried about him when he got sick, and he, in turn, was worried about me, constantly scolding me - like, why do you go to these shows, stupid programs, you need to do normal work.
While Prokhor was giving comments, Vitalina stood aside with a bouquet of white carnations tied with a black ribbon. After 10 minutes, the journalists switched to her.
“I won’t tell you any personal things.” I just want to say that he was an amazing, great artist. I was at his last concert, I was very impressed.
“Vitalin, I agreed to skip the line, through a separate entrance,” a woman tugged at her.
8:37 “Media” guests do not have to stand in line - they are admitted on separate lists and are greeted by administrators.
photo: Irina Bobrova
Vitalina Tsymbalyuk-Romanovskaya
8:33 Prokhor Chaliapin and Armen Dzhigarkhanyan’s ex-wife Vitalina Tsymbalyuk-Romanovskaya came to say goodbye to Kobzon. Chaliapin has white lilies in his hands.
photo: Irina Bobrova
Prokhor Chaliapin
8:30 The first photos from the hall. There is a screen installed above the stage on which Joseph Davydovich and his performances are shown.
photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
8:27 Kobzon's namesake and his peer, Muscovite Joseph Moiseevich, came with his family: his son and two grandchildren. “It was important for me to bring my grandchildren. The greats pass away, but the music remains. So I want the boys to know the great singer.” The eldest grandson is standing with headphones on. I ask what he is listening to. "Kobzon".
photo: Tatyana Fedotkina
At the entrance to the Tchaikovsky concert hall
8:25 People began to be allowed in; they passed through metal frames. Allowed in small groups.
8:20 Wreaths in memory of Joseph Davydovich - from the singer’s relatives, from Vladimir Resin, Zurab Tsereteli, the Glazunov family, Valery Leontyev. And from various organizations - from the Children's Fund to Gardeners of Russia.
8:16 There are not very many people yet—mostly young fans of the singer’s work among those who came. They bring flowers and place wreaths at the entrance to the hall.
photo: Tatyana Fedotkina
8:15 Our correspondents transmit the first photos.
photo: Tatyana Fedotkina
Overlapping Tverskaya
8:14 Joseph Davydovich's office was opposite - in the Beijing Hotel. From the 9th floor there was a view of Mayakovsky Square. Perhaps that is why the Tchaikovsky Hall was chosen for farewell.
8:12 There have been closures around the Tchaikovsky Hall since 7 am, our correspondent reports. The nearest exit from the Mayakovskaya metro station is closed. You cannot enter from Tverskaya Street - only bypassing it.
The death of Joseph Davydovich was a huge loss for everyone who loves his songs - and there are millions of them in Russia and abroad. The farewell in the Tchaikovsky Hall was first scheduled for 10 am, but then it was announced that it would begin at 8 - many people want to see Kobzon off on his last journey. The civil memorial service begins at 12 noon.
The artist died of cancer on August 30 in Moscow - the efforts of both Russian and foreign doctors for many years helped him live and work with full dedication, he could not do otherwise.
See the photo report on the topic: Unique shots from Kobzon’s archive: childhood, wedding, feasts
43 photos
Kobzon, in an interview, told us about his concerts in Chernobyl after the explosion at the nuclear power plant: doctors, when it turned out that he had cancer, said that the reason may lie in the echo of the Chernobyl explosion.
Read the material on the topic: “The disease from which Joseph Kobzon died, doctors called the “autograph of Chernobyl”
It is not yet known whether President Vladimir Putin will attend the ceremony; his press secretary Dmitry Peskov did not rule out this option.
Today in the Tchaikovsky Hall there will be Joseph Davydovich’s colleagues in the State Duma, where he served as deputy head of the culture committee, ministers, politicians... And, of course, Kobzon’s colleagues on stage.
Now everyone is wondering whether Alla Pugacheva will come. Laima Vaikule has already announced that her trip abroad will not allow her to attend the funeral event. But, without a doubt, many “stars” will pay tribute to Kobzon. Now they are sending their words of condolences to the family of the deceased: his wife Nellie, children and grandchildren...
Read the material on the topic: “The inheritance and heirs of Joseph Kobzon: what happened in the singer’s family”
At the Vostryakovskoye cemetery, preparations for the funeral of Joseph Davydovich began on Thursday. In an interview with us, Kobzon told us: contrary to rumors that he supposedly wants to rest in Israel, he long ago decided that his last refuge would be the Vostryakovskoye cemetery. His mother, Ida Isaevna Shoikhet-Kobzon, and the mother of his wife Nelly (Ninel Mikhailovna) are buried there.
Watch the video on the topic: “Preparations for the funeral of Joseph Kobzon began at the Vostryakovsky cemetery”
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According to the chief rabbi of Moscow, Pinchas Goldshmidt, Kobzon will be buried according to Jewish traditions - prayers will be said in Hebrew.
Personal life
The personal life of Joseph Kobzon did not develop as smoothly as his career on the stage. But the three women with whom he linked his fate turned out to be talented, bright and incredibly charismatic.
The first wife of Joseph Davydovich is singer Veronika Kruglova. Kobzon married Kruglova in 1965. Veronica was an incredibly popular singer at that time. Her hits “Top-top, the baby is stomping” and “I see nothing, I hear nothing” were sung by the whole country. The bohemian beauty, like her husband, often disappeared on tours and rehearsals. She did not have time for everyday life or arranging a family nest. The husband and wife hardly saw each other. Their life together was not really like that.
Joseph Kobzon and Veronica Kruglova | Personality.net
It seems that Joseph Davydovich’s mother, Ida Isaevna, foresaw this. She immediately opposed her son’s marriage to the artist, realizing that nothing good would come of this union. Two years later, in 1967, the couple separated. Veronica Kruglova married another famous performer - Vadim Mulerman. A few years later, the singer went to live in America. In one of her interviews, Kruglova frankly admitted that her marriage to a Soviet pop star almost broke her.
In the same year, Joseph Kobzon married for the second time. And again - against the will of the mother - on the artist and singer Lyudmila Gurchenko. The couple lived together for three years. Gurchenko later admitted that this union turned out to be the biggest mistake of her life. At first it seemed to her that she would be able to change her husband, “rebuild” him for herself. But it was not there. They often quarreled and did not want to give in to each other.
Lyudmila Markovna wrote in her memoirs that it was unbearable for her to hear teasing from her loved one, who, during a difficult period of her creative career, smiled and asked: “Why is everyone filming and no one is calling you?” She cried from resentment and at one moment realized that she no longer wanted to live together.
Joseph Kobzon and Lyudmila Gurchenko | Showbiz-news.ru
The couple, as befits two stars, constantly toured. On tours, various romantic adventures happened with popular and handsome young people, which “well-wishers” immediately reported on, embellishing and fibbing various piquant details. Joseph Kobzon’s mother did not like her daughter-in-law, she answered her in kind. In the end, Gurchenko completely stopped communicating with her husband’s relatives.
After the divorce, the two stars did not communicate for forty long years, trying not to intersect at various events and pop parties. The artist preferred not to talk about his second marriage.
Time passed and Joseph Davydovich, who had long dreamed of a strong family and a faithful, economic wife who would bear him children. He firmly decided that this woman would not be associated with bohemia and the world of show business. He wanted home comfort, a quiet harbor and delicious borscht.
Joseph and Nelly Kobzon | Woman's Day
Joseph Kobzon met such a woman in the early 1970s. The beauty's name was Ninel Mikhailovna Drizina. She turned out to be 13 years younger than him. She was a modest girl from a good Jewish family, smart and thrifty. And most importantly, she did not dream of show business, although her friends claim that she had all the necessary qualities for this. Today this woman is known as Nelly Kobzon. The artist’s mother immediately liked the third chosen one, who instantly appreciated her with the wise gaze of a seasoned woman.
They lived together since 1971. Nelly Kobzon gave birth to her husband two wonderful children. First, the first-born son Andrei was born. Two years later, daughter Natalya was born.
Joseph and Nelly Kobzon with children | StarHit
Andrei first followed in his father’s footsteps and devoted some time to music. He was a drummer and performed with the musicians of the Resurrection group - Alexey Romanov and Andrey Sapunov. But later the guy quit music and went into business. He was the director of the famous metropolitan nightclub “Giusto”. Then he became involved in real estate operations.
Daughter Natalya was a press secretary for the famous fashion designer Valentin Yudashkin. She married an Australian citizen, lawyer Yuri Rappoport.
The children gave their parents seven grandchildren - two boys and five girls, in whom the grandparents doted on them and closely followed their successes.
Children and grandchildren
Joseph Davydovich is a happy father and loving grandfather. Kobzon's children did not follow in the footsteps of their famous dad. True, son Andrei (1974) was involved in music in the past, was a drummer, and played with the musicians of the “Resurrection” group. However, later he left creativity and began to engage in business. At first he managed the work of the Giusto nightclub, and now works in real estate. Andrey owns several public institutions. Based on his designs, a Japanese restaurant was created on Bolshoi Tolmachevsky Lane, the Gazgolder restaurant and the Zhiguli beer hall, located on Novy Arbat. The businessman is also a co-owner of the French restaurant Maxim in Moscow. Andrey is an independent and independent person, which often irritates Joseph Davydovich. Father and son have a difficult relationship, but this does not prevent them from communicating often. Andrey's wife is fashion model Elena Polyanskaya. The family has three children: Polina (1999), Anita (2001), Mikhail (2008).
The artist’s daughter, Natalya Rappoport, received an excellent education and knows several languages. At first she worked as a press secretary in Valentin Yudashkin’s team, but soon married an Australian citizen, lawyer Yuri Rappoport. After this, the girl devoted herself entirely to her family. She adores her father, says that he is a real man, and the last word always remains with him. Natalia has four children: Idel (1999), Michelle (2000), Ornella-Maria (2004), Alain-Joseph (2010).
Kobzon has seven grandchildren. He is a happy and loving grandfather who is always ready to treat the children with sweets. The artist values his large family very much and is proud of it.
Now you know about the fate of Joseph Davydovich Kobzon. He devoted his entire life to his favorite work and today continues to delight the public with his singing. I would like to wish him longevity and new creative achievements.
Disease
Joseph Kobzon did not hide the fact that he used a wig, putting it on at the age of 35. Once Ida Isaevna admitted that the reason for her son’s early baldness was his categorical reluctance to wear a hat as a teenager. Even 40-degree frosts could not force Joseph to dress warmly, which was the reason for the early loss of thick hair.
In 2005, it became known that the artist had undergone a complex operation to remove a malignant tumor. The news that Joseph Davydovich had bladder cancer quickly spread and alarmed his fans and admirers of his talent. The operation was performed in Germany. The surgical intervention weakened the immune system of the middle-aged artist. Inflammation of the lungs and kidneys was added. But an incredible thirst for life and willpower, supported by the love of his family, lifted the artist out of bed and even returned to the stage.
Joseph Kobzon | Arguments and Facts
In 2009, the artist was operated on for the second time and again in Germany. Five days after the serious operation, Joseph Kobzon went to a music festival in Jurmala and even sang live, surprising and delighting his fans.
In 2010, admirers of the master’s talent were alarmed by the news that at a concert in Astana, Joseph Davydovich twice lost consciousness on stage and fainted. As it turned out, cancer caused the anemia. But according to the artist, he could not lie in bed for a long time. And I couldn’t live without the stage. He found no place for himself at home. The stage and the audience were the best cure for despondency and illness for the artist.
Death
At the end of July 2020, it was reported that Joseph Kobzon was urgently hospitalized in the neurosurgery department, where he was connected to a ventilator. The health condition of the People's Artist of Russia was assessed as stable and serious.
On August 30, 2020, the death of Joseph Kobzon became known. The singer's relatives announced his death. Joseph Davydovich was 80 years old.
Kobzon bequeathed to bury himself at the Vostryakovsky cemetery next to his mother.
Farewell to the Soviet and Russian performer in Moscow and the funeral took place on September 2. Joseph Kobzon died on August 30, 2020
