Turned 68 years old. At this age, most Russian men have been retired for five years, and he still runs and flies on tours around cities and villages. As if time has no power over him!
Do you still remember the popular song about traffic lights? The one where everyone is running, running, running, and he shines on them? This hit seems to have been copied from Valery Leontyev. For how many years now his star has been shining, for how many years it has been shining for everyone else, running aimlessly. What allows Leontyev to preserve his long-term creative biography? The song has the answer to this question: “And because, because, because he was in love with life!”
The path of the star Valery Leontyev
How do they become stars? This question occupies millions of viewers who follow the successes of their idols, and thousands of stars who never managed to rise to the top of Olympus. There are many answers, and almost all of them are... wrong. Someone is looking for their way in the bed of an influential producer, someone is paving the way with large bills received from a rich dad or a millionaire lover, someone is trying to work on themselves, study, and polish their natural talent.
What was Valery Leontiev's star journey like?
Thorny. And that's putting it mildly! When asked what he would change if he had a chance to start over, he answers that he would NEVER repeat his path. Can you imagine what obstacles the boy from the village of Ust-Usa, lost in the forests of the Komi Republic, had to overcome?
Back in 1949, nothing foreshadowed the birth of one of the brightest stars of the Russian stage. Dad is a livestock specialist, mom is a housewife, a snow-covered house in a godforsaken corner of the Soviet country... Even the greatest dreamer would not have been able to imagine little Valera on the stage of a huge concert hall.
The birth of Valera Leontiev is shrouded in mystery. About ten years ago they started saying that in fact Valera was not a late child, but, on the contrary, an early one. Allegedly, his older sister is actually his mother, and his mother is his grandmother. It just so happened that eighteen-year-old Maya became pregnant and gave birth to a son. To “hide the sin,” Leontyev’s parents, Yakov Stepanovich and Ekaterina Ivanovna, signed the baby into their name.
This is the story we came up with. Leontyev himself denied these rumors and was even going to sue the journalists, but then gave up. Let strangers think what they want, but his relatives... They knew that he loved them all.
Soon the Leontyev family moved to Vorkuta, and when Valera turned twelve, they moved to the Ivanovo region, to the small town of Yuryevets. An ordinary provincial childhood with altered clothes and sweets only on major holidays. Maybe that’s why he dreamed of bright costumes and colorful holidays? So to speak, from the opposite. He didn't intend to be a star. Moreover, the first appearance on stage turned out to be a failure.
The boy was supposed to pretend to be a fisherman. He cast a fishing rod, everything got mixed up, the unlucky artist burst into tears and ran off the stage. Then he played in the drama club, sang and read poetry at school evenings, but he dreamed of the ocean. After school I was going to go to the Far East and study to be an oceanologist. We just couldn’t raise money for a ticket. I had to choose something closer - Moscow.
Leontyev came to GITIS and was dumbfounded: “The applicants seemed to me world-class stars. What about me?" He always underestimated himself. It's hard to believe, but even today he is surprisingly self-critical. And then I got completely scared, took the documents and returned home. And to this day the singer avoids Maly Kislovsky Lane, where the theater institute is located. Calls it a place of shame...
Valery Leontyev - Singer “from the forest”
Nothing good awaited Valery at home either. He pulled trolleys at a brick factory, worked as an oiler at a flax spinning factory, was a postman, an electrician, and a tailor. Then he went to Vorkuta to visit his sister Maya and got a job as a laboratory assistant. Having tried so many professions, he realized that it was better to sing. Luckily for him, there were excellent amateur performances in Vorkuta, and soon Valery began giving concerts on the stage of the local cultural center.
In 1972, 23-year-old Leontiev won a competition for young talents in Syktyvkar, and he was invited to the local philharmonic. On the one hand, undoubted success, the official status of the singer, the concert rate (5 rubles 50 kopecks per concert!). And on the other? Traveling through such a remote place that it’s scary to even imagine.
He still cannot forget the first concert: “February, minus 47, an abandoned church building, cold. They dug up firewood in the snowdrifts, lit the stoves, and poured gasoline into it from the gas tank of the bus. It turned out that they forgot to open the views and smoke went into the auditorium.” These are the “special effects”! But I was afraid to move somewhere. Who is he? Singer "from the forest".
Only in 1979 Valery Leontiev took a risk and went to the All-Union competition in Yalta. He was about to go on stage, and then they told him the news: his father had died. He gathered his will into a fist, went out, sang and won. He cried later, sitting alone in the hotel room: if he had received the telegram a little earlier, he would have been in time for the funeral.
After winning, it seemed like the green light had now turned on! But everything turned out to be difficult. He was called a black sheep, censors mercilessly cut the program, banning completely innocent texts. And all because Leontyev stood out too much from the crowd of pop singers of the early 80s. They all wore standard suits and had the same hairstyles.
And he wore tight-fitting bell-bottom trousers, a jacket with rhinestones, and exposed his chest. But the more he was prohibited, the more he allowed himself, and the more the public respected his originality. Leontyev became a star!
But he is still tormented by doubts: “At one time, I grabbed the first thing that came to mind. I decided that since I have a voice, I need to sing. Maybe it was worth delving into myself, because there are many activities in which I could be fulfilled. Writing, surgery, oceanology... I'm interested in a lot of things.
Happy are those people who are confident that they made the right choice.” Like this! It turns out that this recognized master, winner of many awards, does not believe that he has succeeded in the profession.
Personal life
As they say, if you are unlucky in cards, you will be lucky in love, however, on the personal front, everything was not cloudless for Leontyev. In interviews, the singer carefully avoids talking about this topic: either because he is too happy and is afraid to jinx it, or because he is not too happy and does not want to reopen the wound.
Leontyev talks only about Lyudmila Isakovich, whom he met back in 1972. She was the musical director of the first ensemble in which he had the opportunity to work back in Syktyvkar. The group was called "Echo". Lyudmila went to America in the early 90s and settled in the Leontyevs’ villa in Miami.
The singer visits there occasionally, because he has a busy touring life and... his own villa in Spain. So the wife is more like an echo: no one has seen her for a long time, we only hear about her, and even then every year less and less.
Dear friend, don't be bored!
Lack of information naturally gives rise to rumors. The logic here is simple - there are no women in sight, which means Leontyev is gay! The public quickly found “the object of his passion.”
In the mid-90s, a young man unusually similar to him appeared in the artist’s circle. Alexander Bogdanovich insisted that he was Leontyev’s son. The most interesting thing is that the singer himself did not deny this and took an active part in his fate: he hired him as a fitness instructor and administrator in his team, even tried to let him on stage - let the guy sing too.
But his dear friend did not appreciate his kindness and began to abuse his trust. He spent money without counting, did not allow him to be alone or spend time with another company, got drunk and became rowdy. Leontiev endured these antics for a long time. It no longer looked like fatherly love! What then? Clearly he's gay! Despite the fact that he finally kicked Alexander out in 2007 after a series of scandals, rumors about gayness have not gone away.
The singer himself ignores questions on this topic:
“I'm tired of making excuses. The more often I say that I am not gay, the more people say the opposite. That’s just how people are - they want to listen to all sorts of nonsense and believe in it. Let them think what they want. In Russia, relatively recently they began to openly discuss this topic, and this is precisely why I explain the unhealthy interest. I hope it goes away on its own soon.”
Valery Leontyev - “And we will smile at the sun”
It turns out that the artist is a kind of lone wolf. But Leontyev managed to draw the right conclusions here too: “A creative person should be lonely, this is normal. This state only gives impetus to work.
The wolf is lonely - he howls, and the man sings!
It’s good that today he understands this, but in the old days he tried to drown his melancholy in alcohol, even thought about suicide. He himself admits that three years passed in a continuous drunken stupor. He managed to pull himself together and for several years did not touch alcohol at all. He allowed himself a glass of champagne only on his fortieth birthday and since then he has been drinking, in his own words, “like all normal people.”
The main salvation for him is work. For the sake of business, for the sake of the public, he is ready, like hell, to work on both his voice and his own body. And he looks - God forbid! He looks forty! True, in this case, we should say thank you not to Mother Nature, but to plastic surgeons. Leontyev first went under the knife back in the 80s, when cosmetic surgeries, if they were performed here, were not advertised. And he never hid the fact that he had a facelift, removed fat from his thighs, enlarged his lips, etc.
The public at concerts always expects “something new” not only from the repertoire, but also from appearance. Ladies love to look at their idol - what else has Valerochka improved in himself? But the desire to look handsome at any cost is also due to lack of self-confidence... But Leontiev struggles with this shortcoming of his every day and every hour and continues to give joy to people despite all his troubles and sorrows. So his traffic light is still green. To spite everyone!
Valery LEONTIEV is considered one of the most private characters in the pop scene. In interviews, he willingly talks about creativity and at the same time carefully avoids questions regarding his life outside the stage. “You can’t tell everything about yourself,” explains Valery Yakovlevich. “We need to leave something for people to speculate and imagine.” Without a riddle, a star is not a star.” On the eve of the singer’s 55th birthday, which he celebrates on March 19, we decided to remind EG readers about some of his mysteries.
Many fans still consider Leontiev to be a bachelor. Meanwhile, Valery Yakovlevich has already married twice. And both times with the same woman - the former bass guitarist and leader of his accompanying ensemble, Lyudmila Isakovich. In 1992, she separated from the singer, moved to the United States and opened a veterinary clinic there. And when Leontyev decided to acquire real estate in the States, she again became his wife and settled in the villa he bought in Miami. Seven years ago we were the first to tell about all this (“EG” No. 19, 1997). After our publication, the singer himself began to openly acknowledge the existence of his legal wife. And he even filmed her in the “Tuner” video. “We met Lyusya Isakovich at a time when I was an amateur artist in the North,” said Valery Yakovlevich in an interview in 2001. — After winning the republican competition and a year of study at a pop art workshop in Moscow, I returned to my native Syktyvkar Philharmonic, where a musical group was already waiting for me - with Lyusya at the head. Since then we have been together - on stage and in life. In 1992, during a tour of the United States, Lyusya, the soloist of my ballet Lena Antropova and two dancers remained in New York. Lena and the guys soon found work at the Rasputin restaurant. But Lucy didn’t want to make music anymore - she dreamed of finding some new business for herself in America. I left her five thousand dollars - that was almost all the money I received as a fee. And as a result, Lucy took up what she always loved most in the world - dogs. Even when she worked part-time as a musician in a restaurant in Syktyvkar, she always carried a bag of bones home with her. Dogs came running from all over the area. She stayed in America with our bobtail Jacek, who always flew with us on all our tours. We all really miss each other...
A real man
However, evil tongues claim that Leontyev allegedly never really lived with Ms. Isakovich, and their marriage initially pursued one single goal - to disguise the singer’s non-standard sexual orientation. They say that it was precisely because of this that he was persecuted in Soviet times and for a long time could not get on television...
Indeed, at first Valera was not allowed on the screen, confirmed director Svetlana Annapolskaya, who worked in the music editorial office of Channel One in the 70-90s and filmed such popular programs as “Blue Light”, “Morning Mail” and “Song of the Year”. “But his sexual orientation had nothing to do with it. There was no persecution of gay people on television. The management simply did not know who was “blue”. Here you go, Sasha Maslyakov led KVN all his life, and nothing. Yes, there was a period when it was taken off the air, but because they went on a “left” tour with the KVN group in the summer. As for Leontyev, he was accused of having too long hair and suits that, in the opinion of our officials, were not suitable for the screen. I remember Valera brought me a bunch of different costumes. “This won’t work!” - I told him. — Red leather trousers are wonderful. But a T-shirt with a naked body coming out is too much.” In the end, I persuaded Valera to wear a gray three-piece. And on the third attempt I managed to film him in Ogonyok. It was a pleasure to work with him. He lives and burns on stage. I saw his wife Lucy three or four times with him on set until she stayed in America. I think she was the same kind of wife to him as... I don’t know who to cite as an example so as not to offend. In general, it seems to me that this marriage was purely formal. Lucy is a strong-willed woman. But she clearly couldn’t have any sex with him. She is "pink". And in America she stayed with a dancer from his own ballet. And with Valera they were just great friends. In public, Leontiev never gave the impression of being gay. On the contrary, he always looked like a real man. This is not Borya Moiseev!
Faithful driver
If the same Philip Kirkorov is attributed with enviable regularity to one or another lover, then practically nothing is known about who Leontyev indulges in vicious love with. At one time there were rumors that a certain Pavel Fridman had been cohabiting with Valery Yakovlevich for many years. But only three years ago his name appeared in the news in connection with the theft of a jeep that belonged to the singer. “P. Friedman, the administrator of Valeria Leontyev’s experimental studio, reported the missing car to the police,” crime reports reported. — According to Friedman, the singer’s car, a Jeep Mitsubishi Pajero, was stolen on the day Friedman drove it. He left the car unattended for about 10 minutes and returned to find that the car had disappeared. We decided to find Mr. Friedman. Knowledgeable people told us that he used to constantly live at the singer’s dacha in Valentinovka, near Moscow. And when renovations began there a couple of years ago, I moved to his Moscow apartment on Kolokolnikov Lane. — Do you need Pavel Friedman? It's me! — a velvety male voice answered Leontyev’s home phone. - What question do you have for me? Oh, about this jeep story. There was such a thing. I was the one who drove this car. Yes, officially I am on the staff of Leontiev’s experimental studio. I am engaged in administrative work, providing Valery Yakovlevich with information and everything necessary for life. I have known Valery Yakovlevich since 1982. One day, an acquaintance of mine brought me to a concert and introduced me to him. My professional skills and my integrity led to the fact that... In general, when I was left without a job, I was made an offer to work for him. Among other things, I have been Valery Yakovlevich’s driver all these years. Our jeep was stolen twice. The first time he was found four years later in Novosibirsk. But when Moscow operatives went to pick him up, they were told: “Why don’t you go! You have your own laws, and we have ours.” I had to arrange a call from Moscow from a high office. Only after that they gave the car back. And six months later she was stolen again. Probably dismantled for parts.
Alexander BOYKOV participated in the preparation of the material
From the book “Beaujolais Day” by Alexander Stefanovich:
“If you want to work in show business,” said the director of the concert hall to Vitka, “you need specific skills.”
, because the people working here are one big family, this is a caste where no one is ashamed of anyone and knows everything about each other... By the way, what is this? - He pointed to Vitka’s fly. Vitek, who perceived what was happening as a medical examination before serving in show business, obediently unbuttoned his pants. - Wow! - exclaimed the director. With these words, he began to admiringly knead the object of Vita’s pride, and then tried it not only by touch, but also by taste. Then the director called the HR department and ordered to hire a new employee for the position of concert administrator.
The singer does not like to give interviews and talk about himself. Therefore, there are a lot of rumors in the press about his personal life, but few facts.
Property
Currently, Leontyev is a wealthy man. He has a luxurious mansion in America on the ocean. Now his wife Lyudmila lives there, and Valery also often vacations there. Not long ago, he purchased real estate in Spain. In Russia, the singer has a cottage in the Moscow region and a huge apartment in Moscow.
He has a decent fleet of vehicles. His wife's gift was a Porsche Cayenne and a Rolls-Royce Phantom, which he gave himself for his anniversary.
Avangard Leontyev has played a huge number of roles in theatrical productions and works as a teacher. For many admirers of theatrical art, the name of Avangard is a vivid reflection of such institutions as the Moscow Art Theater, Tabakerka, Sovremennik and others. Thus, the personal life of Avangard Leontyev could not go unnoticed by fans.
The future actor was named after his older brother. A tragic event occurred in the family; in 1943, Avangard’s older brother died during the war. As for the parents, they are both creative people who were born in Orla. My mother was a member of a dance group, and my father worked as an actor. During the war, the family worked for the good of the country and was engaged in important matters.
Avangard spent most of his school age in the capital of the USSR. Since childhood, he dreamed of becoming a famous actor. Therefore, I studied in one of the drama clubs, and later transferred to a more serious institution to take the course of Anna Bovshek.
Even during his school years, he managed to independently organize his own troupe, with which he staged various performances.
After studying at school, he entered the Moscow Art Theater, but the teachers did not consider him a good actor. Many teachers did not understand his aspirations, but subsequently Avangard was able to open up with ease.
Biography
The future actor was named after his older brother. A tragic event occurred in the family; in 1943, Avangard’s older brother died during the war. As for the parents, they are both creative people who were born in Orla. My mother was a member of a dance group, and my father worked as an actor. During the war, the family worked for the good of the country and was engaged in important matters.
Avangard Leontiev in his youth
Avangard spent most of his school age in the capital of the USSR. Since childhood, he dreamed of becoming a famous actor. Therefore, I studied in one of the drama clubs, and later transferred to a more serious institution to take the course of Anna Bovshek.
Even during his school years, he managed to independently organize his own troupe, with which he staged various performances.
Actor Avangard Leontiev
After studying at school, he entered the Moscow Art Theater, but the teachers did not consider him a good actor. Many teachers did not understand his aspirations, but subsequently Avangard was able to open up with ease.
Theater
In 1968, after graduation, he received a good offer from Sovremennik. Of course, anyone who knows this talented actor understands that he devoted almost 30 years to this theater. The best roles at that time were played here: “At the Lower Depths”, “The Cherry Orchard”, “Karamazovs and Hell” and much more. Despite being very busy, he managed to collaborate with both Tabakerka and the Moscow Art Theater. Thus, he was a very sought-after actor. He was always gladly received within the walls of any theatrical institution.
Directors who staged comedy enterprises were very fond of inviting Leontyev as an actor.
He played the role of Chichikov, Declan Donnellan, Ludovic Nota, etc. That is, the comedy genre was much closer to the actor than the others.
Since 2004, he has been the leading actor of the Moscow Art Theater studio, which also appreciated the talent of Avangard Leontyev. His relationships with students and colleagues more than once became the reason for discussing the orientation of Avangard Leontiev, who leaned towards non-traditional.
Teaching activities
The actor’s professionalism was appreciated quite early and in 1974 he received a unique offer to teach schoolchildren in a drama studio. Afterwards he worked at GITIS, which produced a considerable number of good actors, and collaborated with Tabakov. Relations between Leontyev and Tabakov were always good; together they were even leading actors in one of the theaters.
Avangard Leontiev really likes working as a teacher. It produced more than a hundred professional actors who became part of Russian and Soviet cinema. Even today he continues to work and has no plans to stop. The personal life and orientation of Avangard Leontyev never prevented him from achieving success.
While working in the theater, Avangard began to gravitate toward more serious professions. First of all, I decided to engage in directing activities.
At that time, he already had experience in organizational work. In 1987 he staged the play “Crazy Jourdain.” Oleg Tabakov helped him in everything, giving practical advice and recommendations.
“EG” special correspondents visited Mr. EVZEROV and for the first time conducted a frank interview with him.
When we went to meet the composer, we remembered how at an evening at the Rossiya Hotel dedicated to Evzerov’s 50th anniversary, the poet Nikolai Zinoviev recited a funny acrostic:
Brilliant Quarterly. In parties he is wonderfully sweary. Ready to raise a glass to us! Leontyev was given to him by fate! Rezv. And sometimes sexy. A little drunk from his own songs... He is always a fountain of music!
In Vladimir’s modest apartment, the living room is combined with a study. The entire wall above the synthesizer is covered with laureate diplomas. On the coffee table is a volume of Anna Akhmatova, several CDs and photographs of Valery Leontyev.
How did you meet Leontyev?
Our creative relationship began with Lyusya, Valery Yakovlevich’s wife. It was to her that 12 years ago I gave several songs for Leontyev, however, things did not go further than that. The songs seemed to have sunk into oblivion. And in 1998, Seryozha Petrov, director of the Slavic Bazaar festival, asked me to write music for the anthem “God With Us,” which was to be performed by Leontyev. At the Slavic Bazaar, Valery and I finally met and became friends. Since then I've written 25 songs for it.
Is it difficult for you with superstar Leontyev?
What do you! Valery Yakovlevich is a great talent and a unique person, just an exception from our eccentric Russian show business. He has amazing energy! I am very grateful to him for his attention and still call him by his first name and patronymic, although Leontyev told me a thousand times: “Volodya, call me by name.” But I can not.
Has the singer ever turned his nose up at you?
No, he is a very warm person. Last February, when I celebrated my 50th birthday, Valery, despite his enormous workload, gave me the whole evening... I can easily come to his dacha in Valentinovka near Moscow, taking with me my beloved “daughter” - Italian greyhound Lisa.
A couple of years ago, when Baksik, Leontyev’s dog, was still alive, I suggested that the singer become related through dogs. Valery immediately agreed, laughing, but suggested that I tie a black mourning bow around Lisa’s neck. Like, the dog will bite her, poor thing. However, when the dogs sniffed, Bucks ran after my Lizonka throughout the house, drooling lustfully... Many times, when flying to the USA, Leontyev invited me to his villa in Miami. Moreover, you understand that the flight and everything else is at his expense. But I don’t like this Miami! But Valery and I often travel around Russian cities. When he has concerts, for example, in Tver, Ivanovo or St. Petersburg, I accompany him with pleasure. At performances, he almost forcibly drags me onto the stage and introduces me to the public as his favorite composer.
Don't the fans bother you after this?
They just thank me for my songs. Leontyev is one of those superstars whose fans follow him from city to city. I have already begun to recognize some of them. One lady, for example, gives Valery roses at every concert.
And when he takes the bouquet in his hands, she grabs his palm and squeezes it tightly. The thorns dig deep into the skin, even blood flows. The artist has to endure, and I’m very worried about him!
Your and Leontiev’s calling card was the hit “Everyone wants to have both a bride and a friend.” The words there are too ambiguous...
Everyone is trying to link the song “Everyone wants to love - both soldiers and sailors” to some kind of non-traditional sexual orientation. But it has nothing to do with our friendship with Leontyev. The poem was written by tsarist officer Arseny Nesmelov during the First World War based on a true story, when a Yugoslav soldier and an English sailor fell in love with the same girl. And when she reciprocated both, they spat on her, hugged and went to a tavern to drink and wink at each other.
Is it profitable to be a composer? - You're stepping on a sore spot. Judge for yourself. During his last tour of Israel, Leontyev packed stadiums. In the end, they sent me 90 cents from Tel Aviv for everything about everything.
Or, for example, one Russian radio station played your favorite “Soldier and Sailor” 60 times in two months. And they paid me 43 rubles... Because of the pirates who illegally press CDs with my songs, I have lost 150 thousand dollars over the past year. Moreover, a certain German show business businessman named Friedman cheated Leontyev and me out of fifty thousand euros without paying the promised fee for the concerts.
Did our singers try to deceive you?
Somehow three years ago, while vacationing in the south, I heard Kirkorov privately calling Pugacheva “my little one.” I remembered this and, returning to Moscow, asked the poet Baladzharov to write poems on the theme of the love of Philip and Alla. Music appeared to me in a dream, and as a result the song “My Little One” was born. I offered it to Kirkorov. He was silent for two years. Finally, on the tenth anniversary of his wedding with Pugacheva, he performed it as his gift to his wife. He forgot to even mention me, not to mention the fee for the so-called first night right, which the composer sells to the performer. Now this song is played on all radio stations. I called Kirkorov’s director, and she brazenly told me: “Filya is a superstar! He can sing whatever he wants and not pay a penny!” I immediately remembered the wise words of Leontyev, who advised me more than once: “Don’t tear your chest!” - that is, don’t give songs away to just anyone...
Information * Vladimir EVZEROV was born on February 19, 1954 in Cherkassy. * Author of 700 songs performed by Valery Leontyev, Sofia Rotaru, Nikolai Baskov, Nikolai Karachentsov, Alexander Malinin, Ekaterina Shavrina, Natalya Sturm, Ruth McCartney (Paul McCartney's sister) and others. * From 1999 to 2003, permanent laureate of the “Song of the Year” television festival. * Currently working on the obscene musical “The Wolf and the Goose.”
* Lyudmila ISAKOVICH, the wife of Valery Leontyev, was at one time a bass guitarist and leader of the ensemble accompanying the singer. * In 1992, she separated from Leontyev, emigrated to the USA and opened a veterinary clinic there. When the singer decided to buy real estate in the USA, Lucy again registered a marriage with him and settled in a villa purchased by Valery in Miami (“EG” No. 19, 1997). * Isakovich is just friends with her official husband, and she cohabits with a former dancer from the Leontyev corps de ballet (“EG”, No. 11, 2004).
From the book “Beaujolais Day” by Alexander Stefanovich
During a tour in Syzran, where Vitek was in the position of concert administrator for the national pop superstar L., Vitek really liked one girl from the corps de ballet. Over breakfast in the buffet of a local hotel, he invited her to meet after the concert and secured her consent.
By ten o’clock in the evening, Vitek set the table in his “junior suite” and, hearing a knock on the door, rushed to open it. A dancer stood on the threshold with some young man.
This is my husband,” she introduced her companion.
Having started working in show business, Vitek learned not to be surprised by anything, so he invited his young family to share dinner with him. When the time came for kissing, the beauty pressed her passionate lips into Vitka’s lips. At the same time, our hero felt an equally passionate kiss on the lower part of his body. It turned out that the dancer’s husband was doing it.
And at this crucial moment, the door of the “junior suite” burst open with a bang, and People’s Artist of Russia L., furious as a bull in a bullfight, burst into the room.
Ugliness! - he yelled. - What have we come to? What a fall! How can you trivialize the high art of pop art like that!
Vitek was scared. He thought that tomorrow he would be kicked off the tour and generally excommunicated from his beloved show business. But his sensitive ear caught conciliatory notes in the soloist’s monologue:
Yes, people of art have the right to live by different laws. It doesn't happen to anyone for the first time! I could forgive you if you behave properly.
Vitek began to apologize, calmed the agitated artist, sat him down in a chair, and offered him a drink. L. easily agreed and proposed a toast to the brotherhood. After the kiss, everything ended with the process that began Vitka’s career in the office of the director of the concert hall...
EVERYONE WANTS TO LOVE (V. Evzerov - A. Nesmelov)
A Yugoslav soldier and an English sailor were waiting at the bridge for a quick-eyed seamstress. Everyone thought - “Mine!”, everyone carried tenderness to her And for her tender gaze and for her tender neck. And they sat down as enemies on a bench, a Yugoslav soldier and an English sailor.
Everyone wants to have both a bride and a friend. Everyone wants to love - both soldiers and sailors. Only the days are hard, only our days are blizzards.
The Serb loved his Danube, the Englishman had long loved nothing but a pipe and whiskey. But the girl didn’t go, it was getting dark, the clouds lowered their low shroud to the water. And the soldier looked at the sailor as if he were close, as if he were a friend or had known him for a long time.
And then in the tavern, where the double bass was humming, grumbling dissatisfied at the screeching violins, they drank fiery alcohol and foamed kvass and sent smiles to each other through the smoke. And they shouted, understanding each other, the Yugoslav soldier and the English sailor...
Valery LEONTIEV is considered one of the most private characters in the pop scene. In interviews, he willingly talks about creativity and at the same time carefully avoids questions regarding his life outside the stage. “You can’t tell everything about yourself,” explains Valery Yakovlevich. “We need to leave something for people to speculate and imagine.” Without a riddle, a star is not a star.” On the eve of the singer’s 55th birthday, which he celebrates on March 19, we decided to remind EG readers about some of his mysteries.
Many fans still consider Leontiev to be a bachelor. Meanwhile, Valery Yakovlevich has already married twice. And both times with the same woman - the former bass guitarist and leader of his accompanying ensemble, Lyudmila Isakovich. In 1992, she separated from the singer, moved to the United States and opened a veterinary clinic there. And when Leontyev decided to acquire real estate in the States, she again became his wife and settled in the villa he bought in Miami. Seven years ago we were the first to tell about all this (“EG” No. 19, 1997). After our publication, the singer himself began to openly acknowledge the existence of his legal wife. And he even filmed her in the “Tuner” video. “We met Lyusya Isakovich at a time when I was an amateur artist in the North,” said Valery Yakovlevich in an interview in 2001. — After winning the republican competition and a year of study at a pop art workshop in Moscow, I returned to my native Syktyvkar Philharmonic, where a musical group was already waiting for me - with Lyusya at the head. Since then we have been together - on stage and in life. In 1992, during a tour of the United States, Lyusya, the soloist of my ballet Lena Antropova and two dancers remained in New York. Lena and the guys soon found work at the Rasputin restaurant. But Lucy didn’t want to make music anymore - she dreamed of finding some new business for herself in America. I left her five thousand dollars - that was almost all the money I received as a fee. And as a result, Lucy took up what she always loved most in the world - dogs. Even when she worked part-time as a musician in a restaurant in Syktyvkar, she always carried a bag of bones home with her. Dogs came running from all over the area. She stayed in America with our bobtail Jacek, who always flew with us on all our tours. We all really miss each other...
A real man
However, evil tongues claim that Leontyev allegedly never really lived with Ms. Isakovich, and their marriage initially pursued one single goal - to disguise the singer’s non-standard sexual orientation. They say that it was precisely because of this that he was persecuted in Soviet times and for a long time could not get on television...
Indeed, at first Valera was not allowed on the screen, confirmed director Svetlana Annapolskaya, who worked in the music editorial office of Channel One in the 70-90s and filmed such popular programs as “Blue Light”, “Morning Mail” and “Song of the Year”. “But his sexual orientation had nothing to do with it. There was no persecution of gay people on television. The management simply did not know who was “blue”. Here you go, Sasha Maslyakov led KVN all his life, and nothing. Yes, there was a period when it was taken off the air, but because they went on a “left” tour with the KVN group in the summer. As for Leontyev, he was accused of having too long hair and suits that, in the opinion of our officials, were not suitable for the screen. I remember Valera brought me a bunch of different costumes. “This won’t work!” - I told him. — Red leather trousers are wonderful. But a T-shirt with a naked body coming out is too much.” In the end, I persuaded Valera to wear a gray three-piece. And on the third attempt I managed to film him in Ogonyok. It was a pleasure to work with him. He lives and burns on stage. I saw his wife Lucy three or four times with him on set until she stayed in America. I think she was the same kind of wife to him as... I don’t know who to cite as an example so as not to offend. In general, it seems to me that this marriage was purely formal. Lucy is a strong-willed woman. But she clearly couldn’t have any sex with him. She is "pink". And in America she stayed with a dancer from his own ballet. And with Valera they were just great friends. In public, Leontiev never gave the impression of being gay. On the contrary, he always looked like a real man. This is not Borya Moiseev!
Faithful driver
If the same Philip Kirkorov is attributed with enviable regularity to one or another lover, then practically nothing is known about who Leontyev indulges in vicious love with. At one time there were rumors that a certain Pavel Fridman had been cohabiting with Valery Yakovlevich for many years. But only three years ago his name appeared in the news in connection with the theft of a jeep that belonged to the singer. “P. Friedman, the administrator of Valeria Leontyev’s experimental studio, reported the missing car to the police,” crime reports reported. — According to Friedman, the singer’s car, a Jeep Mitsubishi Pajero, was stolen on the day Friedman drove it. He left the car unattended for about 10 minutes and returned to find that the car had disappeared. We decided to find Mr. Friedman. Knowledgeable people told us that he used to constantly live at the singer’s dacha in Valentinovka, near Moscow. And when renovations began there a couple of years ago, I moved to his Moscow apartment on Kolokolnikov Lane. — Do you need Pavel Friedman? It's me! — a velvety male voice answered Leontyev’s home phone. - What question do you have for me? Oh, about this jeep story. There was such a thing. I was the one who drove this car. Yes, officially I am on the staff of Leontiev’s experimental studio. I am engaged in administrative work, providing Valery Yakovlevich with information and everything necessary for life. I have known Valery Yakovlevich since 1982. One day, an acquaintance of mine brought me to a concert and introduced me to him. My professional skills and my integrity led to the fact that... In general, when I was left without a job, I was made an offer to work for him. Among other things, I have been Valery Yakovlevich’s driver all these years. Our jeep was stolen twice. The first time he was found four years later in Novosibirsk. But when Moscow operatives went to pick him up, they were told: “Why don’t you go! You have your own laws, and we have ours.” I had to arrange a call from Moscow from a high office. Only after that they gave the car back. And six months later she was stolen again. Probably dismantled for parts.
Alexander BOYKOV participated in the preparation of the material
From the book “Beaujolais Day” by Alexander Stefanovich:
“If you want to work in show business,” said the director of the concert hall to Vitka, “you need specific skills.”
, because the people working here are one big family, this is a caste where no one is ashamed of anyone and knows everything about each other... By the way, what is this? - He pointed to Vitka’s fly. Vitek, who perceived what was happening as a medical examination before serving in show business, obediently unbuttoned his pants. - Wow! - exclaimed the director. With these words, he began to admiringly knead the object of Vita’s pride, and then tried it not only by touch, but also by taste. Then the director called the HR department and ordered to hire a new employee for the position of concert administrator.
Four Caucasians tortured Sasha in the basement of the club and demanded a round sum in foreign currency from Valery Yakovlevich for him. The young man miraculously managed to escape, but the bandits were never found. Mario IVANOV, who knows all the characters in this story intimately, called our editorial office. It was he who explained the reasons for the monstrous incident.
“Sorry, I don’t believe the official version that some oh, I don’t believe it,” Mario grinned. “I know both this club and Sasha Rublev, its owner, too well. They don’t go there “by accident.” An unverified person will not even be allowed on the threshold - by the way, there is security there. This is a famous hangout for homosexuals. The guys in this place have a good time, get to know each other, relax right there...
- And what do you think actually happened?
It was no accident that Bogdanovich was beaten. It’s good that he even got out of there alive. You never know what stoned bandits, who are also of an insolent nationality, are capable of. Sasha was lucky that he lost his legs, but why he got there in the first place is a question. This was his first, and, I think, last visit to the art club. But he was warned! Valery Yakovlevich wouldn’t set foot there himself. He protects his reputation and is generally a cautious person. Rublev hates him with a fierce hatred. They had a serious conflict.
Third wheel
- On what basis?
Both personally and creatively. About ten years ago, Rublev imagined himself as a singer. He had neither experience nor training, but for some reason he got it into his head that the big stage was crying for him. He dreamed of Magomayev’s laurels and had no doubt that everything would work out for him. In his mind, there was only one problem - finding strong “pushers”. Sasha began to look for an influential patron. As far as I know, he managed to briefly become friends with Philip Kirkorov, but he soon sent him away. Then he sat on the tail of Valera Leontyev. I thought he would have a real chance here. At first glance, Valera is a very emotionally dependent person, but in fact he is a great pragmatist and realist.
In addition, around then, Sasha Bogdanovich appeared on his life’s path - a young, handsome and pumped-up man who quickly managed to become indispensable for Leontyev. He was also his personal trainer, massage therapist, and assistant. How can almost forty-year-old Rublev compete with him? In short, Bogdanovich easily ousted Rublev from Leontiev’s life. And he got angry - at both of them.
— Can you clarify why?
Firstly, his dignity was seriously violated. And then a purely practical factor played a role here. After all, what Rublev was counting on went to Bogdanovich. Leontyev promoted him - albeit not to a first-tier star, but to a good club level. The guy now successfully performs at clubs and private parties, he is constantly invited, while Rublev with his pathetic vocal attempts is of no use to anyone.
- And for this he is ready to cripple a person?
Not only for this. There was something else. Remember the song “Criminal Tango”, which Leontyev once sang very elegantly. And it was written by Volodya Evzerov, he is also from our crowd. But few people know that initially Sasha Rublev really counted on this song. Oh, and he bet a lot on it. I sold my dacha in Chekhov to buy the composition. He sang it, recorded it, but it was a complete bummer - no one wanted to listen to him. Sasha hung around with her for a long time. And then Valery offered to sell it.
By that time, Rublev had already realized that there was nothing to catch, and gave the tango to Leontiev for half the price. If I'm not mistaken, it cost him ten thousand dollars. But Sasha doesn’t like to lose money. So, there is no reason for him to love Leontyev and Bogdanovich. He probably didn’t forget or forgive anything. I don’t know whether he attacked Bogdanovich intentionally or not. Most likely, he just took advantage of the moment. I thought that Valera would be scared for his young friend and would immediately pay a large ransom for him. But I ran into the wrong thing - Valery Yakovlevich is a grated roll. Of course, I feel sorry for Sashka, he’s a good and harmless guy. It's bad that he got caught. Well, now he will be smarter.
Mystery men such as Oleg Menshikov, Evgeny Mironov, Sergei Astakhov, Alexander Peskov and even Maxim Galkin still give society reasons for gossip. It seems like men at first sight (although, sometimes, not all), but often they behave too strangely.
Menshikov and Mironov are two sex symbols of Russian cinema, who keep teasing girls’ hearts, but never get married. At least for a long time, not a single paparazzi could capture them in the company of the fair sex. You will say, why are you so ugly: it turns out that since you are a bachelor, you must be gay? So it’s not us! These are bad people who say bad things. And we are discussing rumors.
So, be that as it may, this sweet couple at one point decided to dispel all doubts around their traditional-non-traditional orientation. Well, first of all, Oleg Menshikov got married three or four years ago! However, what a feat he went to for the sake of his image. Moreover, GITIS student Anastasia became his chosen one. In other words, a quiet, sweet and head over heels in love with a star young lady. A very successful candidate for the so-called cover.
That’s basically what happened. While hubby went on tour, acted in films and staged regular performances, Nastenka sat quietly at home, waiting for her beloved. And she even said that she admires him and is ready to always live in his shadow. Naturally, this could not last long. Now even the couple’s neighbors talk about how unhappy and poor she is.
They even say that they saw her drinking well more than once. And all because Menshikov’s wife suffers from a lack of attention from her husband. Yes, she herself admitted this to the press. And she even said that she wanted to get a divorce. Apparently, Oleg’s two natures did not get along. If the persistent rumors that he is a homosexual are in fact true, then, in principle, it is understandable why she behaves this way. What a wife! After all, there are so many sweet, cute boys everywhere!
Mironov, on the contrary, is not trying to prove anything to anyone. They say he's gay, and let them talk further! Except that once in Saratov they saw him in a nightclub. That evening after the performance, Evgeniy decided to relax and, so to speak, take off the girls. And he even managed to hook up with three young ladies, with whom he quietly chatted peacefully about life and drank. Everything would have been fine if at the most inopportune moment the DJ had not betrayed him: “Today our guest is our fellow countryman, the wonderful actor Evgeny Mironov!” At the same time, of course, he pointed his finger at the artist. Then the poor guy noticed that the girls were starting to look at him with hungry eyes, and were ready to kill each other just to get the capital's thing for themselves. This is where his adventures ended - Mironov bowed and retreated. And even after this, people consider him gay. Maybe, again, the catch is that he is a convinced bachelor? Guys, get married urgently! Otherwise, we 100% guarantee, you will start looking at the boys.
Although no, not everything is so simple. There is another rumor. They say that Mironov’s stormy and scandalous romance with Alena Babenko is just a well-staged performance. Most likely, they were united by business interests. The actress, appearing everywhere with Eugene, attracted the attention of journalists, and her fictitious boyfriend was thereby taking revenge on his beloved man! In acting circles they gossip that Mironov’s “passion” is none other than the author of the script for the film “Escape” Sergei Astakhov.
This story is as simple as the world. Having met Seryozha in Voronezh, Mironov immediately fell in love with him. Well, Astakhov, apparently, did not resist - we must somehow arrange life in the capital. So Evgeny brought him to Moscow, got him a job at Satyricon, and thanks to him, Sergei began to be invited to act in films. When Astakhov wrote the script for “Escape” and showed it to Yegor Konchalovsky, he initially refused to work with him. But Sergei promised that Mironov would agree to play in the film, and the director could not resist. Evgeny, although he did not approve of the script, could not refuse his friend.
Well, then, having earned some money, Astakhov bought an apartment in Moscow. He moved his wife and daughter there from Voronezh, but stopped communicating with Mironov. This is where Alena Babenko appeared next to Evgeniy. How confusing everything is!
We would like to tell you, or, most likely, remind you, about such a bright character as singer Valery Leontyev. Go out into the street and don’t ask anyone, everyone will say with conviction: “He’s 100% gay!” But it’s still impossible to say with certainty. After all, the artist has been married for a long time and deeply. His wife lives in Miami, where he loves to relax and celebrate family holidays. At the same time, there are no children of their own. And who among the gays has ever been bothered by the presence of a stamp in their passport? Their supposed companions in life were always there for cover. And a thousand times he made controversial comments about gay minorities.
He once said: “As recent research shows, this is predetermined at the genetic level. In general, it seems to me that everything that is created by God and nature has the right to exist.” At the same time, in response to the reporter’s clarifying remark, “Do you think that this is not a sin, not a disease?” Valery answered unequivocally: “But if this is a sin, then it means that God sinned against himself.”
Moreover, he once even admitted that he was tired of denying rumors about his homosexuality. “I used to say: “I’m not gay!”, but now I’ve decided to leave this question open. Think what you want. I don’t refute these rumors because I’m tired of them, and I don’t declare them, like, for example, Borya Moiseev. As for the propaganda of gay culture in our country, I think this will soon pass. There are homosexual people all over the world and they don’t make any pretentious fuss about themselves (except maybe they hold gay carnivals once a year). We only recently abolished the article on sodomy, and, naturally, the people have not yet breathed in this sexual freedom,” Leontyev said.
And how can Leontiev be considered a straight man, if since 1993 he has been close friends with the singer Alexander Bogdanovich, who does not hide his love for Valery. At the same time, Leontyev’s “dear friend” spends a lot of time in his mansion in Miami, and the wife, according to rumors, is not jealous of her husband. “I slept with Valera in his American house,” Alexander admitted. “By the way, I can call this villa my home, since I have been coming here regularly for many years.”
Well, then what can we say about the parodist Alexander Peskov? And the blonde hairstyle, and the makeup is almost feminine, and the manner of speaking and habits? You couldn't help but notice. Yes, he has a wife and daughters of 21 years. He talks about them with great love. But Christmas trees! Why does he look like a real gay then? After all, there is no smoke without fire.
And Maxim Galkin? Even people think he's gay! And his future wife Pugacheva is again a cover, many think. And really, what kind of wife is there from a 60-year-old prima donna? Another character is stylist Sergei Zverev. At first glance, you can generally mistake him for a woman. (It’s understandable: plastic surgery after the accident that Sergei got into. But it was possible to tailor something, so to speak, more natural?) He also has a wife and a child - however, like many “non-naturals”. But in recent years, Zverev has stopped hiding behind them and is not ashamed of his beloved boy.
Let's not forget about Andrei Malakhov, who always hung out with an elderly rich woman, Marina Kuzmina. Moreover, he once even promised to get married! (Or was it the press itself that got them married?) Be that as it may, this relationship does not seem to go beyond “romantic meetings”.
The list of alleged homosexuals is endless. Here are Evgeny Gor, who has signed up as a groom for Nadezhda Babkina, Mitya from the Hi-Fi group, and Efim Shifrin, and Shura, and Oscar, and Valentin Yudashkin, and Roman Viktyuk...
https://www.delfi.ua/news/exclusive/interview/article.php?id=242785
HOUSEKEEPS and chauffeurs of Western stars have long and reliably occupied their niche in show business, regularly giving fans juicy details from the lives of their idols. Russian artists have been lucky in this regard so far - they don’t have enough money to support servants, and there aren’t a lot of piquant things in life. But…
RECENTLY, Valeria Leontyev's ex-housekeeper Maria Vlasova announced in the press her intention to publish a book about her former employer, full of scandalous details. According to the servant, she worked in the artist’s house for 12 years, but 3 years ago she was fired and unfairly accused of theft, for which she plans to take revenge. During his 30 years on stage, Valery Leontyev managed not to get involved in a single serious scandal and, it seems, has no intention of doing so.
I have never had any housekeepers. All my life I have managed on my own. The dresser helps me with the same laundry. I don’t know any Maria Vlasova. Obviously, this is another crazy woman with an autumn aggravation.
Life is so arranged that we all have to lie sometimes. Do you often tell people lies?
If, for example, someone said something nasty about my friend, naturally I will pretend that I don’t know anything. I also hide various minor troubles from loved ones and say that everything is fine. I think this is a white lie. And all sorts of everyday things, stories of various Mari Vlasovs - this is bullshit that makes no one feel hot or cold. I know they often lie to me, just so as not to spoil the mood. Are they lying?! Well, thank God! I don’t need to know everything...
Three years of drinking
ARTISTS are often prone to alcoholism, suicide, and depression. Does this sound familiar to you?
I have always been prone to depression, and as I get older it happens more and more often. Apparently, general mental and physical fatigue is taking its toll. Sometimes you want to lie down on the sofa and lie there, looking at the ceiling, for five years. There was a period when they wiped their feet on me, and I was treated for depression with large and regular doses of alcohol. At that time, by the way, I had thoughts of suicide, although probably everyone has thought about it at least once in their life. I drank for more than three years, but, fortunately, I realized in time that this path could take me far. Then I stopped and for four years I didn’t allow myself even a sip of champagne. After that, I raised a glass for the first time on my 40th birthday and since then I’ve been drinking like all normal people.
Your, excuse me, excessive sweating on stage has already become part of the image. But I don’t believe that you have never had a complex about this. Have you contacted specialists with this problem?
I didn’t even think about going to the doctors with my sweating. I have never been embarrassed by my sweat on stage and have never had a complex about it. For a long time, on the set of television programs, make-up artists constantly tried to get me wet, and I dodged and said: “Don’t!” Well, I sweat and sweat... I even like it. When during a performance I feel that I am sufficiently lathered, I make a sharp turn of my head in time with the music, which creates a fan of splashes. If you want, this is my special effect. In general, this problem should worry the costume designer, because she has to wash my suits every day.
Rumors about your homosexuality appeared long before gay culture became fashionable. However, neither then nor today did you make any statements on this matter.
Previously he declared: “I’m not gay!”, but now I decided to leave this question open. Think what you want... I don’t refute these rumors because I’m tired of them, and I don’t declare them, like, for example, Borya Moiseev. As for the propaganda of gay culture in our country, I think this will soon pass. There are homosexual people all over the world and they don’t make any pretentious fuss about themselves (except maybe they hold gay carnivals once a year). We only recently abolished the article on sodomy, and, naturally, the people have not yet breathed in this sexual freedom.
How is your relationship with your wife if she permanently lives in Miami, and you spend most of your time in Russia?
Lyusya and I are close together for about 3.5 months a year, and the rest of the time we communicate by phone. We have such a marriage-friendship, it is clear that it is not the first passion and not the first freshness. After all, we have been together for 30 years.
In addition to your wife in America, I heard that you also have a son.
Are you talking about our child with Laima Vaikule? This duck was launched on the first of April. Laima and I laughed for a very long time about this. But seriously speaking, now I’m already starting to regret that I still don’t have children. I catch myself thinking that I don’t have enough of this, and more and more often I think about how to correct the situation and whether it’s too late to do it.
The thrill of idleness
I got the impression that you are a very lonely person. Is your apparent workaholism an escape from loneliness?
An artist and loneliness are inseparable concepts. Creative people, unlike everyone else, are not oppressed by this state, but nourished and give impetus to activity. For example, a wolf cannot say anything, so it howls. And a person, when others do not understand him and do not notice him, begins to sing, draw, and write books. So I sang at one time...
The profession requires workaholism. Without a fanatical attitude to work on stage, you won’t last long. These are girl singers who are married to an oil well or gas field and can afford to lie on the couch for six months. They know that at any moment their husband will buy them a song, pay for the studio and for broadcasts.
Are you so poor that you can't afford to take a break?
That's not the point. All my life I have suffered from self-doubt and I am very afraid that if I take a time out for at least a few months, I will not find the strength to return. You have no idea how naturally lazy I am. Once I was idle for 55 days (this was due to my health) and realized that I was getting an almost physical buzz from it. It sucks in like a swamp. And I’m sure you need to work as long as three factors are in balance: the interest of the public, the artist’s desire and health.
When are you going to live for yourself? Just don’t say that you live on stage...
What are you talking about!.. This is stupid and banal. I've traveled around the world enough, but what have I seen other than the same dressing rooms, backstage, and flowers? Over the years, I understand more and more that I may not be able to do a lot in this life, so I try to give myself three vacations a year. Life is interesting until you are bedridden.
If only you could bring back your youth...
Sometimes it seems to me that if I were 25 years old again and knew about the eternal horror of doubt that awaits me, I would never repeat my path. Roughly speaking, at one time I grabbed the first thing that came to mind - singing. I decided that since I had a voice and desire, I just had to go on stage. Maybe I shouldn’t have done this, but it would have been better to delve into myself, understand what else I’m capable of. I am very interested in writing, surgery, oceanology, and you never know the professions in which I could realize myself... Still, happy are those people who live in the firm belief that the fruits of their labor, actions, words have the right to exist...
Cinema
In 1969, he made his debut in the Soviet film “Student”. It was this kind of performance-film, which was staged based on Griboyedov’s play. In fact, Avangard Leontiev was not at all interested in serious work in films, since he was busy with theater and teaching.
Avangard Leontiev in the film “Everything is the other way around”
But it was the genre of film-performances that he fell in love with, so he has about several dozen such works to his credit. You can note such films as “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”, “Dombey and Son”, “Twelfth Night”, “The Lower Depths” and so on.
Avangard Leontyev in the film “Pechorin. Hero of our time"
He worked with Mikhalkov; his roles in the films “Dark Eyes” and “Burnt by the Sun” were also remembered by television viewers. He continues to collaborate with Nikita Mikhalkov to this day. His most recent work, “Solar Gift,” brought him quite a lot of success, as the film received an award.
Avangard Leontiev in the film “Adjutants of Love”
