Bedros Kirkorov, Bulgarian, Soviet and Russian pop singer, father of Philip Kirkorov, died on March 18 at the age of 92. In recent years, the artist has been seriously ill. Izvestia recalls the life of the People's Artist of Russia and NRB.
What was the illness of Bedros Kirkorov?
On Tuesday, March 18, it became known about the death of pop singer Bedros Kirkorov. His son, Philip Kirkorov, announced this in his social networks, writing: "I'm not a child anymore. Today, on March 18, 2025, at 3:37 p.m., my dad, People's Artist of Russia Bedros Kirkorov, passed away. But you will never leave my heart. Appreciate every moment you spend with your family!"
According to the director of the musician Ekaterina Uspenskaya, Kirkorov died at home due to cardiac arrest.
"It happened at home, with my family. My heart stopped. Death did not happen in a dream. Philip is currently organizing the funeral," Kirkorov Jr.'s PR manager said in a conversation with the media.
In recent years, Yuedros Kirkorov has often complained of pain, suffered coronavirus twice and spent a lot of time in hospitals. So, in 2024, the People's Artist ended up in intensive care. His serious condition was caused by heart failure and coronary artery disease, which were complicated by pulmonary edema, fluid accumulation in them and pneumonia. On September 1, he was urgently hospitalized.
Larisa Dolina, People's Artist of Russia:
Bedros lived a very beautiful, decent life and was an example for his son. He was a very good man, and Philip learned a lot from him — kindness, some kind of optimism in life, and talent, of course. His talent definitely comes from Bedros. May the earth rest in peace for this wonderful man. We will remember him, and as long as we do, he will be alive for us.
In December 2024, the singer was diagnosed with "bilateral pneumonia" and the fluid was drained from his lungs.
It is known that the singer maintained a warm relationship with his son, and they began to communicate especially closely after the death of Philip's mother, Victoria. Bedros Kirkorov also doted on his grandchildren, Alla Victoria and Martin, who also loved their grandfather very much and could even recognize him "by his gait."
Kirkorov's relatives announced that he will be buried at the Troekurovsky Cemetery in Moscow on Friday, March 21.
Early life
Bedros Kirkorov was born on March 2, 1932 in the Bulgarian city of Varna in the family of shoemaker Philip Krikorian. The parents of the future artist sang in the Armenian choir themselves and often took their son with them. Because of his recognizable voice, the boy was nicknamed "the pipe." Bedros' sister, Mari Kirkorova, later became an opera singer and People's Artist of Bulgaria.
Bedros Krikorian had to change his surname to Bulgarian in order to enroll in a Bulgarian school. Initially, the future pop singer chose his father's vocation and graduated from college with a degree in fashion shoemaker. But Bedros did not forget about his own abilities and also underwent musical training.
Kirkorov Sr. began to really sing in a military ensemble while serving in the army, and then got a job at the Opera House of Varna. During one of the performances at the International House of Journalists, the talented young man was noticed by the famous composer Arno Babajanyan. It was he who invited Bedros Kirkorov to the USSR so that he could get a higher musical education.
The career and fame of Bedros Kirkorov
Already at the age of 20, Bedros Kirkorov began performing with pop orchestras, including well-known ensembles conducted by Yuri Silantiev, Vladimir Fedoseev, Eddie Rosner, Leonid Utesov. The artist's name is most often associated with the Utesov orchestra, which invited him to perform a song cycle about Soviet-Bulgarian friendship. I especially remember the composition "Alyosha" with the words dedicated to the monument to the Soviet soldier in Plovdiv: "There is a Russian soldier standing over Alyosha Mountain...".
The all—Union company "Melody" released several records of the artist, including "Boundlessness", "Song of a Soldier" / "My Grenada". One of his main works was the long-playing disc of 12 compositions "Bedros Kirkorov Sings", which was released in 1975 and was a success with Soviet and foreign audiences.
Ilya Bachurin CEO of Mosconcert:
Bedros Kirkorov is not only Philip Kirkorov's dad, he was perceived as a father by many artists and people who came across him. The Philip we know gives people the warmth, sincerity, and affection for his viewers that Bedros gave him. Everyone who communicated with him felt that light was coming from him. And the son transmits it, amplifying, refracting. The whole show business lost a loved one today. He was loved. Bedros Kirkorov will be remembered kindly for a very long time.
The musician performed a lot on the territory of the USSR, performing songs not only in Russian, but also in Bulgarian, Georgian and Italian. Bedros Kirkorov conducted solo concerts and participated in major variety programs.
The artist did not leave the stage until he was 85 years old and continued to tour extensively in different cities and countries. On his 90th birthday, his son Philip gave a big solo concert in Moscow, which was attended by many Russian pop stars.
In 2005, Bedros Kirkorov was awarded the medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, and in 2012 he was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia.
Social activities
Over the years of his life, Bedros Kirkorov was not only actively engaged in his musical career, but also in public life. He held many charity concerts, including for veterans of the Great Patriotic War and in honor of the monument on Poklonnaya Gora.
In addition, it was thanks to the singer that a monument was erected to Pavel Kalitin, the national hero of Bulgaria, in the city of Kholm in Russia, and to General Fyodor Ushakov in Bulgaria.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
