Died a performer of baritone Sergey Yakovenko. He was eighty-two years. People’s artist of Russia, doctor of arts, Professor, he was the first to perform vocal works of avant-garde composers Sofia Gubaidulina, Valentin Silvestrov, Edison Denisov. In addition, Yakovenko is the author of many books about his great contemporaries, composers and conductors, instrumentalists — Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Mstislav Rostropovich, Cyril Kondrashin, Yuri Aranovich, Irina Arkhipova.
— All these people have enriched me incredibly, has shaped the worldviews and artistic aesthetics, and hopefully my personal memories will be interested in everything for a deeper knowledge of the nature of talent, — said Sergey Yakovenko in an interview with “MK” on the eve of his eightieth birthday.
In 1962, Mr. Ivanov graduated from the Musical pedagogical Institute Gnesin, which then for many years he taught. For many years he was the head of the vocal part of the Children’s musical theatre of Natalia Sats. Their skills Yakovenko perfected at the legendary Opera singer Pavel Lisitsian.
— We together studied at the Gnesin music school, says “MK” the daughter of Pavel Lisitsian, a great performer Karina Lisitsian. — Is familiar with no less than fifty years. A wonderful teacher, a very good singer. He worked with my dad, helped him when he worked with students who learned from him how to interact with the band, and a lot of it took. He was incredibly multilateral man, knew the repertoire and Opera, and concert. He sang a lot with Svetlanov, with Christmas. It was always at the highest level. He selected the perfect repertoire for their students. For our family this is a huge loss. Up all night, thinking about Sergei. We traveled a lot together on tour even since 1960, with various composers — Feltsman, Kolmanovsky. We had such a close-knit team! Serezha was very witty and funny, telling jokes. He was our leader, always solid and knowledgeable.
About his meetings with Sergey Yakovenko recalls and artistic Director of “Helikon-Opera” Dmitry Bertman.
— Jakovenko was a man of unique and absolutely special. There are very independent figures in the culture, which were not theaters or some huge organization, but who were themselves very ambitious. Yakovenko was. Not only a singer with a magnificent voice, but also an educator, performing music by contemporary composers. He was the executor of works that were found, for example, recording of Gennady Rozhdestvensky Prokofiev’s Opera “Maddalena”. Is an Opera which was never performed, and Yakovenko was the first performer made a record with him. He’s in itspeech is a complex party. His concerts were in the nature of meateater, because everything he played was done about it. I met him when I was preparing the jubilee Zara Dolukhanova in the Great hall of the Conservatory. I was the Director, and he actively participated in literary pieces. Yakovenko giant of Russian culture, a man who served music. He was the author of many books, including the anthology the lives of people’s artist of the USSR Zara Dolukhanova, a teacher, a man who attended all the premieres of the Moscow theaters. He was friends with all the artists of his generation and the youth, which really helped. Yakovenko man of encyclopedic knowledge and incredibly friendly. Of course, this is a huge loss, we are very saddened and will always remember meeting him.
