What does a rich spiritual world mean? Spiritual poverty. What is real poverty, material or spiritual? (Unified State Examination in Russian). What does a rich inner world mean and what is it made from?

The issue of spirituality is currently being considered very widely. Everyone has their own understanding of what it means to be a spiritually rich person. For some, this concept is inextricably linked with faith in God, some expand the boundaries of their soul and improve themselves with the help of Eastern practices, while others simply act as if they put the interests of others above their own, for example, as Mother Teresa did.

What does it mean to be a spiritually rich person?

A spiritually rich person is rich because he puts the needs of the soul, not the body, in the foreground. For him, it is not material values that matter, but those that contribute to the improvement of the soul. By showing interest in religion, painting, music, and other forms of art, a person learns about the environment and social phenomena. As a result, his inner world is filled, a person develops from different sides, becomes an interesting interlocutor, thinking, having his own point of view on everything.

A spiritually rich person strives for self-improvement. He learns new things, using the works and discoveries of famous artists, writers, and poets. The actions and actions of such a person are responsible and meaningful. Thoughts and motives always have a positive color, because he understands that the real treasure is not material values, but inner peace, fortitude and spiritual values. But for those who are interested in what a spiritually rich person should be, it is worth saying that the fullness of the soul is achieved not only through knowledge. Most often this is achieved through suffering. Trials change the worldview, as they say, turn the world upside down.

For those who are wondering what it means to be spiritually rich, it is worth answering that a person can accumulate knowledge all his life and never achieve perfection, but suffering does this in a shorter period of time. It happens that a single event turns the entire mentality upside down, crosses out the past life, dividing it into “before” and “after”. Often people then come to God, considering spiritual well-being as a relationship with the one Creator.

Distinctive characteristics of a person with a rich inner spiritual world

Such people emit some kind of inner light that seeps through a kind smile, the look of wise eyes and the desire to share their wealth with others.
High morality is what is characteristic of such people. They are endowed with honesty and responsibility, and there is a sense of dignity in them, which is expressed in respect for others, goodwill and devotion.
Such people do everything not from the mind, but from the heart. They understand the true meaning of God's commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” and follow it.
Modesty and forgiveness are what distinguish them. At the same time, we are talking not only about forgiving other people, but also oneself. They realize the depth of their mistakes and, first of all, repent of themselves.
Peace and harmony live in their hearts. There is no place for base passions and emotions. They understand the meaninglessness of feelings of guilt, aggression or anger and bring only goodness into the world.

Of course, becoming a person with a rich soul is not easy. The combination of all factors plays a role here - upbringing and piety. You can be a devout person, but still not understand the meaning of faith, or you can read a lot and develop, increase your intellectual level, but remain callous in your soul and hate everyone and everything. In general, spiritual wealth is inseparable from forbearance, wisdom, patience and readiness to lend a helping hand to your neighbor at any moment. Only by giving, without demanding anything in return, can you become rich.

There is no clearer and at the same time darker formulation than “rich inner world.” This is a state of consciousness when a person is not bored when alone. The phrase is understandable because almost everyone has a rough idea of what is being said, but it’s obscure because no one understands what exactly is meant anyway. We would like to offer our interpretation of the famous expression.

Rich inner world: introversion and extroversion

The founder of analytical psychology K.-G. Jung divided people into two types: introverts and extroverts. Let's expand on each definition.

The first are focused on themselves, the center of their interests and the main part of their psychic energy is turned inward.
The latter, on the contrary, are recharged from the surrounding world. Their interests and most of their activities are aimed at capturing real space. Such people enjoy communicating with other people, and when there are no fresh external impressions, they wither and dry up.

Is a rich inner world the destiny of the chosen few?

On this basis, it could be argued that a rich inner world is the part of introverts, while extroverts are not distinguished by depth. Everything would be so if the creator of the theory himself had not said the following: these characteristics are relative. There are no 100% introverts or extroverts in their pure form. In reality, there is only a predominance of one or the other type in the human psyche.

The result: spiritual development is within the reach of everyone if they wish.

What does a rich inner world mean and what is it made of?

The phrase “interesting person” is widely used in speech. Moreover, it is quite common. “Interesting” refers to both someone who stands out from the crowd and an educated person who knows a lot. Without any difficulty we can say that the concept of “rich inner world” includes:

Wide range of professional and non-professional interests.
Huge layers of knowledge of the concrete and abstract.
An active hobby is an optional item.

A person is not bored with himself. He doesn't need friends, parties. He has a rich inner life, he is in constant search of Shambhala, the spiritual principles of Russia, and general field theory.

People endowed with a rich inner world, who are they?

The answer to the question is quite easy. The inner world is rich among writers, poets, artists, sculptors, any educated people, regardless of profession, if they can not only absorb knowledge, but also draw at least the simplest conclusions and conclusions. What distinguishes such a person from his counterpart?

Not everyone can call themselves a spiritually rich person. Sometimes such controversial definition criteria are mixed or replaced with obviously incorrect ones. The article will tell you what signs are the most accurate and what it means to be a spiritually rich person.

What is it, spiritual wealth?

The concept of “spiritual wealth” cannot be interpreted unambiguously. There are controversial criteria by which this term is most often defined. Moreover, they are controversial individually, but together, with their help, a fairly clear idea of spiritual wealth emerges.

The criterion of humanity. What does it mean to be a spiritually rich person from the point of view of other people? Often this includes qualities such as humanity, understanding, empathy, and the ability to listen. Can a person who does not have these qualities be considered spiritually rich? Most likely the answer is negative. But the concept of spiritual wealth is not limited to these signs.
Education criterion. Its essence is that the more educated a person is, the richer he is. Yes and no, because there are many examples when a person has several educations, he is smart, but his inner world is completely poor and empty. At the same time, history knows individuals who had no education, but their inner world was like a blooming garden, the flowers from which they shared with others. Such an example could be A simple woman from a small village did not have the opportunity to receive an education, but Arina Rodionovna was so rich in her knowledge of folklore and history that perhaps her spiritual wealth became the spark that ignited the flame of creativity in the poet’s soul.
Criterion of the history of the family and homeland. Its essence is that a person who does not carry a store of knowledge about the historical past of his family and homeland cannot be called spiritually rich.
The criterion of faith. The word "spiritual" comes from the word "spirit". Christianity defines a spiritually rich person as a believer who lives according to the commandments and laws of God.

Signs of spiritual wealth in people

What it means to be a spiritually rich person is difficult to say in one sentence. For each, the main feature is something different. But here is a list of traits without which it is impossible to imagine such a person.

humanity;
empathy;
sensitivity;
flexible, lively mind;
love for the homeland and knowledge of its historical past;
life according to the laws of morality;
knowledge in various fields.

What does spiritual poverty lead to?

In contrast to the spiritual wealth of a person is the disease of our society - spiritual poverty.

Understanding what it means to be a spiritually rich, whole person cannot be revealed without negative qualities that should not be present in life:

ignorance;
callousness;
life for one’s own pleasure and outside the moral laws of society;
ignorance and non-perception of the spiritual and historical heritage of their people.

This is not the entire list, but the presence of several traits can define a person as spiritually poor.

What does the spiritual impoverishment of the people lead to? Often this phenomenon leads to a significant decline in society, and sometimes to its death. Man is structured in such a way that if he does not develop, does not enrich his inner world, then he degrades. The principle “if you don’t go up, you slide down” is very fair here.

How to deal with spiritual poverty? One of the scientists said that spiritual wealth is the only type of wealth that cannot be deprived of a person. If you fill yours with light, knowledge, goodness and wisdom, then this will stay with you for life.

There are many ways to become spiritually enriched. The most effective of them is reading decent books. This is a classic, although many modern authors also write good works. Read books, respect your history, be a man with a capital “H” - and then poverty of spirit will not affect you.

What does it mean to be a spiritually rich person?

Now we can clearly outline the image of a person with a rich inner world. What kind of spiritually rich person is he? Most likely, a good conversationalist knows how to not only speak so that they listen to him, but also listen so that you want to talk to him. He lives according to the moral laws of society, is honest and sincere with his surroundings, he knows and will never pass by someone else's misfortune. Such a person is smart, and not necessarily due to the education he received. Self-education, constant food for the mind and dynamic development make it so. A spiritually rich person must know the history of his people, the elements of their folklore, and be diversified.

Instead of a conclusion

These days it may seem that material wealth is valued more than spiritual wealth. To some extent this is true, but another question is, by whom? Only a spiritually impoverished person will not appreciate the inner world of his interlocutor. Material wealth will never replace the breadth of soul, wisdom, and moral purity. Sympathy, love, respect cannot be bought. Only a spiritually rich person is capable of displaying such feelings. Material things are perishable; tomorrow they may no longer exist. But spiritual wealth will remain with a person for his entire life, and will illuminate the path not only for him, but also for those who are next to him. Ask yourself what it means to be a spiritually rich person, set yourself a goal and go towards it. Believe me, your efforts will be worth it.

In memory of Elena Obraztsova

“I dream of singing in church, to be a little closer to heaven”

The queen of opera Elena Obraztsova has passed away. In 2004, 10 years ago, during our interview with her, the singer said that the entire next season would be dedicated to her farewell to the role of Carmen, that she had already agreed with several theaters in Russia and foreign countries, which she would tour on a farewell tour. “We hope this is not farewell to the stage at all?” “What are you talking about, I would like to die first, and only then say goodbye to the stage...” the singer answered.“When I pray morning and evening, I always ask: I want to die first, and then finish singing,” Elena Obraztsova said in her last interview. She died on January 12, 2015 in Germany, and on January 14 she said goodbye to her native stage of the Bolshoi Theater, where hundreds of people came. She was 75 years old. On January 15, 2015 at 9.00 her funeral service took place in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Singing, funeral service... She sang, they sang her funeral service. It is so symbolic that she was buried in the main church of Russia, the symbol of which she was and will remain for people from many countries of the world...

“You sang on all the main stages and concert venues of the world, and performed sacred music. “Did you have to sing in church?” I asked the great singer a decade ago. “No, I’ve never sung in an Orthodox church before,” she answered. - I can imagine how happy this is. I dream of singing in church and hope that this is still ahead of me. When I sang Pavel Chesnokov’s “May My Prayer Be Corrected” in a concert with Minin’s choir, it seemed to me that I had become a little closer to heaven.”

During her lifetime, she lived not only an earthly life, but also a heavenly one. It is no coincidence that among the minor planets of the Solar System there is planet No. 4623, named after her. Planet Obraztsova was discovered on October 24, 1981. There is no death. It’s just that the singer’s soul has passed into Eternity, from where it will continue to shine on us and give us moments of real happiness - the happiness of merging with God through music. Now she is there - in heaven, where our souls were carried away, listening to her unearthly voice.For many years I had been planning to come to her to do a new interview and ask if her dream of singing in the temple had come true. I'm late…

There are meetings that leave an indelible mark on your soul. You thank God for them and lament that they could have continued, but something got in the way... After the death of a person, you realize that you have lost this hypothetical opportunity forever... It’s useless to scold yourself... I just want to remember our conversations with Elena Obraztsova in 2003 and 2004, in memory of which I only have one autograph left, and even that was not intended for me... I thank God for meeting a woman who is the color of the nation, our national treasure, our pride.

“If I were the Minister of Culture, I would introduce a classical music lesson at school”

Of the Russian singers, perhaps only Fyodor Chaliapin can be considered her predecessor, who shone on the operatic horizon among world-famous stars. She worked with outstanding conductors, sang at the best opera stages in the world - at the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theaters, Marseille and Vienna operas, Liceu and La Scala, Covent Garden and Metropolitan Opera. And at the same time, Elena Vasilievna played in dramatic performances, sang jazz, and was not afraid to experiment at all... It’s a pity that she did not become the Minister of Culture. 10 years ago, to my question whether it is necessary to instill in young children a taste for good music, literature, and painting, Elena Vasilievna answered: “If I were the Minister of Culture, the first thing I would do would be to introduce at school not just a singing lesson, but a classical music lesson. I would also make sure that during the drawing lesson the children don’t just draw the sun, cats and houses, but also study the creativity of artists.”.

I was introduced to the work of Elena Obraztsova by my boss at work, Tatyana Grekova, who knew everything about her favorite singer and traveled from Kharkov to Moscow to many of her concerts. She took me to one concert too. The singer's voice captivated and captivated. I bought her records, read many articles and several books about her. But I owe my personal acquaintance with Elena Obraztsova, which took place in the fall of 2003 in her native Leningrad and then continued in Moscow, to the outstanding opera singer Zurab Sotkilava.

Obraztsova and Sotkilava proved that there are no bloodsuckers living in Russia

In 1966, in Italy, he trained at La Scala. “A Spanish doctor lived there, and we went with him to the stadium to watch football... we were together for two days, and when we parted, the director of the hotel, with whom I was friends, called me. The Spaniard told him: “Listen, the Russian is such a good guy (for them and the Georgians, since he is from the Soviet Union, that means Russian), but I thought that the Russians were cannibals.” At that time, there was such propaganda in Spain that everyone in Russia is bloodsuckers,” Zurab Sotkilava told me during an interview.The Spaniards were able to verify that this was not the case when, in 1970, Elena Obraztsova and Zurab Sotkilava became the first Soviet singers to perform at the very difficult International Vocal Competition. F. Vinyasa in Barcelona. They received gold medals and an invitation to stay in Spain.

My interview with Sotkilava was published in the Student Meridian magazine. It was read by one of Elena Vasilyevna’s fans and assistant, after which I was invited to cover the Third International Competition for Young Opera Singers from the Moskovskaya Pravda newspaper. It was a gift from God, since I had never written about music before, and I had minimal journalistic experience.

It was at the very beginning of my churching, when for the sake of “daily bread” I left my scientific work on studying my beloved Dostoevsky. My soul suffered during that very difficult financial time. My husband, my little daughter, and I were in poverty, but it was then that real miracles began to happen—every time I turned to God ended in amazing gifts—meetings, trips, acquaintances. Such a gift was meeting the scientist Sergei Kapitsa and director Krzysztof Zanussi on the Greek island of Rhodes, where I was invited by the staff of the St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation, such were trips to different countries of the world and meetings with many outstanding people of our time...

But the very first gift from above was an absolutely fantastic trip to the III Elena Obraztsova International Competition for Young Opera Singers. The competition took place from August 18 to 30, 2003 in the Great Hall of the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic named after D.D. Shostakovich, where I took a photo with Elena Vasilyevna and her friend Valentina Tereshkova. And although I tried not to miss important events of the competition, by some miracle I still managed to visit the Pushkin and Dostoevsky museums, other memorable places in St. Petersburg and even see the famous Chizhik-Pyzhik on the Fontanka. But the most powerful impression was, of course, the competition itself and the conversation with Elena Obraztsova.

Obraztsova's unburnt autograph

Later they told me that she was very pleased with the interview that someone filmed on a video camera (I wish I could find this recording!). And I saw an open, intelligent, believing woman. I witnessed the audition of a girl whom her father brought from the provinces. Elena Vasilievna charmed me and won me over with her love for Dostoevsky... And then there was another no less interesting interview.

On the eve of the anniversary, which was celebrated on July 7, 2004, Sergei Biryukov asked me to interview Obraztsova for the Trud newspaper. Although, according to the singer, she lived on the plane (“Movement, flight is my natural physical and spiritual state”), I was very lucky: I managed to “catch” Elena Vasilievna between tours in her Moscow apartment in the famous house with lions near the Patriarch’s Ponds. It was a great success and a great honor. I was taking my first steps in journalism, I was timid and was not yet a “paparazzi” with a camera at the ready. I still regret that I did not dare to photograph her at home. Then she gave me a photo of herself for publication against the background of a portrait of her late husband Algis Žuraitis, which she asked to return...

And I so wanted to have something that belonged to the singer, that I kept stalling for time, then forgot about my promise... On January 29, 2013, this photo burned down along with those photographs in which Elena Obraztsova and I and her friend Valentina Tereshkova are posing at the gala reception at the end of the competition in St. Petersburg.

After the fire, I kept meaning to call Elena Vasilievna and ask her for help in organizing a charity concert to raise funds for me as a fire victim and my brother, who needs a kidney transplant.I’m almost sure that Elena Obraztsova would not have refused and kept her word, unlike the young opera singer who promised to give us part of the funds from a charity concert, but did not give a penny, using my misfortune for PR of his three concerts... God be his judge .

By the way, he was supposed to participate, but did not come to that competition in St. Petersburg, which Elena Vasilievna was very pleased with. There was an incredibly strong line-up of performers, amazing voices... Interestingly, among the winners was the tenor from Buryatia Chingis Ayusheev, who won the Grand Prix of the Romansiada 2002 competition held by the Trud newspaper. Genghis then snatched victory from the same singer who, many years later, deceived the expectations of my sick brother. Later, Elena Vasilievna signed our interview with her in the magazine “Student Meridian” for the singer. I don’t know why I never gave him this magazine. The most incredible thing is that this particular number with a photograph and autograph of the great singer survived the fire. This is the only thing I have left of her as a memory.

"Quarries of Elena Obraztsova"

This was the title of the interview with the singer in the magazine “Student Meridian”, which is now difficult to find. I hope that readers will be interested in reading excerpts from several of my conversations with Obraztsova.

Elena Vasilyevna, perhaps the members of the competition jury can be compared to gold diggers? After all, in the hope of finding a few precious voices, they are forced to audition dozens of singers.

There is work that is even harder. Many years ago I found myself on a train with two women and some guy who just had terrible hands. He was, to put it mildly, ugly, and I was afraid how we would spend the night in the same compartment with him - it was just the passion of the Lord. The women recognized me: “Oh, Elena Vasilyevna, tell me how you live...” I began to complain: I don’t see my family, I don’t communicate with my child, I’m always on the road, I’m leaving and coming, climate change, time zones, endless rehearsals - it’s hard , it’s very hard... And the guy sat and sat, then we had some kind of pause, and suddenly he said: “Don’t you want to work in the quarries?” And everything immediately fell into place! This was the first serious lesson I learned “in life.”

What about the second lesson?

I had the most terrible, hellish migraines (apparently, the consequences of hunger in besieged Leningrad). Once, when I was already assigned to the Kremlin medical department in Moscow, I called a doctor to my house to give me injections (I had high blood pressure). Such a powerful aunt arrived... And I lie on the sofa and lament: “Lord, why did you give me such suffering? I have never done harm to people...” Suddenly she put her hands on her hips: “Oh, you shameless woman!” I almost fell off the sofa: “Why are you talking to me like that?” She: “Do you know that people have been screaming in hospitals for years in pain, and in two or three hours you’ll scream and everything will pass! Always, when something hurts, say: “Lord, thank you for only this!” This was my second life lesson. By the way, after that woman’s visit, my migraines somehow began to go away...

Not every person can say about himself publicly the way you do in your poem: “I am a great sinner...”

Yes, it is simply the duty of an Orthodox Christian to clearly understand what he is guilty of before the Lord. And God is always in us, as one very good preacher, Father Anthony from London, likes to repeat. By the way, this is a man of absolutely amazing destiny: he lived in Paris, was a prosperous surgeon, and one day he heard a voice calling him to leave the world. I spent a year in the forests, then again I heard a voice: “You must enter the theological academy.” Now he is in charge of the entire Russian Orthodox Church in England. I fell in love with his sermons, I have them all collected.

Your life is filled with many interesting events.

I hope this continues! After Madrid, I managed to perform concerts in Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, and Tashkent. In Hungary she sang “The Queen of Spades” in a concert performance. After a two-week break, I will go to Japan to attend the Summer School, where I have been going for many years to give master classes. A trip to the Far East is planned in September, where I will take the laureates of my competition. My concerts will take place in Vladivostok, Ussuriysk and Khabarovsk. In October - early December, as always, I give concerts and master classes throughout Japan. At the end of December I sing jazz with Igor Butman at the Moscow House of Music. There are many plans. I conceived a grandiose arts festival in Peterhof - modeled on the Salzburg one. I want to revive the Peterhof Opera House and invite Zeffirelli to the production.

With Franco Zeffirelli you did “Honor Rusticana” at the La Scala theater and a film based on this performance, after which he said that there were three discoveries in his life - Anna Magnani, Maria Callas and Elena Obraztsova.

I am happy that he has such an opinion of me, and I pray that our new work – a feature film – will take place. Franco has already called me several times and said that he was looking for a story.

“Even a pause should be such that the audience does not look in their pocket for their wardrobe numbers,” or the Elena Obraztsova Competition for Young Opera Singers

How do you manage to work on your brainchild as well? Tickets for the first two rounds of the third competition were free for the public. It was a generous gift to lovers of singing. The founders of the competition are the Committee for Culture of St. Petersburg and the Elena Obraztsova Cultural Center. Does the state help?

Well, if only the state had given me a ruble, it would have helped me! I walk around with my hand outstretched and ask sponsors for money. And until the last second I am never sure that the competition will take place. But that’s not possible! I do this not for myself, but for young people, for their professional growth, so that great musicians can share their experience with them. All my life I have worked on the greatest stages with the greatest conductors, directors, singers, I know a lot and I want to pass on my knowledge to young people. And I can’t even find people with whom I could talk about this topic. The secretaries do not let me into the office of the responsible bosses! I am surprised. It turns out that no one needs either my knowledge or my desire to do something. It’s terribly offensive that for me, who lived my whole life in Russia and served it, no one wants not only to help, but also to listen. Almost all the money I earn goes towards holding the competition and restoring two halls located in house number 65 on Nevsky Prospekt. The Elena Obraztsova Musical Talent Support Center has also been established in Moscow. The Moscow government helped in expanding the building of the Alexander Shilov art gallery. We, like Shilov, who donated his paintings to the city, are also patriots. But, unfortunately, our competition does not have the support of the authorities and exists thanks to sponsors. There is not a single leading theater on the planet in which our singers with unique voices would not sing. But we want their skills to become even higher. Therefore, we will invite the largest singers of our time and professors teaching foreign languages to master classes.

The greatest singers in the world came to the vocal competitions in St. Petersburg as jury members - Joan Sutherland, Renata Scotto, Fedora Barbieri, many other outstanding singers and musicians from the USA, Italy, Australia, Japan, Germany, Romania, France, of course, and from Russia and Ukraine. Thanks to this, there was not a single mistake at the competition: all the performers who received awards went on to a great musical life. These are Ildar Abdrazakov, Lyubov Petrova, Hayk Martirosyan, Mikhail Kazakov, Marina Poplavskaya, Mikhail Shtoda, Irina Lungu, Tatyana Mazurenko, Eduard Tsanga, Methodie Bujor...

What advice would you give to young people dedicating themselves to singing?

This may seem strange to some, but I would advise not to focus on just vocals. You need to live a full-blooded life, feel it, absorb its joys, sorrows - love, suffer, hate. You cannot lie on a soft feather bed and wait for an invitation to an opera performance or a chamber concert... When a spiritually poor man who does not know history, literature, painting, world music, who does not know life itself, appears on stage, he has nothing to say to people. Even the pause should be such that the audience does not look in their pocket for their wardrobe numbers, but waits for what you will say next. During the pause, we continue to live in character, conduct an internal monologue... The gift of singing is from above. When the Lord gives a voice, He expects us to still learn a lot. Otherwise, what we sing cannot be called music - just bare notes.

“I read all of Dostoevsky and fell in love with him”

You once admitted that the main artist of the Bolshoi Theater, an extremely interesting person, Vadim Ryndin, revealed to you Dostoevsky with his extraordinary stories of the life of the human soul...

Yes, he brought me his books in a certain sequence - first “easier” ones, then deeper in philosophical content. As a result, I repeatedly read all of Dostoevsky and fell in love with him.

It’s probably no coincidence that one of your “crown” works is the role of Granny in Prokofiev’s opera “The Gambler,” written based on Dostoevsky’s novel of the same name?

Yes, this is one of my favorite roles - very bright, juicy. I usually imagine the great actress Faina Ranevskaya in this image of Dostoevsky. Granny doesn’t feel sorry for the millions squandered in the casino, because although she is a gambling person, she is not a greedy person. After all, with the remaining money she builds churches...

In his book, the famous director Boris Pokrovsky said: “If I were a monarch or president, I would ban everything except opera for three days. In three days the nation would wake up refreshed, smart, wise, rich, well-fed and cheerful.” Of course, this is a hyperbolic image, although the idea is clear: classical art can spiritually raise people to good deeds. I wonder what you would do in the place of a hypothetical monarch?

And first I would feed all the old women and elderly people. I would pay tribute to the people who believed in the communist utopia and laid down their entire honestly lived lives on its altar - like my father, who not so much lived as worked for the sake of the future. And I loved my father for this...

“Thank God my parents died!”

What is your soul hurting about?

Now many people are thinking about dividing power, land, and influence. And who will think about our old people who have lived a very difficult life, and now they don’t even know what to live on? I'll tell you the most terrible thing - thank God that my parents died! I am happy that they did not live to see the time when their ideals, dreams, and their faith in Russia, which they served, would have been destroyed. They raised me on classical music at a time when live classical music broadcasts from the best concert halls were broadcast on television and radio. Now people are increasingly captured by money and commerce. They don't think about what to leave for the future generation. And those parents who are now growing up without classical music will not be able to pass on these treasures to their children.

How can a person achieve what he strives for?

Only with hard work and perseverance. Whatever I planned in life, I always achieved it, because once I set a goal, I can no longer be led astray. Such is my daughter, who dreamed of singing since childhood, but at first I resisted - after all, it is hard labor... But she nevertheless became an excellent singer. This is her mother’s spirit: to go ahead, in spite of everything... Even though she was, like all children, a hooligan and a disgrace. But from the age of five I knew the entire repertoire of the conservatory students who came to my house to study - she sat under the piano and listened to all our lessons. She is also a heavy reader, and it has ruined her eyes. In my opinion, he knows French classical literature almost by heart.

“Following opera, I’m mastering jazz”

Have you tried a lot in life - music, poetry, theater... Do you weigh for a long time before giving in to a new hobby?

It’s like someone is guiding me through life. I walk, walk, walk the usual path, suddenly boom - books, say, on Eastern philosophy, come into the house, and unexpectedly for myself I begin to get carried away with the East, write poetry in the Eastern spirit, go to exhibitions of Eastern art... Or then suddenly Bang - Viktyuk Theater. From time to time, Roman Viktyuk begins to rehearse with me “Venus in Fur” and “Don’t Shoot Mom” - performances that we have already performed. Rehearses - then quits, rehearses again - quits again...

Elena Vasilyevna, I was lucky enough to see you in Viktyuk’s dramatic performance based on R. Mainardi’s play “Antonio von Elba”.

Yes, I played Amalia, an aging opera diva in love with a young man. And one day I became interested in jazz. She sang Kurt Weill's zongs, which are very close in spirit to the melody of the musical. And through this style I suddenly entered jazz, felt it not just as entertaining music, but as a manifestation of Negro religious consciousness. Good jazz is earthly and divine at the same time. Just like any real music. I was happy to meet the jazz audience. I sang with saxophonist Igor Butman in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic in Leningrad. We performed Gershwin, Kern, Ellington - jazz classics of the 20s and 30s.

"Spade..." Countess

In 2003, when the 40th anniversary of the singer’s creative activity was celebrated, I was able to attend Tchaikovsky’s opera “The Queen of Spades” at the Bolshoi Theater. Her Countess is a masterpiece! She sang the Countess at the very beginning of her twenty-five-year career. Forty years ago, a cheerful, young, beautiful girl suddenly - as if by magic - turned into an “octogenarian hag” - outdated and no longer in love with Moscow Venus. But the singer looked great even at 75 years old. How she amazed the audience with her ability before our eyes - often without makeup or costume, in a concert dress - to turn into an old woman leaning on a stick with shaking hands and a twitching head. According to the singer, she played the role of the Countess herself and did not want to share it with anyone. By creating this strong tragic character on stage, Obraztsova internally became so old that she “even wanted to look younger.”

Elena Vasilyevna said: “Then I came to my senses for a whole week, my hands and legs were shaking. - When Tchaikovsky wrote the scene of the death of the Countess, his hair stood on end - he was so scared. And he cried. This is the feeling that people in the hall should have. Hair on end!..”

She found her authorship in her way of existing on stage. She imagined the Countess not speculatively, but sensually and never sang it just like that. “Endless associations! The Countess recalls her youth, life in Paris. And, remembering the past with its series of balls and love stories, she begins to sing a French romance from the era of the Marquise of Pompadour, going into the golden dream of her youth,” said Obraztsova, who was in a constant creative search for ways to exist on stage. She never tired of surprising us with her discoveries, presenting even long-known works as some kind of fascinating and exciting mystery.

This is what the singer said about her tour in Madrid, where at the Real Opera House she more than once participated in performances of “The Queen of Spades” with Placido Domingo:

- This huge production was transferred to the Teatro Real in Madrid from Los Angeles. In it, Domingo and I came up with an innovation (for the first time in all 40 years of my creative activity!): when the Countess sings her song, she returns to the times of her youth and, falling asleep, remains there. In Herman she sees another lover who asks her for love. She dances with him, and in the dance her youth and her dreams of love are revived. But he says: “You are old, and you won’t live long.” Then the Countess understands that this is the one who came for her life, for the secret of the three cards, she must die from him, she waits for him with horror all her life. Realizing this, she dies, and Herman, realizing that with the death of the Countess, the secret of the three cards on which he had bet his whole life was gone, he goes crazy. He grabs the dead body of the Countess and, dancing with him, repeats: “She is dead, but I did not know the secret.” This is so scary!..

Do you sing a duet with your daughter?

We gave joint concerts many times - in Leningrad, Yaroslavl, Madrid... She is a wonderful performer of baroque music. In addition, she sings in opera and has many engagements with Montserrat Caballe. Lena lives in Spain. I miss her and my grandson very much, but I will never leave Russia. If she didn’t leave before, then even more so now. Abroad, sometimes people are greeted more enthusiastically, but in terms of the depth of feeling for music, our listener probably has no equal.

Do you seem to be more comfortable on stage with Russian partners?

Certainly. Volodya Atlantov, Evgeny Nesterenko, Yuri Mazurok, Tamara Milashkina were amazing partners. And what a singer - Irina Arkhipova! Avdeeva, Leonova, Nikitina - we had an amazing mezzo-soprano group at the Bolshoi.

Is your grandson going to continue the musical dynasty?

Can you imagine, he has absolutely no hearing! At one time he really wanted to become a veterinarian, but by the age of 16 he became interested in sports - football and karate.

Your husband, Bolshoi Theater conductor Algis Zhuraitis, has been gone for many years. Does time heal pain or make it worse?

No, it didn’t change anything in my feelings: I still loved Algis. He was an extraordinary person, a man... Elegant, passionate, gentle. Many vocalists and orchestra players still remember him as an excellent musician.

What helps you stay in shape?

You have to go on a protein diet: meat, fish, seafood, eggs, salad, a little soy and pineapple. That's all I eat. Well, an artist who constantly works on stage simply does not need additional physical activity: there is already a crazy return of energy.

What is the most important piece of wisdom you have learned in your life?

And there is no other wisdom except love for people, for God’s world. You wake up in the morning and see the sky, the sun, rain, trees, flowers, and it makes you delighted. You wander around different cities, sing and listen to music, watch great paintings, read talented books, admire ancient architecture - all this is also a love for the creations of human hands. The greatest wisdom is in love for children, a man, a friend.

Photo from the archive of Elena Obraztsova