There are such words in an old Russian romance - fate plays with a person. The popular Soviet singer Gelena Velikanova fully felt the meaning of this expression from her own experience. She went through many trials in order not to change her dream.
Childhood and youth
The penchant for creativity in many children manifests itself at an early age. Gelena Marcelievna Velikanova was born on February 27, 1923 in a family of creative intelligentsia. Parents at that time lived in Moscow. They came here from Poland, or rather fled, since all their relatives were against their union. The girl turned out to be the fourth child in the house. Mother gave music lessons. My father made a living by doing odd jobs. Plus, he was fond of playing cards for money. It happened that he won large sums and could buy a piano for his mother. It also happened that I lost even kitchen utensils and cribs.
The childhood years of the future singer cannot be called happy. Father, after a series of major losses, was paralyzed. He died three years later. Gela studied well at school. In communication with classmates, she was affable and friendly. She willingly participated in amateur art shows. The vocal data of Velikanova were noticed by the teachers and advised to enroll in a music school. However, all plans were confused by the war. The girl and her mother were evacuated to the Siberian city of Tomsk.
Creative way
Life was not easy during the evacuation. Mom died a few months later. In order not to sit within four walls, Gelena entered the Moscow Institute of Railway Engineers. In between lectures, she went with her friends to the hospital to help the nurses and orderlies take care of the wounded. At the same time, they performed with impromptu concerts. Only in 1944 Velikanova returned home. She immediately left the institute and entered the vocal department of the Glazunov Music College. The aspiring singer began to appear on the professional stage in 1948.
At the beginning of her stage career, the singer performed songs of various genres. She was listed as one of the many good and different performers. One fine day, the composer Oskar Feltsman wrote a song called "Lilies of the Valley" to the words of the poetess Olga Fadeeva. A few days later, this song was performed by Helena Velikanova on the All-Union Radio. And at one point, the singer became known throughout the country. The song sounded not only from windows and radios, but, as humorists joked, from every iron and vacuum cleaner.
Recognition and privacy
After many years on stage, Gelena Velikanova lost her voice. She was invited to teach at the Gnessin Music College. For achievements and services in the field of musical art, the singer was awarded the honorary title "People's Artist of the Russian Federation".
Velikanova's personal life did not develop immediately. The first marriage with the poet Nikolai Dorizo lasted six years. The couple had a daughter, but this did not save the family from disintegration. For the second time, the singer married director Nikolai Generalov. They lived under the same roof for twelve years. Gelena Velikanova died suddenly of cardiac arrest in November 1998.
