Lev Leshchenko years. The grave sin of the lion leshchenko. Solemn ceremony of presenting the Russian national music award
A taut figure, a military bearing, soft features, a kind smile - this is Lev Valeryanovich. If you don’t know for sure, then it’s impossible to guess how old Leshchenko Lev is. But the singer is so famous that almost everyone knows his age.
Year of birth of Lev Leshchenko - 1942, the height of the Great Patriotic War. Childhood fell on the hungry post-war period, but the singer remembers him only with warmth. Today, like half a century ago, Lev Leshchenko is still famous. The biography, personal life of this talented person deserve attention and, of course, are of interest to admirers of his work.
Family and childhood
The year of birth of Lev Leshchenko, as mentioned earlier, is 1942. His parents were happy when on February 1 they had a boy. Father was especially happy. Being already a regular military man, he was looking forward to his son. This event happened in Moscow, so the singer is a native Muscovite, and all his childhood was spent in Sokolniki.
The Leshchenko family is rooted in the village of Nizy, Sumy district, Kharkov province. From there, the singer's grandfather, Andrei Vasilievich Leshchenko, came from, who in 1900 moved to the Kursk province (the village of Lyubimovka). There he worked at a sugar factory as an accountant. It was from him that Leo inherited absolute pitch and a unique voice. Andrei Vasilyevich played the violin in the factory quartet, and in addition, he sang in the church choir. The grandson often visited his grandfather and received his first lessons in music and vocals from him.
The singer's father, Leshchenko Valeryan Andreevich, was born in 1904 and lived a long life, making an excellent military career. After graduating from a gymnasium in Kursk, he got a job at a neighboring state farm, then, in the direction received in 1931, he moved to Moscow. He worked as an accountant, like his father. After being drafted into the Red Army, military labor no longer left. At first he participated in the Finnish campaign of 1939-40, then the Great Patriotic War broke out. He went from soldier to officer, retired with the rank of colonel. He was awarded many medals and orders. Despite the trials that fell to his lot, he turned out to be a long-liver, Valeryan Andreevich died at the age of 99. As a child, Leva spent a lot of time with his father, went to the shooting ranges, ate in the soldiers' canteen, he was, as everyone called him, "the son of the regiment." The father could not keep track of the nimble child, so foreman Andrey Fisenko was assigned to him. How old was Leshchenko Lev when he first put on a military uniform? This is a very interesting fact: at the age of only 4 years old, he decided to try on a uniform, in addition, he stood on soldier's skis, which were three times longer than himself!
The singer's mother, Klavdia Petrovna Leshchenko, was born in 1915, but did not live long. In 1943, a year after the birth of her son, she died. She was only 28 years old. The house of Lev Leshchenko was left without female warmth for five whole years. In 1948, his father married Marina Mikhailovna, who gave birth to Leo's sister, Valentina Valerianovna. The relationship between the boy and his stepmother was excellent, until now the artist remembers her with love. The foster mother raised her stepson as her own, without depriving her of attention and affection.
school time
From childhood, Leva dreamed of a career as an artist, listening to Utyosov's songs. The beginning of a creative career was laid in the Palace of Pioneers. Having not yet decided what he likes best, the boy attended two circles: choral and drama. In the first he sang, and in the second he recited poetry with rapture. After some time, not a single district or city amateur performance review could do without a vociferous Leo. Soon the boy gave preference to vocals, the teachers completely agreed with his choice. The voice was wonderful, but the classes in the drama club were not in vain: Leo was not lacking in artistry.
Young Lev Leshchenko
The biography of this period covers the formation of the personality of the artist and the mastery of the profession. School years flew by, and the young Leo went to enter the theater institute. The first attempt was unsuccessful. The young man decided not to move away from the stage and got a job as a simple worker at the Bolshoi Theater. Then he still had to leave there and work for some time as a fitter at the factory.
Having received a summons to the army, Leshchenko sought to get into a sailor, but his father "tried", and his son instead of a ship ended up in a tank. Lev was sent to serve in a group of Soviet troops in Germany. There, the young soldier was noticed thanks to his voice and remained the soloist of the song and dance ensemble, until the end of his service life.
In the army, Leshchenko did not forget about his intention to study at the theater. Returning to the "citizen", the persistent guy for the fourth time appeared before the introductory commission, which was more supportive and accepted him to the department of musical comedy. So Leshchenko became a student of GITIS. In his second year, he played the role of the Sinner in the production of Orpheus in Hell at the Operetta Theater. And it was the first step to worldwide fame.
Pop singer Lev Leshchenko
The biography of this time of the artist's life is gaining fame, combined with incredible diligence. After a successful debut in 1966, the singer became a full member of the Moscow Operetta Theater. But the young artist did not want such fame: he dreamed of a tour, an enthusiastic audience, he was drawn to a big stage. Four years later, in 1970, he was received by the USSR State Radio and Television. Many veteran singers could only dream of such an invitation. From that moment, a pop career began: recording songs, live broadcasts on the radio ... His talent was recognized by the team of the Big Symphony Orchestra, with which the singer performed.
The popularity grew steadily, Leshchenko became the first number on the Soviet stage. The song "For that guy" was the first sign. And the artist truly became famous by performing the immortal song "Victory Day" by David Tukhmanov. It was first performed in 1975 and became the calling card of Lev Leshchenko.
Awards and titles
The work of such a talented singer as Lev Leshchenko has been repeatedly noted by the state. The biography of this artist is worthy of study! The performer has earned a large number of titles and awards, some of which I would like to mention here:
1. Honored Artist of the RSFSR - 1977.
2. People's Artist of the RSFSR - 1983.
3. Order of the Badge of Honor - 1989.
4. Order of Friendship of Peoples - 1980.
5. Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" II, III and IV degrees;
6. "Golden Gramophone" - 2009.
When the USSR ceased to exist, the singer did not sit without work for a minute. In 1990, he created the "Music Agency" and began organizing tours, presentations, concerts...
The artist continues to give concerts and go on tour. Lev Leshchenko discovered the talent of a teacher: among his students there are such celebrities as Marina Khlebnikova, Katya Lel, Varvara ... His wonderful duet with his best friend Vladimir Vinokur is known to everyone and is a success both in our country and abroad. Lev Valeryanovich wrote the book "Apology of Memory", in which he told about his life.
Lev Leshchenko: biography, personal life
In his personal life, the singer is happy, he was married twice. The first wife of Lev Leshchenko, Alla Alexandrovna Abdalova, was an actress and singer, he lived with her for 10 years, from 1966 to 1976.
With his second wife, Irina Pavlovna Bagudina, the singer started a family in 1978 and found real family happiness. They have no children, which Lev Valeryanovich regrets.
Interesting facts from the life of the famous singer
Lev Leshchenko has a very eventful life, there have been many different cases over the long years of his creative activity.
Interesting Facts:
1. In 1980, at the closing of the Olympics, Lev Leshchenko and Tatyana Antsiferova sang a song that brought all listeners to tears - "Goodbye, Moscow." Under this song, the Olympic Bear flew into the sky.
2. Leonid Brezhnev was very fond of songs performed by Leshchenko, no one dared turn off the TV during the singer's performance.
3. In 1970, Leshchenko miraculously survived. He was to tour south with his musicians and parodist V. Chistyakov. But he was not released from Moscow, as an important performance in the capital was coming. The plane took off without him, there was a plane crash, people died. Such vicissitudes of fate.
4. In the 80s, the singer gave concerts in Afghanistan. On the way to Jalalabad, the escort fell behind and the car stalled. At this time they were attacked by dushmans. Only the engine that started up again saved the passengers of the Gazik, including Lev Leshchenko, from certain death: the attackers did not have time to reach the frightened travelers.
She did not give birth to children, having abortions, because he did not want them to appear. Now Leshchenko is rich and famous. Abdalova, alas, becomes an inveterate drunkard. And six months ago, she completely stopped answering phone calls.
On June 19, Alla Abdalova turned 69 years old. In the months leading up to that date, I had called her on the phone. But she didn't pick up the phone. On my birthday with a bouquet of field daisies, I stood at her apartment. I pressed the call button for a long time. Nobody came to the door.
I bought chamomile not by chance. These are her favorite flowers. It was them that were given to her by a man whom she still cannot forget, although more than 30 years have passed since the day they parted. She told me about this two years ago, during our last meeting.
Alla studied at GITIS at the operetta department. She had a voice of rare beauty. Leonid Utyosov, a leading figure in the Soviet stage, drew attention to a beautiful talented student. He invited Abdalova to his famous ensemble "Merry Fellows". On the course, Allochka was considered a star.
- I'm in my third year. At the beginning of the school year, my friends told me the news: an interesting guy appeared among the first-year students, ”said Abdalova. - Tall, curly. The girls were delighted with him.
Leva immediately noticed Alla. At first, he came to the dance class, where the senior students were engaged, and watched her from afar. Somehow the girl could not stand it and asked: “Why are you looking at me like that?” “You are an exact copy of my niece,” Leva found.
Once he met her at the door of the auditorium with a bouquet of daisies. She had a birthday.
“Of course, he struck me with this act,” Alla Alexandrovna said.
Best of the day
They, holding hands, went to the front garden of GITIS. They had a student-style feast: they uncorked a bottle of semi-sweet wine and drank without snacks. Since then, every day he accompanied her to the house.
- Although Lyova studied two years younger, I am only a year older than him. He entered GITIS after the army. He was even a little shy. For some reason he was shy of his curls. I wet my hair all the time, trying to straighten it. But he was never embarrassed by his lisp. The teachers told him that he needed to study with a speech therapist. But he is in no way. He joked: “And so good!”
In the evenings they wandered the streets until late. First - to her house, then - to his. One day he brought her to the apartment where he lived with his father, stepmother and sister. Everyone was asleep.
- Before Leva, I had men, and he didn’t get me a virgin. But never - neither before him nor after - did I lose my head like that, - Abdalova recalled.
They dated for seven years before they decided to get married.
- Walked for two days. 40 people were invited to the wedding, ”Lev Leshchenko said in an interview. - From the room where my father and my foster mother lived, they took out all the things and set the tables there. I had a suit, the bride had a dress. Her sister lived abroad and sent white for the occasion, but not the wedding one.
While studying at GITIS, Alla showed great promise. It was for her, and not for Leo, that experts predicted a great future.
- Leo was even offended by this. I felt sorry for him, and I tried in every possible way to support and promote him, - said Abdalova.
Sociable and talented Alla became friends with the composer Mark Fradkin and his wife. She asked Fradkin to help Lyova get on stage.
But even the victories at the prestigious festivals in Sopot in the Soviet years and at the Golden Orpheus did not make it truly popular. Leshchenko was not invited to the radio, was not included in the concert program.
His fate changed radically thanks to the same Fradkin.
- I asked Mark Grigorievich to recommend Lev to the wonderful author of many hits - David Tukhmanov, - Alla Alexandrovna recalled. - And then one day Fradkin calls: "Bring Lyova to me." Tukhmanov composed the song "Victory Day" and was looking for a good singer for her. Of course we were delighted. But for some reason, Lyova did not like the song at first. He even wanted to give it up. I tried my best to convince him. Later he thanked me that I insisted on my own and he still sang. After the "Victory Day" his career rapidly went up.
Once Lev Valerianovich, talking about his first marriage, said that he always wanted to have children, but Alla was in no hurry to give birth.
– I read this interview. Lyovushka is disingenuous, - denied the singer Abdalova. - Yes, from time to time we said that it would be time to have children already. But when the question was concrete - to give birth or not to give birth, he evaded a direct answer.
According to Abdalova, with the growth of her husband's popularity, she was confident that they would stay together forever. Leo increasingly went on tour alone and moved away from her.
Once, having become pregnant, she wanted to give birth to a baby. Alla asked her husband: “Do you love me? If yes, then I will give birth. But Leo remained silent and quickly turned the conversation to another topic.
For Alla, this was a collapse. She is no longer loved, and why then give birth to children from him! Wiping her tears, she went to the midwife.
They continued to live. Sometimes it seemed to her that everything was fine and she was still loved.
– I remember he flew in from Japan on tour. Impressions - a lot, he can not wait to tell everything, - recalled Alla Alexandrovna.
- And I have only one thing spinning in my head: I'm pregnant again. How to be this time? Cautiously started talking. I ask: "Lyovushka, what to do?" And he waved it off, muttered, they say, do as you like ... Since then, I have not asked him. Of course, he was always selfish, he felt like a spoiled child. Now I understand: I didn’t have to ask him, I just had to give birth. He has a soft, pliable character. He would make a good father. But then, unfortunately, I did not understand all this. Well, let her stay with the child. It's better than being alone.
Once the doctor told me after the operation that I could have two twin boys. I experienced shock. I don't remember how I got home. I went into the apartment, and there Leva collapsed in an armchair and arranged by phone with Slava Dobrynin to take a walk through the haunts. He did not even look at me, did not notice or did not want to notice that I felt bad. Packed up and left as if nothing had happened. I realized that I live with a callous, indifferent and narcissistic person. But she still continued to love him.
Although Alla doubted her husband's love, she did not want to divorce him. Moreover, he did not give a reason: he did not go to the side, he preferred to spend time with his family. The trouble came from where Abdalova did not expect.
A friend of Leshchenko, Fima Zuperman, often visited them. In the 70s he was known as a card sharper. Zuperman shamelessly dropped in to visit. It was impossible to get him out. He stayed for several days, treating the hosts with wine.
For Leo, this was a real disaster. The next morning he should go to record on the radio, but he can't move his tongue. After drinking, his already incorrect diction suffered greatly and only one hiss escaped from him.
Of course, I drove Fima. He got angry with me and said: "Since you do not want to communicate with me, then I will make Lyova leave you." I ignored his threats. But in vain. He turned out to be vindictive.
On one of his trips to the south, Zuperman arranged for Loewe to meet a young lady named Irina. There they had a light holiday romance.
- Returning from the south, Lyova began to disappear somewhere often. I felt: he had a woman. But at the same time, he did not try to leave, and we continued to live as if nothing had happened. Everything could be done. Gradually, the romance would fade away. But I, fools, could not stand the nerves, - Abdalova repents. - It was pounding in my brain: I trusted him, but he deceived me. Well, she could not stand it, pointing to the door. She also filed for divorce. Now I really reproach myself for this. After all, Lyova is cowardly, indecisive, he himself would never have dared to take a suitcase and leave. And I, it turns out, helped a rival.
At these words, Alla Alexandrovna began to cry. We were sitting on a bench near the entrance. She held her photograph in her hands. A blooming, beautiful, well-groomed woman looked from her. Next to me was an emaciated, toothless old woman. However, the language did not turn to call her absolutely downcast. Rather, she looked very unhappy and forgotten by everyone. She was wearing worn, but clean and carefully pressed clothes. As she talked, she was doused with fumes. Alla Alexandrovna began frantically looking for a cigarette. Not finding it, she habitually went to shoot. She returned, staggering unsteadily. Feel sorry for this unfortunate woman. Sitting down, she sang softly.
According to her, after the divorce, she never remarried. At first, fans were spinning around, but over the years they disappeared. Shortly before our meeting, TV men managed to raid her apartment. She did not talk to them, but they managed to rent her miserable dwelling.
“I have a terrible mess in my apartment,” Abdalova admitted. - A lot of things have accumulated that it’s a pity to throw it away, but there’s simply no strength to sort out what is needed and what is not.
Alla Alexandrovna said that she had relatives - a sister, a niece, but they had their own worries. And she was tired of being alone. Hoping to be saved from mental suffering, she once went into the church and sang along with the singers. Since then, she began to travel with the choir to the churches of the Moscow region and sing on church holidays. And not only because she was paid for singing. The singers became her only truly close people.
I was about to leave, but Alla Aleksandrovna did not let go, continuing to talk about her Lev.
“I believe that he will come to me no matter what,” she said, and a tear rolled down her cheek. I haven't seen him on TV for 30 years. Not specifically included. He remains young and beautiful for me. I still love him, I wish him only happiness and wait ...
On my birthday, I decided to congratulate the poor woman to dispel her loneliness. Without finding her at home, she continued to call every day. She was worried that something had happened to her. And now, a month later, I managed to get through to her neighbor. It turns out that after the New Year, a fire almost broke out in Alla Alexandrovna's apartment. The smell of smoke was smelled by the residents of the entrance in time. Whether she accidentally put out the cigarette or deliberately set the fire, no one knows for sure.
“This was the second case of fire in a short time,” the neighbor says. - Alla would definitely have burned down the apartment if her relatives had not shown up. They threw the rubbish out of the rooms, washed everything, and Alla was taken to the village, where they have a house. They say she was coded for drunkenness. Thank God, otherwise it's a pity for her. She's still quite a strong woman, despite the booze, and educated. And when sober, it is even interesting to talk to her. But he doesn’t want to understand one thing, that you can’t rewrite life anew and Lyova will never return to it.
After this conversation, I found on the Internet a miraculously preserved recording of one of Abdalova's concerts with Leshchenko. Young and beautiful, they sing "Old Maple" in a duet. This tape preserved not only a recording of a wonderful performance of the song. She is a testament to their mutual love. How much devotion is in Alla's eyes when she looks at her husband! Yes, and he looks at her with tenderness and adoration. And I can’t even believe that in the same 1976, when the concert was recorded, they broke up. It was then that during a tour in Sochi, Leshchenko met Irina, the daughter of a diplomat. And two years later they got married. Only now, the new wife of Lev Valerianovich, unfortunately, did not give birth to children.
leshchenko is not a hero
simpleton 27.02.2017 12:33:46
Leshchenko is not a hero in this story. And not even a very man.
But no one is forcing anyone to sleep. I might as well not drink.
Childhood and family
Lev Valeryanovich Leshchenko was born in Moscow, in the Sokolniki district, in wartime - February 1, 1942. His father, Valeryan Andreevich, worked as an accountant before the war, and after the Victory he was awarded orders and medals for participating in the Great Patriotic War, and after the war he served in the KGB border troops. He died at a ripe old age, just a year short of his centenary. 
Lev's mother, Klavdia Petrovna, an economist, died at the age of 28, a year and eight months after the birth of her son. Of course, Leo does not remember much about her, but according to relatives, he knows that he inherited his impulsive temperament from his mother, because his father was an extremely calm person.
From 1947 to 1948, Leo lived in the Ukrainian village of Nizy with relatives on his father's side, but when it was time to go to first grade, his father took him to Moscow. At this time, the boy had a stepmother, Marina Leshchenko, whom the artist later always remembered with warmth and gratitude. In 1949, she gave birth to her husband's daughter Valentina.
The family lived from hand to mouth, huddled in a 16-meter-room, although Leo's father had already risen to the rank of major by that time. Hot water and a bathroom appeared in the Leshchenko family only when Valeryan Andreevich received the rank of lieutenant colonel and with him an apartment near the Voykovskaya metro station.
Leva often went to the military unit where his father served, which is why he was called the son of the regiment there. He dined only in the soldiers' canteen, went to the cinema in formation and worked at the shooting range. From the age of four, Lev wore a military uniform, rode soldier's skis in winter, which were three times longer than the boy himself.
Little Leo often visited his grandfather Andrei Leshchenko, who was very fond of music and often played his grandson on an old violin, taught Leo to sing. Since childhood, the boy was fond of the songs of Leonid Utesov, therefore, when the opportunity arose, he enrolled in the choir at the House of Pioneers, and at school he began to perform compositions by his favorite artist.
After school, Leshchenko tried to enter the theater GITIS, but he did not succeed. Therefore, until 1960, he worked as a simple stage worker at the Bolshoi Theater. Moreover, in the theater everyone was aware of the young man's aspirations and had nothing against it when he sat in the back rows and watched the rehearsals. Then Leo, obeying his father, who wondered why such a smart boy was carrying scenery, worked at the plant of precision measuring instruments as a fitter, received the fourth category. 
In 1961, the future artist was drafted into the army. Lev Valeryanovich wanted to be a sailor, but his father sent him to serve in tank troops in the GDR. That's where his locksmith skills and vocal abilities came in handy. In 1962, the command of the unit sent the singer to the military song and dance ensemble, where Leshchenko soon became a soloist. He was entrusted with singing in a quartet, conducting concerts, as well as reciting poetry and singing solo. In the army, Lev Leshchenko continued his preparation for admission to a theater university.
Carier start
After the service, yesterday's soldier again came to GITIS. By that time, the entrance exams had already ended, but Leo was given a chance, since his bright talent was remembered. Over the years of military service, the guy forgot about constraint, became more relaxed, so he passed the test. Despite the fact that the members of the admissions committee did not appreciate the material they chose to listen to, Leshchenko was enrolled in the course of Pyotr Selivanov. 
Studying at GITIS transformed Leo. A year later, no one doubted that a real artist was studying on the course. As a sophomore, Leshchenko got a job at the Operetta Theater, although the operetta genre itself did not appeal to him. His first role was as a sinner in the production of Orpheus in Hell with only one line: "Let me warm up." But that was only the beginning. As Lev Valeryanovich himself said, he studied with Pokrovsky, Efros and Zavadsky.
The larger role was Vittorio from the production of "The Circus Lights the Lights", but, as Lev lamented, she was completely unsinging. Leshchenko's character was already elderly, and they made him up very badly. And then the artist realized that with such a bass-baritone in an operetta, he could only shine with the roles of the fathers of the main characters and villains, and left the theater.
At the same time, work began at the Mosconcert. Lev Leshchenko was in a trainee group, and during the summer holidays the young artist went on tour around the USSR with concert teams.
creative flourishing
In 1966, Lev Leshchenko became an artist of the Moscow Operetta Theater, and five years later he was already a soloist-vocalist of the USSR State Radio and Television. It was Iosif Kobzon who advised him to go there. They participated in a joint concert, and Leshchenko sang the part of the old gypsy from the opera Aleko. Kobzon advised his colleague to try his luck on the radio, and, as it turned out, Lev Valeryanovich, despite the academic vocals, was simply created for pop work. He could sing anything. 
In the spring of 1970, the artist won the fourth All-Union competition of variety artists. Two years later, Lev Valeryanovich became a laureate of the international competition "Golden Orpheus" (Bulgaria) and won in Sopot (Poland) with Mark Fradkin's song to the verses of Robert Rozhdestvensky "For that guy".
Lev Leshchenko - "For that guy"
Significant for his musical career and his achievement, the singer has always considered David Tukhmanov’s song “Victory Day”, beloved by the entire Union, which Leshchenko first performed on May 9, 1975. It was in his performance that this song found its sound and found a response in the hearts of the listeners.
In parallel with Leshchenko, the song was entrusted to be performed by Leonid Smetannikov. But his performance did not "hook" the front-line soldiers. “Some kind of foxtrot,” the veterans were indignant, “but a ember, what an ember, the flame was burning there! ..”. Fearing a scandal, the song was sent to the shelf. But Leshchenko ventured to perform it at a concert on the occasion of Police Day (“Victory Day” closed the program) and the next day received a huge number of letters.
During these years, Lev Valeryanovich continued to record songs that became hits, which included "Thank you for the silence", "Don't cry, girl."
Lev Leshchenko - Victory Day. 1975
The artist's collaboration with Alexandra Pakhmutova and Nikolai Dobronravov turned out to be very fruitful. Leshchenko performed songs authored by the famous duet "We Can't Live Without Each Other", "Love, Komsomol and Spring". Songs based on poems by Larisa Rubalskaya, Leonid Derbenev, Yuri Vizbor were also popular.
In 1977, the singer was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR, and a year later he was awarded the Lenin Komsomol Honorary Prize. In 1980, Lev Leshchenko became the owner of the Order of Friendship of Peoples, and three years later, for outstanding services, he became the People's Artist of the RSFSR. In 1985, the Order of the Badge of Honor appeared in the artist's piggy bank.
Lev Leshchenko and Tatyana Antsiferova - "Goodbye, Moscow" (1980)
In 1990, Lev Leshchenko became the head of the theater of variety performances "Music Agency". Two years later, the institution was given the status of a state institution. "Musical Agency" today has united several groups and organized cooperation with most pop stars in Russia and neighboring countries. The theater's most successful project was the musical film "Military Field Romance" (1998), in which Lev Leshchenko, Vladimir Vinokur and Larisa Dolina performed military-patriotic songs.
For more than ten years, Lev Leshchenko has been working as a teacher at the Gnessin Musical and Pedagogical Institute. His students became quite famous on the stage: Marina Khlebnikova, Olga Arefieva, Katya Lel, Varvara.
During his creative life, Lev Leshchenko has released more than 10 records, magnetic albums and CDs. During his creative career, Leshchenko performed and recorded joint songs with Valentina Tolkunova and Sofia Rotaru, Anna German and Tamara Gverdtsiteli.
Lev Leshchenko and Anna German - "Echo of Love" (1977)
In 2001, a book by Lev Leshchenko entitled "Apology of Memory" was published. In it, the artist spoke about his contemporaries and about his life. In the winter of 2002, Lev Leshchenko received the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, fourth degree.
Lev Leshchenko has a voluminous, soft, low baritone and at the same time a courageous and velvety timbre. Due to such a voice and thanks to his good looks and charm in his youth and middle age, the artist was very popular. His image contrasts with the assertive and blunt stage demeanor of Vladimir Vinokur, with whom the singer has often performed in tandem since the 1990s. Moreover, Leo and Vladimir are very friendly, the singer even jokingly says that they have one mother for two.
In 2011, the artist participated in the TV project "The Phantom of the Opera" on Channel One, where the singer performed romances and arias from classical works at a professional level. In February 2017, Leshchenko gave a concert in the Kremlin Palace in honor of his 75th birthday. His main hits, along with the hero of the day, were performed by Philip Kirkorov, Stas Mikhailov, Lolita and other Russian pop stars.
In October 2017, the famous singer was awarded "For Services to the Fatherland" I degree. In the same year, the artist released a new disc, "I was waiting for a meeting." Although the artist's repertoire includes hundreds of compositions that can make up a huge number of full-fledged concert programs, Lev Valeryanovich continues to work on new material. So, in 2018, Leshchenko released two new albums: “My Last Love” and “Created for You”, which included both proven hits and unreleased compositions.
Personal life of Lev Leshchenko
The first wife of the people's artist was the singer Alla Abdalova. They met at GITIS (Leo was 2 years younger), and when Alla was finishing her fifth year, they got married. Together they sang the famous duet "Old Maple".Lev Leshchenko and Alla Abdalova - "Old Maple"
In 1974, a crisis came in their relationship, and the couple decided to live separately. A year later, Leo and Alla gave their marriage a second chance.
But in 1977, on tour in Sochi, Lev Valeryanovich met, as he later noted more than once in interviews, the love of his life. The student of the Budapest University Irina Bagudina (born in 1954) became the lucky one. She studied economics through exchange in Hungary, and came to Sochi for the holidays. The girl did not recognize the celebrity in the artist, since she left for Budapest in 1971, when Leshchenko was just starting the path to fame, and even mistook him for a mafia, while Leo fell in love at first sight. She was 22, he was 34, but the age difference did not prevent the feelings that overwhelmed them.
The student had a vacation, and Leo did not show up at home for three days, and when Irina flew back to Budapest, he returned to the apartment, where he found his packed suitcases - his wife guessed that he had an affair on the side. Leo thanked her for not making a scandal, and left her life. They failed to maintain friendly relations. Six months after the breakup, according to Lev Valeryanovich, Alla begged him to return, referring to the loneliness and hardships of life. And he, leaving the apartment to his wife, moved out to his parents, called Budapest in the evenings and even learned a few phrases in Hungarian to ask Irina, who lived in a hostel, to the phone. For a month of such calls, he uttered 13 thousand rubles, the amount was fabulous at that time - the new Volga was cheaper.
In 1978, Lev Leshchenko and Irina got married. For the sake of her husband, Irina left her career and became an assistant director at the Leshchenko Theater. Subsequently, Leo and Irina were unable to have children for health reasons, but this did not affect the strength of their marriage. In an interview, Irina admitted that this fact had hurt Lev Valeryanovich for many years, but now everything is in the past.
Despite his age, the artist continues to actively engage in sports, enjoys basketball, tennis, and swimming. He is the honorary president of the basketball club in the city of Lyubertsy "Triumph". Lev Valeryanovich still surprises his wife. For example, when they were in Sochi, he invited his wife to take a walk along the pier. A moored boat caught her eye, and on board she flaunted the word "Irchi" - that's how Irina was called in Hungarian as a student. It turned out that the boat belonged to Lev Valeryanovich.
Lev Leshchenko now
Despite his age, Lev Leshchenko's voice does not seem to notice the past years. The singer follows him more seriously than his appearance. The main three rules of the artist: do not eat ice cream, do not drink vodka and do not spend sleepless nights. Leshchenko despises the phonogram: “the music was different, and even current generations are looking for these records on the Internet in order to somehow touch it.”
In October 2019, Lev Leshchenko performed at the White Cane charity concert, in which visually impaired children sang along with folk artists.
In 2019, Lev Leshchenko became the president and artistic director of the Russian Bass music festival.
by Notes of the Wild MistressLev LESCHENKO is rightly considered the most faithful husband of the national stage. For 30 years he has been married to his wife Irina. Few people know that his first wife was the singer Albina ABDALOVA. Fortune did not smile at the talented performer of romances. She is single and lives on a meager pension. The correspondent of "Express newspaper" found her. Albina Alexandrovna told what prevented the outstanding singer from becoming truly happy.
Maria SVETLOV:
I tried to arrange a meeting with Albina Abdalova for three years. In an iron voice, she politely refused. But this time, something broke in her. She willingly supported the telephone conversation and unexpectedly agreed to meet.
... Trying to walk smoothly, she left the entrance. She held a photograph in her hands. “This is me when I was young. She was like that when we broke up with Leva, ”she handed me a picture, as if justifying herself for her current unpresentable appearance. On June 19, she turned 67 years old. Smiling guiltily, she doused me with a slight fumes.
I'm sorry, I drank a little, - she apologized, bashfully covering her mouth with her hand. - I have almost no teeth now.
Calling on the phone, I asked for a visit, but Albina Aleksandrovna did not succumb to any persuasion.
My house is a mess,” she admitted. Therefore, we had to talk in the yard, on a bench.
Leva and I lived in the next entrance, in a three-room apartment. Our first apartment is a kopeck piece in Chertanovo. From the radio committee, where Leva worked, they built a cooperative. Of course, we didn’t have our own money - my sister helped. Later we moved here, to Sokolniki, our friend contributed. In addition, Leva was already a laureate of the Golden Orpheus. He left me, as befits a real man - with one suitcase. And why do I need one three rooms? I exchanged for a two-room apartment. I wanted to show you photos where we are together - young, beautiful. But they got stuck somewhere, I can't find them. I removed them away so as not to poison the soul.
Her eyes reddened, she took off her glasses and sobbed like an offended child.
When Leva left, I thought he would take our pictures as a keepsake. But no, I didn't take a single photo.
I had to shoot a cigarette for the interlocutor. As she lit a cigarette, she calmed down a bit and started reminiscing.
Love to Heaven
We studied together at GITIS at the operetta department. He is two courses younger, although I am a year older than Lyova, he just entered after the army. The girls were delighted: what a handsome man appeared! He also had curls. For some reason, he was embarrassed and straightened them. But what he lisped - he did not complex and did not work with speech therapists. Thought he was good enough.
Once Leva looked into the dance class. I look - he looks at me point-blank. I'm not timid. After class, she came up and asked: “What’s the matter?” He replied that I was very similar to his niece. I was not taken aback: "Let's take her to her and show her, I'll see if you're lying." We arrived in Khimki, to his home. And for sure: I’m the spitting image of my niece!
Levin's stepmother took our visit very seriously, she decided that since Lyova had brought home a girl, it meant a bride.
Once I come to class, and he is standing in front of the audience with a bouquet of daisies, - continues Abdalova. - It's my birthday. Of all the flowers, I love daisies. He took my arm and led me to the front garden near GITIS. He sat down on a bench and took out a bottle of wine. Then the guys still ran to the store ... I still can’t stand sweet wine. By the way, at a party I always had to drink for two. Leva sips a little, and he has such diction that he can’t make out anything, one hiss.
Since then, Leva and Alla have been walking each other home after class. First, he took her to Karbyshev Boulevard, then she took him to the Voykovskaya metro station. Then again he is hers.
Somehow they were so escorted that it was too late for Alla to return. He invited the girl to spend the night with him.
He said: "Don't think anything bad: I have a father, mother and sister at home." The family, of course, were in a deep sleep. Then he asked me: “Al, is it true, we are then for the first time?” And I was fooling around, no, I don’t remember something.
Was it your first adult love?
No, before Leva I had men, and Leva had women. We lived with him for seven years before registration. We met secretly - sometimes with my sister, then with his parents. Lyova once told me: “We didn’t sleep with you, except in heaven!” That is, everywhere!
It's really a miracle if you are a man at any moment... even the wrong one! There are people around, but I feel: he wants. And he should get it. And I want it too. That is, we are tuned to the same wave ... - Albina Aleksandrovna took a deep puff on her cigarette, sighed: - After Leva, I didn’t allow myself anything like that. After all, you can lose your head only with your beloved man.
Failed father
Once Lev Valerianovich complained that he did not have a chance to raise children. You have not given birth. The second time he married a woman younger than himself. And this marriage is also fruitless ...
If you are hinting that something is wrong with Lev Valerianovich, then you are mistaken! He is fine with this. And I was not barren, I had to have several abortions from him.
Yes, he sometimes said that it would be necessary to give birth to children. But in reality, everything turned out differently. Having become pregnant, I thought for a long time what to do. I was haunted by doubts whether we would be together in the future. I asked him: “Do you love me? If yes, then I will give birth. He didn't answer me. So I went to the midwife. Another time, she flew in again, again I ask him what to do. And he is not up to it. He came from Japan, he has impressions ... He muttered something, like, do as you like. Foolishly, perhaps, I asked the doctor which one of me had been scraped out. She says, "Boy." I didn’t tell my husband that we would have had a son. Then she already went for abortions, without consulting. Once the doctor told me after the operation: “Alla, you could have two great boys. Twins". Like I was scalded. I barely made it home. I come and see: Leva collapsed in an armchair, chattering on the phone with Slava Dobrynin. And Slava, I'll tell you, is still that woman walker. I hear they agree to hang out with the girls. And Leva at the same time smiles as if nothing had happened, and also asks me: “What are you, old woman?” I answered him: "Do what you want." But in general, Leva was not a goon, I never found him with anyone. Before Irina, his current wife, he never cheated on me with anyone. He is a decent person.
Attractive man
Many women liked Leva, but not only women, - Abdalova laughed good-naturedly, remembering a funny story.
1972 was a real breakthrough for Lev Leshchenko. He won the Golden Orpheus in Bulgaria, then received an invitation to participate in a competition in Sopot, Poland.
Alla and Leva lived in poverty. Lev Valerianovich did not have suitable clothes. Someone advised to turn to fashion designer Vyacheslav Zaitsev. The couturier invited the singer to come to the atelier for a fitting.
Have you noticed that Lev Valerianovich's butt is so ... well, not quite, as it should be for a peasant. In general, the dream of pederasts, - Abdalova giggles mildly. - The first time he was caught by homosexuals in the toilet at the operetta theater. I look, my man flies out of the latrine all white: “I almost killed just now!” I ask: "Faggot, or what?" And I joke: “Nothing surprising, you have a butt oh-oh-oh, I don’t have one.” So the fashion designer also appreciated it. Lyova persuaded me to go along, he always insisted that I be present at his business conversations, because he is shy. But at that time I did not agree. And then I look: the husband jumps out from Zaitsev, trembling already with indignation. Immediately he declares to me: “I will not go to him again!”
Leshchenko had to go to Sopot in his wife's trouser ensemble. Red wool double-breasted suit with elasticated pants. According to Abdalova, he still hangs in her closet like a memory.
Edita Piekha could not resist and quipped, what was Levochka doing? And I answered: “In your negligee, Edita Stanislavovna!” Abdalova laughs.
Even after two victories at prestigious festivals in the Soviet years, Leshchenko was not at all torn apart by the concert organizers. Abdalova, according to her, tried to help her husband, using her connections. And even the crown song "Victory Day", he, as Abdalova says, sang with her help.
Mark Fradkin and his wife treated me very sincerely. I often visited them at home, and tried to take Lyova with me. Once Mark called David Tukhmanov and recommended Lev to him as a performer. David brought "Victory Day". Leva did not like the song at first. I felt that this is what I need. He winced, but I managed to convince him.
Gave it up without a fight
Albina Alexandrovna fell silent and picked up a bouquet of flowers that I gave her.
These are the ones Leva gave me. I have always believed him. And he deceived me. I immediately felt that he had a woman on the side and said: “I need you all. Once you have another - go away. And then she filed for divorce. He himself would never have decided to break up. That was stupid!
He said that a friend was going to introduce him to Irina, his current wife, but fate got ahead of him: they accidentally ran into each other in the elevator. I know this friend. This is Fima Zuperman. In those years, he was a famous card sharper. Fima led a nocturnal lifestyle. He came to our house in the evening and stayed until the morning. I could not stand it, I drove everyone, because in the morning Leve either went to the recording, then to the concert, and he did not get enough sleep. Fima got angry and somehow threatened: “You don’t like my company, so I’ll divorce you from Leva.” And divorced. He deliberately arranged everything, brought Leva and Irina together. And that Leva could not give birth to children ... But in spite of everything, I still love Leva and wish him only happiness.
Abdalova has not seen Lev Leshchenko for more than 30 years, since they broke up. Even on TV. She doesn't have it. She receives a small pension. Therefore, he moonlights - sings in temples.
I led Albina Alexandrovna to the entrance. At parting, she said:
Call me tomorrow please. And then after all, no one calls me except my sister.
REFERENCE
* Albina ABDALOVA was born on June 19, 1941, a performer of romances. She sang in the orchestra of Leonid Utyosov. Together with Lev Leshchenko, she recorded the songs "Old Maple", "Song of Young Neighbors", a song for the film "Yurkin Dawns". She worked at the Mosconcert, now retired.
* Lev LESCHENKO was born on February 1, 1942. Since 1970 he has been a soloist of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, after victories at the Golden Orpheus and in Sopot, he has been a laureate of the Lenin Komsomol Prize, since 1983 he has been a People's Artist of the RSFSR, a performer of many dozens of hits that have become classics of the national stage.
* Irina LESCHENKO (BAGUDINA) was born on May 15, 1954. Lev Valerianovich met her in 1976 in Sochi, where he toured, and Irina rested. She is the daughter of diplomats and graduated from the University of Budapest. They got married in 1978. There are no children in the marriage.
Lev Leshchenko is a legend of the Soviet and Russian stage. He is always sincere and causes only sympathy and positive emotions. There is probably no person who would have a negative attitude towards Lev Valerianovich. His songs always carry only the good and the eternal, they are light and humane.
Childhood and youth
Lev Valerianovich was born in Moscow, in Sokolniki. It was war time, the beginning of the 42nd year. He was born not in a maternity hospital, but in a small wooden house in which the whole family and two more aunts lived. It was very cold, they were bombing nearby, fierce battles were going on near Moscow at that time, and his mother was terribly afraid of simply not getting to the maternity hospital. Births were taken by neighbor aunts. My father served in a unit nearby, so he had the opportunity to visit his relatives and bring them his rations. So on Leva's birthday, he rushed from the front. The hut was heated, because before that it was only 4 degrees Celsius, and the birth of a son was modestly celebrated. The eldest daughter Yulia was already growing up with the parents of little Leva.
A little less than two years passed, and the mother died at the age of 28. The boy and his sister were first raised by their maternal grandparents, then the family moved to a military unit near Moscow. The religious and pious grandmother could not find a common language with her father, an employee of the NKVD. The foreman Andrey Fisenko, whom his father instructed to be practically a nanny, began to take care of the children.
He came for Leva every day at 7 in the morning, took him with him to the unit and worked on him until the evening. They sewed a tunic for the boy, and he grew up like a "son of a regiment." I did exercises in the morning, ate with everyone in the soldier's canteen. At the age of 5, he went to relatives in Ukraine, but soon returned to Moscow, as his father remarried, and Leva had a new mother, Marina. She loved the boy like her own, so he did not feel like an orphan. Soon a girl, Valya, was born in the family.
Lev Leshchenko in his youth:
The children grew up in a musical family, all its members loved to sing, the father could easily pick up any melody on the guitar or piano. Leva was also instilled with a love of music from childhood, he often visited his grandfather, who knew how to play the violin well.
In his native Sokolniki, the boy visited the House of Pioneers, sang in the choir and went to the artistic word circle, and also played in a brass band. Sports were not alien to him, he was engaged in the pool. But the choir leader saw talent in the boy and convinced him to leave the rest of the sections for the sake of singing. Leva began to perform at school parties, performing songs from the repertoire of Leonid Utesov.
Carier start
Leo did not manage to enter the theater department of musical comedy after school, he failed at the entrance. First he got a job as a stage worker at the Bolshoi Theater, and a year later he retrained as an assembly fitter at a measuring instrument factory. A year later, he was drafted into the army, Lev dreamed of serving as a sailor, but his father petitioned to be sent to the GDR in tank troops. Then he served in the song and dance ensemble as a soloist, led concerts and recited poetry. This was his preparation for the theater university, to which he appeared when the exams had already passed for everyone.
He was given a chance, but he only made the selection committee laugh, and they did not seriously appreciate his vocal abilities, but took pity and accepted him into the university. And a year later, Lev proved to the entire course that he was a real artist, and from the second year he already worked as an intern at the Operetta Theater, and soon at the Mosconcert. In the summer he went on tour around the cities of the country.
After graduating from GITIS, he was already officially enrolled in the troupe of the Operetta Theater, then went to work on the radio, and 5 years later he was honored to become a soloist of the USSR State Radio and Television. By that time, he had already gained all-Union popularity, began to travel abroad, and became a laureate of two foreign competitions.
Lev Leshchenko during the concert:
A few years later he was awarded the title of first Honored, and then People's Artist of the RSFSR. In the 1990s, he headed the Music Agency Theater, which today organizes concerts and collaborates with prominent Russian and foreign pop stars.
Lev Leshchenko in the program "Comedy Club":
In the 90s, the artists of the "old guard" were no longer needed by the youth stage, they began to go to their concerts less often, they were not so often played on radio and TV. The stage was overwhelmed by a wave of pop music, rock and roll and chanson. Many at that time left the stage, Lev Valerianovich also thought about this. He was already going to focus on teaching or start a business.
Alsou and Lev Leshchenko at a concert:
But there was an incident that brought him back to the peak of popularity. Once, on the anniversary of Khazanov, he and Vinokur played a comic scene with Vovchik and Levchik. The audience appreciated the new images, Leshchenko and Vinokur began to be more often invited to perform with this miniature, which helped both of them survive the 90s.
Vladimir Vinokur, Igor Nikolaev, Igor Krutoy and Lev Leshchenko:
Now Leshchenko continues to manage the theater, give 10 solo concerts a month, and also run his own business - he runs a woodworking factory in the city of Vladimir. Hardening, which helps him to cope with all the difficulties, he received in childhood, he had to grow up in the war and hungry, difficult post-war years.
Personal life
For the first time, Lev Valerianovich married at GITIS a girl Albina, who studied three years older. At first everything was fine, the family lived with Lev's parents, then moved out to a cooperative apartment. Leo's career went uphill, while Albina did not see much success. Slowly, a discord began to emerge, besides, the girl was pathologically jealous, angry because of any casual glance of her husband, although he did not give real reasons for jealousy. But for scandals, she didn’t need reasons.
Lev Leshchenko with his wife:
Once, in 1976, Leo went on tour to Sochi, where a friend introduced him to two pretty girls, one of whom was Irina. First he saw her after the beach, all disheveled, and then in the evening, in a restaurant - beautiful and smart. The next day, Irina already had to fly to Moscow. Leo intuitively felt that he had to drop everything and fly after her. The wife quickly understood everything and put Leo out of the house with suitcases.
Irina soon graduated from her studies abroad and young people began to meet. It rarely worked out for them because of Leo's tour schedule. They got married two years after they met and have not parted since then, while they always lived surprisingly peacefully and did not allow themselves to quarrel. Unfortunately, no children appeared in the union, but Irina has been and remains a faithful and loving wife to her husband all her life. She did not begin to build a career, despite the prospects, but devoted her life to her husband and the arrangement of the household.
Read biographies of other famous musicians