Accordionist, soloist of "Mosconcert" Valery Andreevich Kovtun - since 1996 People's Artist of the Russian Federation.
The composer and virtuoso conducted a program on the accordion stars on the Echo of Moscow radio.
The beginning of the musical path
The outstanding figure was born in 1942 on October 10 in Kerch. There he lived until the age of eighteen.
Little Valera really wanted to play the button accordion. The child also had a second dream: to become a captain. Little Valera loved the sea, but the music won.
The poor living family did not have an instrument. Finally, a happy day for the boy came when they bought him a button accordion. However, at the music school, the child was denied admission, saying that they needed accordionists.
Valery was lucky to exchange the instrument. True, the child had to worry a lot while he achieved what he wanted, and even brought a surcharge for the replacement. This money turned out to be very useful for a poor family.
Now there was no refusal. Those who wanted to play were admitted to school. Classes began in the class of Grigory Chimiris.
After graduating from the music school, Kovtun entered the music school. For practice, during his studies there, the student often accompanied the choir and dance circle in the club of the shipyard.
The artist was educated in 1991 at the Institute of Culture, specializing as a director of mass performances. Childhood enthusiasm for the accordion has become the meaning of a young man's life. It was to music that he turned to both in moments of joy and in times of sorrow.
Career takeoff
Army service took place in a military brass band in the city of Nikolaev. Often from there, a soldier came to visit his mother in Feodosia.
The demobilized musician was invited to the Nikolaev Philharmonic. Then Mahmud Esambaev, People's Artist of the USSR, invited him to his place. Since 1974, Kovtun has worked with the most popular singer Yuri Bogatikov.
The artists worked together for six years. In Yalta in 1980, the accordionist created an ensemble and became its music director and soloist. The ensemble performed popular works of jazz and foreign and domestic classics, arranged by Kovtun.
Already a well-known accordionist with his team in Donetsk at the Miner's Day had a chance to perform with Iosif Kobzon. The singer invited Kovtun to work with him in Moscow.
Success came immediately. The artist had to travel from Yalta to the shooting of the "Wider Circle" program. In 1980 he finally moved to the capital.
Success and recognition
Since 1976, the popular musician has constantly appeared on the screen. He played six concerts a day. Performances took place at the best venues in the Garden Ring area with the most famous soloists.
In 1977 the virtuoso accordionist became a laureate of the folk instrument competition. In 1982 he took part in "Rainbow", folk art competition, festival "Sopot-1989", "Song-1990". The musician became their laureate.
The accordionist performed solo in a quartet of guitar, bass and drums and accordion. The ensemble enjoyed considerable popularity in Russia.
The line-up was very successful. The musicians were constantly invited to perform on television and radio with recitals, they took part in various shows and television programs.
Kovtun wrote many works himself. He has released several music collections with his own music and arrangements of famous melodies in his own arrangement. In 1996, the only virtuoso accordion player at that time received the title of People's Artist of Russia.
Valery Andreevich has performed in many countries. His sold-out concerts have taken place in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, America, China, Vietnam and Laos. His show has been held in the Kremlin for sixteen years.
Living in the present
There are no others like Kovtun in the world. He invited only the best to his programs. Among them were already eminent accordionists and young laureates of competitions. The performer has never performed with a phonogram. He considered it beneath his dignity. Always and in everything, the performer recognized only professionalism.
In October 1997, the jubilee program of the virtuoso "Music for an encore!" took place in the State Central Concert Hall "Russia". Valery Andreevich was married. He has a son. The musician never liked to talk about his personal life. He admitted that he had achieved a lot in life, but he had not been able to arrange personal happiness.
In the capital, Kovtun lived alone. The main thing for a person is family. But it was completely replaced by the virtuoso music. The accordionist has released twenty two CDs.
In 2007, Valery Andreevich was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples and was awarded the State Prize. His tour took place in fifty countries. Accordionist Kovtun has created the basis of his creativity with brilliant performance skills, wonderful melodies and magnificent arrangements. Everything that he played on the instrument, Valery Andreevich passed through himself, experienced with all his soul.
For this, the fans paid him with sincere gratitude and love. The musician is unique. Valery Andreevich rightfully bore the title of "Golden Accordion of Russia".
In many textbooks for music schools and colleges, both a charming smile and an unforgettable performing manner revived the listener's memories of favorite heroes, actors of Russian cinema, who have become idols for several generations.
He appreciated the work of Peter Oleinikov, Nikolai Kryuchkov, Mark Bernes. The popular performer and composer was actively involved in basketball, football, was an avid fan of Spartak, was very fond of animals, was fond of history and philosophy.
On February 19, 2017, the artist passed away. The outstanding figure was buried at the capital's Troekurovsky cemetery.
