Mikael Tariverdiev is primarily known as the author of the music for the films "Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!" and "Seventeen Moments of Spring". There are more than a hundred films in which his compositions sound. The number of songs he wrote also exceeded a hundred. He wrote music for large theatrical productions: ballets, operas and symphonies.
All his life he was surrounded by beautiful women who inspired the composer to write melodies unlike any other. He could not choose for himself any other field of activity besides music, because in addition to the talent that fate gave him, she hid the mystical root VERDI among the letters of his surname.
BY PAGES BIOGRAPHY
Mikael Leonovich is from Georgia. He was born in Tiflis (later - Tbilisi) on August 15, 1931. His mother Satenik Grigorievna was a real oriental woman - gentle and kind, but fair and uncompromising. She gave all of herself to her only son, so they were very close. Later, the composer admitted that his mother taught him only good things, and he did not forget her lessons all his life. Mikael Tariverdiev's father, Leon Navasardovich, was an Armenian, a red commander. Later he became a successful financier, director of the State Bank. But, like many, in those days, high ranks, fell under repression, leaving the family without a livelihood.
Young Mikael consisted of contradictions, easily and successfully studied at school, studied music, but at the same time loved to hooliganism and even was a member of a local gang. After the arrest of my father, I had to forget about such pranks. Musical talent helped to earn their daily bread. He gave private piano lessons.
UP THE MUSIC LADDER
Mikael Tariverdiev studied music all his life, constantly changing directions and genres. He spent ten years at the music school at the Tbilisi Conservatory in piano. Then there was a music school under the great master - Shalva Mshelidze. On the insistent advice of his mother, he entered the conservatory in Yerevan. Then he went to conquer the capital, continued his education at the Gnessin Music and Pedagogical Institute, and ended up in the composition class of Aram Khachaturian.
For most of the audience, his romances were first performed by Zara Dolukhanova in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. Tariverdiev's melodies were different from others, he creates a new genre, not similar to either academic music or mass pop music. This wave was picked up by other young authors of that time. His compositions are captivating from the first chords. They are so different, but the author's hand is visible in each of them.
The famous composer experimented a lot, he wrote in different genres:
· Operas ("Who are you", "Count Cagliostro", "Waiting").
· Ballets. ("The Girl and Death").
· Concerts and symphonies for organ, piano ("Chernobyl").
· Vocal accompaniment for the poetry of Andrei Voznesensky, Bela Akhmadulina, Marina Tsvetaeva and others.
· Music for films ("The Youth of Our Fathers," The Stag King, "The Man Follows the Sun"
Tariverdiev's popularity after "Seventeen Moments of Spring" was colossal, but it cost him dearly. It was difficult to find a common language with the director Tatyana Lioznova, but a good creative union with Joseph Kobzon turned out. The composer and the singer understood each other from the floor of the word. Then there was the heinous accusation of plagiarism. A fake telegram came to the composers' union stating that he allegedly stole the melodies for the film from the French composer Francis Leigh. Many friends immediately turned away from Tariverdiev, and he fell into disgrace. Later, he will find a Frenchman who will declare that he did not say such words and did not write this music.
His work was noticed and appreciated both in our country and abroad. He becomes a numerous winner of popular awards: the American Academy of Music, the Japanese record company, the Russian festival "Kinotavr", there are a total of 18 awards.
He was the head of the Guild of Film Composers of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia, the International Program "New Names".
The last stage of his work was devoted to instrumental music. Mikael Leonovich composes concertos for organ and violin, chorale preludes.
MOMENTS OF LOVE
Tariverdiev was a Caucasian by nationality, passionate in spirit and loved women very much. His personal life was rich in whirlwind romances, which were reflected in art. For the first time, he decided to marry the niece of his teacher Aram Khachaturian at the age of 18, but the engagement was terminated. The composer considered the girl frivolous and unprepared for family life.
His first wife was Elena Vasilievna Andreeva, who gave him his only son, Karen. Karen Tariverdiev is a military man, a hero of Afghanistan, awarded the Orders of the Red Banner and the Red Star, after his retirement he worked as a journalist.
Elena Andreeva was a graduate of Gnesinka, a soloist, six years older than the composer. Their meeting took place in an elevator, where he asked her to perform romances of her own composition. She agreed, and later fell in love with a lanky, charming guy with huge eyes. And then came the glory that overwhelmed the composer and destroyed the family.
In the 60s, the composer became interested in the film star Lyudmila Maksakova. He was fascinated by the actress, and took on her guilt, which is why the court sentenced him to two years in prison. Together they raced in a car along Leningradsky Prospekt. It was dark. A drunken man unexpectedly jumped onto the road, the actress who was driving did not have time to react and knocked him down. Tariverdiev said that he was driving. The investigation lasted a long time, almost two years, that is, the entire period appointed by the court. The beautiful actress paid little attention to her savior, and their romance was over. By the way, Lyudmila Maksakova never confessed her guilt. Eldar Ryazanov embodied this episode in his film "Station for Two". Tariverdiev was unhappy with this, and even offended by the director.
The composer's second wife was the production designer Eleanor Maklakova.
And the last love of the composer was the notorious music columnist Vera Gorislavovna. They met in 1983, and she became his new muse. The couple did not part for 13 years. And until now, her professional activity is dedicated to Tariverdiev. She is the president of the Mikael Tariverdiev Charitable Foundation, the art director of the Mikael Tariverdiev International Organ Competition, and the author of the book “Biography of Music” about her wife.
A stormy eventful life left a mark on the composer's heart. He underwent a serious operation, six years later, a new heart attack ended the life of the maestro while on vacation in Sochi. He was 64 years old. He was buried in the capital, at the Armenian cemetery.
In 1997, a year after his death, his memoir I Just Live was published.
