Ukrainian singer (tenor), People's Artist of Ukraine (1994), laureate and winner of international competitions, professor of the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, head of the pop singing department, knight of the Order of Merit of the third and second degrees. The performer's voice, which had a range of 2.5 octaves, was characterized by deep lyricism, timbral expressiveness, and technical perfection.
Biography and creativity
Born in a family of teachers. After graduating from high school, he studied at a pedagogical school with Honored Artist of Ukraine Petro Ivanovich Kuchmiy (at that time soloist of the Philharmonic Orchestra), who saw the singer's talent and was able to develop it. Viktor Mykhailovych used many methodical instructions of his teacher in his work, singing and teaching. Later, after receiving the title of People's Artist of Ukraine, he graduated from the Kyiv Institute of Culture as a director of theatrical festivals and mass spectacles.
After graduating from school, Viktor Shportko became a soloist-vocalist of the Dnipro, Volgograd (Russia), Odesa, and North Ossetian (Russia) philharmonies. It was there that he went through a thorough performance school and polished his skills. The popular vocal-instrumental ensemble "Vodogray" of the Dnipro Philharmonic became a new step for him. This team united outstanding musicians and singers. The arrival of Viktor Shportka added fresh vocal colors to the sound of the ensemble. It was with "Vodograj" that he made his first song recordings on Ukrainian radio. The singer's voice was heard in many radio and television programs.
Then there was an invitation from the Kyiv State Music Hall, which became for him a powerful impetus to solo concert activity.
As a member of the music hall, Viktor Shportko tours the largest cities of the former USSR, it was after the performance of the music hall in Moscow that he received an offer from the management of Central Television to participate in the contest "From songs for life". It was after the victory in the competition that the name of Viktor Shportka became known to the general public. The entire Soviet Union enthusiastically greeted the concerts of his "Icarus" - with such a song by Yurii Saulskyi based on a poem by Robert Rozhdestvenskyi, the singer won the competition. After the contest, Shportko received many invitations from concert organizations, philharmonics, and production centers. The singer began to successfully cooperate with the best orchestras of the USSR under the leadership of Y. Silantiev, O. Mykhaylov, V. Starostin, L. Badhen and of Ukraine — R. Babich, A. Anufrienko, V. Zdorenko and others.
The artist voiced feature films:
"Dudariki" — film studio named after O. Dovzhenka,
Karmelyuk is a film studio named after O. Dovzhenka,
"Meadow flowers" — Odesa film studio.
Worked on dubbing American cartoons on Bible themes.
At different times, Ukrainian television and the studio "Ukrtelefilm" filmed music videos "Singing Viktor Shportko". In these films, the young but already well-known artist performs songs by V. Bystryakov, O. Zuyev, V. Ilyin, I. Karabyts and other composers. These film materials are stored in the video funds of Ukrainian television.
A very important place in Viktor Shportko's work was occupied by concert activity. He presented his art in many countries of the world: USA, Canada, Belgium, Poland, Bulgaria, France, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and many others. The artist became a frequent guest of the biggest musical events held in the concert halls of Eastern Europe, and his creative friends were M. Magomayev, Y. Kobzon, Ya. Tabachnyk, Edita Piekha, V. Tolkunova, Lev Leshchenko and many other famous performers. The singer included in his concert programs songs written for him by O. Pakhmutova, Yu. Saulskyi, Ye. Martynov, O. Mazhukov, I. Poklad, I. Karabyts, O. Zlotnyk, E. Brylin, H. Tatarchenko, etc. Until the end of his life, Viktor Shportko actively gave concerts, both in Ukraine and abroad.
Viktor Shportko among the members of the jury and honored guests of the "Fate" festival, Kyiv, 2014
Viktor Shportko is a well-known teacher in Ukraine. He headed the pop singing department of Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. Extensive performing experience gave him the opportunity and the right to improve and shape the vocal skills and aesthetic tastes of young performers. Many of them have already become famous singers: Kateryna Buzhynska, Natalya Valevska, Inesh Kdyrova.
Professor Shportko embodied his extensive performance experience in theoretical developments: a textbook, articles, methodical developments on solo singing and vocal teaching methods, which are used in many musical educational institutions of Ukraine as teaching aids.
The artist has several albums in his creative output. Two of them were recorded in the USA. The most famous: "I am Victor", "A peony is flying around", "We are Ukrainians", "The Path to Jesus". The artist replenished his repertoire with new works by both well-known and young authors.
For some of his songs, Shportko himself wrote the music ("You have to live", "Tsukerochka") and the lyrics ("My love", "My road", "Return").
The singer recorded 10 modern romances by Ukrainian authors O. Potapenko and V. Tuzyk, which have already become famous, especially among fansof this musical style. People listen to these romances in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.
The grave of Viktor Shportka
He died suddenly on January 29, 2015. Buried in Kyiv at Baikovo cemetery (plot No. 33), next to Yevhen Sverstyuk's grave.
Charitable activity
V. M. Shportko sang a lot for charity for the military, law enforcement officers, veterans, the sick and the poor.
He was the permanent chairman and member of the jury of Ukrainian and international contests of young performers.
For many years, he headed the song jury of the All-Ukrainian Arts Festival "Future of Ukraine — Children!"
Awards and honors
1994 — Honorary title "People's Artist of Ukraine"
2006, 2009 — Knight of the Order of Merit, 3rd and 2nd degrees.
2012 — Laureate of the International Award "For Charity" of the MDF "Ukrainian Khata"
Song performer
Good for people
A peony flies around
Summer of late dahlias
I forget myself, I forget
I haven't told you everything yet
Father's palms
Family
Daughter Olena, son Oleksii, grandchildren Danylo, Dmytro, Eva and Polina. Son Oleksiy is also a singer - laureate of several international competitions, Honored Artist of Ukraine. Wife Natalya is a director of concert programs.
