Malev Leonid Ivanovich Director of the legendary Alexandrov Ensemble: “Our task is to make the country attractive

Information appeared this week that Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov signed an order to liquidate cultural and art institutions under the jurisdiction of the Defense Ministry. One of the most common types of cultural institutions within the Ministry of Defense are the Houses of Officers. Often they are cinemas, gyms, various clubs. What will happen to the houses of culture, the Theater of the Russian Army and the Red Banner Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army named after A. V. Alexandrov now? The director of the ensemble, Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation Leonid Ivanovich Malev visited the studio. He clarified the situation in a conversation with cultural observer Grigory Zaslavsky.

Zaslavsky: In the studio - Grigory Zaslavsky. Good afternoon. And I am pleased to introduce today's guest. This is the director of the Red Banner Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army named after Alexandrov Leonid Malev. Leonid Ivanovich, I welcome you to the Vesti FM studio.

Malev: Yes, Gregory, hello. I welcome you too, I'm glad to see you.

Zaslavsky: Well, we’ll probably start with those publications that are coming out this week and which personally got me very excited, because as a theater critic, of course, I’m already used to going to the Theater of the Russian Army, I know its wonderful troupe, this theater knowing that there are other theatres. And you know that I am a longtime admirer of your ensemble, even in the car I have a CD with songs performed by Alexandrovites. And, of course, when you read that the order of the Minister of Defense 840, it says so about the liquidation of cultural and educational institutions, you begin to worry about the fate of those who are especially dear to you, that is, the Army Theater, the Alexander Ensemble and the Greek studio of military artists. Does this order threaten you in any way?

Malev: Grigory, this order does not threaten us. And in general, a strange way of posing the question, I already read Moskovsky Komsomolets today, everything is somehow aggressive there: the liquidation of cultural institutions, the Ministry of Defense ... Well, what is said about liquidation is completely inverted. Well, the liquidation, and the film was recently "Liquidation", but the liquidation - they liquidated the gang. What does liquidation mean? It is absolutely necessary not to mislead people and not to confuse the armed forces and individual garrisons, and so on. Well, not entirely correct.

Speaking specifically about liquidation, we are talking in general about reforming cultural institutions, as well as other institutions that exist in the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces as a whole. There is now a completely different system of equipping troops, a completely different system of command and control, as if everything is becoming different. There is a reduction in the Armed Forces. But accordingly, if the Armed Forces are reduced, the units or institutions that contributed to the implementation of main task, combat missions in fact. Well, how did it turn out? Here's the old pattern. There is a garrison, relatively speaking, we will take Kursk or we will take, say, Severomorsk or Murmansk. Previously, there were several different Houses of Officers of different affiliations on the territory of the garrison.

I explain. For example, they are in the garrison, for example, aviation units - once, there are naval units and land units. It so happened according to the old system that, for example, the aviation units had their own officers' club, the navy had its own sailors' club, ground troops, had the House of Officers. Here, on the territory, for example, Murmansk or, for example, Kursk (well, there were no sailors there, there were others, for example, troops) there were two or three cultural institutions. Well, it would seem that this is how the system developed.

Today, the armed forces are being optimized, the armed forces are being reformed. But accordingly, it means a completely different structure of subordination. And if, for example, some military units, for example, aviation, are withdrawn from the Kurs garrison, then a cultural institution is also withdrawn accordingly. Well, how? It, in principle, is not destroyed and, as we say, is not liquidated. This cultural institution is being re-profiled and transferred to local self-government bodies. That is, at this place where people came, they go there, only this hearth, this cultural institution will be subordinate to the locals. That is, it is not liquidated, people are not deprived of access to cultural institutions.

Zaslavsky: Yes, the most important thing is that people do not lose that very constitutional law access to works of culture, to culture in general.

Malev: Well, it turns out, if a number of garrisons (well, this is how the system developed, this is pure truth), and completely, as it turns out, liquidated. So what does it do? There was a garrison, there was no cultural institution, and life stopped. But the Ministry of Defense clearly understands that weekends are coming, and holidays, and pre-holiday days, and evening time is coming ...

Zaslavsky: Yes, "a soldier has a day off - buttons in a row ..."

Malev: Yes. Well, there is a soldier's club there, it's a different situation. But there are officers, they go to the center of culture, to the institution, where they rest, where they spend their time. And most importantly, the better a cultural institution works in a garrison, in any cultural institution, especially, of course, in small garrisons, the fewer incidents, in fact, the fewer violations of discipline.

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Among the 92 people who were on board the Tu-154, which crashed over the Black Sea, 64 were members of the ensemble. Alexandrova. According to the interlocutors of RBC, the main choristers of the group were on the liner

Flowers near the building of the Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army. A.V. Alexandrov in Moscow (Photo: Vitaly Belousov/RIA Novosti)

The main composition of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army im. A.V. Alexandrov, soloist Vadim Ananyev told RBC, who was released from performing in Syria on family circumstances, and confirmed by a source close to the leadership of the ensemble.

The ensemble was supposed to perform in front of the Russian military in Syria in honor of the New Year. According to the interlocutor of RBC in the military department, the concert was planned in Aleppo. As he writes, on December 22, a battalion was transferred to Aleppo military police, formed from the natives of Chechnya. One of the tasks of the police battalion was to prepare the site and ensure the safety of the concert of the Ensemble. Alexandrova.

The official representative of the ensemble declined to comment, saying that the Ministry of Defense would decide the fate of the ensemble.

Mostly choristers were on the plane, Ananiev, who did not fly from Moscow, said in a conversation with RBC, since his third child was born. According to the soloist, the team "will continue its life in memory of those who died."

Ananiev's words were confirmed by a RBC source close to the leadership of the ensemble: “All previous plans were related to the acting artistic composition. The main forces flew in an ill-fated flight - the costume designers, and the conductor, and the head of the choral group, and the ballet soloists, and the soloists of the ensemble itself. So it's hard to say what's going to happen next."

The following year, the ensemble was supposed to go on tour in Europe (in particular, performances in the Czech Republic and Slovakia were scheduled for May), and were also invited to Israel. “We always have everything scheduled for a year,” Ananyev explained. He is not aware of possible cancellations. “We need to invite and educate new singers,” RBC’s interlocutor noted.

The issue of further actions has not yet been discussed with the artists, another soloist of the ensemble, Sergey Khlopnikov, told RBC. He declined to comment further, citing an order from the leadership of the Ministry of Defense.

According to RBC's source, now the team will have to prepare for the concert, timed to coincide with February 23. The interlocutor noted that two deputy directors of the ensemble, as well as a consultant, did not fly to Syria. “Surely they will figure out what to do, the team has a very large experience - this is one of the oldest military ensembles that has experienced different times. You'll have to get out somehow. The pop ensemble remained - "Alexandrov-Park", this is an octet with a pop repertoire. There was a ballet part, choreographers. They will collect bit by bit."

Among the dead on board the aircraft was the director and artistic director of the ensemble, Lieutenant General Valery Khalilov, who was appointed in May to replace Leonid Malev, who led the ensemble for 14 years. At the same time, Malev was only the director of the ensemble; the duties of the artistic director were performed at the time of his departure by Gennady Sachenyuk, while Khalilov combined both functions, RBC interlocutors note.

“For the Department of Defense, this is not new person, he was well known. He was the chief military conductor. He could be seen more than once at the Spasskaya Tower festival, which he held, and at parades on Victory Day, ”Ananyev emphasized.

Exit performances of the choir and the orchestra in full force used to be practiced quite rarely. The fact is that Khalilov reformatted the work of the ensemble, said a RBC source close to the team. “Earlier, the ensemble worked as so-called concert teams. The team is large, and, relatively speaking, 10-15 people were chosen from it, and they went somewhere to the point. So it was possible to serve very a large number of sites. The new director said that everyone should go, ”said the interlocutor of RBC. According to him, the uncertainty about the future of the ensemble is also connected with the fact that Khalilov "has only just begun to work."

In particular, the ensemble went to the first concert in Syria in January 2016 in a truncated composition. “They performed there, at the Khmeimim base, but then not only the Alexandrov ensemble, but also other artists flew. Then a brigade flew from the ensemble - "Alexandrov-Park", soloists, maybe some kind of choral group. And here, apparently, they decided to do something grandiose - about a hundred people, of which there should have been at least fifty on stage, ”the source emphasized.

“The forms of work were different: if necessary, the whole team flew out, but more often the brigades. And five people, and ten. The ensemble is quite mobile, it could provide any venues, ”Ananyev objects.

Ensemble them. Aleksandrova is the largest and oldest military song collective. Regularly participates in official events high level, and also records the official soundtrack of the Russian anthem. Before the tragedy, the creative team of the ensemble consisted of 186 people, including vocalists, dancers and an orchestra. The team was created by the composer and professor of the Moscow Conservatory A.V. Aleksandrov (the future composer of the music for the anthem of the USSR and Russia) in 1928; within 20 years, its number increased from 12 to 313 people.

Since 1949 it has been called: Twice Red Banner Order of the Red Star Song and Dance Ensemble Soviet army them. A.V. Alexandrov, since 1978 has the status of an academic. Legally, it is a state institution of culture and art under the Ministry of Defense. The ensemble's repertoire includes more than 2,000 works, including folk songs, sacred music, classical works, songs of Soviet and Russian authors.

The Alexandrov Ensemble, as it has been known for 10 years, may not be. For an unknown reason - read "due to undercover games" the head of the ensemble can be fired. The head of the illustrious team, Leonid Ivanovich Malev, collected bit by bit what was left of his predecessor. The team existed, but did not live. Disunity among artists, lack of interest in a common cause. And, as a result, the loss of spiritual connection with the viewer. But the songs are about the main thing - about how they defended the Motherland, how at the cost own life got the long-awaited victory. Such songs can only be performed by feeling each note with the heart. And today is such that everything is quickly forgotten, erased and seems insignificant. So that the Twice Red Banner does not disappear for centuries, does not get lost among ordinary pop groups, it should be led by a person who wholeheartedly cheers for the Motherland. Leonid Ivanovich is convinced that every artist representing the ensemble is a model, the face of our country. That you need to work in such a way that the viewer would say with admiration, "If artists are like that in the army, then WHAT THEN ARE SOLDIERS ?!" Having taken care of the ensemble, he saw that the reason for the fragmentation to a large extent was the lack of concern for the artists. As a strict but fair father, Leonid Ivanovich adamantly followed the discipline in the team, which had long been forgotten by the artists, demanded from everyone, without exception, accuracy in performance and respectful attitude to work and colleagues. And at the same time, he "punched" state support for his wards, created comfortable conditions for work and leisure, looking for outlets abroad for tours... 10 years have passed. It cannot be said that the changes that took place during this time and made the Ensemble respected throughout the world were easy and painless. To the great regret of the leader, I had to part with the artists who could not or did not want to work in conditions of discipline. Yet the efforts were not in vain. The team is loved in their own country and - which is not surprising now - abroad. Artists proudly say that they are Aleksandrovtsy. And they know that behind this name is the memory of the exploits of fathers and grandfathers, traditions, military bearing, stability and justice. And if you ask the audience hurrying to the House of Music for the annual concert of the Ensemble "why are you going to the performance of the ensemble?", then everyone's answer is approximately the same - "these are the best emotions", "we always enjoy it." But the development of the team does not stop there. Leonid Ivanovich attracts schoolchildren and youth to the topic of VICTORY: a school-studio "young Alexandrovites" was created, pop group"Alexander Park" Approach any artist of the Ensemble, ask if he is happy that he is part of the history of our country, if he likes to represent it in different countries, is it nice to see the admiring glances of the audience around the world, does it feel that the Ensemble occupies a significant place in the culture of Russia. The answer will be positive. And everyone understands that all this is the result of a huge work of artists and a leader, mutual understanding and respect. Brick by brick, the reputation of the ensemble was restored. When a forgotten image appeared behind a big name. And now, when the Ensemble lives with dignity and glorifies the country, they are trying to remove the head of the ensemble from his post. And put in his place someone who did not know all these years of work, who will simply come and formally "lead", but in fact "ruin". The times are not easy for the country, but Leonid Ivanovich will do everything for the team to ensure a decent level. What a person from the outside will not do. What is not acquired by one's own sweat and blood is not appreciated. And therefore, the Ensemble will no longer be the same as it is now with a different leader.

Colonel-General Alexander Petrovich Kolmakov was born on July 31, 1955 in Kaliningrad, Moscow Region. In 1976 he graduated from the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School named after Lenin Komsomol.

After graduating from college, he was appointed commander of a platoon of the 357th Guards Airborne Regiment. He was deputy commander and company commander. From December 1979 to December 1981 he served in the Limited contingent Soviet troops in Afghanistan, where he was appointed chief of staff of the battalion of the 357th Guards Airborne Regiment.

From December 1981 to August 1982 - Chief of Staff of the Battalion of the 301st Airborne Training Regiment.

Graduated with honors in 1985 military academy named after M.V. Frunze and was appointed commander of a battalion of the 108th Guards Airborne Regiment, from August 1985 - deputy commander, and from September 1986 to October 1989 - commander of the 300th Guards Airborne Regiment.

From October 1989 to February 1991 - Deputy Commander of the 98th Guards Airborne Division, and from February 1991 to August 1993 - Commander of the 106th Guards Airborne Division.

Graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces in 1995 Russian Federation and was appointed First Deputy Commander of the Army. Since 1998 - Army Commander, since 2000 - Deputy Commander of the Far Eastern Military District. From 2003 to 2007 - Commander of the Airborne Troops.

From 2007 to 2010 - First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation. Retired in 2010

Deputy Chairmen of DOSAAF of Russia

First Deputy Chairman of DOSAAF of Russia

Malev Leonid Ivanovich

In 1977 he graduated from the Lvov Higher Military-Political School, Faculty of Cultural Education Workers.
In 1985, the Military-Political Academy. IN AND. Lenin, combined arms faculty.
In 1992 Postgraduate studies at Humanitarian Academy Sun.

Official activity:
From 1977-1982 300th Guards Tank Training Regiment, 48th Guards Training tank division, head of the club, deputy commander of a combat training tank battalion for political affairs.
1987 - 181 tank regiment, 24 motorized rifle division, deputy regiment commander for political affairs.
From 1987 to 1989 Lviv Higher Military-Political School, lecturer at the Department of Party and Political Work.
From 1992 to 1992 Department of Culture and Leisure of the Committee for Work with Personnel Armed Forces Russian Federation, head of the cultural and commercial department.
From 1992 to 1994 Main Directorate for Work with Personnel of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Head of the Group of the Department of Culture.
From 1994 to 1995 Control educational work Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, head of the group of the 4th department (1994-1995).
From 1995 to 2002 Main Directorate of Educational Work of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Head of the Group of the Department of Culture, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture of the Department of Educational Work, Head of the Department of Culture of the Department of Educational Work (1995-2002).
From 2002-2016 Head of the Academic Song and Dance Ensemble Russian Army named after A.V. Alexandrov.
2016 Chief Editor federal newspaper "World of News".
Since June 2017, Deputy Chairman of the DOSAAF of Russia.
Since February 2018 - First Deputy Chairman of the DOSAAF of Russia

Awarded:
Medal "For Impeccable Service" 3rd class (1982). Medal "60 years of the USSR Armed Forces" (1978) Anniversary medal "70 years of the USSR Armed Forces" (1988). Medal "For Impeccable Service" 2nd class (1988). Honorary title "Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation" (1997). Medal "In memory of the 850th anniversary of Moscow" (1997). Sign "For achievements in culture" (2000). Medal "For military valor" 1st class (2000). Breastplate "For Distinction in Service" (2001). Order "For Military Merit" (2002)

He was awarded the orders "For Merit to the Fatherland" 4th degree, "For Military Merit", "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" 2nd and 3rd degree, medals.

Staskov Nikolai Viktorovich

Secretary of State -

Born on August 28, 1951 in the village. Buda, Smolensk region.
In 1973 - graduated from the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School.
In 1993 - graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Military service
1977-1978 - military specialist in Ethiopia.

Member of the fighting in Ethiopia, Chechen Republic and in Abkhazia.
1987 - commander of a training airborne division.
From 1987 to 1991 - district chief training center training of junior specialists of the Airborne Forces.
From 1993 to 1998 - Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces for Peacekeeping Forces.
From 1998 to 2005 - Chief of Staff - First Deputy Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces.
From 2011 to 2014 - adviser CEO OJSC Central Research Institute "Cyclone"
Since January 2015 - Representative of the Chairman of the DOSAAF of Russia for interaction with State Duma Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
Since January 2016 - Representative of DOSAAF of Russia for interaction with the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.
Since April 2016 - Deputy Chairman of the DOSAAF of Russia - Secretary of State.

Military rank- lieutenant general of the reserve.
Corresponding member of the Academy of Security, Defense and Law Enforcement.
Awarded: Orders "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" III Art., "For Military Merit", "For Personal Courage", "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV Art., 11 medals.

Uskov Alexander Mikhailovich

Director of the Department of organizational and planning work, work with regions and daily activities - Deputy Chairman of the DOSAAF of Russia

Born February 16, 1952 in Chelyabinsk. In 1973 he graduated from the Chelyabinsk Higher Tank Command School, in 1985 from the Military Academy of the Armored Forces, in 1993 from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces.

Passage of military service:

From 1973 to 1976 - commander of a tank platoon.
From 1976 to 1979 - commander of a tank company.
From 1979 to 1982 - officer, senior officer of the operational department of the army headquarters.
From 1985 to 1991 - senior officer-operator of the direction of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces.
From 1993 to 1994 - senior officer-operator of the direction of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces.
From 1994 to 1998 - Deputy Chief of the Operations Directorate of the headquarters of the Far Eastern Military District.
From 1998 to 2003 - Chief of Operations - Deputy Chief of Staff of the Far Eastern Military District.
From 2003 to 2005 - Deputy Chief of the Main Staff of the Ground Forces.
From 2005 to 2008 - chief military adviser in Syria.

Awarded:
Order "For Military Merit" and many medals.

Kormiltsev Vitaly Nikolaevich

Deputy Chairman of DOSAAF of Russia

In 1989 - graduated from the Omsk Higher Combined Arms Command School with a degree in "engineer for the operation of armored and automotive equipment."
In 1997 - graduated from the Military Academy. M.V. Frunze with a degree in Command and Staff Operational and Tactical.
In 2004 - graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff under the program "Specialist in Military and Public Administration".

Passage of military service:
From 1989 to 1994 - service in the Armed Forces (on the territory of Germany and the Far East).
From 1997 to 2002 - Service in the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
From 2004 to 2008 - Service in the Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
From 2008 to 2010 - Service in the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Military rank - major general of the reserve
From 2010 to 2011 - Head of the Department for Interaction with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Elektromashina JSC, Advisor Military Industrial Commission under the Government of the Russian Federation.
From 2011 to 2012 - Head of the Center for Industry Standardization of the Research Institute for the Transportation of Oil and Oil Products "AK Transneft".
From 2012 to 2013 - Deputy Director of the Central Shooting and Sports Club DOSAAF of Russia.
From 2013 to 2017 - Director of the Moscow City Shooting and Sports Club DOSAAF of Russia.
Since January 2017 - Deputy Chairman of the DOSAAF of Russia.

Awarded with state and departmental orders and medals.

Lebedev Pavel Vladimirovich

Deputy Chairman of DOSAAF of Russia

In 1994 - Yaroslavl Higher Military Financial Order of the Red Star School. Army General A.V. Khruleva.

In 2005 - Aviation Training Center for Small Aviation ANO "Vysota", Central Advanced Training Courses for the Management Staff of ROSTO (DOSAAF).

Passage of military service:

From 1994 to 2005 he served as the head of the financial service of a battalion, regiment, brigade, division, senior inspector - auditor of the Financial Inspectorate of the Moscow Military District.

In the DOSAAF system since 2005.

Positions held:

Chief of Staff of the Aviation Training Center ANO Vysota, Head of the Aviation Training Center ANO Vysota (training of small aircraft pilots)

Vice Chairman Regional office DOSAAF Russia Primorsky Krai

Chairman of the Regional Branch of DOSAAF of Russia in the Tula Region

Advisor to the Chairman of DOSAAF of Russia

Since October 2018 - Deputy Chairman of the DOSAAF of Russia

Participant of hostilities in the Chechen Republic in 1999 - 2001.

Awarded with state and departmental orders and medals.

The team constantly performs in military units, hospitals, hot spots. Artists come to visit military personnel serving in Chechnya, Tajikistan, Transnistria, Abkhazia. Concerts are held in the Far Eastern, Volga, Ural districts, in the Northern and Far Eastern fleets.

The organizer and the first musical director of the group was a professor at the Moscow Conservatory. P.I. Tchaikovsky, People's Artist of the USSR, outstanding Russian composer and conductor, author of the National Anthem of our country, Major General A.V. Alexandrov. It is interesting to note that Alexander Vasilyevich was the last director of the choir of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and then worked as a choirmaster in the chamber theater directed by A.Ya. Tairov, led the Moscow State Academic Chapel, advised the work of the choir at the K.S. Stanislavsky and V.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko.

In 1928 A.V. Alexandrov was offered to become the musical director of the Red Army Song Ensemble organized at the Central House of the Red Army. His rich experience of versatile work helped him in the future in the formation of a multifaceted repertoire policy of the group, laid the foundation for the creation and development of groups of a new type - song and dance ensembles. Arrangements by A.V. Alexandrov such songs of times civil war as "Chapaev the hero walked in the Urals", "There, far beyond the river", "Through the valleys and along the hills". At the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War he created a landmark work - "Holy War" to the words of V.I. Lebedev-Kumach. It became the anthem of the fight against the Nazis, and the ensemble began to be called the "Singing Weapon of Victory."

From 1946 to 1987, the ensemble was led by the son of A.V. Alexandrova - Hero of Socialist Labor, People's Artist of the USSR, laureate of the Lenin and State Prizes of the USSR, composer and conductor, Major General Boris Alexandrov. Matvey Blanter, Eduard Kolmanovsky, Lyudmila Lyadova, Boris Mokrousov, Vano Muradeli, Anatoly Novikov, Vasily Solovyov-Sedoy, Yan Frenkel, Aram Khachaturian, Tikhon Khrennikov and many other outstanding composers collaborated with the ensemble. Yes, and B. Aleksandrov created many works, adaptations folk songs. What is the famous operetta "Wedding in Malinovka" worth alone.

The composition of the team is constantly updated, and traditions are carefully preserved. All artists of the ensemble have a special musical and choreographic education. The choir is recognized as one of the best male choirs in the world. A dancing group honorably holds the heights of choreographic art won by the Alexandrovites. The success of the work of the choir, soloists and dancers also depends on the sound of a unique orchestra.

The ensemble's repertoire includes more than 2,000 works: songs by Russian composers, folk songs and dances, soldier dances, sacred music, classical works by Russian and foreign composers, masterpieces of world pop music. "Hits" were "Kalinka", "Katyusha", "Victory Day", "Black Eyes", "Evening Ringing". Today, composers Eduard Khanok, Alexandra Pakhmutova, Kim Breitburg write music for the collective, poets Ilya Reznik, Nikolai Dobronravov, Sergey Sashin write poetry.

Now the director of the ensemble is the Honored Worker of Culture of Russia, Colonel Leonid Malev. Together with him, the artistic director and chief conductor, People's Artist of Russia, Professor Igor Raevsky, conductors Honored Worker of Culture of Russia Lieutenant Colonel Gennady Sachenyuk and Honored Artist of Russia Nikolai Kirillov, chief choreographer, People's Artist of Russia Lev Kulikov work in the team.

We are talking with Leonid Malev.

Leonid Ivanovich, what is the basis of the ensemble? When you came here, perhaps you dreamed of bringing something new?

The new, as you know, is the well-forgotten old. It helps to get back to the roots. At the dawn of its history, the ensemble held in high esteem literary and musical compositions. These are the First Cavalry in Songs, and the Red Fleet in Songs, and the Amur Division in Songs, and a number of others. There were also story line, and the climax, and a certain theme. Music, poetry and prose sounded in them, folk and revolutionary songs were sung, dashing dances were performed. Today these compositions are called musicals. Then it was forgotten due to irrelevance. We tried to create a modern musical - "Hymn to your home." Then they came up with a completely new format - a New Year's extravaganza performance "About Ivan the young, daring brave man." They told me: “Leonid Ivanovich, what kind of New Year's fairy tales? This is the Alexandrov Ensemble!”

Want to reach a new audience?

Quite right. The first is a change in the format on stage, the second is a change in the audience. Fairy tales on the stage and now continue. When it started, many did not understand what was happening at all. And everything is very simple. One of the leading artists of the choir is Santa Claus, ballet dancers dance, choir artists sing. What is a fairy tale without a song and a good dance?

After musicals and Christmas trees, we have a children's choir. Joint performances of the ensemble and the boys' choir began. The concerts developed into European tours. There is such a direction in Europe as a “military tattoo”, when military bands perform on the streets. We were invited to Canada on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Quebec. Groups from 12 countries of the world came there, including musicians from the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany. Well, our ensemble.

And there, it turns out, another format of performance was needed. On one of the days of the program, all the orchestras were walking along the main street of Quebec. Our orchestra is small and would not be able to perform this task alone. We decided to change the whole format of our performance. So we opened a completely new direction for ourselves - we can do something that we have never done before.

There was a lot of controversy: “How is this? The Alexandrov Ensemble usually performs on stage. And here is the street. And what about the ballet dancers? What will the choir do? As a result, they came up with the idea that in the course of the action the ballet dancers would make some dance “episodes”, the choir would sing, the orchestra would play. We all united and walked along the main street of Quebec. People shouted: “Bravo, Russia! Bravo, Russian army!

So in our performances we are constantly bringing new colors. Of course, we perform with other artists and youth groups. At Eurovision there was a piece in the guest program of the competition together with the Tatu group. This makes it possible to attract a different audience, to make the repertoire brighter. In each country, we must perform several pieces of music in the language of the state in which we perform.

Any innovation is nice to me. I treat them with due respect. The knowledge gained during the first education and the skills in directing sometimes allow me to help colleagues.

Are you a musician or a soldier?

My basic education is the Lviv Higher Military-Political School (Department of Cultural and Educational Work, specialty Directing). In general - the organizer of cultural events. AT youth danced and directed. To this day, directorial decisions often have to be made.

What is total strength ensemble?

Two hundred people, artists - 160.

Is it difficult to manage such a large team? How do you deal with discipline issues?

Very simple. Everything is human. If your motto is: “Think about the artist first, and then think about yourself,” everything falls into place. We do everything so that the artists have good scenes for performances, hotels, decent conditions. My credo: "Don't be kind, but be kind." If a person has violated something “in a serious way”, he receives a penalty. If you have shown yourself worthy, we will thank you. There can be no flirting here. Everything is fair. People understand that they should not make mistakes like going on stage in a stale shirt.

There is an unshakable rule: "Do not be late", especially when moving. On tour, everything is on schedule: in the morning - getting up at 6-7 in the morning, breakfast, boarding the bus, departure, transfer, stop at a new place, lunch, landing, arrival at the hotel, accommodation, rest, departure from the hotel for rehearsal, rehearsal, break, beginning of the concert, end of the concert, dinner, rest. The next day in the morning - departure, etc. If it is said: "Departure at 7.30 in the morning.", Then all three buses and a truck with props are at exactly 7.30. mornings are on their way. Late - get from one city to another on your own. But such cases are rare.

And we always start the concert exactly at the appointed time. So they taught the public, including in other countries: "Russians start on time." And then we say "thank you!". I have one argument: the majority of people who came to the hall at the appointed time are sitting and waiting. We cannot disrespect them. This disciplines the audience and the artists.

In the repertoire of the collective for half a year, 20 new works appeared. They want to listen to us, they call us on tour. We feel in demand. Even a video report on the success of the team, shown to the artists at the general meeting, disciplines. We still represent our country and its Armed Forces abroad.

Who determines where the band will perform?

It's not always the same. For example, they have not performed in military hospitals for a long time. They are in Ryazan, Tula, Tver and other places. So we are planning a trip there. A new direction of concert performances - educational establishments. We take a list of them. Administrators call up, write letters. Committees or cultural departments of different regions contact us themselves. Foreign performances are held thanks to the impresario. They calculate, plan our performances outside of Russia.

You should have seen what is happening abroad! Such pride in your country! People get goosebumps! Applause, standing ovation, raising the Russian and foreign flags. It happens like every time in a new way. Each concert is unique. All performances are brilliant. We say jokingly that we are “doomed to succeed”.

The answer is simple. First. The ensemble always performs live. Second. When the guys sing together for many months and years, their voices merge into a single whole. Falsehood is excluded. The same goes for instrumentalists. Third and most important. The Alexandrov Ensemble brings together professionals high class with a solid education. The best of the best have been selected. Of the soloists can be called folk artists Russia Vadim Ananiev, Valery Gavvu, Vasily Shtefutsu, as well as the young soloist Ivan Stolyar and others. But the basis of the ensemble, as bequeathed to us by A.V. and B.A. Alexandrov, - this is the choir.

There used to be Holy War. What piece is the Alexandrov Ensemble's brand today?

Why before? “Holy War” is still being performed today. The repertoire includes two thousand works. Each time the program consists of new songs, because you can't sing the same thing all the time. But the concert ends, and people shout from the hall “Holy War! Holy war!". So it was in Poland, Bulgaria, St. Petersburg. People stand up and listen to the song like an anthem. Is there any way to explain this?

I think it's a matter of execution. The music is talented. The song contains a strong energy power. "Kalinka", "Black Eyes", "Along the Piterskaya", "Katyusha", "Moscow Evenings", just like the works of Mozart, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and Glinka, do not go anywhere. Many come back from time to time. Probably everyone has a favorite song. You may be listening to it today, but tomorrow you don't want to listen to it. You will return to it in a week. She has something native...

In the repertoire of the Alexandrov Ensemble there are songs that people want to listen to only in our performance. We do not refuse them. But these are only five or six musical compositions. They sound about 10-12 minutes in time. And the concert lasts two or three hours. And our main task is the performance of new works.

Are there regular viewers?

There are music lovers who write to us. Several girls traveled all over Slovakia for us. Spectators from Germany came to the Czech Republic to our concert. Just in the Czech Republic, one of the girls after the concerts wrote that she wanted to meet. She liked our performance, but she did not know Russian at all. To understand what the songs are about, I started to learn our language. Now all her classmates at the university are learning Russian and dreaming of coming to Moscow to our concerts.

A few years ago, we performed at NATO Headquarters with great success. After the concert, one of the employees of the headquarters contacted our Russian representative office via Email: “Where in Europe will the Alexandrov Ensemble perform in the near future? I want to buy a plane ticket for my husband as a birthday present and ... for a concert of the band. It's interesting, right?

Do they write music today with the same powerful charge as in the old days?

They write. There is a song by the composer E. Khank to the words of the poet I. Reznik “Serve Russia”, songs by the composer K. Breitburg “One, two, left”, “Russian guy” to the words of S. Sashin and a number of other new compositions interesting in melody and content. Today, for example, a young poet came to me.

That is, there is also a poetry competition?

They send us both notes and words. Artistic Council members select works.

What does the director of the Alexandrov Ensemble, Colonel Leonid Malev, dream of?

For the Alexandrov Ensemble to be awarded the Nobel Prize.

In the field of music?

In the field of peace for the strengthening of friendship between peoples. Friendship of peoples keeps people healthy, cheers up, strengthens the economy, makes the world more beautiful. Ovations to the artists are applause for our country, our army, respect for our state. We clearly understand that through this applause comes the energy of goodness, peace and prosperity!

Interviewed by Alexandra RAKOVA