He first held this position from 1971 to 1973, and the second time from 1988.[1]

Vikhrov was buried at the Old City Cemetery of Nizhny Novgorod.[1]

In 2006, a granite memorial plaque with a bronze bas-relief portrait of Vikhrov was unveiled on the House of Actors on Piskunov Street; its author was the sculptor I. I. Lukin, with S. A. Timofeev as architect.[1]

Vladimir Valentinovich Vikhrov (1926-2005) — director of the Nizhny Novgorod Academic Drama Theatre named after M. Gorky, People's Artist of the Russian Federation, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.

Biography

He was born in Vladimir into a military family.

A love of theatre was instilled in him from childhood, but the future actor did not immediately settle on his creative path. He graduated from the Gorky Aviation Technical College, where he was drawn to the stage, taking part in a drama club. In 1947 he graduated from the aviation college and took a job as an engineer-technologist at the S. Ordzhonikidze Aviation Plant, and he completed the acting department of the Gorky Theatre School in 1951.[1] The young specialist unexpectedly cut short his successful work at the aviation plant as a process engineer, drawn away by art. In 1947 he became a student at the theatre school and, by correspondence, at the conservatory in the vocal class. Combining studies at two institutions proved difficult, and his love of theatre won out. Having graduated from the theatre school, Vladimir Vikhrov began his acting career on the stage of the Nizhny Novgorod Theatre for Young Audiences playing Mitrofanushka in Fonvizin's comedy "The Minor".

On that same stage the young performer became acquainted with the drama of Maxim Gorky, playing Pyotr in the play "Meshchane" ("The Petty Bourgeois"). He then spent several years working at the Theatre of Comedy. In 1960, director Mikhail Gersht invited the tall, handsome actor to the Gorky Drama Theatre, straight into the role of Count Vronsky in the production of "Anna Karenina" based on Leo Tolstoy's novel. Director M. A. Gersht, won over by Vikhrov's acting charm and appearance, invited him to join the company of the Nizhny Novgorod Drama Theatre, and from 1960 until the end of his life Vikhrov served on that stage.[2]

In the remarkable drama theatre company of those years, Vladimir Vikhrov occupied a place that belonged to him alone. Few productions of the 1960s–80s went without his participation. Over forty-five years of creative work he played more than one hundred and fifty roles in works of Russian and world drama — Chatsky, Glumov, Don Juan, Comte de Guiche, Louis XIV, Andrei Prozorov, Lord Chesterfield.

Vikhrov repeatedly took on the characters of Maxim Gorky. His Vlas ("Summerfolk"), Nikolai Skrobotov ("Enemies"), Vagin ("Children of the Sun") and, above all, the Baron ("The Lower Depths") were noted for an original and modern reading of Gorky's characters. Among the Gorky characters created by Vikhrov are Leshch in "The Last Ones" and Kirik in "The Three of Them", likewise noted for their original interpretation of Gorky's characters.[2]

Memorable to audiences and colleagues alike were his portrayals of contemporaries in the productions "104 Pages About Love", "Warsaw Melody", "The Shore", "Victory Day in the Midst of War", and "The Last Visitor". Among his later creative achievements were his final roles in the productions "The Merry Fellows" and "Torrents of Spring". For his role in the production "Farewell, Mr. Colonel" Vikhrov was awarded the KGB USSR State Prize.[2] Audiences were always won over in his characters by their courage, nobility, restraint and inner beauty. More than one generation of Nizhny Novgorod residents grew up on productions featuring Vikhrov. The central and local press wrote extensively about his acting successes.

For many years the actor taught at the Gorky Theatre School. For his great service to theatrical art, Vikhrov received honorary titles: in 1969, Honored Artist, and in 1980, People's Artist of Russia. Open and responsive by nature, the remarkable actor did not confine himself to his craft alone, for many years combining his service to art with public service to the theatre, the city, and the country. From 1952 Vikhrov was a member of the Union of Theatre Workers; in 1975 he was elected to the board of the VTO–STD.[1] In 1975 he was elected chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the Union of Theatre Workers, in 1981 deputy chairman of the Presidium of the board of the VTO, and later secretary of the STD of Russia. For a number of years he was chairman of the regional board of the Union of Theatre Workers of the Volga Region. On Vikhrov's initiative and with his most active participation, the House of Actor (Nizhny Novgorod) was built and opened in Nizhny Novgorod.

In 1999 he was the first person in Nizhny Novgorod to be awarded the "Cavalier" gold badge of the Russian National Foundation "Public Recognition". In 2001 the remarkable actor became a laureate of the regional theatre prize named after Sobolshchikov-Samarin. He was one of the most popular actors, enjoying the love of the Residents of Nizhny Novgorod. Twice, in different years, Vikhrov was appointed director of the Nizhny Novgorod Drama Theatre, and in his final period, its artistic director. But through all his responsible positions and public duties, Vladimir Valentinovich remained an actor. He last appeared on stage in May 2005 in the role of the General in the premiere production of "The Gambler", based on Dostoevsky's novel.

Vikhrov left behind an heir — Vladimir Vikhrov Jr., who followed in his father's footsteps. The son worked at the Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow and currently appears in films. The Vikhrovs even once met on screen in the Odessa Film Studio's picture "Crew of a Fighting Vehicle", in which the son had the lead role and the father a cameo.

In memory of the outstanding Russian actor, more than kind words about his roles remain.

What remains in Nizhny Novgorod is the remarkable House of Actor (Nizhny Novgorod), which today bears the name of People's Artist of Russia Vladimir Vikhrov.

Achievements

For more than 20 years he served as chairman of the board of the Nizhny Novgorod organization of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia.

He was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples and various medals.

The title "Honorary Citizen of the City of Nizhny Novgorod" was conferred by Resolution No. 27 of the Nizhny Novgorod City Duma of 20 June 1996.

See also

In 1954 Vikhrov moved from the Gorky Theatre for Young Spectators to the Theatre of Comedy, where he took a leading position, appearing in the productions "Nameless Star", "A Divorce Case Is Being Heard" and "Trees Die Standing".[2]

Sources

  1. drama.nnov.ru — Vladimir Valentinovich Vikhrov was born on 11 December 1926 in the city of Vladimir into the family of a serviceman; the family soon moved to Nizhny Novgorod, and all his subsequent
  1. opentextnn.ru — In 1947 Vikhrov graduated from the Gorky Aviation Technical College and worked as an engineer-technologist at the S. Ordzhonikidze Aviation Plant; he completed the acting department of the Gorky (archived)