Gnatyuk Nikolay biography personal life children. Nikolai Gnatyuk is preparing for a vow of celibacy

N.V. Gnatyuk in facts and figures

• Date of birth: 09/14/1952.
• Place of birth: s. Nemirovka in Khmelnitsky region.
• Parents: father is the head of the board of a collective farm, mother is a primary school teacher.
• Education: Faculty of Music and Pedagogy of the Rivne Pedagogical Institute, Missionary Department at the Belgorod Theological Seminary.
• Marital status: divorced.
• Children: son Oles.
• Professional activity: pop singer.
• Age: 67 years old.
• Height: 165 cm.
• Appearance features: curly hair, charming smile, sly squinting dark gray eyes.
• Zodiac sign: Virgo.
• Socio-political position: he has an extremely negative assessment of the worsening relations between the once friendly countries – Ukraine and Russia; he was sensitive to the fact that Crimea became Russian. He views the military actions in Donbass as a Civil War. The media of Ukraine and the West are blamed for inciting it.

The beginning of the creative activity of a pop performer

The creative biography of Nikolai Gnatyuk as a pop performer began in the 70s.

N. Gnatyuk in his youth

While still very young, he devoted himself to music, starting a creative career in the creative group “We are Odessans.” He also practiced singing during his military service, performing military-patriotic compositions. He toured the country with the famous group “Friendship” in the USSR.

The artist's childhood and youth

The biography of Nikolai Gnatyuk began in 1952. The singer’s birthplace was Ukraine, Khmelnitsky region, the village of Nemirovka. From the very beginning of his life he showed a desire to sing. Although it is not clear who his singing talent was: his mother worked as a primary school teacher, his father held an important position in the village - the chairman of a collective farm. The boy sang everywhere: at school, at home, on the street. His parents sent him to a music school, where he learned the basics of musical literacy and vocals.

In the photo of his childhood, a funny and mischievous boy diligently sits at the instrument and plays music. Later, when Kolya grew up, he joined the vocal ensemble “We are Odessa residents.”

Nikolai Gnatyuk in his youth

After graduating from school, the young man, without thinking twice, since he had long ago chosen the type of activity in life for himself, entered the pedagogical institute at the music department in Rivne.

After studying at the university was behind him, the young man was called up to serve in the ranks of the Soviet Army. The resilient young man sang there too, as part of a soldier’s ensemble. His service took place in Germany in the city of Weimar.

Interesting: Evgeniy Sidikhin: career, family, children (photo)

The first wave of popularity of the pop singer

Real popularity came to N. Gnatyuk only at the end of the first decade of his musical career, in 1978. This year is significant in that he won the II Competition of Ukrainian Pop Artists in Zaporozhye. A year later he took 3rd place at the VI All-Union Competition of Pop Artists.

The victories he won opened the way for him to foreign countries. Luck followed him. The performance of David Tukhmanov’s musical composition entitled “I’m dancing with you” was awarded the Grand Prix of a variety competition held in the German city of Dresden.

A year later, in 1980, Raymond Pauls’ song “Dance on the Drum” brought him first place at the Sopot festival.

This is interesting! The idea for the fiery song “Dance on the Drum” came to Gnatyuk himself. Having received an invitation to a pop song competition in Sopot, he decided to depict something on stage. First the idea of ​​walking on a tightrope came to mind, and then he decided to play the drum.

By luck, Lyudmila Dubovtseva gave Nikolai a chance to listen to compositions by Raymond Pauls, for which there were no lyrics yet. He liked one of them. When Lyudmila asked what he would like to sing a song about to the melody he liked, he replied: “About the drum!”

Dubovtseva asked Andrei Voznesensky to write the lyrics for the future song. The strange theme outraged the poet, but he still wrote the lyrics to the song, and Pauls, at Gnatyuk’s request, composed a long passage, during which Nikolai could move from the drum set to the microphone. And so the future musical masterpiece was born.

Hits of the 80s

One of the super hits of the 80s was the song “Bird of Happiness” (music by N. Pakhmutova, lyrics by A. Dobronravov).

From the windows of the houses of citizens of the country of the Soviets, memorable melodies of popular songs flowed:

• "If the city is dancing"
• "The girl from apartment 45"
• "Wings of Fortune"
• “At the Merry Maple” and others.

Citizens of the fraternal republics happily sang the simple lyrics to the pop star’s solo compositions and to those songs that he performed with vocal and instrumental ensembles. His co-creation with the groups “Crossword”, “Mriya” and “Malvy” turned out to be especially successful. With the jazz-rock group Crossword, Nikolai Gnatyuk released his first solo record in 1980. The translations of melodic French songs, recorded on vinyl, immediately fell in love with listeners.

In 1980, N.V.’s first solo album was released. Gnatyuk

The second mini-album of songs written by E. Shiryaev was created in creative tandem with the Tashkent group “Labyrinth”.

In the song career of the pop artist, partnerships not only with popular musical groups, but also with talented composers played an important role. One of them was Alexander Morozov, whom the singer met shortly after recording his second album. It was he who wrote “Crimson Ring” and other hits of the 80s of the last century for Gnatyuk.

Second wave of popularity

The end of the 80s was marked by the release of five records, which made Nikolai Vasilyevich one of the most popular artists of the Soviet Union.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gnatyuk - a popular performer of legendary hits of the Soviet stage

However, a recession set in soon after. Having moved to Germany, Gnatyuk disappeared from the sight of Soviet fans, since he rarely performed, almost completely suspended his touring activities and stopped appearing on television.

His triumphant return to the stage occurred in 1993, when he recorded the song “Chas rikoyu plive” (Time floats like a river) in Ukrainian. The composition gained incredible popularity, immediately becoming a nationwide hit. Three years later, in the summer of 1996, the album of the same name was released, recorded not on a vinyl record, but on a CD.

Subsequently, the collection “The Hour of the Wild Life” was supplemented with new musical compositions and reissued under a different name - “Lord, save, save.”

The first cover of the disc “Lord, save, save”

The album consisted of song compositions embodying the idea of ​​the sacredness of faith in the Almighty:

• "Small Motherland"
• "It's time to repent"
• “Xenia the Blessed” (arranged by N.V. Gnatyuk),
• “Ave Maria” (lyrics by N.V. Gnatyuk),
• “Song about St. Nicholas” (lyrics and music by N.V. Gnatyuk),
• “Faith” (music by N.V. Gnatyuk).

By creating this album, Nikolai Vasilyevich showed not only his performing skills, but also his talent as a poet, musician and composer.

The clergy of the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra helped release the disc.

A unique result of the pop singer’s creativity was the “Golden Album,” which included the best hits already recognized by the public, and the new song “Galina.”

Some songs have become so popular that they accompany the most significant events in people's lives. So, without smereka (“Oh, smereka” - the author of the lyrics is Lyubomir Yakim) not a single wedding in Ukraine is complete.

Coming to Faith

At the age of 47, he entered the missionary department at the Belgorod Theological Seminary. songs of spiritual content appear in his repertoire. One of the singer’s latest music albums is called “Lord, have mercy,” and the latest version was released with additions called “Lord, save, save.” This last album included songs based on poems by Vadim Krischenko: Vera (music by Gnatyuk), Pochaev, Monks, Small Motherland, Time of Repentance (by Hieromonk Roman), Ksenia the Blessed (arranged by Gnatyuk), Raspberry Ringing, Ave Maria (words by Gnatyuk), and a song about Saint Nicholas (music and lyrics by Gnatyuk). The recording was released by the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra.

Personal life and family

Natural charm, tall stature, charisma and talent as a pop artist have always aroused the sympathy of representatives of the fair half of humanity. Even now, at 67 years old, he is popular with numerous fans. And although many argue that Nikolai Gnatyuk’s personal life is full of many interesting events, there was only one family in his life.

The singer met his future wife on tour. A charming journalist with a beautiful Russian name Natalya interviewed him. She attracted the attention of the inspired Orpheus not only with her pretty appearance, but also with her intelligence, and the man decided to ask her to date.

This is interesting! The Soviet pilot-cosmonaut Georgy Mikhailovich Grechko became a matchmaker for the future couple. Two celebrities met on the set. The twice-hero of the Soviet Union invited his favorite performer to a restaurant to celebrate an unexpected acquaintance. Having learned that the pop star was going to propose marriage, the astronaut went with his new acquaintance to his pregnant girlfriend, for some reason taking with him apples in a wooden box.

In 1983, a boy was born into the Gnatyuk family, who was named Oles - the only son of a popular performer.

Unfortunately, the family happiness of Nicolas and Natalia was not destined to last until their golden wedding. The family broke up due to the fact that the talented singer devoted all his free time to creativity, paying little attention to solving family problems.

After the tragic events of Chernobyl, the ex-wife left for Germany. There, far from his homeland, the musician’s son grew up. He successfully graduated from the University of Munich.

Nikolay Gnatyuk with his son Oles

Nikolai Vasilyevich never considered distance an obstacle to the manifestation of fatherly feelings. He sees his son quite often. Commentators on Gnatyuk’s Instagram page explain his frequent trips to Germany by the fact that in published photographs he is often depicted against the backdrop of German landmarks.

It was the love for his son that helped the father overcome his craving for alcohol. He couldn't afford to appear in front of him while intoxicated.

Nikolai Gnatyuk’s “Golden Album” includes his best songs

Nikolai Gnatyuk is preparing for a vow of celibacy

The singer was visited by Saint Nicholas the Saint

The singer was visited by Saint Nicholas the Saint

The entire Soviet Union sang along with him - about the “bird of happiness of tomorrow”, “drummer”, “raspberry ringing”. Smiling, with a cap of curly hair, Nikolai GNATYUK gave out one hit after another, effortlessly winning prestigious awards at music competitions. But during perestroika, the singer unexpectedly disappeared from television screens: as it turned out, his family moved to Germany. We found Nikolai Vasilyevich in Bavaria and found out how the popular artist lives today.

— Nikolai Vasilyevich, is Germany now your second homeland?

Goethe also said: “The homeland is where your children are.” My heart is here, next to my son, who graduated from the University of Munich and works near Berlin. I understand that he really needs me. But Germany is unlikely to ever become my home. I am a patriot of my country. And Russia is no less dear to me than Ukraine. However, after the Chernobyl accident, wife Natalya decided to emigrate with her son Oles to Germany. I still protest in my heart, but what could I do? I remained in my homeland for some time. Immediately after the accident at the nuclear power plant, they specially organized my concert in Kyiv to check whether there was life left in the city. The country seemed to stand still. A little later they gave me the People's Artist of Ukraine. With an interval of a year, I recorded two records - “Crimson Ringing” and “Don’t Leave Me.” And he went to his family.

— Germany was “lived in” for you - you served in the army there, right?
— He served in the GDR, in Weimar. He joined the army voluntarily, realizing that his debt to the Motherland must be repaid. He left the ensemble “We are Odessa residents” and ten days later he was already in the unit. As a musician, I was assigned to a group that performed at dance evenings for Russian families. Soon I noticed that people came not to dance, but to listen: for the first time, I gained the confidence of an artist. I decided to enter the Leningrad Music Hall. And in Germany I sang for less than a year: nostalgia tormented me. I used to hide behind a kiosk and look at the train leaving for the Union - I was so homesick for my homeland! He came to the commander and said: “If you don’t send me to the USSR, I will do something irreparable - I will hit a person passing by! And you will send me home in 24 hours.” I was released to Leningrad, I began to study in a music hall studio. And soon I realized that I had to look for work: there was nothing to live on. He got a job at the famous VIA “Druzhba” and began touring with them.

— Do you remember your first performance?

- Oh yeah! I worked in the pop orchestra “We are Odessa residents.” Before the performance, I sang in the dressing room, in which there were many other artists. One of them said through clenched teeth: “Shut up!” I didn't listen. The guy hit me in the face. I went on stage beaten, but sung! Years later, that man and I met again. I was already famous, he asked for some favor. It was obvious that he was embarrassed by the story, but I calmed him down. We must learn to forgive.

— They wrote that at the competition in Sopot, where you took first place, Pugacheva tried to “eliminate” you for the sake of her protégé.
On the eve of the performance, she invited you to a party at a restaurant, from where you escaped through the back door. Is it true that the conflict with the prima donna temporarily cut off your oxygen on the stage? - Not true. In Sopot, Alla Borisovna said about me: “A good guy, but lazy.” I behaved wrongly then: I was offended and did not come to her banquet. Now Pugacheva are on good terms.

— Have you had any conflicts with the authorities? The KGB didn't recruit you?

“I have developed friendly relations with this body. Still from the army. When our guys were sent to the USSR for leave, they tried to take as many things with them as possible. The shortage was terrible! They even sold army watches and radios. When I returned to the GDR around the clock, I was called into the boss’s office: “Why didn’t you sell them? Everyone does it!” Then they began to hint that perhaps I could... I understood everything correctly and answered: “Perhaps I would be a good intelligence officer, but I’d rather become a very good singer!”

Another love

- Nikolai Vasilyevich, you don’t say anything about your wife. For example, how did you two meet?

— I came to visit the journalist for an interview. I saw a plump girl Natalya and thought: I wish I had one like that. She turned out to be smart. Then I also lost weight...

— Is it true that cosmonaut Grechko became your matchmaker?

— We met on the set. He invited me to the restaurant. And I was just getting ready to go get married! Grechko grabbed the box of apples he had brought, and we went to Natalya. She was already pregnant, and I was ready for a family nest.

- Why did your nest collapse?

“I realized that my profession does not involve family life. I belong entirely to creativity. Natalia wanted to act in films, but sacrificed her dream because of me. Today she teaches dance and is happy.

— Who initiated the breakup?

- I am. Natasha did not agree for a long time, she kept trying to find out if I had someone else. These are all the machinations of ill-wishers. Someone sent a “spy” to me, who tried her best to seduce me. She succeeded in something... Natalya did not understand that she had to stand shoulder to shoulder with her husband, experiencing hardships and joys together. She behaved differently.

— Was your son worried?
“Natasha and I managed to remain on friendly terms. Sometimes she invites me to visit. I think my son did not feel lonely.

— Is it true that during this period you began to drink?

- It happened. I came to Germany to visit my son, spent the day with him, and when he went home, I stayed on the street. That's when I was drawn to the bar. But it was for the sake of my son that I stopped drinking. I couldn’t come to him in that state, so I stopped in time.

- Why didn’t you marry again?

— One day I was picking up my son from kindergarten. He looked up at me and asked: “Are we going to have another mother?” - “There is only you, me and mom. There will be no one else,” I said. And he kept his promise. Although there were always fans around me. There is one constant in the Baltics - it calls all the time. The second is in Moscow. But they want a family, and I don’t want to deceive them. I actually began to think about the vow of celibacy. Now I'm preparing for it.

- How can you live without love?

- I saw another love. Now I’m going to go to Bari to visit the relics of St. Nicholas, who appeared to me the day before. The Wonderworker has blue eyes, and in them there is immeasurable, incredible love! There is no such thing on earth...

— At the age of 47, you entered the missionary department at the Belgorod Theological Seminary. They began to release collections of spiritual songs - what prompted you to do this?

“I was just in church, and the priest suggested: “You urgently need to enter the seminary.” Then I had a vision: I walked past the temple and saw St. Joasaph of Belgorod in the window. At first I thought it seemed. But the next day everything happened again. I never finished the seminary - I left after the second year. But the time spent there made me look at the world differently. This spiritual search is my “bird of happiness.”

— As a believer, what sin are you trying to get rid of?

- From pride.

Discography and filmography of the singer

It is customary to include 9 albums with musical compositions created by the singer over 30 years in the so-called golden fund of a celebrity.

They contain the performer’s legendary hits in Russian and Ukrainian, which at one time were heard daily on the radio and shown on television.

Pop critics explain the popularity of Nikolai Vasilyevich’s work by the fact that the singer never betrayed himself in choosing his repertoire. He sang about what worried him, but in such a way that the emotions evoked by his singing made the hearts of listeners of different ages and social status beat faster. His songs are a monologue about the main thing.

Rare record by Nikolai Gnatyuk - “Crimson Ringing”

It is no coincidence that in 2004, V. Chumakov, in an article published in one of the most popular art history publications of the Soviet era, the Ogonyok magazine, called the musical works performed by the inspired Orpheus new songs about the main thing.

In addition to concert activities, Nikolai Vasilyevich had to act in films. In the social drama “Inheritance” directed by Georgy Natanson, which premiered in January 1985, he brilliantly played his usual role as a singer, but not a pop singer, but a restaurant singer.

Recognition of merit

Gnatyuk’s merits as an artist, who played a significant role in the development of Ukrainian and Belarusian national cultures, were not ignored. The singer received high government awards four times.

Currently, Nikolai Vasilyevich’s stage activity is not so bright. He appears on television only occasionally. Sometimes he gives concerts, which take place mainly in Ukraine. Nevertheless, the artist’s official website https://www.nikolaygnatyuk.com is visited by a large number of people every day. This suggests that interest in his personality and work still exists.

Return to the Russian stage

At the peak of his popularity, the singer suddenly disappears from the stage and goes abroad for several years. The reason for this is family circumstances; he lived with his wife in Germany for several years.

Nikolai returned to the Russian stage in 1993 with a song in his native language, “Time floats like a river.” Of course, fans happily greeted the return of their favorite singer. Later, Nikolai’s disc was recorded, which included the song “Oh, Seven!”, popular in Ukraine.

With Natalya Varleya

Unexpectedly for many, Gnatyuk converted to the Orthodox faith and even entered a theological seminary. At this time, songs about faith, about God, and prayer appeared in his repertoire. These are the songs of Hieromonk Roman, as well as Nikolai’s own songs.

In 1980, Gnatyuk was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Ukraine. Eight years later he becomes People's Artist. The singer is also an honorary citizen of the city of Mogilev. He was awarded the Order of F. Skorina for his contribution to the development of Belarusian-Ukrainian relations.

Nikolay Gnatyuk on the radio