When and where was Lev Leshchenko born? Singer Lev Leshchenko: biography, personal life, family, wife, children - photo. — My father was a tough man

A trim figure, military bearing, soft facial 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.

The year of birth of Lev Leshchenko is 1942, the very height of the Great Patriotic War. I had a hungry childhood after war time, but the singer remembers him only with warmth. Nowadays, like half a century ago, Lev Leshchenko is still famous. The biography and 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 they had a boy on February 1st. The father was especially happy. Being already a career military man, he was really looking forward to his son. This event happened in Moscow, so the singer is a native Muscovite, and his entire childhood was spent in Sokolniki.

The Leshchenko family has its roots in the village of Nizy, Sumy district, Kharkov province. The singer’s grandfather, Andrei Vasilyevich Leshchenko, came from there, 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 a factory quartet, and also sang in a church choir. The grandson often visited his grandfather and received his first music and vocal lessons from him.

The singer’s father, Leshchenko Valeryan Andreevich, was born in 1904 and lived long life, having had an excellent military career. After graduating from high school in Kursk, he got a job at a neighboring state farm, then, following the assignment received in 1931, he moved to Moscow. He worked as an accountant, like his father. After being drafted into the Red Army, he never left military work. First he took part in the Finnish campaign of 1939-40, then the Great Patriotic War broke out. He went from soldier to officer and retired with the rank of colonel. He was awarded many medals and orders. Despite the trials that befell him, 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 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 sergeant major Andrei Fisenko was assigned to him. How old was Lev Leshchenko when he first put on military uniform? This is a very interesting fact: at the age of only 4 years, he decided to try on the uniform, and in addition, he stood on soldier’s skis, which were three times longer than himself!

The singer's mother, Claudia 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. Lev Leshchenko’s house was left without feminine warmth for five whole years. In 1948, his father married Marina Mikhailovna, who gave birth to Lev’s sister, Valentina Valerianovna. The boy’s relationship with his stepmother was excellent; the artist still remembers her with love. Adoptive mother She raised her stepson as if she were her own, not depriving her of attention and affection.

School time

Since childhood, Leva dreamed of a career as an artist, listening to Utesov’s songs. Start creative career was laid in the Palace of Pioneers. Not yet deciding what he liked best, the boy attended two clubs: choir and drama. In the first he sang, and in the second he read poetry with rapture. After some time, not a single regional or city amateur show was complete without the vociferous Leo. Soon the boy gave preference to vocals; the teachers completely agreed with his choice. The voice was wonderful, but the lessons in the drama club were not in vain: Leo was no stranger to artistry.

Young Lev Leshchenko

The biography of this period covers the formation of the artist’s personality and mastery of the profession. School years flew by, and young Lev went to enter the theater institute. The first attempt was unsuccessful. The young man decided not to leave 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 a factory.

Having received a summons to the army, Leshchenko sought to get into the naval ship, but his father “tried”, and his son ended up in a tank instead of a ship. Lev was sent to serve in a group Soviet troops in Germany. There, the young soldier was noticed for his voice and remained a soloist in the song and dance ensemble until the end of his service.

In the army, Leshchenko did not forget about his intention to study at the theater. Returning to civilian life, the persistent guy appeared for the fourth time before the admissions committee, which was more favorable and accepted him into the musical comedy department. So Leshchenko became a student at GITIS. In his second year, he played the role of the Sinner in the production of “Orpheus in Hell” at the Operetta Theater. And this was the first step to worldwide fame.

Pop singer Lev Leshchenko

The biography of this time in the artist’s life is the acquisition of fame combined with incredible hard work. 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 tours, an enthusiastic audience, he was drawn to the big stage. Four years later, in 1970, he was accepted by the USSR State Television and Radio. Many experienced singers could only dream of such an invitation. From that moment on, a pop career began: recording songs, live broadcasts on the radio... His talent was recognized by the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra, with which the singer performed.

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 when he performed 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 worth studying! The performer deserved it a large number of titles and awards, some of which I would like to mention here:

1. Honored Artist of the RSFSR - 1977.
2. National artist 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 his talent as a teacher: among his students there are such celebrities as Marina Khlebnikova, Katya Lel, Varvara... His wonderful duet with best friend Vladimir Vinokur is known to everyone and enjoys success both in our country and abroad. Lev Valeryanovich wrote the book “Apology for Memory”, in which he talked about his life.

Lev Leshchenko: biography, personal life

In his personal life, the singer is happy; he was married twice. Lev Leshchenko's first wife, Alla Aleksandrovna Abdalova, was an actress and singer, with whom he lived for 10 years, from 1966 to 1976.

With his second wife, Irina Pavlovna Bagudina, the singer started a family in 1978 and found true 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, a lot different cases it was for long years creative activity.

Interesting Facts:

1. In 1980, at the closing of the Olympics, Lev Leshchenko and Tatyana Antsiferova performed a song that brought all listeners to tears - “Goodbye, Moscow.” The Olympic Bear flew into the sky to this song.

2. Leonid Brezhnev was very fond of songs performed by Leshchenko; no one dared to turn off the TV during the singer’s performance.

3. In 1970, Leshchenko miraculously survived. He was about to tour the south with his musicians and parodist V. Chistyakov. But he was not allowed to leave Moscow, as he had an important speech to perform in the capital. 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 newly started engine saved the passengers of the GAZ car, including Lev Leshchenko, from certain death: the attackers did not have time to reach the frightened travelers.

Lev Valeryanovich Leshchenko. Born on February 1, 1942 in Moscow. Soviet and Russian pop singer. People's Artist of the RSFSR (1983).

He told about the circumstances of his birth: “I was born in February 1942 in Sokolniki. At that time, the Germans were in the Moscow region and a fierce battle was going on for Moscow. Maternity hospitals were not working, and therefore my mother gave birth to me right in the apartment - they lived in two-story house, still built by a merchant. Two grandmother neighbors delivered the baby... Family legend says that at the time of my birth he managed to bring a loaf of bread and a quarter of alcohol. The old women diluted the alcohol with water and rinsed me in this solution, having previously heated the room with a stove, which was done extremely rarely, although the cold at home was terrible - plus three or four degrees.”

His roots are in the village of Nizy, Sumy district, Kharkov province, where his grandfather Andrei Vasilyevich Leshchenko was born, who in 1900 moved from here to the village of Lyubimovka, Kursk province, where he got a job as an accountant at a sugar factory. As Leshchenko said, his grandfather was a musically gifted man, he sang in a church choir and played the violin in a string quartet at the factory.

Father - Valeryan Andreevich Leshchenko (1904-2004), graduated from a gymnasium in Kursk, worked on a state farm, and in 1931 he was assigned to Moscow, where he began working as an accountant at a vitamin plant in Krasnaya Presnya. Drafted into the Red Army, he fought in the Soviet-Finnish War, upon his return from which he was sent to serve in the NKVD. During the Great Patriotic War deputy chief of staff of the regiment special purpose convoy troops, awarded many orders and medals. At the end of the war and until his retirement, he continued to serve in the MGB, the Main Directorate of Border Troops of the KGB. Died at the age of 99.

Mother - Leshchenko Klavdiya Petrovna (1915-1943), died at 28 years old. “Trouble came in September 1943. Something happened to my mother’s throat - either cancer or tuberculosis. How to treat if there is no medicine? They didn’t save it, they buried it,” said Lev Valeryanovich.

My grandmother, my mother’s mother, moved in with them from Ryazan. However, his father did not have a good relationship with her. However, she managed to baptize her grandson: “when my grandmother and I went to see her in Ryazan, she baptized me there in secret from my father. When dad found out about this, he was shocked, and they completely quarreled.”

Soon the father moved the family to Bogorodskoye, where his unit was based, and they settled in an officer’s barracks. The father was busy in the service, and in those years his adjutant, Sergeant Major Andrei Fisenko, was involved in raising the future singer.

Little Lev grew up like a “son of the regiment”: he dined in the soldiers’ canteen, practiced at the shooting range, and marched in formation to the movies. At the age of 4 he wore a military uniform; in winter he walked on soldier’s skis, which were three times longer than the boy. Lev visited his grandfather Andrei Leshchenko, who before October revolution was an accountant and loved music very much: grandfather Andrei played the old violin and taught his grandson to sing.

In 1948, he had a stepmother, Marina Mikhailovna Leshchenko (1924-1981), who gave birth to Lev Leshchenko’s sister, Valentina Valerianovna Kuznetsova (née Leshchenko) (born 1949). “Marina Mikhailovna Sizova turned out to be a kind-hearted, caring, patient stepmother. She came to Moscow from the village of Ternovka, which is along the Volgograd road, entered a medical institute here, and when she got together with her dad, she dropped out of school because she had to raise three children,” - the artist said.

His childhood was spent in Sokolniki, then the family moved to the Voykovsky district, where Lev went to school No. 201.

He attended the choir in the house of pioneers, went in for swimming, attended a literary circle and a brass band. At the insistence of the choirmaster, he gives up classes and only practices singing, performs at school, and performs popular songs.

Lev Leshchenko recalled: “I started singing in the second grade. I suddenly developed a voice, and the music teacher, Lyudmila Andronikovna, began taking me to different musical groups - showing me. She settled on the children’s choir of the Falconer’s House of Pioneers, where I then went for three years. Everyone gasped: “Oh, what a voice the boy has!” "In the tenth grade, I started singing seriously. I bought all sorts of records - I especially liked Italian tenors - I listened and sang. Although I had a strong baritone, which later, in college, turned into a bass-baritone."

After school, he tried to enter theater universities, but he did not succeed, so from 1959 to 1960, he worked as a stagehand at the Bolshoi Theater.

Then, from 1960 to 1961, he worked as a fitter at a precision measuring instruments factory. Then he was drafted into the army, he wanted to be a sailor, he said so at the military registration and enlistment office, but his father ruined his plans, thanks to him Lev was sent to serve in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, in the tank forces.

On January 27, 1962, the unit command sent Lev Leshchenko to the song and dance ensemble, where he became a soloist of the ensemble. In the ensemble, he sang in a quartet, led concerts and read poetry, and sang solo. In the army he begins to prepare for exams at the theater institute.

After the army, Leshchenko came back to enroll in GITIS in September 1964, the exams were already over, but he was given a chance, since they managed to remember the promising performer. In his second year, Leshchenko was accepted into the Operetta Theater at the invitation of the main director Georgy Anisimov, the singer’s teacher at GITIS. The first role - “sinner” in the play “Orpheus in Hell”, consisted of 2 words: “Let me warm myself.”

He studied, according to him, with Pokrovsky, Ansimov, Goncharov, Zavadsky, Efros.

From the same year, work began at the Mosconcert and the trainee group of the Operetta Theater. During the summer holidays, Leshchenko tours with concert teams throughout the USSR.

Since 1966, Lev Leshchenko became an artist at the Moscow Operetta Theater. And on February 13, 1970, the singer became a soloist-vocalist of the USSR State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.

In March 1970, he became a laureate of the IV All-Union Competition of Variety Artists (II prize). In 1972 - laureate of the Golden Orpheus competitions (Bulgaria) and in Sopot (Poland).

Lev Leshchenko - Don't cry, girl

In 1977, the singer was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR, and in 1978 he was awarded the Lenin Komsomol Prize. The footage of the end of the Olympics has already become textbook: to the sounds of Alexandra Pakhmutova’s song “Goodbye, Moscow,” the Olympic Bear flies into the sky.

In the video there are thousands of people at Luzhniki and large-scale crying faces of guests and athletes. The song was performed

Lev Leshchenko and Tatyana Antsiferova - Goodbye, Moscow

In 1980, he was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples, in 1983, for outstanding services, Lev Leshchenko was awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR, and in 1985 he was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor.

In 1990, he created and headed the musical agency theater of variety performances, which in 1992 was awarded State status. The main activity of the theater is organizing tours and concerts, presentations, and creative evenings. Today, the Music Agency unites several large groups, and also collaborates with almost all pop stars, both in Russia and neighboring countries. Over the years, with the participation of the theater, the BFT company, together with director Oleg Ryaskov, produced the musical television film “War Field Romance,” which became a laureate at the 1998 IFF ​​in Volgograd. The theater also took part in the production of the video film “Anniversary... Anniversary... Anniversary...” and the anniversary program of David Tukhmanov “In the wake of my memory”, the program “10 years of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia”. The premiere of the musical TV show “STAR and Young” took place.

Lev Valeryanovich teaches at the Gnessin Music and Pedagogical Institute (now Russian Academy named after the Gnessins). Many of his students became famous pop artists: Marina Khlebnikova, Katya Lel, Olga Arefieva, Varvara and many others.

Over the years creative activity Lev Leshchenko has released over 10 records, CDs and magnetic albums. Among them: “Lev Leshchenko” (1977), “Earth Gravity” (1980), “Lev Leshchenko and the Spectrum Group” (1981), “In the Circle of Friends” (1983), “Something for the Soul” (1987 ), " White color bird cherry" (1993), "The best songs of Lev Leshchenko" (1994), "Not a moment of peace" (1995), "Scent of love" (1996), "Memories" (1996), "World of dreams" (1999), "Simple motive" (2001), as well as over 10 minions. Lev Leshchenko also performed dozens of songs on compilations and original composers' records.

Lev Leshchenko - Farewell

In 1999, a personal star of Lev Leshchenko was laid on the Square of Stars of the State Central Concert Hall “Russia”.

In 2001, Lev Leshchenko’s book “Apology for Memory” was published, in which the artist talks about his life and his contemporaries - outstanding people art, sports and politics.

On February 1, 2002, Lev Leshchenko was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree.

Lev Leshchenko's voice is a soft, voluminous low baritone, with a manly velvety timbre. In his youth and middle age, Lev Leshchenko was very popular both due to his voice and appearance. Leshchenko has always been distinguished by a fit figure, soft, graceful facial features, and a kind smile. This image of him contrasts with the harsh, assertive, grotesque manner of stage behavior with which Leshchenko often performs in duets.

In 2011, he took part as a participant in the Channel One television project “The Phantom of the Opera.” In 2015, he performed as an honorary guest at the KUBANA rock festival.

On March 11, 2014, he signed an appeal from cultural figures Russian Federation in support of the policy of Russian President V.V. Putin in Ukraine and Crimea. Among other stars Russian stage, Lev Leshchenko is included in the sanctions list of Ukraine. He is prohibited from entering Ukrainian territory.

According to Forbes magazine, Lev Leshchenko is the “corporate poet” of the oil giant Lukoil. A corporate anthem was written based on his poems with the following words: “We walked along the highway, climbed ahead, / We bit into the ground, we froze in the tundra, / Fate tested us to the breaking point, / And life then did not seem like paradise to us.”

He is friends with Vagit Alekperov. By according to Forbes, for the Musical Agency pop theater, headed by Lev Leshchenko, partnership with Lukoil is the main source of income.

Russian Railways, Gazprom, and smaller companies also turn to Leshchenko’s services. At these corporate events, Leshchenko not only performs himself, but also brings artists working with other producers.

Lev Leshchenko in the program "Alone with Everyone"

Lev Leshchenko's height: 180 centimeters.

Personal life of Lev Leshchenko:

Was married twice. Have no children.

First wife - (born 1941), singer and theater actress. Married from 1966 to 1976.

They got married when Leshchenko was in his third year. Alla Abdalova was a fifth-grade student and was considered the most talented and promising at the university. “A classical singer, with a beautiful deep mezzo-soprano, a student of Maria Petrovna Maksakova. She was taken into the trainee group of the Bolshoi Theater. But it so happened that because of me she joined the stage. When at the beginning of my third year I was invited to play at the Operetta Theater, I told the artistic director of our course, director Ansimov: “Georgy Pavlovich, I will work for you, just take one more girl.” Not that I set a condition, but I asked very persistently. Alla was hired, and she worked there for two years,” said Lev Valeryanovich.

The discord in the relationship began when Lev Leshchenko’s career took off, he toured a lot, and they began to work in different teams.

The singer recalled: “From the moment Alla and I scattered around different organizations, life began to take us apart - we endlessly went on our own tours. At the same time, I became more and more popular, and she, with all her unconditional talent, remained in the shadows. Which, of course, hurt her. Conflicts, reproaches, and violent quarrels ensued. The situation was heating up. The explosion occurred in 1974 after my month and a half trip to Japan with some ensemble. Reconciliation was already difficult for us, but here disagreements reached their peak. I arrived, and it began: “You only think about yourself, you cheated on me there, you had affairs!” It was simply unbearable, my nerves couldn’t stand it, I felt that I wouldn’t last long like this. And Alla and I parted ways. True, the next year they tried to mend the relationship again. But you can’t step into the same river twice. Honestly, creative people rarely get along together. At the heart of the problem is jealousy - both creative and human."

Alla Abdalova - the first wife of Lev Leshchenko

According to the memoirs of Alla Abdalova, “before Leva, I had men, and he did not come to me as a virgin. But never - neither before nor after - I lost my head like that.” The reason for the breakup of the family, according to Abdalova, was Leshchenko’s affair with Irina Bagudina and the numerous abortions that she was forced to have during marriage due to her husband’s reluctance to have children. She especially grieved the loss of two twin boys. After her divorce from Leshchenko, Alla Alexandrovna never married again and never gave birth to children, which she later bitterly regretted. Along with loneliness, bad habits gradually entered Abdalova’s life.

Second wife - Irina Pavlovna Leshchenko (nee Bagudina, born 1954). They met in 1976 on tour in Sochi. They were introduced by his friend, who was dating Irina’s friend. At that time she was studying in Hungary to become a diplomat.

“And, imagine, I fell in love with Ira almost immediately. It happens like this: I saw it, and inside it was like a signal - mine! As if someone from above whispered: this woman was sent to you, destined, she is your destiny. First of all, Ira attracted me visually - she still looks good, but then she was a rare beauty: a spectacular brunette, though too thin for my taste, but most importantly, she exuded a kind of peace and unaffected love of life. And she was unusually feminine - impeccable style, charm, a little bit of slyness, an insinuating voice, cheerful sparkles in her eyes. And I was also struck by her indifferent attitude towards my person,” said the singer.

In 1978 they got married.

He is interested in sports. As a fan he loves tennis, basketball, swimming. He was the honorary president of the Lyubertsy basketball club “Triumph” (before the team moved to St. Petersburg).

Discography of Lev Leshchenko:

1971 - “Don’t Cry, Girl”
1974 - “Melt Water”
1975 - “Lev Leshchenko”
1975 - “Songs of Yuri Saulsky”
1976 - “Songs of Soviet composers”
1976 - “Lev Leshchenko”
1979 - “Lev Leshchenko”
1980 - “Gravity of the Earth”
1981 - “Parental House”
1983 - “In the Circle of Friends”
1987 - “Something for the soul”
1989 - “Favorite. Songs of Vyacheslav Rovny"
1992 - “The White Color of Bird Cherry”
1994 - “Lev Leshchenko sings for you”
1996 - “Scent of Love”
1996 - “Memories” (2 CDs)
1999 - “World of Dreams”
2001 - “Simple motive”
2002 - “Best”
2004 - “In the Mood for Love”
2004 - “Song for two” - songs by Vyacheslav Dobrynin
2004 - “Territory of Love”
2006 - “Be Happy”
2007 - “Names for all times. Nightingale Grove"
2009 - “Songs of Alexandra Pakhmutova and Nikolai Dobronravov”
2014 - “Anniversary edition. Unknown songs"
2015 - “I’ll give it to you”

Video clips of Lev Leshchenko:

1985 - “Old Tram”
1993 - “There”
1994 - “No need” - duet with Lada Dance
1996 - “Why didn’t you meet me?”
1997 - “Muscovites” - duet with the group “Lyceum”
1997 - “Song of Forgiveness” - duet with Alena Sviridova
1997 - “Hope”
1998 - “Victory Day” - duet with the group “Lyceum”
1999 - “World of Dreams” - duet with Angelica Agurbash
1999 - “Moscow tram”
2009 - “The Girl from the Past”
2011 - “Berezovsky’s Anthem”

Filmography of Lev Leshchenko:

1967 - “The Path to Saturn” - episode
1967 - “Sofya Perovskaya” - episode
1974 - “Yurkin Dawns” - vocals with A. Abdalova, song “Promise”
1975 - “Looking for the Dawn”
1979 - “The grandmothers said in two…” - performs the song “Where have you been?”
1995 - “Old songs about the main thing” - summer resident
1997 - “Old songs about the main thing 3” - announcer of the “Time” program
1998 - “War Field Romance”
2005-2007 - “Doomed to become a star”
2013 - “Treasures of O.K.” - cameo. Performs the song “Don’t Cry, Girl!”

Bibliography of Lev Leshchenko:

2001 - “Apology for Memory”

Songs performed by Lev Leshchenko:

“Alyoshenka” (E. Martynov - A. Dementyev) (music - poetry)
“Scent of Love” (A. Ukupnik - E. Nebylova)
“Aty-Bati” (V. Migulya - M. Tanich)
“Oh, what a pity” (A. Nikolsky)
“Ballad of Mother” (E. Martynov - A. Dementyev)
“White Birch” (V. Shainsky - L. Ovsyannikov)
“White Stork” (E. Hanok - A. Poperechny)
“Careless birds fly” (A. Zhigulin - I. Gabeli)
“We were young and happy” (M. Minkov - L. Rubalskaya)
“In the land where the hills are” (L. Lyadova - V. Petrov)
“The Cherry Orchard” (V. Dobrynin - M. Ryabinin)
“You are leaving” (A. Nikolsky)
“White Blizzard” (O. Ivanov - I. Shaferan)
“In dazzling white” (O. Sorokin - A. Lucina)
“Where have you been” (V. Dobrynin - L. Derbenev)
“Where is my home” (M. Fradkin - A. Bobrov)
“The main thing, guys, is not to grow old in your heart,” together with Joseph Kobzon (A. Pakhmutova - N. Dobronravov and S. Grebennikov)
“City Flowers” ​​(M. Dunaevsky - L. Derbenev)
“Bitter Honey” (O. Ivanov - V. Pavlinov)
"Victory Day"
“Gentlemen Officers” (A. Nikolsky)
“Let's talk” (G. Movsesyan - R. Rozhdestvensky)
“Victory Day” (D. Tukhmanov - V. Kharitonov)
“Long farewell” (E. Kolmanovsky - E. Yevtushenko)
“Dear Birds” (A. Palamarchuk - N. Tverskaya)
“Vicious Circle” (M. Minkov - M. Ryabinin)
“Belated Love” (A. Ukupnik - B. Shifrin)
“For that guy” (M. Fradkin - R. Rozhdestvensky)
“Lace” (N. Pogodaev - K. Krastoshevsky)
“Fly with Aeroflot planes” (O. Feltsman - A. Voznesensky)
“Beloved Women” (S. Tulikov - M. Plyatskovsky)
“Magnitka” (A. Pakhmutova - N. Dobronravov)
“Mine both close and far” (I. Krutoy - R. Kazakova)
“We are one” (K. Gubin - K. Gubin)
“Love lives on Earth” (V. Dobrynin - L. Derbenev)
“We can’t live without each other” (A. Pakhmutova - N. Dobronravov)
“Memory is dear to us” (Yu. Yakushev - I. Kokhanovsky)
“Write me a letter” (V. Dobrynin - M. Ryabinin)
“The Beginning” (G. Movsesyan - R. Rozhdestvensky)
“Don’t cry, girl” (V. Shainsky - V. Kharitonov)
“Not a minute of peace” (V. Dobrynin - L. Derbenev)
“She was right about everything...” (I. Kataev - M. Ancharov)
“Late Woman” (A. Savchenko - R. Kazakova)
“The Last Meeting” (I. Krutoy - R. Kazakova)
“Last Love” (O. Sorokin - A. Zhigarev)
“Why didn’t you meet me” (N. Bogoslovsky - N. Dorizo)
“I invite all friends” (K. Gubin - K. Gubin)
“Gravity of the Earth” (D. Tukhmanov - R. Rozhdestvensky)
“Farewell” (V. Dobrynin - L. Derbenev)
“Parental home” (V. Shainsky - M. Ryabinin)
“Native Land” (V. Dobrynin - V. Kharitonov)
“Wedding horses” (D. Tukhmanov - A. Poperechny)
“The heart is not a stone” (V. Dobrynin - M. Ryabinin)
“Nightingale Grove” (D. Tukhmanov - A. Poperechny)
“Ancient Moscow” (A. Nikolsky)
“Old swing” (V. Shainsky - Yu. Yantar)
“Old Maple” (A. Pakhmutova - M. Matusovsky)
“Tatiana’s Day” (Yu. Saulsky - N. Olev)
“Tonechka” (A. Savchenko - V. Baranov)
“Meadow grasses” (I. Dorokhov - L. Leshchenko)
“I love you, capital” (P. Aedonitsky - Yu. Vizbor)


by Notes of the Wild Mistress

Lev LESCHENKO is rightly considered the most faithful husband of the national stage. He has been married to his wife Irina for 30 years. Few people know that his first wife was singer Albina ABDALOVA. Fortune did not smile on the talented singer of romances. She is lonely, living on a meager pension. An Express Gazeta correspondent found her. Albina Alexandrovna told what prevented the outstanding singer from becoming truly happy.

Maria SVETLOVA:

I tried to arrange a meeting with Albina Abdalova for three years. She politely refused with an iron voice. But this time something broke in her. She willingly supported phone conversation and unexpectedly agreed to meet.

...Trying to walk straight, she left the entrance. She was holding a photograph in her hands. “This is me in my youth. She was like this when Leva and I broke up,” she handed me the photo, as if making excuses for her current unpresentable appearance. On June 19 she turned 67 years old. Smiling guiltily, she doused me with a slight fume.

Sorry, I drank a little,” she apologized, shyly covering her mouth with her hand. - I have almost no teeth now.

Calling on the phone, I asked to visit, but Albina Aleksandrovna did not give in 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 two-room apartment 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. Why do I need three rooms on my own? I exchanged for a two-room apartment. I wanted to show you photographs of us together - young, beautiful. But they got lost somewhere, I can’t find them. I put them away so as not to poison my soul.

Her eyes turned red, she took off her glasses and sobbed like an offended child.

When Leva left, I thought he would take our photographs as souvenirs. But no, I didn’t take a single photo.

I had to shoot a cigarette for my interlocutor. Having lit a cigarette, she calmed down a little and began to reminisce.

Love to the skies

We studied together at GITIS in the operetta department. He is two years younger, although I older than Leva for a year, he just entered after the army. The girls were delighted: what a handsome guy appeared! He also had curls. For some reason he felt shy and straightened them out. But the fact that he had a lisp - he didn’t have complexes and didn’t work with speech therapists. I thought he was good anyway.

One day Leva looked into the dance class. I look - he is looking at me point blank. I'm not timid. After class she came up and asked: “What’s the matter?” He replied that I looked a lot like his niece. I was not at a loss: “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 am the spitting image of my niece!

Levi's stepmother took our visit very seriously; she decided that since Lyova had brought home a girl, that meant he was a bride.

One day I come to class, and he’s standing outside the classroom with a bouquet of daisies,” Abdalova continues. - It’s my birthday. And of all the flowers, I love daisies. He took me by the arm and led me into the front garden of GITIS. He sat him down on a bench and took out a bottle of wine. Then the guys ran to the store... I still can’t stand sweet wine. By the way, when visiting I always had to drink for two. Leva takes a sip, and his diction becomes so loud that you can’t understand anything, just hissing.

Since then, Leva and Alla walked each other home after classes. First he takes her to Karbyshev Boulevard, then she takes him to the Voikovskaya metro station. Then again he is hers.

Somehow we got so carried away 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 dad, mom and sister at home.” The family, of course, was fast asleep. Then he asked me: “Al, is this really our first time?” And I was fooling around, no, I don’t remember something.

Was this your first love as an adult?

No, before Leva I had men, and Leva had women. Before registration, we lived with him for seven years. We met secretly - either at my sister's or at his parents'. Leva once told me: “We never slept with you except in heaven!” That is, everywhere!

It is truly a miracle if you are attracted to a man at any moment... even at the wrong time! There are people around, but I feel: he wants. And he should get it. And I want this too. That is, we are tuned in to the same wavelength... - Albina Alexandrovna took a deep drag on her cigarette and sighed: - After Lyova, I didn’t allow myself anything like that. After all, you can only lose your head with the man you love.

Failed father

Once Lev Valerianovich complained that he did not have the opportunity to raise children. You didn't give birth. The second time he married a woman younger than himself. And this marriage is also barren...

If you are hinting that something is wrong with Lev Valerianovich, then you are mistaken! He's doing well with this. And I was not infertile; he had to have several abortions.

Yes, he sometimes said that we should have 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 continue to be together. I asked him: “Do you love me? If yes, then I’ll give birth.” He didn’t answer me. So I went to the midwife. Another time I got knocked up again, again I asked him what to do. But he has no time for that. He came from Japan, he had impressions... He muttered something like, do as you please. Out of stupidity, perhaps, I asked the doctor who was scraped out of me. She says: "Boy." I didn’t even tell my husband that we would have a son. Then I went for abortions without consultation. One day, after an operation, a doctor told me: “Alla, you could have two great boys. Twins". I felt like I was scalded. I barely made it home. I come and see: Leva is lounging in a chair, chatting on the phone with Slava Dobrynin. And Slava, I’ll tell you, is one of those ladies’ men. I hear them agreeing to go out with the girls. And Leva smiles as if nothing had happened, and also asks me: “What are you doing, old woman?” I answered him: “Do what you want.” But in general, Lyova was not a lover, I never caught him with anyone. Before Irina, his current wife, he never cheated on me with anyone. He's a decent man.

Attractive man

Many women liked Leva, but not only women,” Abdalova laughed good-naturedly, remembering the 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 poorly. Lev Valerianovich did not have suitable clothes. Someone advised me to contact fashion designer Vyacheslav Zaitsev. The couturier invited the singer to come to the studio for a fitting.

Have you noticed that Lev Valerianovich has such an ass... well, not quite like a man should. In general, it’s a homosexual’s dream,” Abdalova giggles kindly. - The first time he was caught by homosexuals was in the toilet near the operetta theater. I saw my man fly out of the latrine all white: “I almost killed myself!” I ask: “A fagot, or what?” And I joke: “It’s no surprise, your butt is wow, I don’t have one like that.” So the fashion designer also appreciated it. Leva persuaded me to go together, he always insisted that I be present during his business conversations, because he is shy. But I didn’t agree that time. And then I see: the husband jumps out from Zaitsev, trembling with indignation. He immediately declares to me: “I won’t 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, it still hangs in her closet at home as a memory.

Edita Piekha couldn’t resist and quipped, what did Lyovochka wear? 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, as Abdalova says, he even sang the signature song “Victory Day” with her help.

Mark Fradkin and his wife treated me very cordially. I often visited their house and tried to take Leva with me. One day Mark called David Tukhmanov and recommended Leva to him as a performer. David brought "Victory Day". Leva didn’t like the song at first. I felt: this is what I need. He winced, but I managed to convince him.

Gave it up without a fight

Albina Alexandrovna fell silent and took in her hands the bouquet of flowers that I gave her.

These are the ones Leva gave me. I always believed him. And he deceived me. I immediately felt that he had a woman on his side and said: “I need all of you. Once you have someone else, leave.” And then she filed for divorce. He himself would never have decided to break up. What a fool she was!

He said that a friend was going to introduce him to Irina, his current wife, but fate got ahead of him: they accidentally collided in the elevator. I know this friend. This is Fima Zuperman. In those years he was a famous card sharper. Fima led night look life. He dropped into our house in the evening and stayed until the morning. I couldn’t stand it, I drove everyone away, because Leva was either going to a recording session or a concert in the morning, and he didn’t get enough sleep. Fima got angry and somehow threatened: “You don’t like my company, so I’ll divorce you from Leva.” And he got divorced. He specially arranged everything, brought Leva and Irina together. But Leva was unable to give birth to children... And despite 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 one. She receives a small pension. Therefore, he earns money by singing in churches.

I walked Albina Alexandrovna to the entrance. In parting she said:

Call me tomorrow please. Otherwise, no one calls me except my sister.

REFERENCE

* Albina ABDALOVA was born on June 19, 1941, a singer of romances. She sang in Leonid Utesov's orchestra. Together with Lev Leshchenko she recorded the songs “Old Maple”, “Song of Young Neighbors”, and a song for the film “Yurkin Dawns”. She worked at Mosconcert and is now retired.

* Lev LESCHENKO was born on February 1, 1942. Since 1970, the soloist of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, after victories at the Golden Orpheus and in Sopot - laureate of the Lenin Komsomol Prize, since 1983 - People's Artist of the RSFSR, 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 was touring and Irina was on vacation. 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 was a very popular performer during the Soviet years. One of remarkable facts His biography is that he was born in 1942, that is, during the war. According to Lev Valeryanovich himself, at that time German troops reached the Moscow region and fierce battles took place every day for the capital. In connection with all this, maternity hospitals, naturally, did not work, so the future Soviet pop star was born right under the roof of his home. And the neighbor’s grandmothers helped with the birth. But it’s very cool that, despite such difficult and terrible first years of his life, the boy survived, grew up and became famous person performing wonderful songs.

Height, weight, age. How old is Lev Leshchenko

Leshchenko Lev Valeryanovich, real name whose name is Leshchev, a very popular performer on the Soviet and post-Soviet stage, People's Artist. He was born during wartime, but, despite all the horrors and hardships of this period, he and his family managed to survive. Lev Valeryanovich is a performer of beautiful songs with heartfelt, soul-touching lyrics. Of course, in our time, post-Soviet singers are no longer as in demand as before. But even despite this, there are still people who are interested in such details about him as height, weight, age.

It’s easy to calculate how old Lev Leshchenko is. Lev Valeryanovich was born in 1942, which means that he was already 75 years old. The celebrity's height is quite large and is approximately 180-182 centimeters. As for weight, the data here varies slightly. Mostly sources claim that Lev Valeryanovich weighs 67 kilograms, but there are also those who claim that he weighs 90 kilograms. But, if you look at the photographs, his figure is very good, so we will trust the majority. So, his approximate weight is 67 kilograms.

Biography of Lev Leshchenko

Lev Valeryanovich Leshchenko was born on February 1, 1942, he is a native Muscovite. As mentioned above, he is 75 years old, however, looking at this truly military bearing, soft facial features and good-natured smile, you cannot even immediately say that he is already so old - this impressive man looks younger than his years.

Despite the fact that the singer's childhood was difficult post-war years, he has only good memories of this time.

The biography of Lev Leshchenko is impressive. The future Soviet pop star spent his childhood in Sokolniki, and later the family moved to the Voykovsky district. It was there that the boy went to school. From a young age, Leo began to show interest in music. He sang in a choir and played in a brass band. Around the same time, the choirmaster notices young talent performer talent. Leo throws mugs and dedicates free time singing. School performances began, at which he mainly performed songs by L. Utesov. According to Leshchenko himself, he started singing quite early - already in the second grade. However, he began to take things most seriously already at a conscious age - in the tenth grade. Ultimately, his voice acquired a bass-baritone timbre.

When the time came to enter a university, Lev began to storm theater institutes and universities, but none of the attempts was successful. That’s why the guy spent the 59-60s at the Bolshoi Theater as a worker.

During the period of conscription into the army, young Leshchenko expressed a desire to become a sailor, but his father (also a military man) did not allow him. As a result, he went to Germany, to the Soviet tank forces. It was there that in 1962 he became a soloist in a military song and dance ensemble. There he not only sang solo, but also recited poetry and even hosted events. During this same period, he begins to prepare for another attempt to obtain higher education. In 1964 he finally entered GITIS. In his second year of study, at the invitation of one of the teachers, Leshchenko entered the operetta theater. On summer holidays he goes on tour with concert groups throughout the Soviet Union.

In 1966, Lev Leshchenko became an artist of the capital's operetta theater on an official basis. And four years later he became a soloist-vocalist of the state television and radio broadcasting. It must be said that the years 70 and 72 are very significant for Leshchenko. He is noted as the winner of the fourth international competition pop artists, and as a laureate of the Golden Orpheus in two countries at once

In 1977, Lev Valeryanovich received the “Honored Artist”. A year later he becomes the winner of the prize named after. Lenin. And these are not the last awards for such a talented person. In 1983, Leshchenko became a People's Artist. In 1985 he received such a significant order as the “Badge of Honor”.

In 1990, Lev Leshchenko organized a theater called “Musical Agency”. Two years later, his brainchild was recognized as state-owned. It is noteworthy that the theater organizes concerts and various events. Nowadays, the Music Agency cooperates with many stars not only in Russia, but also in nearby countries. Now Leshchenko teaches at Gnesinka. Many famous performers of the last twenty years have come under his patronage.

Over the years of his work, this famous person has released more than a dozen records, discs and cassettes. Since 1999, a star named after Lev Leshchenko has been on the Square of Stars of the State Central Concert Hall. And in 2001, he published a book of his own composition - an autobiography called “Apology for Memory.”

Personal life of Lev Leshchenko

The personal life of Lev Leshchenko, according to the singer himself, is happy, no matter what.

The famous musical performer and respected teacher was married twice during his life. Leshchenko’s first wife was a woman of the same creative profession - actress and singer Alla Alexandrovna Abdalova. At first glance, everything was fine, but in the end, the marriage with her lasted only a dozen years - from 66 to 76.

Lev Valeryanovich found true family happiness with Irina Pavlovna Bagudina, whom he married in 1978. The woman is twelve years older than himself, yet they are happy together to this day.

Family of Lev Leshchenko

The singer’s father, Valeryan Andreevich, graduated from the Kursk gymnasium and got a job on the farm. In the thirties he was sent to the capital, where he received the position of accountant at a factory. Passed Soviet-Finnish war in the ranks of the Red Army, after which he worked in the NKVD. During the next war, he held the high position of deputy chief of staff of the cavalry troops. Received many awards. During his retirement years he worked in the MGB. Valeryan Leshchenko died in 2004, at the very respectable age of 99 years.

The performer’s mother, Klavdia Petrovna, died very early at the age of 28. Little Leo was only a year old at the time. According to Lev Valeryanovich, this happened in September 1943, at the very height of the war. An illness—either cancer or tuberculosis—struck my throat. Treatment was not possible due to the almost complete lack of drugs. The woman's life could not be saved.

Soon the small family of Lev Leshchenko settled in Bogorodskoye, where his military unit.

Five years after his wife’s death, Leva’s father married again. Marina Mikhailovna Sizova became her son’s stepmother. Another year later, sister Valechka was born. Leshchenko remembers his stepmother with warmth. According to him, she was kind, patient and caring. A woman came to the capital from the village of Ternovka to enroll in medical university, but when she got along with Valerian, she abandoned her studies in favor of raising children.

Children of Lev Leshchenko

The children of Lev Leshchenko are a separate topic for him. To be honest, he never produced children in any of his marriages. What Lev Valeryanovich himself very much regrets. As for illegitimate children, the singer just laughs.

Once, in response to a journalist’s words about rumors that Leshchenko has illegitimate son, the singer replied: “Perhaps he is, but then he should already be over forty. I definitely don’t have children in my marriage. And if we take into account the rumors, I should have children in almost half the country! This is already familiar. One day they called my wife and said that I had a child. They only replied that she was very happy for me. If I really have a son or daughter, then why not find me and tell me about it?”

Ex-wife of Lev Leshchenko - Albina Abdalova

Few people know about this, but ex-wife Lev Leshchenko - Albina Abdalova - became Albina Leshchenko in 1966. They studied together at GITIS. The first meeting of the future spouses took place in 1964, at a concert event in honor of the October holidays, when Lev was in his first year and Albina was in his third. It is noteworthy that the girl was known throughout the institute as the most capable student. The tall, slender blonde immediately attracted Leshchenko’s attention.

They got married in 1966, but lived together for only ten years. The reason for the divorce was frequent separations and creative jealousy. In 1976, the couple divorced.

Today, Albina Abdalova lives alone on a small pension.

Lev Leshchenko's wife - Irina Leshchenko

Leshchenko entered into a second marriage two years after his divorce from Abdalova. Lev Leshchenko's wife, Irina Leshchenko (nee Bagudina), is twelve years older than her husband, but this did not stop both of them from building a happy marriage, in which they have lived for the last forty years.

They met in Sochi in 1976. Irina was on vacation, and Lev Valeryanovich was at work. Conducted touring performances. Irina Leshchenko is the daughter of diplomats, received a good higher education abroad - she graduated from the university in Budapest.

It is worth noting that it was their meeting that was the last straw - after this, the marriage of Leshchenko and Abdalova came to an end.

Photo of Lev Leshchenko before and after plastic surgery

Everyone wants to look beautiful, regardless of age. And everyone knows that this is especially important for public people— performers and actors, because they are constantly under the gun of video cameras. Fans look up to them and look up to them. The simplest and most effective option in our time is to do plastic surgery.

Some people simply undergo a facelift, and some, after the surgeon’s work, have their facial features radically changed, and the result is not always successful. Lev Valeryanovich was no exception. Photos of Lev Leshchenko before and after plastic surgery are easy to find on the Internet. Fortunately, there are no particularly significant changes in his face, and he looks good. Thanks to plastic surgery or not, the singer’s appearance does not correspond to his real age.

Instagram and Wikipedia Lev Leshchenko

Instagram and Wikipedia of Lev Leshchenko are publicly available information.

Wikipedia contains short dossier singer, information about his personal and creative life, information about songs performed, duets with other artists, a list of music albums and even a short filmography.

Leshchenko opened an account on the popular Instagram network in 2014. In the caption under the first photo, which dates back to September 9, Lev Valeryanovich thanks his fans for their love and devotion, and adds that he will personally manage the account, despite the fact that new phone I haven't mastered it too well yet. Vladimir Vinokur, a friend of the singer, is also registered in this network. It is quite possible that Leshchenko created the account precisely with his light hand.

Lev Leshchenko – golden baritone Soviet era, a singer whose biography and personal life have always become a topic of discussion.

Biography

The biography and personal life of Lev Leshchenko amazes with its rapid rise and unexpected turns- from a stage worker at the Bolshoi Theater to a popularly beloved artist, a full holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland.

https://youtu.be/nHvkhKxUbt0

Childhood and family

Lev Leshchenko was born in 1942, in Moscow. He inherited the gift of singing from his grandfather Andrei Vasilyevich, a Ukrainian by nationality. My grandfather was involved in music all his life: he sang in the choir and played string instruments.

But father Valeryan Andreevich, born in 1904, connected his life with service in the NKVD troops, rose to high ranks in the KGB, was awarded many times and, just a year short of his centenary.

Lev Leshchenko lost early my own mother, and when he was six years old, she was replaced by her stepmother.

The most early childhood Lev passed among the army barracks, he was considered something like a “son of the regiment” and a brave foreman was involved in his upbringing. And then the father had no time for his son.

Lev Leshchenko in his youth and now

Leshchenko's pioneering years were spent in a painful search for his true destiny: he tried himself in the dramatic field, dreamed of the theater, sang in the choir. It was the choirmaster of the House of Pioneers who advised him to concentrate on singing. Leshchenko’s repertoire at that time consisted mainly of popular songs by Utesov.

The first attempt to break into theater universities was unsuccessful. I had to learn other professions: stage worker, assembly mechanic. He was drafted into the army and, under the patronage of his father, ended up in the GSVG.


Lev Leshchenko in the army

In the army he joined the song and dance ensemble of the 2nd Guards Tank Army in Germany. In this team I gained the necessary experience, and after demobilization managed to enter GITIS.

The talented student was noticed, and already in his second year he was invited to join the troupe of the famous Operetta Theater. The singing career began.

Carier start

After four years of work in operetta, Leshchenko goes to work at the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company and dramatically changes his repertoire: he begins to perform arias from classical operas.

In the early seventies, Leshchenko collaborated with the Silantyev and Rozhdestvensky orchestras, performing works by Frenkel and Rodion Shchedrin. First big success comes in 70: Leshchenko becomes a laureate of the All-Union Variety Artists Competition for performing songs by Oscar Feltsman.

In the year 72 comes international recognition: Leshchenko performs brilliantly at the Golden Orpheus competitions in Bulgaria and Sopot in Poland.


Lev Leshchenko beginning of his career

The singer's popularity in the 70s became incredible. Fans are seriously interested in the biography and personal life of Lev Leshchenko, and collect his photos.

Leshchenko becomes the main performer of songs on patriotic themes, tours the entire Soviet Union and the countries of the socialist camp with concerts, and receives Lenin Komsomol awards.

Of course, Leshchenko’s main song of those years was “Victory Day” by composer Tukhmanov. It was first performed in 1975, and since then the words “a holiday with tears in our eyes” have become popular.


Lev Leshchenko - “Victory Day” 1975

The most important songs of Leshchenko from the repertoire of the 70s:

  • "For that guy"
  • "Love, Komsomol and Spring"
  • "Thank you for the silence"
  • "I love you, capital"
  • "Nightingale Grove"
  • "Don't cry, girl"
  • "Parent's House"
  • “The Gravity of the Earth” and others.

Music and films

The 80s were a time of great changes in the biography and personal life of Lev Leshchenko - this included life with a new young wife, and new heights in song and musical creativity.

Duet of Leshchenko and Antsiferova “Goodbye, Moscow!” became the farewell song of the Moscow Olympics, and the song quickly gained worldwide fame, and Leshchenko’s photo appeared on the pages of international publications.

During these years, Leshchenko tried himself in a new role: he created VIA “Spektr”.


Duet of Leshchenko and Antsiferova at the 80 Olympics

In 1990, another significant revolution occurred in the biography and personal life of singer Lev Leshchenko - he headed the Musical Agency theater, which later received state status. The theater is engaged in concert activities and organizing tours, as well as producing television films such as “War Field Romance”, “10 Years of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia”, “In the Wave of My Memory” and others.

During his creative career, Leshchenko released 28 discs of various formats. They are invariably in demand, network users download them to iTunes.

In total, Lev Leshchenko took part in 15 videos, including together with popular young performers: the group “Disco Accident”, Lada Dance, Angelica Agurbash and others.


Lev Leshchenko and Anzhelika Agurbash

During his creative career, Lev Leshchenko starred in ten films, sometimes in a cameo role, that is, playing himself. The most famous of these paintings:

  • "The Path to Saturn"
  • "Old songs about the main thing"
  • "Doomed to become a star."

Lev Leshchenko Honored and People's Artist of the RSFSR, laureate of many song awards, full holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland.


Lev Leshchenko in the film “Doomed to Be a Star”

Personal life

The biography and personal life of Lev Leshchenko so developed that he has no children. Leshchenko met his first wife, singer Albina Abdalova, at GITIS. They got married in 1966 and were married for ten years.

For many years, the first wife of Lev Leshchenko lived in seclusion, without giving any interviews and without disclosing details of her biography and personal life, and only in last years broke her vow of silence.

Lev Leshchenko met his new young wife on tour in Sochi, when they rode together in the same elevator. Amazingly, then Irina had no idea who was in front of her, and mistook Lev for some respectable gangster.


Lev and Irina Leshchenko

Albina became aware of her husband's whirlwind romance, and she suggested breaking up. For the sake of his future young wife, Lev Leshchenko decided to make a sharp change in his biography and personal life, and filed for divorce from his first wife.

Since 1978, Lev and Irina Leshchenko have been considered one of the strongest and harmonious families V Russian show business. Undoubtedly, Lev Leshchenko’s wife, a then young woman born in 54, dreamed of children, but her biography and personal life were predetermined by the doctors’ diagnosis of “infertility.” However, this did not affect their future relationship in any way.

Irina Leshchenko is one of the ascetic wives. For the sake of her family and husband, she gave up own career. Leshchenko himself says that she skillfully manages the entire household, and he turns into a “henpecked” man at home. For him, his beloved wife is “a person against whom there are no complaints.”


Lev Leshchenko and his wife Irina

Irina Leshchenko said in an interview that the secret of a long family life was that she never humiliated her husband with jealousy. Yes, he still has a whole army of fans, yes, young, beautiful backing vocalists always perform on stage with him. But this is part of his job, to be jealous of this is stupid.

Perhaps the most interesting fact in the life of Lev Leshchenko is his long-term friendship with Vladimir Vinokur.

They met 48 years ago, when young Vinokur, who had just returned from the army, came to enroll in GITIS. Leshchenko played a prank on him, introducing himself as a member of the selection committee and forcing him to sing, dance and read fables. Later, mutual friendly pranks became an integral part of their lives.


Lev Leshchenko with friend Vladimir Vinokur

Over the years, there have never been any conflicts or quarrels between friends. Vinokur is admittedly Leshchenko’s best parodist, but he never took offense, but began to parody in response, and it turned out no less funny.

When Vinokur miraculously survived a car accident in Germany in 1992, the first to come to his aid were Kobzon and Leshchenko.


Artists Lev Leshchenko, Vladimir Vinokur, Kobzon

A few more not so widely known facts from the singer's life:

  • Leshchenko’s first role on the stage of the Operetta Theater consisted of one phrase: “Let me warm up”
  • Leshchenko's first entertainer at the concert was Gennady Khazanov.
  • On the Square of Stars near the Rossiya concert hall there is a star of Lev Leshchenko.
  • Leshchenko himself writes the lyrics to some of his songs.
  • He was an honored guest of the KUBANA rock festival.
  • In 2001 he published the book “Apology of Memory”.
  • Leshchenko is an active sports fan.
  • Lev Leshchenko wrote the text of the corporate anthem of the Lukoil company.
  • Leshchenko taught at the Gnessin School, and among his students were Katya Lel, Varvara, Khlebnikova and other famous performers.
  • Leshchenko gave more than ten thousand concerts during his career.

Lev Leshchenko on stage

Lev Leshchenko now

In 2016, Lev Leshchenko, quite unexpectedly, became a participant in an international scandal. Democrats used his image in the US election race. IN commercial Leshchenko was introduced by Russian billionaire Aras Agalarov, who sponsors Donald Trump's campaign headquarters. Leshchenko took this news rather ironically and abandoned the idea of ​​suing American PR people.

In 2017, Lev Leshchenko celebrated his 75th birthday summer anniversary. In the State Kremlin Palace In honor of this date, a large concert “Me and My Friends” took place. In addition to the hero of the day, Vinokur, Soso Pavliashvili and many other Russian pop stars took part in the concert.


Stas Mikhailov congratulates Lev Leshchenko on his anniversary

The hero of the day received many warm congratulations, including from the country's top leadership. Lev Leshchenko was called a symbol of the era, an integral part of the country’s history, and his songs were called the cultural code of a generation.

Last year, the premiere of the film “The Last Hero” was a huge success, with Lev Leshchenko taking part in the recording of the soundtrack.

In 2018, Lev Leshchenko became a confidant of the candidate in the presidential elections of the Russian Federation.

Lev Leshchenko took part in the last sad events - farewells to Dmitry Hvorostovsky and Vladimir Shainsky. He said with bitterness about Hvorostovsky that he again attracted a full house.


Lev Leshchenko at farewell to Vladimir Shainsky

The secret of Lev Leshchenko’s unfading popularity is worthy of separate study. The wonderful texture, the unique timbre of the voice, the acting charm played their role, but there were other singers with no less good abilities, but where are they now? Their names have sunk into oblivion, they are forgotten.

Meanwhile, those who are familiar with the era of the 70s and 80s first-hand know that the attitude towards the work of Lev Leshchenko was ambiguous. Many critical arrows were fired at him.

Lev Leshchenko was reproached for his overly pretentious manner of performance, for his passion for performing loyal songs in the spirit of “love, Komsomol and spring.” Among the intelligentsia he was called the singer of officialdom and, in a sense, the antipode of Vladimir Vysotsky.


Lev Leshchenko

“Big things are seen from a distance,” and now, after years, it becomes clear that many of these reproaches were unfair. Few people know that in 1979 Leshchenko made the film “Rehearsal before the Performance,” which was simply banned by censorship. Lapin, head of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, called this work ideological sabotage. In the film, Leshchenko appeared as a guy in jeans, and the disco-rock music was written by the then unknown Vyacheslav Dobrynin.

In those days, many popular artists and performers faced a dilemma: either behave correctly and do what your superiors expect from you, or get blacklisted and disappear from radio and television screens, losing the opportunity to perform on stage. Not everyone became dissidents, which is why they made certain compromises.


Lev Leshchenko and Vyacheslav Dobrynin

If Leshchenko had behaved any differently, the fate of Valery Obodzinsky could have awaited him, who, despite all his enormous talent, was simply “cut off” and disappeared from view of listeners for decades.

In the end, the viewer and listener are always right. And Lev Leshchenko still has a listener. His CDs are bought, there are never empty halls at his concerts. And that means he found his way to the hearts of people. For a singer, there is no greater reward than being in demand among the audience.


Lev Leshchenko

It’s no secret that vocal abilities inevitably decline with age, but Leshchenko still has a “wow” voice, and he can easily give a head start to many young performers. He looks great, maintains excellent physical shape, and moves well on stage. Sometimes it seems that the years simply have no power over him.

I would like to hope that best song Lev Valeryanovich has not yet been sung. There will be more new concerts and new unforgettable hits. Leshchenko himself taught us that almost every song he performed became a hit.

https://youtu.be/G6WZjuzl7Es



What else to read