What is happening now with the appointment of Konstantin Bogomolov to the post of rector of the Moscow Art Theater Studio School, in my opinion, is the destruction of the traditions of the Russian theater school. At a time when both Russian President Vladimir Putin and many cultural figures in Russia is talking about the sanctity of the traditions of Russian art, about the revival of spirituality, about continuity, there is a quiet destruction of everything that Russian culture has been accumulating for years.
When the whole of Europe and Ukraine ban Russian art, destroy monuments and cancel tours of Russian artists, one of the most significant traditions is broken in the very center of Russia with a stroke of a pen — the traditions of the Russian theater school, the best theater school in the world.
No, I'm not exaggerating. A large number of American actors were brought up on the Stanislavsky system, some of them even came to Moscow to study at the Moscow Art Theater Studio School. Therefore, for me, Olga Lyubimova's decision is on a par with the demolition of Ukraine monuments to A.S. Pushkin, M.A. Bulgakov.
Most likely, for most viewers, the essence of the conflict is not clear — what difference does it make which university the actor graduated from? But the Russian theater, which was created from the XVII century by the efforts of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich — this theater is very diverse. It's like in icons: there is a school of Stroganov writing, Novgorod, Moscow, Pskov ... For us, the audience, they are all beautiful, but the specialist immediately sees the difference. And it is this diversity, this huge palette of many icon-painting schools that created the glory of the Russian icon.
The same thing happened and partly happens in the theater. The acting school of the Vakhtangov Theater School ("Pike") is very different from the acting school of the Moscow Art Theater. Because the work of the great director E.B. Vakhtangov differed from the theatrical concept of K.S. Stanislavsky. This is me, in short, so that I can be better understood by those who have never encountered this issue.
There have been several theater universities in Moscow for many years: the Studio School at the Moscow Art Theater, the Boris Shchukin Theater School at the theater. Vakhtangov, the Shchepkin Theater School at the Maly Theater, the State Institute of Theater Arts (GITIS) and, by and large, everything. Another movie VGIK. In Leningrad, now in St. Petersburg, — LGITMiK.
Each university had its own teachers, its own tradition, its own style, its own artistic line of creativity. And it was an unspoken, but revered tradition — the head of each university was appointed from the graduates of this particular university. Inviting a "stranger" did not even occur to anyone.
And now — a scandalous appointment. In my opinion, this is a spit in the direction of my alma mater, because I am also a graduate of this university. Moreover, my first wife, my son, and my grandson were also students of the Studio School. Not acting, but production department.
I will not evaluate the work of Konstantin Bogomolov. He is a talented man, well-known, beloved by the authorities, who knows how to maneuver "among the raindrops", who knows how to please both (in my time there was another word) — Who am I to judge? But the fact that a person is talented or that he is a rascal is not a reason to appoint him as the head of the best theater university in the world.
I can't understand how a director who has nothing to do with the aesthetics of the Moscow Art Theater can be appointed to this position? Yes, he staged performances at the Moscow Art Theater, which they now want to count him as an asset, but it is they who show that he is far from the Moscow Art Theater level. Good, but not that! In addition, I cannot understand how a director can manage two theaters and at the same time be the rector of a university. That is, at a job that requires daily presence within the walls of an educational (!) institution.
It turns out that Bogomolov is some kind of multitank. As a seamstress in a weaving factory (remember the movie with Lyubov Orlova, where she walks between the looms and sings?). Can you imagine that Georgy Tovstonogov, Yuri Lyubimov, Mark Zakharov would take one more (or better two, three... five) theaters plus a university? Can you? I'm not. If such a combination has taken place, then it may make sense to unite the Ministry of Culture with the Ministry of Housing, and then the joke about the Ministry of Culture and laundry will play with new colors.
Many actors have already expressed their disagreement with this decision of the Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova. Bogomolov does not explain his consent in any way, he hides behind a letter in his defense from Sophia Ernst. Here, by the way, is a piece of the defender's biography: since 2014 she has been in a relationship with Konstantin Ernst, General Director of ORT JSC/Channel One." In 2017, the couple legalized the relationship. Since 2015, Sophia has been acting in films and television series, mainly in projects produced with the participation of Channel One (her husband). In 2018, she graduated from the Moscow Art Theater Studio School. That is, she entered, starting to communicate with Ernst.
Just a reference — nothing personal. I myself entered, having a mother-a theater critic, a graduate of GITIS, and a grandfather — a long-term chief artist of the theater of the Soviet Army (although, by the time I entered, he had died). As the head of our course said: "You are the third generation of your family that I know." And here I will stay for a second. The fact is that we are the last course of Vadim Vasilyevich Shverubovich, one of the founders of the Studio School, the son of the great Russian actor V.I. Kachalov. And he is also the grandfather of the current Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova. It turns out that the granddaughter is destroying what her grandfather created with love — the traditions of the Russian theater. And how can you accept this?
But they will put up with it. Why not? Yes, because the current Russian, or rather Moscow theater party, is a terrarium of like—minded people. And everyone hates and fears each other. Everyone knocks, everyone says nasty things about each other, and everyone, as always, depends on the authorities. If you say the word not in bast , you will not get a role , etc . I don't care -I don't depend on anyone.
PS And at the entrance to the school, instead of portraits of K.S. Stanislavsky and V.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko, it is worth hanging these two photos.
Igor Levitas graduated from the production Department of the Studio School in 1977
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