For millions of viewers, announcer Kirillov became the personification of the Soviet era on television. It was he who announced to the whole country that Yuri Alekseevich was the first to go into space. Ordinary citizens turned to him, asking him for help in solving everyday problems, and he did not refuse. The style of presentation of the material and the voice of Igor Leonidovich evoked the atmosphere of a holiday for many. Announcer Kirillov is one of the few who congratulated compatriots on New Year. And he realized how honorable and responsible the mission was entrusted to him.
As an announcer, Igor Kirillov was able to prove how filigree he can speak, conveying the necessary intonation and emotional background. Irakli Andronikova considered the legendary news anchor to be his teacher , who was subject to the feeling of respect for his own culture and pride in his native country.
How did the announcer Kirillov get on television, and what heights he managed to achieve in his career. Let's consider this question in more detail.
Years of childhood and youth
Kirillov Igor Leonidovich - a native of the city of Moscow. He was born on September 14, 1932. His father worked as an editor at the Military Publishing House, and his mother worked as a simple librarian. The rules of Russian literature were unshakable in the Kirillov family, and young Igor understood this right away. He learned the science of reading very early. The boy knew a lot of poems, attended amateur groups. It is easy to guess that, having matured, Igor will choose a creative profession. And so it happened.
Studying acting
Having received a certificate of maturity, the young man firmly decided to become a director and hoped that he would successfully pass exams at VGIK.
At the “theater” university he was informed that he was too young to study at the directing department. But the eminent filmmaker Mikhail Chiaureli reassured the guy, saying that he can try his hand at the acting department. And the young man goes there.
Future announcer Kirillov got on the same course with Maya Bulgakova, Gennady Yukhtin, Isolda Izvitskaya. All of them made a huge contribution to Soviet cinema, but Igor, unfortunately, studied with them for only one year. He had disagreements with some VGIK teachers, and the young man was forced to continue to learn the basics of acting at the Shchepkinsky School at the Maly Theater.
Theater work
Having received the coveted diploma, Igor Kirillov falls into the troupe of the Moscow Drama and Comedy Theater on Taganka. Then this temple of Melpomene was not as popular as it is now.
Nevertheless, performances were staged on his stage, to which the viewer, though not always in large numbers, went. A graduate of Sliver served in this theater for only two years: the directors in most cases claimed him for secondary roles, and in the end the young man decides to try himself in something else.
TV
And soon he will have such an opportunity. In the second half of the 50s of the last century, the creation of a “revolutionary” art form in the USSR began. This, of course, is about television. Naturally, then everyone was new to such professions as an editor, a cameraman, a director. Experience in them was gained through trial and error. Young Igor Kirillov did not miss the opportunity to work on television, hoping to professionally engage in directing. He came up with several production scenes for his favorite literary works and showed them to the main director of the Central Television Sergey Alekseev. After reviewing them, he approved the young man in the post not of the director, but of his assistant. Alekseev agreed that in the future a graduate of the Shchepkinsky school may well become a director, but so far only his assistant. Igor Leonidovich received the above position in the music editorial office, determined to go towards his cherished goal.
Another perspective
After some time, the leadership of Soviet television announced that a new vacancy was being opened - the announcer.
Kirillov, whose biography undoubtedly deserves the closest attention, at first did not see himself as a news broadcaster. At that time, the department where Igor Leonidovich was potentially supposed to work consisted exclusively of representatives of the weaker sex: Lyudmila Sokolova, Valentina Leontyeva, Anna Shatilova, Nina Kondratova. One man in the women's team? Such a prospect to the Sliver graduate seemed not entirely rosy. And yet he was not too lazy to memorize the information posted on half the page of the newspaper Pravda. In the end, Igor Leonidovich took a chance, and the September broadcast of 1957 became his debut. Self-confidence came to him after a few issues. After some time, Kirillov (television announcer) finally realized that he was in his place.
Work specifics
Igor Leonidovich understood how responsible the work he performed was. The slightest inaccuracy or incorrect wording could adversely affect his career. Over the years, his broadcast was only direct. Of course, incidents happened at work, but the Soviet television announcer Kirillov learned to masterfully smooth and level them.
Having gained experience, Igor Leonidovich became a national leader. He was invited to work on the most popular television projects.
So, he hosted the programs he loved for the audience: “Television Cafe”, “On the Light”, “Blue Light”. First they went out every week, then the broadcast format was changed, and the programs began to be broadcast on holidays. Kirillov, as a rule, led the “Blue Light” with an equally famous announcer, Anna Shatilova. Some viewers, seeing their synchronized work on television, were confident that they were husband and wife. They received mountains of letters in which they thanked them for their hard work and wished them family happiness.
Peak career
In 1968, Igor Leonidovich was offered the leadership of the announcer's department of the Central Television. He agreed, but he had to face some difficulties in work, because to lead the female team is a specific matter. But the maestro picked up the "key", which opened the door to the secrets of female psychology.
The Gorbachev era was the final stage in the career of Kirillov. Perestroika touched many areas of human life, including television. At the end of 1989, Igor Leonidovich last conducted the release of "News". But he did not put an end to it. In the new Russia, Kirillov was still in demand.
He was often invited to conduct creative evenings, celebrations, and even occasionally appeared on blue screens. For his services to television, the maestro was awarded many regalia and awards.
Life outside the profession
Announcer Igor Kirillov, whose personal life was very successful, lived with his wife Irina Vsevolodovna for more than half a century. They were friends since childhood and even worked in the same edition. The host was very worried about the death of his wife. In marriage, they had two children.
Daughter Anna is a professional pianist. Currently lives in Germany. Son Vsevolod is engaged in business.