Isaak Osipovich Dunaevsky is a whole musical world, an era. We all know his songs, we hum melodies even now, several decades after their creation. And what do we know about his fate, biography, personal life, about how he managed to reach such heights professionally?
Who is Isaac Dunaevsky? This is the author of classic Soviet songs that are still relevant today, like, for example, "School Waltz" or "Merry March". This is the one who created the music for the famous performances "Tartuffe" and "The Marriage of Figaro", the ballets "Murzilka" and "Rest of a Faun", for more than 30 films. Who is he and where is he from? How did you come to the world of music?
Childhood and adolescence of the composer Isaac Dunaevsky
Isaac Osipovich comes from a Ukrainian family with Jewish roots. He was born on January 30, 1900 in the town of Lokhwitz. The boy's family was wealthy, his father owned his own production of drinks from natural fruits. In addition to Isaac, his parents had four more sons and a daughter. From early childhood, Isaac showed musical talent. The boy easily repeated the most complex melodies, reached for the instruments. Parents decided to develop their son's talent, sent him to study at a music school in his hometown.
When Isaac was 10 years old, his family moved to Kharkov. There he graduated from a general education gymnasium, in parallel - classes of playing the violin and composing at the conservatory.
As the main specialized education, at the insistence of his parents, Isaac chose jurisprudence, graduated from the university, but decided to devote himself to a musical career. Immediately after graduation, Dunaevsky was invited to the Kharkov Drama Theater. The talent of the young talent was noticed by the director Sinelnikov, and he invited the young man to write music for theater productions.
Music in the life of Isaac Dunaevsky
Dunaevsky Isaak Osipovich's composing career began in Kharkov, was quite successful, but he wanted more. In 1924, the young man decided to conquer Moscow. He believed that this city would open up new opportunities for the development of his talent, and he was not mistaken.
The composer's talent was highly appreciated by representatives of Moscow theaters. He received many offers. Dunaevsky's first place of work in Moscow is the Hermitage Theater. After some time, he moved to the Theater of Satire. In 1929, the fateful meeting between Dunaevsky and Utesov took place at the Music Hall in Leningrad.
Utesov invited Dunaevsky to try himself in the world of cinema. It is safe to say that together they came to the creation of the legendary picture "Funny Fellows", which was followed by several more significant films. Even modern viewers know and love them.
Music brought Isaak Osipovich not only nationwide recognition, but also gave him the opportunity to advance in his career. In 1937 he was entrusted with the leadership of the Union of Composers in Leningrad, a year later he became a Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The high post did not allow him to go to the front during the Second World War, but Dunaevsky supported the people with his talent - he traveled around the country with a musical group, gave concerts in the most remote corners of the USSR and in the front-line zone.
Personal life of the composer Isaac Dunaevsky
Isaak Osipovich was a very amorous person. For the first time, he felt feelings for the actress of the Kharkov Drama Theater Yevgenia Leontovich at the age of 16. The woman never found out about the love of the young talented composer for her.
After 3 years, he fell in love again, the 40-year-old darling answered him in return, but soon grew cold. In revenge, Isaac decided to marry a fellow student. Naturally, the marriage was short-lived, as it was entered into in the heat of the moment.
Dunaevsky concluded his second official marriage in Moscow with the ballerina Sudeikina Zinaida. The couple had a son, Eugene, but the relationship was difficult. The main reason for the disagreement in the family was the amorous nature of Isaac Osipovich.
During his marriage with Sudeikina, Dunaevsky constantly had affairs on the side with either actresses or dancers. The wife could not stand it, the marriage broke up.
In the early 40s, Dunaevsky began an affair with the dancer Pashkova Zoya. It was long lasting, unlike the other passions of the composer. In 1945, the couple had a son, Maxim. The boy received his father's surname only at the age of 16. In addition, he inherited his father's talent and became a famous composer.
The death of the great composer - speculation and the real reason
Isaak Osipovich Dunaevsky died on July 22, 1955. The death was unexpected, the event immediately overgrown with rumors and speculation. The dead composer was discovered by his personal chauffeur, who followed him into the apartment, as usual, in the morning. Apart from the lifeless body of the Dunaevsky house, there was no one else.
In those days, it was not customary in the press to discuss speculation, but in the composer's environment there were rumors about the murder of Isaak Osipovich or suicide. The investigating authorities worked out each version, but heart failure was declared the official reason for Dunaevsky's death.
Isaak Osipovich Dunaevsky was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow. A bust of the composer is installed on the grave; one of the streets of the capital is named after him. In Kharkov and Lokhvitsa, on the houses where the Dunaevsky family lived, there are memorial plaques in honor of Isaak Osipovich.
The heritage of the great composer is preserved not only in state archives. It sounds in the homes of ordinary people and from the stages of the country's leading theaters. The films for which Dunaevsky wrote music are still relevant today. Viewers of different ages are happy to watch them.
