The future singer was born at the Chaplino station in the Dnepropetrovsk region of the Ukrainian SSR. Parents: Father - Ilya Evgenievich Strelchenko (1911-1941), Mother - Polina Pavlovna Strelchenko (1916-1945). Alexandra became an orphan early. His father died at the front, his mother died at the end of the Great Patriotic War. In total there were three children in the family. My aunt took my older sister Valentina to live with her. And Alexandra, who was left an orphan at the age of 8, and her younger brother Anatoly were sent to Orphanage. After graduating from school, she worked in kindergarten nanny Then she studied at the correspondence department of the Leningrad Pedagogical Institute. During the Voronezhsky tour folk choir in 1958, Alexandra, having attended his concert, decided to leave her studies and devote herself to a musical career.

From 1959 to 1962 she worked at the Lipetsk Philharmonic.

Since 1963 she worked in Moscow, completing a year-long internship at the All-Russian Creative Workshop pop art.

Since 1964, Alexandra Strelchenko has been a soloist of the Mosconcert and artistic director Workshop folk art at the Concert Association "Estrada".

In 1971, for the best radio recording of the folk song “Bela Zorenka” at International competition in Bratislava (Czechoslovakia) she was awarded the 2nd prize and a silver medal - “Silver Ear”.

From 1976 to 1980 she received her education at the Gnessin Musical Pedagogical Institute.

Nowadays

Since 2002, he has been a professor at the Moscow State University of Culture and Arts, heading the department of solo folk singing.

IN last years Alexandra Strelchenko actively gave concerts with National Orchestra Russians folk instruments named after Osipov (first under the direction of N. Kalinin, now Ponkin), as well as with municipal orchestras of such cities as Chelyabinsk, Ulyanovsk, Volgograd, Petrozavodsk, Lipetsk, Tula, etc. Alexandra Strelchenko participates in charity events, speaking to war and labor veterans, to orphans in orphanages, and is an active participant in concerts dedicated to the memory of prominent figures our national culture, whom she knew personally, passing through Concert hall“Russia”, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Central House of Arts, etc.

As the chairman and member of the jury in the “Solo Folk Singing” category, A. Strelchenko in recent years has visited Smolensk, Bryansk, Vologda, where the Delphic Youth Games were held. She took part in concerts and festivals: the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lydia Ruslanova in Saratov (2000), “Voices of Russia” - Smolensk (2003). Gone solo concerts A. Strelchenko with programs of Russian romance: the house-museum of F. I. Chaliapin, A. Shilov Gallery, House of Scientists, House of Architects, etc.

Personal life

Alexandra's personal life:

The first husband is Major General, KGB officer Vladimir Chekalov.

Second husband - drummer Vladimir Morozov

The singer has no children. According to her, she didn’t have time to give birth to her first husband, and she didn’t want to give birth to her second.

IN free time Alexandra Ilyinichna is interested in many things: she loves nature, animals, flowers; prefers classical Russian literature, music, ballet, folk melodies, jazz. Her favorite artists are O. Tabakov and N. Mordyukova, I. Arkhipova and A. Vedernikov. She was the favorite singer of Khrushchev and Brezhnev. She was called the queen of folk songs, the hits “Give me a scarf”, “If only I had golden mountains”, “Curly Rowan” were heard at every feast. The voice of this singer adorned the films “War and Peace” and “Kalina Krasnaya”.

Disease

In the mid-1990s, the singer and her second husband had an accident, which started big problems with the spine and hip joint. Each step began to come at the cost of severe pain.

On September 17, 2015, the “Let Them Talk” program with Andrei Malakhov on Channel One was dedicated to Alexandra Strelchenko. The whole country was shocked by the news that Strelchenko was hospitalized with a stroke on September 14, 2015. Cause sharp deterioration the singer’s health status is a conflict that arose around her apartment in the center of Moscow. The artist signed an agreement with her student that in exchange for care and attention, she will bequeath her luxurious Moscow apartment to her. Alexandra Ilyinichna fulfilled her obligations, but the girl did her job in bad faith. Strelchenko decided to terminate the contract, but this had to be done through the courts. With the support of her family and friends, she managed to win the argument. In addition, the judge went to meet the people's artist halfway. This whole conflict greatly undermined the artist’s already poor health. Alexandra Ilyinichna ended up in intensive care. She is now being looked after by a specially trained nurse. Having gotten rid of the fraudulent student, the artist began to feel much better. She slowly began to speak, returning to her previous form.

After the scandal with the apartment, the performer found herself in hospital bed with a stroke. Alexandra Ilyinichna suffers from high blood pressure. In the fall of 2017, it became known that Alexandra Strelchenko was struggling with Parkinson’s disease.

She rarely leaves home, but regularly visits the hospital. Sometimes she finds the strength to visit holy places; in particular, she visited the monastery in Dmitrov.

People's Artist She hasn’t given interviews for many years, the doors of her house are closed to everyone: “I want to be remembered as beautiful,” she explained.

She was the favorite singer of Khrushchev and Brezhnev. She was called the queen of folk songs, the hits “Give me a scarf”, “If only I had golden mountains”, “Curly Rowan” were heard at every feast. The voice of this singer adorned the films “War and Peace” and “Kalina Krasnaya”. Now Alexandra Strelchenko does not leave the house, the People's Artist of Russia is left alone with a serious illness. She hasn’t given interviews for many years, and the doors of her house are closed to everyone: “I want to be remembered as beautiful.”

But today, for the first time, the famous populist told the whole truth about her high patrons from the Kremlin, her main competitors (Zykina and Voronets), the terrible accident that made her weak, and showed a unique photo archive.

I prepared for the interview for two months

An old high-rise building in the center of Moscow, a spacious apartment. The queen of Russian song herself greeted us in the luxurious living room. A 77-year-old woman stands writhing in pain, holding tightly to a stick. For Alexandra Strelchenko, every step costs enormous effort. She prepared for this interview for two months: both mentally and physically.

– The topic of personal life has always been closed to me.

But not today. Alexandra Ilyinichna prepared boxes with photographs for our meeting. The star carefully preserves the memory of former glory. Over a cup of tea, she was carried away by the world of nostalgia.

– Look: this is me with director Boris Brunov at the festival in Vienna, and this is with actor Tolya Elizarov, and here is fan Pasha, and here I am with my favorite students. Oh, and this is very young - the skirt is so short, it’s terrible... Well, before I was really okay.

Alexandra Strelchenko /

In the living room of the People's Artist of Russia there is a piano, which she used to love to play, and a huge portrait hangs on the wall. The singer amazed us with her beauty legendary artist Shilova. The maestro began to draw her facial features on the canvas. He gave his work to the muse; Strelchenko remembers that meeting with a smile. Children's photos make you sad. Great Patriotic War I took two of my dearest people. In the first year of the war, my father died at the front. In 1945, unable to withstand the torment, the mother’s heart stopped. Three small children were left orphans: Valya, Sasha and Tolik. The eldest Valya was taken in by her aunt, who said she would fit in the household, but there was no place for the little ones. So Alexandra Strelchenko, an eight-year-old girl, ended up in an orphanage.

Kicked out of the choir for incompetence

After graduating from school, I entered the Leningrad Pedagogical Institute by correspondence. Herzen at the Faculty of Preschool Pedagogy. I got a job as a teacher in a kindergarten. Even then, Sasha understood that this was not what she needed at all, she wanted to be a soloist on big stage. I came to a concert of the Voronezh Folk Choir and was so amazed by their performance that I began to beg: “Take me to you.” They listened and accepted. Strelchenko's happiness lasted only a few years.

Alexandra Ilyinichna fell into depression. After all, she, an orphanage girl, slept and saw herself as a singer, and so, as soon as she was on stage, she was left out of work. Two years later he decides to leave kindergarten again. This time she was taken to touring group Lipetsk Philharmonic.

– We went with concerts to different cities, sometimes slept on sacks in local cultural palaces. But I loved my profession so much that I even liked these inconveniences.

Lidiya Ruslanova cried

In 1961, the provincial philharmonic received news that the All-Russian Creative Workshop of Pop Art was opening in Moscow. Young talents from all over the USSR were invited to audition. Alexandra Strelchenko decided to do it no matter what!

– I came to conquer the capital’s teachers. I looked up to Lydia Ruslanova and sang all the songs from her repertoire.

Moscow connoisseurs of pop art liked Strelchenko, and they took her on a course with the famous chamber singer Irma Yaunzem. The teachers, seeing the wild passion for Ruslanova’s work, decided to show young talent Lydia Andreevna herself. The most famous Soviet singer received student Strelchenko in her Moscow apartment. 52 years have passed since their first meeting, in 1962, but Alexandra Ilyinichna remembers everything as if it were yesterday.

“I was shaking when I saw her.” Lidia Andreevna was so important, stately, just like from the cover... She asked me to sing something, she was embarrassed to sing her songs and started singing folk songs, I don’t remember what. Ruslanova had a lot of crystal at home, and when I started singing, it rang, and the singer began to cry... She came up to me and said: “You will sing! You just need to choose the repertoire.” I jumped out of Ruslanova’s apartment, inspired by the blessing I had received from my idol, whom I had looked up to all my life.

Later they will meet as two singers on the big stage, Lidia Andreevna will recognize her, smile and leave...

Zykina selected the songs

Alexandra Strelchenko made her debut on stage in the mid-60s. She performed “Give me a handkerchief”, “If only I had golden mountains”, “A white duck was flying”, “He’s going, he’s going” New Year" These songs instantly became popular among the people; not a single feast could be held without them.

However, at that time there were already two main populists in the USSR.

Olga Voronets, who captivated the whole world with “Kalinka” and the compositions “Why do you girls love beautiful people”, “Where can I get such a song.” And Lyudmila Zykina, who first appeared on the big stage long before Strelchenko and Voronets - in 1947 at the All-Russian Competition for Young Performers. Well, Zykina’s songs - “The Volga River Flows”, “And Love Lives on” - were known throughout the USSR. Both Zykina and Voronets did not want a third competitor at all.

– It happened that I would be invited to the Yunost radio station, I would record a song there, they would play it for the first time, but if Zykina liked it, my recording would be deleted and the song would be performed exclusively by her. Lyuda had great reverence for power, she was personally acquainted with Stalin, and entered all the offices of the Kremlin. If she came to any region on tour, she was greeted with honors by the top officials at the Volga, the tables were set... But I never chased the favor of my superiors, did not drink with them, saved my energy for the audience. We were never friends with either Zykina or Voronets, but we often met at concerts. One day I sang anniversary party“Kalinka,” Olya immediately called me and asked me never to sing this song again. I went forward.

If I gave birth, I would have to leave the stage

However, Strelchenko’s authority at the top of the USSR was no less than that of her competitors. Alexandra Ilyinichna’s first husband was no less than Major General, head of the 9th Directorate of the Kremlin (KGB) Vladimir Chekalov.

– Volodya’s first wife died, leaving three children. I loved him very much, even though we were different, for example, he didn’t love him at all folk songs. We lived happily for two years. Volodya died in service, I don’t know the exact reasons - everything was hidden. I grieved for a long time, threw myself into work - this saved me.

Strelchenko got married for the second time, already being an all-Union star. The marriage with drummer Vladimir Morozov, whom fate once brought together on tour, was more of a matter of convenience...

– Well, at first there were some feelings, then they lived only because it was convenient. He became my director and managed all the touring affairs. I will say this: the marriage was a partnership.

Strelchenko never heard the cherished “mother”. This topic is very painful for her.

“I couldn’t have children with my first husband, but I didn’t want to have children with my second, he wasn’t a serious man.” And then, I devoted my whole life to creativity. If I gave birth, I would have to leave the stage. There is no one to help, I have no parents. Now I understand: a career is not the main thing, if only I had children, I wouldn’t feel so lonely... Well, why poison yourself now? It's already late.

“But they say: everything God does is for the better.”

- I really want to think so...

Every step is a hell of a pain

– I don’t feel well. My blood pressure goes up, but that’s okay: I can cope on my own. I'll take a pill and that's fine. Another thing worries me: I hardly walk, every step is a hell of a pain. I have a severe curvature of the spine, and Lately The hip joint began to hurt.

Firstly, I stood on stage for 50 years, and this is such a load on my back... Secondly, my second husband Volodya and I had an accident about 20 years ago. We were driving to the dacha, I was fastening my seat belt while driving, he was distracted by me and crashed into a pole. From strong blow lost consciousness. Now the consequences are affecting the back. A doctor from the clinic comes to me and prescribes medications, but I can’t take them, my stomach hurts afterwards, I don’t eat anything. So I decided, since official medicine doesn’t help, I’ll go to Dikul, they say he’s using special physical exercise treats. I still don’t lose hope, maybe I can still return to the stage!

Reference

Alexandra Ilyinichna Strelchenko was born on February 2, 1937 in the Dnepropetrovsk region. My father died at the front, my mother died at the end of the war. She was brought up in an orphanage. After graduation high school entered the Leningrad Pedagogical Institute named after. Herzen to the Faculty of Preschool Pedagogy (in absentia), worked as a teacher in a kindergarten.

From 1959 to 1962 she worked at the Lipetsk Philharmonic. Since 1963, she underwent a year-long internship at the All-Russian Creative Workshop of Pop Art in Moscow, where she studied in the class of Irma Petrovna Yaunzem.

From 1976 to 1980 she studied at the Gnessin Music and Pedagogical Institute.

Since 1964, she has been a soloist of the Mosconcert and the artistic director of the folk art workshop in the Estrada concert association.

In 1968 she received gold medal and first prize at the International Competition in Sofia during the IX World Festival youth and students.

In 1984 she became a People's Artist of the RSFSR.

Since 2002, he has been a professor at the Moscow State University of Culture and Arts, heading the department of solo folk singing.

Prizes and awards

In 2010 she was awarded the Order of Honor.

Photo: Nikolay Simakov/ITAR-TASS, personal archive Alexandra Strelchenko, Denis Zinchenko

Cry and survive... People's Artist of Russia Alexandra Strelchenko absorbed the Russian song with her mother's milk: everyone in the family sang - father, mother, sisters... During the war years she was orphaned in an orphanage. The girl sang her first songs in a clear voice - “Lonely Accordion” and “Eaglet”. Small, thin, snub-nosed, freckled - who would notice her? And when he starts singing, they ask for more and more, they will say a kind word. Her repertoire is inescapable and original, including “Be silent, coachman” from the repertoire of Nadezhda Plevitskaya, and “Oh love, how evil you are” by guslar singer Nikolai Seversky, “The Volga River is Deep” by Olga Kovaleva... The songs of Alexandra Strelchenko have become iconic " Poplars”, “The golden grove dissuaded me”, “Where can I get such a song?”... - Alexandra Ilyinichna, what is happening to our folk song? It’s difficult for me to answer this, I don’t know how to analyze. From within, I see that the singers are trying to somehow adapt to the current situation. After all, they know the folk song more or less and, in order not to fall out of this general hit, phonogram system of show business, they take the folk song “captive” and try to fit into its coordinates. Maybe they think that in this way they are preserving the folk song, but in fact they are distorting its essence, its soul. The folk song cannot stand captivity. It is sung without any boundaries. When they take it in a vice, it’s not the same song at all, there’s no freedom in it. And Russian folk song, it is free, it should sound without any violence, especially if it modern hard rhythm. - Who is now closest to the natural performance of a folk song? Now many ensembles and performers are too “folklorized” - you can’t even understand whether our ancestors sang like that or not. They also dress according to the “folklore” performance. Behind this external form and various bells and whistles, it is impossible to grasp the essence; the harmony disappears, according to which the internal content and the external complement each other. It’s no better when a folk song is sung to a soundtrack... I adore folklore when it exists in its pure form. But I don’t like it when they modernize it, turn it into continuous shouting and dancing. Dance as much as you want, but if you sing, please don't let yourself twirl and twirl! We must sing! In our country, as a rule, they like to show off themselves, not the song. However, I don’t want to condemn anyone, everyone goes their own way and bears their responsibility before God and before people. - Who is your god in the folk song? For me there is only one God. And in the song I worshiped many performers: of course, these are the great singers Chaliapin, Lemeshev... I was taught singing by Olga Vasilyevna Kovaleva and Lidiya Andreevna Ruslanova, whose line I continue in folk song. I also studied with Irina Konstantinovna Arkhipova. Now I myself teach at the University of Culture and Arts in Moscow, head the department of folk singing and teach a class of Russian folk performance... - Fate brought you together with the great Lydia Ruslanova... When I came from Lipetsk to Moscow in 1962 and entered the All-Russian Creative Workshop of Pop Art, I very much imitated Lydia Andreevna, who was for me guiding star, sang the same songs as Ruslanova. One day our director took me to Lidia Andreevna so that she could work with me. This is how I met Ruslanova personally. I sang at her house. I remember my voice made her crystal ring... I am grateful to fate that I was able to touch Ruslanova’s work. - Does the Ruslan tradition still live in our song or has it been lost? Ruslanova is unique, such a singer and such a person cannot be repeated. They can imitate her, as I once did myself. I remember Lidia Andreevna told me: “Sing well! But look for your songs. It’s easy to follow the beaten path, but you need to find yourself, cry and survive...” After all, Ruslanova herself thought about every phrase, took every word in the song seriously. This is what God gave her as a gift. There is the big Volga River, and there are small rivers - each is charming in its own way. It’s the same in the song: everyone must find their place. And Lydia Andreevna will forever remain unique and inimitable. There is no need to imitate her, but to take the grain itself and learn her skills - this would not hurt our youth. After all, our pop youth now remembers little from the past. When I came to teach at the University of Culture and Art, I saw that they didn’t remember me or my songs either. In recent years, everything has gone somewhere, into the sand, lying in the dust, lying around. What is heard on TV is not at all what our ancestors sang. We need to pick up what we dropped and continue... I remember that in past years, people were talking about the rivalry between Pugacheva, Rotaru and Piekha, Magomayev, Kobzon and Leshchenko, Zykina, Strelchenko and Voronets... Did you feel the rivalry? We didn’t compete and tried not to cover each other’s songs. Lyudmila Zykina was more famous. Maybe she was an expression of our life, like the image of the Motherland. I went my own way. And who is better - people will say. - IN creative environment it's possible to make friends? In every genre, everyone considers themselves the best. In addition, young people believe that if they are on horseback, then they are better than everyone else! Everyone has something of their own, something that you don’t have, and for this you love and appreciate people. For example, I have always loved Olga Voronets... -Are you in demand now? It would be possible to be in more demand. Nevertheless, you need to be healthy and in good shape to go out and sing at any moment. You need to practice plasticity, voice, and monitor your physical condition. When you go on stage, you have to be responsible for everything that happens to you on stage. Alexander Shchuplov

Aleksandra Strelchenko Career: Musician
Birth: Russia, 2.2.1937
In 1984, A.I. Strelchenko was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia. Today she continues the intense but inspired life of an artist, in love with her work. All her work is illuminated by a high desire - for listeners to love Russian song as much as she loves it. Nowadays, the singer continues her fruitful collaboration with the Russian Folk Instruments Orchestra named after N. Osipov under the direction of N. Kalinin, is a member of the song jury and dreams of opening her own creative workshop, where she could pass on experience to young performers.

Born on February 2, 1937 at Chaplino station, Dnepropetrovsk region. Father - Strelchenko Ilya Evgenievich (1911-1941). Mother - Polina Pavlovna Strelchenko (1916-1945).

To the performer on modern stage it’s hard to dig up something close, the only thing that no one besides him will say, see, or reveal to the listener new page in your chosen genre. However, it was not easy all the way. And in the middle huge amount artists who dedicated native creativity Russian song, the art of Alexandra Strelchenko stands out especially. Not only with bright talent, but also with a thoughtful, subtle approach to musical material, the ability to notice in the modest and unpretentious the depth and poetry of feelings, the beauty of the soul of the people who created and preserved their unfading songs.

“She herself is like a Russian song!” - this thought, said by one of the listeners after Alexandra Strelchenko’s concert, is worth many multi-page reviews. She truly and figuratively characterizes the feeling you get when listening to her performance of ancient and modern Russian songs. The image of a woman created by her on stage is akin to the songs she sings. Modest and proud, kind and strong, gentle and loving - this is how she seems to be.

Alexandra Strelchenko absorbed her love for the song with her mother’s milk. Everyone in the family sang: dad, mom, sisters. They loved listening to records. The first bright and unforgettable feeling from a Russian folk song is associated with the name of Lydia Andreevna Ruslanova. The wonderful artist captivated me with her dazzling beauty and truth, and captivated me with her spiritual generosity. Therefore, the dream of becoming a singer captured little Sasha from childhood. But fate decreed otherwise...

In the first year of the war, my father died at the front, and in 1945, unable to withstand the severity of inhuman trials, my mother died. What was left was the starvation orphanhood of three little ones (there was also a sister and brother nearby), then a child’s home, and then war, educational institution... With a touchingly clear voice, the girl for the first time publicly performed her first, memorable from beginning to end, popular Soviet songs “Lonely Accordion” by B. Mokrousov (verses by M. Isakovsky) and “Eaglet” by V. Bely (verses by Y. Shvedov). Now Alexandra Ilyinichna remembers that only the song was her friend, her real support, in difficult years. Small, thin, snub-nosed, freckled - who will notice her? And when he sings, they will ask for more, and not only will they show sensitivity, feed, but also say a kind word, which is what the gentleman may need most of all...

After graduating from school, Alexandra worked as a nanny in a kindergarten for a few months, and later decided to enter the Leningrad Pedagogical Institute - she was sure that she could become a good teacher, giving back to people what she herself was deprived of. She entered the correspondence department, but she never became a certified teacher.

In the winter of 1958, she came to Leningrad to take a test. At that time, the Voronezh All-People's Theater was touring there. choir group. The concert stirred my soul to such an extent and stirred up a seemingly forgotten dream of becoming a singer that Alexandra could not stand it, went backstage and said: “Take me with you, I want to hum!” During the intermission, the leaders, almost the entire choir, listened to it, and the conclusion was - to seize it. “Come to Voronezh,” they said. She went without the slightest hesitation and, with lightning speed, to the amazement of the choirmaster V. Efimov, quickly learned all the parts in all the songs, a month later she appeared on stage for the first time as an equal participant in a professional choir. It seemed that the current path had been decided. However, more tests were destined, and very serious ones.

Excessive passion for singing in a choir, inexperience, and inability to maintain oneself in a tense and often loud choral style led to such an overload of the vocal cords that the singer, who had just begun her career, was forced to say goodbye to singing, and, it seemed, for good. But time became not only a healer for physical illness, but also made it possible to comprehend one’s mistakes, and the desire to sing was so great that Alexandra, having again worked for some time in kindergarten, returned to continue her modestly begun artistic path.

Lipetsk Philharmonic, where it was created at that moment youth group, became not only the place for three years of solo work (1959-1962), but also provided the opportunity for more serious studies and professional development. From the Lipetsk Philharmonic, Alexandra Strelchenko went to Moscow for the first time to the All-Russian Creative Workshop of Pop Art for a year-long internship and training concert programs. The vocal class was then headed by People's Artist of the RSFSR Irma Petrovna Yaunzem, a thin performer folk songs and a gentleman with an amazing soul, who treated the young people like a mother and zealously defended their interests. Perhaps she taught her pupils not only or not so much about vocal skills, but also tried to instill in them musical, artistic, human culture, broaden their horizons, and instill a taste for art in general.

Strelchenko managed to put together the necessary efforts to take what was offered. This allowed her to stay in Moscow and, having survived the competition at the Mosconcert, initiate the difficult path of its soloist - a performer of Russian songs. Along this path, gradually there were fewer and fewer defeats, and more and more successes. What helped was a stubborn desire to hum, a growing understanding of the need for daily painstaking work, a desire to understand oneself, to find the only correct orientation. The correctness of the chosen path was proven by Victoria at the International Competition in Sofia during the IX World Festival of Youth and Students in 1968. For bringing Russian folk songs to life (most of them were sung without accompaniment, and this, as is known, is the most difficult aspect of music-making and a real test), Alexandra Strelchenko won a gold medal and first prize.

One after another, new programs were born - folk songs, new songs Soviet composers, ancient, forgotten, but beautiful songs were resurrected, becoming a real revelation in her performance. Stable, well-deserved success came, then the honorary title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1972), and most importantly, her own circle of listeners was formed, filling the halls of Moscow and other cities of the country. And against the backdrop of this already defined success, it was necessary to show courage and have a passionate desire to improve in order to pass exams and study at the Gnessin Musical Pedagogical Institute (1976-1980).

However, Alexandra Strelchenko was not only looking for a diploma, she was striving for the world Big music, within which I wanted to determine and feel the position of my musical circle, their interconnection, their unity. It was these efforts that raised the singer to another level as a musician and brought her to the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra All-Union Radio and Television under the leadership of V. Fedoseev. People's Artist Alexandra Ilyinichna considers the USSR Vladimir Ivanovich Fedoseev and Honored Artist of Russia Olga Ivanovna Dobrokhotova to be her first teachers and mentors, who opened up a strange world to her classical music. She became interested in Wagner, later a feeling for Debussy came, Mussorgsky and Borodin, concerts in Great hall conservatories have become a necessary part of life, and not because there were good friends- violist, violinist, singer or conductor - her human essence has acquired the natural ability to exist in the vast musical world, pushing the boundaries of their previous professional domains. And regular classes at the vocal department (national faculty) with E.K. Gedevanova and L.L. Bazilevich, even before graduating from the institute, was not slow to affect her intense concert activities. Remembering these relatively recent years, A.I. Strelchenko says that although it was very difficult, she was happy with the many artistic discoveries that came to her.

This is how its artistic appearance is formed, its taste is formed. She works more and more enthusiastically, year after year her creative search becomes more interesting and the torment of a critical attitude towards herself becomes stronger. All my knowledge, artistic sensations, comprehension of Russian traditions artistic life and traditions of high folk art, everything that the singer receives from life, people, country, she strives to return everything in her creativity, understanding this not as a duty, but as a necessary spiritual need.

The singer’s varied programs introduce listeners to a world that is special and at the same time recognizable, as if after long wanderings a gentleman returns to his father’s roof and, inhaling his native half-forgotten smells, once again enters the land of grandmother’s tales, lullabies, the purity and transparency of the spring water of childhood. Such associations are evoked by the songs that the singer selects for her repertoire. Her performances include authentic folklore and folk songs and compositions. modern composers. But only those based on the intonation inherent in folk melody. Because the main task of A. Strelchenko’s creativity is love for the Motherland, for its forests and vast expanses, for the people whose work creates glory for the land dear to the heart, for its past, present and future.

That's why business card Alexandra Strelchenko became the song “I Love My Land” by E. Ptichkin based on V. Kharitonov’s doggerel. One of the singer’s programs is also named. High civic feeling expressed lyrical means, close to the performer’s worldview. “The earth is my joy, my favorite song,” she admits her sincere feelings for native land, but does it not for show, but modestly and chastely, with extraordinary dignity. The singer is alien to excessiveness, loudness and self-presentation of a beautiful, strong voice. On the contrary, in the most climactic moments it seems to muffle the flight and sonority of the singing. And this creates a dramatic result, enlarging the musical idea of ​​the song.

A. Strelchenko carefully and thoughtfully selects his repertoire. Having fallen in love with a song, he does not part with it for a long time, making it popular. But the singer is also recognized by the first bars of the musical introduction - these are Strelchenko’s songs. How many of them did she give a start to existence! And after that, it’s already difficult for another performer to turn to the same musical material without repeating the singer’s findings. She selects everything from the composition, finds such colors and shades that sometimes even the creators of the songs discover novelty and ambiguity in them.

The singer's talent is nourished by the juices of the earth. That is why the memory and tribute to those gifted performers of the past who developed Russian song are so strong in her. Alexandra Strelchenko’s recordings and concerts feature songs by Nadezhda Plevitskaya (in particular, “Pockmarked Chickens,” “The Sea Spreads Wide,” “Be Silent,” “Be Silent”), Lydia Ruslanova (“Oh, Mosquitoes,” “Saratov Sufferings,” “On the Murom Path” etc.), guslar singer Nikolai Seversky ("Ah, love, how evil you are", "About the old days"), Olga Kovaleva ("Grandfather", "On the mountain there is a viburnum", "Two flowers on the window", suffering - “I remember what happened”, “My dudar”, “Oh, bloom, curly rowan”, “I have a secret friend”, “The Volga river is deep”, etc.).

The performing arts of Olga Vasilievna Kovaleva became especially close to the artist. Despite all the dissimilarity of creative individuals, many things make them similar, and at one time only a careful, chaste approach to the Russian musical folklore, the same understanding of modernity in the life of ancient and new song which does not allow the slightest alteration or distortion of the melody, rhythm, character, special sympathy to songs glorifying the Motherland and songs revealing prosperity spiritual world Russian woman.

A characteristic feature of Alexandra Strelchenko’s performances is that she not only collects and performs folk songs, but also colorfully comments on them in concerts. For example, she precedes the implementation of small suites of Kursk, Vyatka, historical, ritual songs she has compiled (the suite of wedding songs is especially successful - from the bride’s cry to the final, drinking songs followed by the wedding) with a story about traditions, continuity, and the need carefully preserve these musical monuments of national culture.

Strelchenko's performing habit allowed her to come into contact with music that was new to her everywhere - a city song, an old romance. The simplicity and simplicity of execution made these first steps noticeable and successful. Together with a sextet of orchestra soloists Bolshoi Theater she recorded romances: “In a difficult moment of life” by P. Bulakhov (verses by M. Lermontov), ​​“I won’t tell you anything” by T. Tolstoy (verses by A. Fet), “Stars in the sky” by V. Borisov (verses by E. Diterichs ), "What is this heart..." I. Prigozhego, ancient gypsy romance“I’m in love with the same eyes” by A. Vilinsky (verses by T. Shchepkina-Kupernik, from the repertoire of V. Panina), etc.

A. Strelchenko sings these romances easily, as if humming, although this is where the greatest heaviness lies. Using an alto timbre, which would be a little boyish, she gives these works great simplicity and youthful purity of feeling. The low notes that some singers sound in the chest register, especially in the romances of Borisov and Tolstoy, provoke a pseudo-passionate nature of performance and artificiality of the emotional structure. This is probably why A. Strelchenko’s evenness and lightness of sound made these romances nobler.

On time creative youth she also performed songs by modern composers: “Why did we quarrel” by V. Levashov (verses by N. Palkin), songs by G. Ponomarenko “Motorochka, motorka” (verses by V. Bokov), “Where can I get such a song?” and “Give me a handkerchief” (M. Agashina’s verses), “How the white duck flew” (G. Georgiev’s verses), “Poplars”, “A birch tree grows in Volgograd”, “What happened, happened”, “The golden grove dissuaded” and others. She continues this line of original songs to this day, collaborating with composers Viktor Temnov, Alexander Morozov and others.

The singer’s rich spiritual existence, her genuine interest in the genre of Russian song, her desire to comprehend all the prosperity accumulated not only nationally, but also culturally important, makes her work international. It is clear and therefore highly appreciated on different continents, in different corners of our planet. In France, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Laos and Ceylon, Thailand and Singapore, Alexandra Strelchenko’s performances enjoyed continued success.

In 1984, A.I. Strelchenko was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia. Even these days she continues the tense but inspired existence of an artist, in love with her native occupation. All her work is illuminated by a high desire - for listeners to love Russian song as much as she loves it. Nowadays, the singer continues her fruitful collaboration with the Russian Folk Instruments Orchestra named after N. Osipov under the direction of N. Kalinin, is a member of the song jury and dreams of opening her creative workshop, where she could pass on her skills to young performers.

In her free time, Alexandra Ilyinichna enjoys many things: she loves nature, animals, flowers; prefers classical Russian literature, music, ballet, folk melodies, jazz. Her favorite artists are O. Tabakov and N. Mordyukova, I. Arkhipova and A. Vedernikov.

Lives and works in Moscow.

Also read biographies famous people:

Alexandra Yakovleva Aleksandra Yakovleva-Aasmyae

Alexandra Yakovleva is a popular Soviet and Russian actress. Born July 2, 1957. Real name- Ivanes, for my third husband -..

Alexandra Kulikova Aleksandra Kulikova

Alexandra Kulikova is a Russian actress, born on May 25, 1974. She made her film debut in 2002 in a film called “April”. For today..

Alexandra Cheron Aleksandra Cheron

Alexandra Cheron is an actress, born on January 16, 1983. Alexandra Cheron is known for her roles in such films as: “Mom, I want to sing” 2011,..

Alexey Ananchenko Aleksey Ananchenko

Specialist in the field of reconstruction and development of the historical center of St. Petersburg.

How is the rating calculated?
◊ The rating is calculated based on points awarded over the last week
◊ Points are awarded for:
⇒ visiting pages dedicated to the star
⇒voting for a star
⇒ commenting on a star

Biography, life story of Strelchenko Alexandra Ilyinichna

Alexandra Ilyinichna Strelchenko is a domestic pop singer.

Childhood and youth

In the first year of the war, my father died at the front, and in 1945, unable to withstand the severity of inhuman trials, my mother died. Three small children were left orphans (there was also a sister and brother nearby), then an orphanage, after the war, a school...

After graduating from high school, Alexandra entered the Leningrad Pedagogical Institute. Herzen to the Faculty of Preschool Pedagogy (in absentia), worked as a teacher in a kindergarten.

Creative path

She loved and sang folk songs since childhood, and this love once brought her to a concert of the Voronezh Russian Folk Choir, where she auditioned and was invited to join the choir. The Voronezh choir became the first for Alexandra Strelchenko professional school folk singing.

1960-1962 – Alexandra Strelchenko – soloist of the Lipetsk and Kursk Philharmonic.

In 1962 she entered and in 1963 graduated from the All-Russian Creative Workshop of Pop Art in Moscow, where she studied in the class of Irma Petrovna Yaunzem.

In 1962 she took part in the VIII World Festival of Youth and Students in Helsinki.

In 1962, at the International Competition during the IX World Festival of Youth and Students in Sofia, she was awarded 1st prize and a Gold medal for performing a Russian folk song.

In 1971, for the best radio recording of the folk song “Bela Zorenka” at the International Competition in Bratislava, she was awarded the 2nd prize and the Silver Ear medal.

In 1975 she entered and in 1980 graduated from the State Musical Pedagogical Institute named after. Gnessins (evening department) class of E. Gedevanova.

In 1964, People's Artist of Russia A. Strelchenko became a soloist of the Mosconcert, artistic director of the Folk Art Workshop at the Estrada Concert Association.

Behind long years During her work, the singer toured our entire country with concerts, bringing Russian folk songs to all continents of the world.

CONTINUED BELOW

In long-term cooperation with Academic Orchestra Russian folk instruments Central television and the All-Union Radio under the direction of Vladimir Fedoseev, and then Nikolai Nekrasov, made many radio recordings, which were later included in the Radio Golden Fund.

The Melodiya company has recorded four giant solo records, audio cassettes, including Russian folk songs and songs by Soviet composers.

In the new century, Alexandra Strelchenko continued to actively give concerts with the National Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments named after. Osipov (first under the direction of N. Kalinin, now Ponkin), as well as with municipal orchestras of such cities as Chelyabinsk, Ulyanovsk, Volgograd, Petrozavodsk, Lipetsk, Tula, etc. Alexandra Strelchenko more than once participated in charity events, performing for war veterans and labor, in front of orphans in orphanages; she is an active participant in concerts dedicated to the memory of outstanding figures of our national culture, whom she knew personally, held in the Rossiya Concert Hall, the Concert Hall. , in TsDRI, etc.

As chairman and member of the jury in the “Solo Folk Singing” category, A. Strelchenko visited Smolensk, Bryansk, Vologda, where the Delphic Youth Games were held. She took part in concerts and festivals: the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lydia Ruslanova in Saratov (2000), “Voices of Russia” - Smolensk (2003). There were solo concerts by A. Strelchenko with programs of Russian romance: house-museum, A. Shilov Gallery, House of Scientists, House of Architects, etc.

In 1972, Alexandra Strelchenko was awarded the honorary title of Honored Artist Russian Federation».

In 1984, Strelchenko received the honorary title of People's Artist of the Russian Federation for her services in the field of musical art.

In 1998, Alexandra Strelchenko released the album “Two Flowers on the Window,” which was released on CDs and audio cassettes.

In 2005, the singer released the CD “Autumn is Knocking on the Window...”, which included Russian folk and original songs recorded by the singer in different years.

In 2002, Alexandra Strelchenko was invited to the Moscow State University culture and arts, where, as a professor, she headed the department of solo folk singing.

Alexandra Strelchenko is happy that she continued the singing line of her great predecessors - Olga Kovaleva, Nadezhda Plevitskaya, Lydia Ruslanova, and is grateful to fate for giving her the noble mission of performing continuity, continuing the glorious traditions of the great masters of past years.

People's Artist of Russia Alexandra Ilyinichna Strelchenko is not just an excellent performer of Russian folk songs, but also a figure of Russian folk art who defends it best traditions and passing them on to future generations.

Personal life

Alexandra Ilyinichna married twice. Her first husband's name was Vladimir Chekalov. He worked in the KGB and held the honorary rank of major general. Strelchenko's second husband was Vladimir Morozov, a drummer.

Unfortunately, as often happens, the once brilliant stage star met old age in splendid isolation. At the end of the 2010s, Strelchenko became seriously ill and locked herself at home. Not long before this, Alexandra Ilyinichna once said that she really wanted to remain young and beautiful in the memory of her fans...