Cyril Laskari - this name is well known in the world of art. A multifaceted creative person, a person of great talent and aesthetic taste, a ballet dancer, an outstanding Soviet and Russian theater figure, director, playwright, writer - all this is about him. Let's get acquainted.
About childhood and family
Kirill Laskari was born on July 17, 1936 in the city of Leningrad in a family of people of art. His father, Alexander Semenovich Menaker, was a famous pop actor, mother of Cyril, Irina Vladimirovna Laskari, a ballerina of the Opera and Ballet Theater in Tbilisi. Mother’s grandmother Ida Liksperova was an actress and starred in films. His paternal brother is Andrei Mironov, an outstanding theater and film artist.
When the boy was three years old, his father left the family. Since 1952, upon reaching his 16th birthday, the guy began to carry the name of his mother. When it came time to decide on a profession, Cyril Laskari decided to follow in his mother's footsteps and entered the Leningrad Choreographic School, successfully completing it in 1957.
Laskari - ballet soloist
After graduating from college. A. Vaganova novice ballet dancer joined the troupe of the theater. Kirov. Here he worked for two years. In 1959, Cyril Laskari moved to the Maly Theater and already on his stage makes a dizzying career. For two decades in a row, the ballet dancer was the leading soloist of this Melpomene temple. He danced almost all the title parts in the performances that took place at the Maly Theater.
The artist was the Humpbacked Horse in The Humpbacked Horse, Rochefort in The Three Musketeers, the Nomenclature Unit in the Directory Bow, and the Tenant in The Story of a Girl. Among his other parties: Barmaley in Doctor Aibolit, The Jester in Seven Beauties, Conductor in Ivushka, Parsley in Love Ballad, Milkman in the Blue Danube, German in Eve, Groom in Parsley ", A brilliant performance of the Venetian dance in Swan Lake.
Activities as a director and choreographer
In parallel with the ballet, Cyril Laskari tried himself as a director. His work could be seen in the Maly Theater. The most famous of them is the wonderful ballet The Old Man Hottabych. Laskari also staged performances at the A. Raikin Miniature Theater.
Directing work of Kirill Alexandrovich could be seen on television. He was the director of a number of ballet films: “The Tale of the Slave Nikishka” (M. Baryshnikov’s film debut took place here), as well as “Returns” (music by G. Firtich), choreographed in the television movie “Marina”.
He was invited as a choreographer by the Leningrad Theater of Musical Comedy. Here he worked in the performances: “Don Giovanni in Seville”, “Filming a Movie” (music by A. Eshpay), “The Artist’s Life” (and even wrote the libretto for this production), “Mr. X”, “Caliph-Stork”, “ Oh, Bayadera ”,“ Ball in Savoy ”,“ Gypsy Premier ”,“ Donja Juanita ”,“ Errors of Youth ”, Vienna Meetings”. Among his productions is the ballet The Age of the Butterfly. He was also the choreographer of the ballet Adventures of the Chess Soldier Peshkin.
Laskari Kirill Alexandrovich left a bright trace in the history of cinema. A talented choreographer was invited to the set, where he did dance performances for everyone’s favorite films: in 1961 - Amphibian Man, in 1971 - Shadow, in 1974 - in the famous movie Straw Hat, in 1979 year - “Three in a boat, not counting the dogs”, a year later - “Only in the music hall”, in 1982 - “Pokrovsky gate”.
Among the founders of the now world famous Leningrad ballet on ice was also K. Laskari.
Writer and screenwriter
Cyril Laskari, whose biography is filled with creative searches, left his mark in the world of literature. He begins to write first the libretto, and then scripts and books. Per Laskari belongs to such plays as “The Oath of the Marquis de Carabas”, “Corpse from the Hudson”, “Errors of youth”, “I do not want to be a king”, “Fried eggs with eggplant”. According to his script, in 1989 the movie "Bullshit" was shot.
As a prose writer, Kirill Alexandrovich made his debut in 1983. His work “Twenty-Third Pirouette” is embodied in cinematography. Based on the play at the Lenfilm film studio in 1986, the film Myth was shot.
Reading enthusiasts can get acquainted with the writer's books. In 2000, his book “Ascenic Syndrome” was published, in 2003 - “Improvisations on a theme”, and in 2005 the volume “Errors of Youth” was published.
In 2002, the artist was awarded the honorary title of Honored Artist of Russia.
On September 30, 2009, shortly before his death, Laskari was awarded the Order of Friendship, and on October 19, 2009 he passed away. He was buried by K. A. Laskari at the Volkovsky cemetery in St. Petersburg.
Personal life
Cyril Laskari was married twice. His first wife was Nina Urgant. The second time he married Irina Maguto (Irina Laskari), the actress of the puppet theater “At the Moscow Gate”. She starred in the film "The Straw Hat" (played the role of Virginie) and in the episode of the film "And It's All About It." Son - Cyril Laskari - was born on August 11, 1977 in Leningrad. By profession - screenwriter, as well as poet and writer. Kirill Alexandrovich Laskari was friends with his paternal brother, the great Andrei Mironov, and no less brilliant artist Vladimir Vysotsky.