Lev Venediktov (6 October 1924-10 December 2017) was a Soviet and Ukrainian choral conductor, teacher, People's Artist of Ukraine, People's Artist of the USSR, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Hero of Ukraine.
Born on 6 October 1924 (Tambov, Russia), in the family of the then famous regent Nikolai Yakovlevich Venediktov, he studied at the St. Petersburg Court Choir together with Alexander Alexandrov and Yuri Shaporin, graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory with Mikhail Cherepnin and Alexander Lyadov, and worked as a choirmaster at the Mariinsky Theatre.
"My role model in the conducting profession," Lev Mykolayovych recalls, "was my father, who was a very good musician. Everything in the house and family was connected with music. Friends and fellow musicians often gathered together to play in ensembles, quartets, trios or sing. I remember: I was four years old, my father sat me down on the piano, my legs hanging over the keyboard. Everyone was singing Tchaikovsky (music for the drama The Snow Maiden). That was probably the beginning of my lifelong passion for music."
Levko Mykolaiovych's mother, Vira Oleksandrivna, was a friendly, wonderful hostess who graduated from the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens in St Petersburg.
His father embodied a creative, artistic personality in the family, and his mother kept the home...
Levko began studying music at the age of six or seven at the Borysohlibsk Music School, and later at the college...
He planned to go to the Minsk Conservatory to study piano, but the war broke his plans, and the 17-year-old boy was sent to the front. Volkhov, Leningrad, Karelian - on these fronts, he worked his way up with the Kyiv Military District Ensemble from orchestra player (he played the domra) to choirmaster.
After the liberation of Kyiv, he entered the Kyiv State Conservatoire, graduating in 1949 from the class of H. Veriovka.
1947-1954 - conductor of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the North Caucasus Military District.
After graduating from the Conservatory, the young choirmaster continued to work with the ensemble, often performing with success in different cities.
In 1954, the ensemble was invited to the theatre for the Day of the Soviet Army. The concert programme was quite complicated. In the morning, Mikhail Yosypovych Piradov, the theatre's chief conductor, called: "We are asking you to come to the theatre." M. Piradov and V. Kolesnyk (at that time the chief choirmaster) offered to hire him as a choirmaster at the theatre.
1954-1967 - choirmaster of the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv Opera and Ballet Theatre,
1967-1970 - conductor of the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv Opera and Ballet Theatre,
1972-2014 - Chief Choirmaster.
1971-1978 - Associate Professor of the Department of Choral Conducting at the Kyiv State Conservatory, since 1972 - Chief Choirmaster of the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv Opera and Ballet Theatre,
1986-1991 - Director of the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Since 1959 he has been a lecturer at the Tchaikovsky Kyiv State Conservatory, since 1978 - Head of the Choral Conducting Department of the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine.
Since 1979 - Professor of the Tchaikovsky Kyiv State Conservatory.
As a choral director, he has produced more than 100 opera performances, conducted operas in theatres in Ukraine, France, Yugoslavia, and Poland.
The Choir of the National Opera of Ukraine, created by him, is considered one of the best opera choirs in the world.
L. Venediktov's creative style is marked by a subtle understanding of the nature of choral singing, deep insight into the author's intention, and the ability to convey the subtlest nuances of sound production to the audience.
He took part in the first performance of the operas Yaroslav the Wise by G. Maiboroda (1975), On the Mermaid's Easter by M. Leontovych (1977), and The Flag Bearers by O. Bilash (1985). Among the productions: "The Hireling" by M. Verikivskyi (1984), "Mazepa" by P. Tchaikovsky (1991), "The Huguenots" by D. Meyerbeer, "Kupalo" by A. Vakhnyanyn (1993), "Requiem" by G. Verdi (1993), etc.
Among L. Venediktov's graduates are Anatoliy Semenchuk, Kyrylo Karabyts, Natalia Krechko, Mykola Lysenko, Bohdan Plish, Volodymyr Sheiko and others.
Awards
The title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the State (8 October 2004) - for outstanding personal contribution to the development of Ukrainian culture, enrichment of the national musical and choral heritage, and many years of fruitful creative activity
The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, III class (7 October 2009) - for outstanding personal contribution to the development of Ukrainian opera art, high professional skills, many years of creative activity and on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of his birth
The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, IV class (7 September 2001) - for a significant personal contribution to the development of Ukrainian opera and ballet art, high professionalism
The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, V class (8 October 1999) - for outstanding personal services to the Ukrainian state in the development of opera art, many years of fruitful creative activity
Honorary Award of the President of Ukraine (18 October 1994) - for outstanding contribution to the development of Ukrainian musical art, high professionalism
Order of Merit della Repubblica Italiana (For Merit to the Italian Republic) (Italy, 1986)
Order of Honour (Russian Federation, 27 January 2003) - for his great contribution to the development of art and strengthening of Russian-Ukrainian cultural ties
Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1982), Order of the Second World War (1985)
Winner of the Taras Shevchenko State Prize of Ukraine (1976)
Honoured Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (1965)
People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (1974)
People's Artist of the USSR (1979)
Diploma of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (10.2004)
Mykola Lysenko Prize (1984)
Gold Medal of the Academy of Arts of Ukraine (2004)
Award of the Mayor of Kyiv "Badge of Honour" (2001)
Order of St Nestor the Chronicler of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (2004)
Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine (Department of Theatre Arts) (2005)
Honorary Citizen of Kyiv
