Lev Leshchenko | |
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Лев Лещенко | |
 Leshchenko in 2019 | |
| Born | Lev Valerianovich Leshchenko (1942-02-01)1 February 1942 (age 83) Moscow,Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Alma mater | Russian Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Title | People's Artist of the RSFSR(1983) |
| Awards |
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| Musical career | |
| Genres | Soviet music,operatic pop,pop,Soviet estrada |
| Years active | 1959–present |
Musical artist | |
| Website | levleschenko |
Lev Valerianovich Leshchenko (Russian:Лев Валерьянович Лещенко; born 1 February 1942), is a Russian singer,[1] who is best known for his rendition of "Den Pobedy" and the1980 Summer Olympics closing ceremony theme song "Do svidanya, Moskva".
Lev Leshchenko was born on 1 February 1942 in Moscow,Soviet Union. His father, Valerian Andreyevich Leshchenko (1904–2004), was a Red Army officer who was at war outside of Moscow. His grandfather was from the village of Nizy in the Kharkov province, which at that time was part of the Russian Empire. In 1900, he moved to the Kursk province, where he got a job as an accountant at a factory. Grandfather Leshchenko was a musical person: he sang in the church choir, played many instruments. Lev Valeryanovich's father moved to Moscow in 1931. Having gone through the Winter War, and then the Great Patriotic War, he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was awarded many orders. He was awarded medals for his participation in theSecond World War. His mother, Klavdiya Petrovna Leshchenko (née Fedoseyeva; 1915–1943), died shortly after Lev was born, so he was raised by his stepmother Marina Mikhailovna.[2] His grandparents, along with his stepmother Irina Pavlovna Leshchenko, whom his father married in 1948, brought Leshchenko up inSokolniki, Moscow. During his childhood, he was introduced to classical music and theatre, and began performing songs byLeonid Utyosov.[3][4]
Between 1959 and 1960, Leshchenko worked as a stagehand at theState Academic Bolshoi Theatre, and before being conscripted into thearmy in 1961, he worked as an adjuster at aprecision measuring instrument factory. Leschenko served in the mechanical vehicle division of the Soviet Army, positioned in theGerman Democratic Republic. On 27 January 1962, Leshchenko (then a private) became a soloist within theSoviet Red Army Ensemble, and received an offer to remain in the army. Leshchenko accepted every role offered to him by the ensemble, from singing in a quarter, conducting concerts and even reading verses, where it is said his entertainment career began. At the same time, he was preparing for the theatrical examinations of theRussian Academy of Theatre Arts (abbreviated as GITIS), the most respected theatrical school of theSoviet Union, which he passed and was successfully admitted to in September 1964.[5]
Leshchenko began touring with concert bands, visiting some of the more isolated parts of the country. In 1969, Leshchenko was admitted as a member of the Moscow Operetta Theatre. He took up many minor musical roles, but was aware of his musical gift and was constantly looking for soloist acts. On 13 February 1970, having won a contest held by the state radio station, Leshchenko became a solo vocalist for the Sovietstate radio station.
In 1975, Leshchenko performed "Den Pobedy", an immensely popular Soviet song dedicated toVictory Day, which was initially disliked by the authorities due to its unconventional music style. His rendition has become by far the most well known.[6]In 1999 Leshchenko was given a star on theStar Square in Moscow.[6]
In March 2014 he signed a letter in support of the position of the President of RussiaVladimir Putin on the Russianannexation ofCrimea.[7] For this he was banned from enteringUkraine.[8] Crimea has beenunder dispute by Russia and Ukraine since March 2014.[9]
From 1966 to 1976, he was married toAlla Abdalova. The marriage lasted 10 years, and ended in divorce, initiated by Abdalova.[10] Since 1978, he has been married to Irina Bagudina (born May 15, 1954).[11]
Leshchenko is a member of theUnited Russia party.[12]
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 1st class (24 October 2017)[13]
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 2nd class (30 January 2012)
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 3rd class (1 February 2007)
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 4th class (31 January 2002)
Order of Friendship of Peoples (14 November 1980)
Order of the Badge of Honour (17 August 1989)
Order of Friendship (Kazakhstan){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)| International | |
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