It was the first Russian professional theater. Creation of a professional theater in Russia
Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov (1729-1763) - a universal cultural figure: creator of the Russian theater, actor, writer. He lived only 34 years, but his talents were multifaceted. His energy, intelligence, and personal abilities went towards organizing the Russian stage in the provinces, and then in the capital. He was depicted by one of the best painters of that time, A. Losenko. The artist succeeded in creating a portrait likeness.
Grigorievich, whose portrait photograph is presented here, looks calmly and clearly at the viewer. The spiritual riches of this extraordinary person are revealed: dignity, lively intellect, activity.
Early adulthood
Five sons were born into the family of the Kostroma merchant Grigory Volkov and his wife Matryona Yakovlevna. The eldest was named Fedor. He was only 7 years old when his father died and his mother remarried the energetic, enterprising and middle-aged Yaroslavl merchant F.V. Polushkin. He founded factories and looked for partners. And he made all his stepsons his assistants. At this time Fedor was 14 years old. To manage factories, Fedor did not have enough education received in Yaroslavl, and his stepfather sent him to Moscow. Thus, in the merchant works, Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov, whose biography seemed to be very specific, came to study in the ancient capital.
In Moscow
Volkov studied at the Zaikonospassky Academy for only three years, discovering his natural abilities and talents. During this time, he only studied the basics of basic subjects, and in addition, he seriously studied music: he played the harp and violin, and sang from notes.
Homecoming
Returning to Yaroslavl, Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov continues his studies with the pastor who accompanied E.I. Biron in exile, and masters the German language perfectly. At the same time, he himself learns to draw and draw, which will be very useful to him later. But his stepfather, having kept Fedor at home for a couple of years, sends him to St. Petersburg to learn modern commercial techniques.
Getting to know the theater
Having entered a German trading company and getting seriously involved in business, Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov accidentally ends up at an Italian opera performance. It was a magnificent spectacle with magnificent decorations, which were often replaced by machines. Then Fyodor Grigorievich went to the theater more than once and carefully sketched everything. But the acting was weak. Then, in order to comprehend it, he comes to a private German theater that came to St. Petersburg. There he watches dramas and comedies and gets acquainted with leading actors, quickly delving into theatrical acting. This goes on for about two years.
Return to Yaroslavl
When his stepfather died, Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov headed the work of factories and trade. He had to conduct litigation and cases for which he was in St. Petersburg. There he attended a performance by the Noble Corps. They showed Sumarokov's drama in Russian. And he had the idea of starting a theater in Yaroslavl. Together with his brothers and friends at home, he begins rehearsals, looking for a place where he can give a performance. For starters, it's just his stepfather's stone barn. But the performance was successful, and Volkov begins to collect money by subscription for the construction of the theater. They are coming towards him. And the very next year he built the wooden building of the first public theater. Volkov turns out to be one in many faces. He is a director, a stage director, a painter, and an actor. Everything manages to be captured by this original talent of a young 22-year-old boy, who was Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov. The theater has been operating successfully for more than a year. But an inspector is sent to the province from St. Petersburg, who, in order to pass the time, attends theater performances. It is he who reports to the empress about the glorious establishment that exists in Yaroslavl. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna summons Volkov and the troupe to St. Petersburg.
In a new place
Elizaveta Petrovna loved masquerades, and she liked the new idea. Even before, one might say, she passionately loved opera and ballet, but there was no permanent Russian troupe in the capital, and since the theater has been operating in Yaroslavl for more than a year, then you need to get to know it. And a month later, in winter, 12 people arrived in Northern Palmyra. At the end of March 1752, Volkov and his actors gave a performance in front of the empress and her entourage. ordered the actors to be taught drawing, languages, dancing, music in a privileged manner and they learn only excellently. After two years, everyone decides that they are already sufficiently prepared. In 1756, the Empress issued a decree on the creation of the Russian Theater.
Public theater
The theater was very poorly financially supported by the authorities. Everything depended on the enthusiasm of director A. Sumarokov and actor F. Volkov. In addition, and this was very important for that time, women were included in the composition. Previously, all female roles were played by young men. The Russian Theater did not have its own building and wandered from one premises to another, and the salaries of the director and actors were not paid for months.
Only true lovers of dramatic art can endure such a situation. In addition, only nobles were allowed to attend their performances, who preferred Italian operas and French ballets and looked at Russian actors with contempt. The public went to the performances not of their own accord, but under the compulsion of the Empress. There was no order in the auditorium. Therefore, he was guarded by police squads. In such conditions the Russian Theater began to work.
Fate and masquerade
In 1761, F. Volkov became the director. He remained as before as an actor, wrote plays for his brainchild, abandoned high court ranks and orders and did only what his soul was drawn to. In 1762, after Catherine II ascended the throne, he had the right to enter her without reporting. It was Volkov who was entrusted with organizing a large multi-day masquerade of unprecedented pomp in honor of the coronation of the empress in Moscow. Volkov set about organizing it with great enthusiasm. Working on the street, for the people, is the highest dream of a creator.
This street performance lasted for three days, people poured into the streets and took places on the roofs. It was wonderful, rich and educational. And Volkov spent all three winter days outside, in the wind, keeping an eye on everything and getting everything done. However, after the end of the masquerade, he felt tired and unwell, and then fell ill and never got up. On April 4, 1763, Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov ended his earthly journey. A short biography of the brilliant man who created the Russian theater is discussed in this article.
Did you know that the birthplace of Russian theater is not Moscow or St. Petersburg. The Russian theater appeared not in the capital, but in the ancient Russian city of Yaroslavl. It was here in 1750 year, Russian actor Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov founded Russia's first professional theater troupe.
Russian actor and theater figure Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov was born in 1729 in Kostroma. Having lost his father early, Volkov, however, acquired a kind and attentive parent in the person of his stepfather, the merchant Polushkin. In Moscow, where the boy was sent to study, Volkov became deeply and forever interested in theater, and for several years he studied arts and stagecraft. Returning in 1748 to Yaroslavl, where the family lived, he organized a theater troupe and began giving performances in a stone barn. The first performance took place on June 29, 1750, it was the drama “Esther”. Two years later, Volkov and his comrades, by order of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, were summoned to St. Petersburg. And in 1756, the main event in the theatrical life of Russia in the 18th century took place - the establishment of the “Russian Theater for the Presentation of Tragedies and Comedies,” the first state operating professional theater. Fyodor Volkov was immediately appointed “the first Russian actor,” and Alexander Sumarokov was appointed director of the theater; only after his death, in 1761, Volkov became director of “his” theater. In total, he wrote about 15 plays, none of which have survived to this day, and he was also the author of many solemn odes and songs.
Today the Volkovsky Theater is one of the most famous and largest “non-capital” Russian theaters. The International Volkov Festival, which has become very famous, is annually held on its stage, the laureates of which are awarded the Fyodor Volkov Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation. Provincial theaters present their best performances here, based on works of Russian classics, and scientific conferences of art critics are held. Scientific conferences, theatrical performances and shows are dedicated to the Russian theater.
The life of Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov was cut short during takeoff. During a masquerade called “Minerva Triumphant” in 1763, he caught a cold, and never managed to recover from his cold - on April 4, 1763, the great Russian actor died. Fyodor Volkov is buried in Moscow, at the Androniev Monastery cemetery. Despite the fact that Volkov’s grave did not survive, a memorial plaque was installed in the cemetery. But the best memory of the actor is the theater named after him - the Russian State Academic Drama Theater named after Fyodor Volkov in Yaroslavl.
He is called the “father of Russian theater.”
Fyodor Volkov was born on February 9 (20), 1729 in Kostroma. His father died when Fedor was still small. In 1735, the mother married the merchant Fyodor Polushkin and moved with him and her children to Yaroslavl.
The boy learned to read and write from a pastor who served under Duke E.I. Biron, who was exiled to Yaroslavl. Even then, the boy discovered various abilities and talents. Polushkin, seeing this, intended his eldest stepson to be the heir and successor of his business.
Fyodor was first sent to Moscow to the Zaikonospassky Academy to study the Law of God, the German language and mathematics. Fyodor Volkov learned German perfectly and spoke “like a natural German.” At the academy, young Volkov constantly took part in stage performances. According to A. A. Shakhovsky, Volkov “distinguished himself at Christmas time in presenting spiritual dramas and translated comedies, for which Zaikonospassky students have long been famous.” He stood out from his peers with his intelligence, diligence and knowledge.
From the academy, Polushkin sent his stepson “to gain skills in accounting and trade” to one of the St. Petersburg German offices. In addition to his studies, Volkov visited the court theater and attended the Italian opera. The opera made a deep impression on the young man, and he experienced an even greater impression when he penetrated behind the scenes of the theater, set up by students of the Gentry Corps, who acted out dramas by A.P. Sumarokova. There he took plans and drawings of the entire stage structure, machines and scenery.
Returning to Yaroslavl, Fyodor Volkov began teaching his brothers, as well as acquaintances, painting, music, and dramatic art. Finally, Fyodor Grigorievich set up a theater in one of his stepfather’s barns. The theater's first performance took place on my stepfather's name day, June 20, 1750. The first Russian theater began to attract spectators, news of it reached St. Petersburg. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna ordered “to immediately bring the troupe, by mail, to the court.”
Here they performed several plays, then she left the actors she liked most in St. Petersburg, and, having awarded the rest, sent them back to Yaroslavl.
On August 30, 1756, Empress Elizabeth issued an order to establish “a Russian theater for the presentation of tragedy and comedy.” The first director of the theater was A.P. Sumarokov, and Fyodor Volkov “was the First Actor in it,” and later replaced Sumarokov as director. The theater's repertoire consisted of Russian dramatic works, mainly plays by Sumarokov. The core of the troupe consisted of actors from among Yaroslavl comedians: F.G. Volkov, I.A. Dmitrevsky, Ya.D. Shumsky and others.
“Then Volkov showed his talents in full radiance, and then they saw in him a great Actor and his fame was confirmed by foreigners,” writes N.I. Novikov. Volkov's acting had simplicity and passion, it was based on feeling, not on effect.
He can rightfully be called the founder of the Russian acting school. Actors such as Dmitrevsky, Shchepkin, Chaliapin, Stanislavsky considered themselves his students.
During the days of the coronation of Empress Catherine, Volkov was entrusted with organizing a masquerade in Moscow, which bore the name: “Triumphing Minerva.” This celebration cost him not only a lot of work, but also his life: during the masquerade he caught a cold and soon died. Fedor
Volkov was buried in Moscow, at the Androniev Monastery cemetery. There are no traces of his grave left. A memorial plaque has been installed at the cemetery.
The main activity of his short but bright life was the Russian professional theater, a public theater. Here are the words from his diary: “The general benefit of the Russian theater will be felt when the theater goes beyond the framework of a court enterprise. It should be public and nationwide, in which enlightened and important gentlemen should be welcome, but not the only spectators and connoisseurs. All living, all enlightened forces of the country should be attracted to such a theater and attracted not by force, not by orders or decrees, but by their good will and consciousness of the benefit of the fatherland. Goodwill and common benefit should forever be laid at the foundation of the Russian theater...”
The famous contemporary Novikov characterizes Fyodor Volkov as follows: “This man had a great, common and insightful mind, solid, sound reasoning and rare talents, adorned with many teachings and reading the best books. He knew the art of theater to the highest degree, and was a considerable poet, a good painter, a fairly skilled musician on many instruments, a mediocre sculptor, and, in a word, a man of many knowledge to a considerable extent. At first glance he seemed somewhat stern and gloomy; but this disappeared when he was with his good friends, with whom he knew how to get along and delight the conversation with reasonable and sharp jokes. His life was of sobriety and strict virtue; He had few friends, but the best, and he himself was a perfect friend, generous, disinterested and a lover of help.”
Fonvizin speaks of Volkov like this: “Volkov was a man of deep intelligence, full of merits, he had great knowledge and could have been a statesman.”
She issued a decree on the official creation of a theater in Russia: “We have now ordered the establishment of a Russian theater for the presentation of tragedies and comedies, for which we will give the Golovkinsky stone house... And for this we have been ordered to recruit actors and actresses: actors from the training singers and Yaroslavl residents in the Cadet Corps, who will be needed, and in addition to them there will be a decent number of actors from other non-employee people, as well as actresses...”
It was a significant event for Russian culture. From this date, August 30, 1756, our professional theater art begins.
At first everything seemed rosy. He was appointed director of the Russian Theater Alexander Petrovich Sumarokov. Money was allocated for the maintenance of the troupe. A special supervisor was appointed to monitor the theater building - former copyist Dyakov, who, in connection with the new appointment (as announced by the decree), received the rank of army second lieutenant.
Performances had to be paid and open to the public.
The troupe was determined to be small - only twelve people, but it was allowed to recruit new actors and even actresses.
Soon, posters began to be sent around the city, announcing that the Russian Theater troupe was beginning its performances and that admission would be by ticket; “Tickets for the stalls and lower boxes cost 2 rubles, and for the upper boxes a ruble. Tickets will be issued in the house where the Russian Theater is, on Vasilievsky Island in the Third Line on the banks of the Great Neva in the Golovkinsky house. The issuance of tickets before the performance will end at four o'clock in the afternoon, and the performance will begin at six o'clock, as announced to those wishing to see it. The Lord's and other civil servants in livery will not be allowed in either without tickets or with tickets.”
But the first performances passed, and the rosy mood gradually began to dissipate. Of the eight singers destined for theatrical activities, only four turned out to be capable. Under the pretext of “lack of space,” they had to be released, and they were forced to bash the empress about her “all-generous” charity. Of the four others, one, apparently the most capable, Pyotr Sukhomlinov, shortly before the organization of the theater, came under guard. He stole from A.G.’s chambers. Razumovsky broke a gold snuffbox covered in diamonds, exchanged some of the diamonds for clavichords, sold several others “and paid off two rubles to the debt, bought two thread stockings, and spent the rest for buns and apples.” The theft was discovered, and he not only (as Razumovsky wanted to ask) did not get back to court, but was not initially taken into the troupe of the Russian Theater.
Thus, initially, under the guidance Sumarokova there were only actors seven: Fedor And Grigory Volkovy, Dmitrevsky, Popov, Umanov, Sichkarev and Tatishchev. It was not possible to recruit new comedians and comedians right away. And additional funds would be needed to support new actors. But there was clearly not enough money.
The Empress ordered that only 5,000 rubles a year be given for the maintenance of the theater. Of these, 1,000 rubles were intended for the salary of the director, and 250 for the supervisor. Proceeds from ticket sales went to the treasury. However, the proceeds from the performances were small. The theater on Vasilyevsky Island was poorly attended. And tickets were expensive at that time. Those who could afford them preferred to attend court spectacles in the palace theaters, which continued to fill the evenings.
Russian actors did not even have to think about any competition with the foreign troupes performing at the court, who received a salary of 20-25 thousand rubles a year. The Russian theater did not even have permanent musicians and was forced to content itself with an orchestra that served court masquerades.
The situation of the actors was also not the best. The meager salary they received was given to them intermittently. Their position in society was low. We lived in the same damp and dark Golovkin house. They did not have enough money for more or less decent food and clothing. There was something to complain about Sumarokov. Only four months passed after the establishment of the Russian Theater, and he already wrote in despair to the all-powerful favorite: “... I am sitting, not having dresses for the actors, as if the theater did not exist... Have mercy on me and make an end, dear sir, or try me release from my post..."
This letter was followed by others, even more bitter and desperate:
“No one can demand that the Russian theater be founded if a lot of difficulties are not stopped” (April 29, 1757).
“There is not a single day of comedy in which not only a person was not outraged in such circumstances, an angel would hesitate... The only pity is that... we cannot work, and it is impossible to find actors or actresses without a decree, and which determined... they threaten me with withdrawal” (January 7, 1758).
“From the beginning of the establishment of the theater, there has not yet been a single performance that would have passed without great difficulties that did not bear fruit for anyone” (May 19, 1758).
Under such “troublesome and all-useless circumstances,” I drew a depressing conclusion Sumarokov, he is “devoid of all poetic thoughts” and cannot “conceive anything to the pleasure of the court and the public.”
And probably, if there had not been in the troupe a person who was balanced, energetic, no less loving than Sumarokov, but much more resilient, able to overcome obstacles, it is unlikely that the Russian Theater would have been able to survive.
Fedor Grigorievich Volkov became not only a performer of the main roles, but also the closest assistant to the director of the Russian Theater. All the hardships that Sumarokov wrote about fell primarily on him.
As a result of Sumarokov’s tireless efforts, the Russian Theater in 1757 was allowed to play first on Thursdays, and then on those days “when operas, French comedies and interludes will not be presented,” not only in Golovkin’s house, but also on the court stage - in “city” buildings belonging to the empress.
Performances here were paid and public. This was announced in an announcement placed that year in the St. Petersburg Gazette: “On Thursdays, Russian tragedies and comedies will be presented at the Bolshoi Theater near the summer house, and will always begin at six o’clock in the afternoon. The price is the same as it was before.”
The Russian troupe was able to breathe more freely.”
Kulikova K.F., Russian theater first actors, L., “Lenizdat”, p. 38-41.
Russian actor and theater figure Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov was born in 1729 in Kostroma. Having lost his father early, Volkov, however, acquired a kind and attentive parent in the person of his stepfather, the merchant Polushkin. In Moscow, where the boy was sent for training, Volkov became deeply and forever interested in theater. He literally caught fire with his new hobby and studied art and stagecraft for several years. Returning in 1748 to Yaroslavl, where the family lived, Volkov organized a theater troupe and began giving performances in a stone barn. The first performance took place on June 29, 1750, it was the drama "Esther". Two years later, Volkov and his comrades, by order of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, were summoned to St. Petersburg. And in 1756, the main event in the theatrical life of Russia in the 18th century took place - the establishment of the “Russian Theater for the Presentation of Tragedies and Comedies,” the first state operating professional theater.
Fyodor Volkov was immediately appointed “the first Russian actor,” and Alexander Sumarokov was appointed director of the theater; only after his death, in 1761, Volkov became director of “his” theater. For this reason, Fyodor Grigorievich refused the post of cabinet minister. In total, Fyodor Volkov wrote about 15 plays, none of which have survived to this day; he was also the author of many solemn odes and songs.
Today the Volkovsky Theater is one of the most famous and largest "non-capital" Russian theaters. The International Volkov Festival, which has become very famous, is annually held on its stage, the laureates of which are awarded the Fyodor Volkov Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation. Provincial theaters present their best performances here, based on works of Russian classics, and scientific conferences of art critics are held. Scientific conferences, theatrical performances and shows are dedicated to the Russian theater. The festival traditionally attracts a huge number of theater lovers, the city these days is filled with guests, and Yaroslavl hotels hospitably open their doors to modern servants of Melpomene.
The life of Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov was cut short during takeoff. During a masquerade called "Minerva Triumphant" in 1763, he caught a cold, and never managed to recover from his cold - on April 4, 1763, the great Russian actor died. Fyodor Volkov is buried in Moscow, at the Androniev Monastery cemetery. Despite the fact that Volkov’s grave did not survive, a memorial plaque was installed in the cemetery. But the best memory of the actor is the theater named after him - the Russian State Academic Drama Theater named after Fyodor Volkov in Yaroslavl.
