The name of Alla Tarasova is forever inscribed in the history of Russian theater. A rare artist possessed the same nobility and grace. The actress, who served for half a century at the Moscow Art Theater, received all possible privileges from the country's leadership: Stalin Prizes, the title of People's Artist of the USSR and Hero of Socialist Labor.
A family
Alla Tarasova's biography began in 1898 in Kiev. My father taught at the university. Mom had Polish noble roots. The family was friendly, cheerful and very musical. With the advent of Soviet power, Alla had to hide her origin. The Tarasov couple had five heirs, but the actress in the questionnaires always indicated information about her brother and two sisters. Much later it turned out that another brother, Yevgeny, was in Denikin's army. Alla wrote about one of the sisters that the connection with her was lost. It could not be otherwise, because Elena left for France, and her husband was a White Guard. When in 1937 Alla went on tour with the theater to Paris, she called her sister, not counting on a meeting. Fearing surveillance, the girls, swallowing tears, only walked three times on opposite sides of the street.
Carier start
After graduating from the women's gymnasium in Kiev, 15-year-old Alla went to Moscow. The girl attended lectures on drama at the School of Arts and the city university, which was transformed into the Second Studio of the Moscow Art Theater.
After completing her education, the aspiring actress came to the Moscow Art Theater. On the stage of the renowned theater, she took her first steps in creativity. She made her debut in the production of "The Green Ring" by Zinaida Gippius. Since 1919, the actress toured extensively as part of the Kachalov Group. The repertoire was based on classical works - plays by Chekhov and Shakespeare. Alla was applauded by the audience not only in the USSR, but also abroad. For some time, the actress lived in the United States, becoming the favorite of New York. Konstantin Stanislavsky made a lot of efforts to get Tarasova back on the Moscow stage.
At the peak of fame
In 1925, Alla Konstantinovna joined the troupe of the Moscow Art Theater, she remained faithful to him until her last days. At first, the actress was often used as a "fire brigade". She easily replaced the absent artists. So one day she took the stage in the role of Elena in Bulgakov's play "Days of the Turbins".
Tarasova's finest hour came in the 30s and 40s. During this period, the artist performed her best roles: Negina in Ostrovsky's comedy "Talents and Admirers" (1933), Tatiana in Gorky's play "Enemies" (1934), Yulia Tugina in Ostrovsky's Last Victim (1944). Particularly remembered and loved by the audience was the performer Masha in Chekhov's play Three Sisters (1935) and the main character in Tolstoy's drama. The premiere of Anna Karenina (1937) was attended by a delegation led by Joseph Stalin. Even after the end of the performance, the applause continued for a long time and the curtain was repeatedly raised. In the same year, Tarasova received the title of People's Artist of the USSR. During the same period, the actress was awarded the Stalin Prize 5 times - for theatrical work and film roles.
During the war, together with her colleagues, Alla performed with concerts in front of the Red Army. She alternated trips to the front with performances in the theater - she had enough time and energy for everything.
New facets of the actress's talent were revealed in the post-war period. A storm of emotions was caused by the image of Mary Stuart based on the work of the same name by Schiller (1957). The actress performed the main roles in Chekhov's plays "The Cherry Orchard" (1958) and "The Seagull" (1960), in Pogodin's play "Kremlin Chimes" (1964) and Roshchin's stories "Valentine and Valentine" (1971).
Movie roles
Not everyone knows that the famous artist made her debut in German cinema. This happened in 1923. In the film "Raskolnikov" she got the role of Dunya Svidrigailova. This film was not shown in the Soviet Union, but in other countries it was quite popular. The first Soviet film with her participation was the film Who Are You, based on the story of Jack London.
Most of Tarasova's heroines are representatives of the new generation who are building Soviet society. They are participating in collectivization, fighting on the fronts of the Civil War, and rebuilding a destroyed economy. The metropolitan audience enthusiastically accepted the main roles in the films "The Thunderstorm" (1933) and "Peter the First" (1938). To appreciate all the splendor of the image of Catherine I, embodied by the actress on the screen, the audience watched the film several times.
The leading productions of the Moscow Art Theater, where Alla Tarasova certainly played, were filmed as television films-performances.
Last years
In 1951, the actress became the head of the theater; she was in the position of director for 5 years. In 1970, Tarasova joined the Moscow Art Theater Council of Elders. In the last years of her life, she devoted herself to teaching, willingly shared the secrets of acting with the students of the Studio School. In addition, the artist took part in the work of 3 convocations of the Supreme Council of the country.
At one of the rehearsals in 1971, the actress felt unwell. They announced a break, Alla Konstantinovna quietly went down to the hall and left the theater. Moving down the aisle, she turned around, looking sadly at the stage. After that, she did not cross the threshold of the Moscow Art Theater, and after 2 years she was gone.
Personal life
The famous actress was married three times. She met the midshipman Alexander Kuzmin as a fifteen-year-old girl. After three years of courtship, having received the rank of lieutenant of the fleet, the young man offered her a hand and a heart. After 2 years, the couple had a son, Alyosha, and they moved to Sevastopol. However, their marriage was doomed.
At the peak of popularity, Alla began an affair with the famous actor Ivan Moskvin. Love captured the couple completely, despite the fact that the age difference was 24 years. This did not at all interfere with their 10-year happy family life.
Tarasova created the third family union with a person far from the art world. In 1945, she became the wife of Major General of Aviation Alexander Pronin.
Dozens of theatrical works and a half dozen film roles brought the actress success and recognition of the audience. But besides beauty and inner strength, she felt a kind of sadness and mystery. Those who knew Tarasova felt that the artist was hiding some secret of her own from prying eyes. Behind a bright image and a happy look, she hid past fears, of which there were many in her life. The actress was a deeply religious person and never parted with a cross.
