Monument to the Three Great Russian Actors-Vakhtangovets Vladimir Etush, Vasily Lanovoy and Yuri Yakovlev
On September 6, 2022, the grand opening of the monument to the Vakhtangov luminaries – People’s artists of the USSR Vasily Lanovoy, Vladimir Etush and Yuri Yakovlev took place. The authors of the project are sculptor Philip Trushin (who previously made a commemorative plaque for the facade of the house where V.A. Etush lived, and a monument to the 100th anniversary of the artist at the Novodevichy Cemetery) and the chief artist of the Vakhtangov Theatre Maxim Obrezkov.
The monument is made of bronze, cast in Moscow.
Yuri Yakovlev was the artistic director of the Theatre named after Ruben Simonov for several years (in 2014, the Theatre named after Ruben Simonov was transferred to the Vakhtangov Theatre and turned into the Simonov Stage). Vasily Lanovoy lived nearby and every day, on the way to the theatre and back, he passed by the Simonov stage and, of course, he watched all the premieres. Vladimir Etush directed the Central House of the Actor, located a few steps from the Simonov stage.
Vladimir Abramovich Etush (1922-2019). He was the People’s Artist of the USSR, Full Knight of the Order ‘For Merit to the Fatherland’, laureate of state and theatre awards, veteran of the Great Patriotic War, Rector of Shchukin Theatre Institute. Universal fame and love for Vladimir Etush brought roles in movies, among which the unlucky groom Comrade Saakhov (“The Caucasian Captive”), the terrible Karabas-Barabas (“The Adventures of Buratino”), the fussy dentist Shpak (“Ivan Vasilyevich changes his profession”), the imposing engineer Bruns (“12 chairs”), the cunning magister Malgrim (“June 31st”). For more than 70 years, Vladimir Etush served in the Vakhtangov Theatre, played 64 roles on its stage, admiring the audience with his skill, versatility, subtlety of transitions, mastery of a variety of genres – comedy, satire, drama, tragedy, vaudeville.
Vasily Semenovich Lanovoy (1934-2021). He was the People’s Artist of the USSR, Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation, holder of the Orders ‘For Merit to the Fatherland’ and many others, winner of cultural and public awards, master of artistic expression, a public figure and theatre teacher. Vasily Lanovoy’s movie characters are adored by millions of viewers. His Ivan Varrava from the movie “Officers” is a model of courage, honour and devotion to the Motherland, who inspired many generations of young people to a military career. Vasily Lanovoy invested a part of his soul, strength and talent into each role: the romantic Captain Gray (“Scarlet Sails”), the passionately in love Vronsky (“Anna Karenina”), the reckless Anatole Kuragin (“War and Peace”)… The artist remained faithful to the Vakhtangov Theatre, where he played more than 50 roles, including the legendary role of Kalaf (“Princess Turandot”).
Yuri Vasilyevich Yakovlev (1928-2013). He was the People’s Artist of the USSR, laureate of state prizes of the USSR and the Russian Federation, holder of the Order of Lenin and the Order ‘For Merit to the Fatherland’, winner of many theatre and film awards. He was a popularly beloved Soviet and Russian artist. He performed more than 150 roles in theatre and cinema. He was both a master of comedy (“Hussar Ballad”, “Ivan Vasilyevich changes his profession”, “Irony of Fate, or With a light steam!”, “Kin-dza-dza”) and dramatic (“Idiot”, “Dangerous Turn”, “Earthly Love”) genres. The incredible charm of the heroes created by Yuri Yakovlev cannot be forgotten. He served in the Vakhtangov Theatre for more than 60 years. The audience, critics and stage partners have always admired his style, charm, impeccable elegance combined with wise irony and understanding of human nature.
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