In Moscow they said goodbye to Alexander Shirvindt
Photo: Ivan MAKEEV
At the request of relatives, the farewell ceremony was postponed until one o’clock in the afternoon so that the funeral procession had time to reach the center of Moscow from Krasnogorsk, where the funeral was held in the chapel of the Military Hospital. with his loved ones. The journalists arrived at the Satire Theater long before the start and found an almost surreal image: a deserted auditorium, on the stage there were wreaths, flowers, a portrait of Alexander Shirvindt, rows of chairs and an empty pedestal, as if they were simple decorations . for a performance. As if nothing bad had happened.
At the request of relatives, the farewell ceremony was postponed until one o’clock in the afternoon so that the funeral procession had time to reach the center of Moscow from Krasnogorsk, where the funeral was held in the chapel of the Military Hospital. with his loved ones.
Photo: Ivan MAKEEV
– There is still no clear understanding of what happened. Alexander Anatolyevich is probably enveloping us with his dome of energy,” admitted the artistic director of the Satire Theater Sergei Gazarov. – He is the soul of this theater. His soul is here forever.
At 1:00 p.m. a long queue had formed that reached the concert hall. Tchaikovsky.
Photo: Ivan MAKEEV
At 1:00 p.m. a long queue had formed that reached the concert hall. Tchaikovsky. Artists and important personalities approached the service entrance of the theater: Vladimir Vinokur, Nikas Safronov, Evgeny Gerasimov, Andrey Zhitinkin, Leonid Yarmolnik, Leonid Kanevsky, Mikhail Mishin, Mikhail Shvydkoy, Tatyana Dogileva, Yuliy Gusman, Ivan Urgant, Alexandra Zakharova, Roxana Babayan, Vera Alentova, Yulia Menshova, Igor Zolotovitsky, Stas Namin, Gennady Khazanov, Alexander Oleshko, Vladimir Mashkov, Alexander Strizhenov… Not to mention the artists of the Satire Theater. All of them were united by their love for Alexander Anatolyevich. In the theater they called him Papa Shura. They said it was impossible not to love him, he had so much human warmth. And so much irony, impressiveness, wisdom, kindness, intelligence. His faith in the actors gave them wings, so many felt personal pain over his death.
Alexander Shirvindt will be buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery after his cremation, according to his will.
Photo: Ivan MAKEEV
The hearse has arrived. A coffin was placed on the stage, next to which family and friends sat. The auditorium was filled with people. Excerpts from performances with the participation of Shirvindt and sequences from the Soviet television program “Around Laughter” were shown on the screen at the back of the stage. The music of Eduard Artemyev and Evgeniy Doga was heard.
Vera Alentová
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The civil memorial event was opened by people’s artist Yuri Vasiliev. He came out in a tuxedo given to him by Alexander Shirvindt and which he was scheduled to wear to Alexander Anatolyevich’s 90th birthday. But I had to put it on before and for another reason. He was the presenter together with Maxim Averin.
Leonid Kanievski
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– Our theater has been crying for three days. Today we say goodbye to the People’s Artist of Russia, the President of our theater,” said Yuri Vasiliev. – These all seem to be the right words, but I think Alexander Anatolyevich would not like them. With his sense of humor, with his self-irony… Therefore, I will say it another way. Today we will release it on a flight to a planet called Shirvindt. Yes, Alexander Anatolyevich has his own planet of his. It is only ten kilometers long. Located next to the planet Ranevskaya. I hope there are lakes on this planet where he can fish. But before flying there, it would be nice if he left us a little of his irony, his self-irony, his intelligence… And most importantly, his wisdom.
Philip Kirkorov
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The civil funeral took place in its own way: people approached the microphone and spoke kind words. We read a telegram of condolences from Vladimir Putin.
Oleg Menshikov
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Mikhail Shvydkoy, an old friend of Alexander Shirvindt, spoke:
– Dear Tatochka (Natalya Nikolaevna Belousova, widow. – Author), Misha, the entire Shirvindt family and the entire Satire Theater family… According to the old order, the obituary should begin with the words: Soviet art has suffered a loss irreparable… This loss is truly irreparable. Shura and non-existence are incompatible things. He was an actor, director, writer and theater director. Everything together formed a phenomenon whose name is Shirvindt. He had the magnetic power to talk to everyone at a very short distance. He lived almost 90 years and during these 90 years he did not spoil the biography of him. Shura, we’re probably to blame for you. We all really wanted to celebrate your 90th birthday… Please forgive us that this didn’t happen. But don’t say goodbye.
Mikhail Shirvindt
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Vera Alentova, who played the wife of the hero Alexander Shirvindt in the play “Honoring”, recalled how he jokingly called her “my second wife.” And she thanked fate for having him in her life: “See you, Alexander Anatolyevich.” Alexander Oleshko called Shirvindt’s departure “a universal catastrophe, as if he had lost his father.”
Maxim Averin
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Vladimir Mashkov admitted that Shirvindt is the personification of beautiful and easy in the acting profession: “He treated me very tenderly and I have always loved him and will love him.”
Nikas Safronov
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Maxim Averin read a telegram from Oleg Basilashvili, who called Shirvindt a man on vacation. Ivan Urgant said that he would always remember Shirvindt’s friendly kiss: “I kissed a living monument. He called this process “turning the old cheek.” How to explain how he joked him? Everything was decided by his intonation. He didn’t do anything and we all laughed. Thank you for being with us, you will be with us. Nothing has changed in my heart.”
Sergei Stepashin
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The flow of those who wanted to speak and say what Alexander Shirvindt meant to them did not dry up. Some declared their love for Alexander Anatolyevich with their own words, others with poetry… Many were verbose, and in general, being on stage next to Shirvindt was a great honor. Nobody wanted to leave.
Ivan Urgant
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Gennady Khazanov spoke:
– I seem to hear Shirvindt’s words now: “shorter and less pretentious”…
Konstantin Ernst
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But Khazanov could not be stopped either.
Mikhail Shvydkoi
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“Today we say goodbye to happiness,” said journalist Yuri Rost.
It was impossible to stop the flow. Everyone loved Shirvindt. His widow Natalya Nikolaevna (also almost 90 years old) bravely attended the entire funeral. But she was clear that it was very difficult for her.
Photo: Ivan MAKEEV
Finally, Maxim Averin asked to end the ceremony. According to theatrical tradition, the coffin was carried off the stage to endless applause. Alexander Shirvindt will be buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery after his cremation, according to his will. Recall that the People’s Artist of the RSFSR died of heart disease in the Military Clinical Hospital on March 15 at the age of 90.
According to theatrical tradition, the coffin was carried off the stage to endless applause.
Photo: Ivan MAKEEV
