Theater and personalities: Mikhalkov, Rozovsky and Neyolova were awarded the Golden Mask

The award ceremony for the winners of the special Golden Mask Award "For Outstanding Contribution to the development of theatrical art" was held in the Beethoven Hall of the Bolshoi Theater. This year, the award was given to 12 cultural figures and the heads of two regions, who were noted for their support of theatrical art. Among the laureates are Nikita Mikhalkov, Mark Rozovsky, Alexander Titel, Boris Blank, Marina Neelova. Izvestia visited the Bolshoi Theatre and joined in the congratulations.

What was Mashkov talking about?

The special Golden Mask Award was presented at the Bolshoi Theatre on March 27, as is the tradition. There were tables decorated with flowers waiting for the awardees. The guests were greeted by an orchestra. The gallant waiters offered champagne. Vladimir Mashkov, Chairman of the Union of Theatrical Figures and President of the Golden Mask, communicated with the laureates. The only thing missing was the co-chairman of the STD, Valery Gergiev: he had "Don Carlos" in the evening, and he had to rehearse. But he still came to the ceremony. Marina Neyolova, a rare guest of social events, also came to receive her award. She sat on the edge and tried to remain unnoticed.

— The professional community appreciated the craftsmen, these are really the people who are the heritage of our country, — said Mashkov. — The laureates are selected by the secretariat, and the Ministry of Culture and the regional offices of the STD have the opportunity to present their candidates. Then there is a big discussion.

This year, the Golden Mask is held in the old format, and next year the festival will be completely updated. The competition program starts on April 1. Until June 1, viewers can see more than 40 works from different cities of Russia. The leading theaters of the capital provided their stages: Bolshoi, Vakhtangovsky, Mossoveta and others.

"We will hold the awards ceremony for the best performances in Kazan, at the Kamala Theater,— Mashkov said. — There are 52 thousand square meters of theater space, four state-of-the-art stages. We really wanted the whole country to see this wonderful theater. By the way, he is a multiple winner of the Golden Mask.

He also said that it was possible to find finances for the restoration of the Khabarovsk Regional Musical Theater. Mashkov personally appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for this. The fire in the theater building occurred on October 3, 2024, and the building then burned out almost completely.

— You all know about the tragedy that occurred last year in Khabarovsk: instruments, decorations, handwritten works, sheet music, costumes were burned, — said Mashkov. — Just yesterday, we turned to the president to help in this difficult matter. We need really big funds. And yesterday, Vladimir Vladimirovich signed our request and offered to satisfy it. Reconstruction of the Khabarovsk Theater will begin in the near future.

The team will be saved. Artists and musicians are currently touring the country.

Nikita Mikhalkov received the Golden Mask

The guests and journalists became animated when Mikhalkov appeared in the Beethoven Hall. Nikita Sergeevich's theater day turned out to be rich in festive events. In the afternoon, together with the mayor of the capital, Sergei Sobyanin, he hosted the reconstructed building on Povarskaya Street, where the Cinema Actor's Theater used to be located. Now the Nikita Mikhalkov Studio 12 Theater will be located there. A modern, state-of-the-art stage.

— Today, when the mayor hosted our building, the artists of my troupe came on stage. And he was amazed at so many young, beautiful guys with sparkling eyes, who almost all became graduates of our Academy. There we teach professions based on the methods of Stanislavsky, Vakhtangov and Mikhail Chekhov," Nikita Sergeyevich shared.

Until the theater has started operating, the troupe plays its performances at rented venues. Four years ago, Mikhalkov, along with Nikolai Burlyaev and Sergey Stepanchenko, presented the premiere of the play "12" at the GABT. Of course, the director would like his performances to be awarded as well. In the meantime, the Golden Mask was awarded to him for his outstanding contribution to the development of the Russian theater.

"Just a few years ago, the award had a different vector, although there were many talented people in it," Nikita Mikhalkov said. — But I hope that now the Golden Mask will be an incentive to revive the Russian National Theater. With all branches and genres. But the foundation, the acting school, will be preserved, we have a definite one.

The ceremony was led by Oleg Tabakov Theater actor Artur Kasimov. He called Nikita Mikhalkov to the stage first. The "mask" was presented to the artist by People's Artist of Russia Lyudmila Maksakova. She came out in character: her face was hidden by a beautiful mask, reminiscent of an accessory from the movie "The Bat". Accompanied by a guitar, the actress sang the Mikhalkov romance "Charming eyes, you charmed me. They have so much bliss, so much affection, so much passion and fire in them..." Nikita Sergeyevich smiled. It seems that I did not expect such a warm and frank declaration of love.

"Today I have the great honor to congratulate you on the highest theatrical award and to declare my love to you from all of us," Lyudmila Maksakova said. — Everyone knows you as a world director. I followed you to America, where you were awarded an Oscar, and to Paris, where you were awarded the Legion of Honor.

"Maybe it's better to keep quiet, don't talk about it, otherwise Macron will be offended," the laureate asked.

— I have one more wish. I have all the theater awards, and in the theater they even call me Legend Vasilyevna, but there are no film awards," Lyudmila Maksakova continued. — That's why I dream that you will make a movie, I'm in the lead role. I'll get the Eagle and fly away!

Nikita Mikhalkov thanked his friend.

— Today is an amazing day. After the restoration, the building of our theater was opened. I get an award, and 30 years ago, on this very day, I won the Oscar," he said.

Nikita Mikhalkov's friend Evgeny Steblov also won a special award. He admitted to Izvestia that he had been involved in awarding Masks for 20 years, and this was his first award.

— I was the first deputy chairman of the STD of the Russian Federation (previously the Union of Theatrical Figures was headed by Alexander Kalyagin – Ed.) — that's enough, — says Evgeny Yurievich. — I treat awards normally, especially state awards.

Steblov has been working at the Mossovet Theater for more than 40 years. He says he has no problems with roles.

— I am in a position where I am free to choose what to participate in and what to refuse. A lot of people want to involve me in something, but I don't agree to everything. I also never complain.

Among the laureates was Mark Rozovsky, artistic director of the Nikitsky Gate Theater. He came to the Bolshoi Theatre with his family.

"Actually, glory is smoke,— Mark Rozovsky smiled at Izvestia. — Don't worry, don't worry, he's already been sentenced. I got interested in theater back at school No. 170, it's not far from here," recalled Mark Grigorievich. — We had quite a theatrical company. Andryusha Mironov was two grades younger than me. There is also a playwright Edward Radzinsky, actors Vasily Livanov, Natalia Zashchipina, Ilya Rutberg.

The legendary film director, screenwriter, theater and film artist Boris Blank was also awarded a special award. He has three Nika awards and no Golden Masks. His debut in the theater as an artist took place 61 years ago. Together with Yuri Lyubimov, they produced "The Good Man from Sesuan" on Taganka. And in the cinema, the beginning was laid in tandem with Elem Klimov. They were filming the movie "Welcome, or No Trespassing."

"The competition system itself exists to infect the ambition of the young when they look at the winners," says Blank. — The Golden Mask is a continuation of eternal traditions. I am glad that I am receiving this award.

Natalia Tenyakova, People's Artist of Russia, was also awarded an honorary "Mask". The actress of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater could not attend the ceremony, Vadim Wernik received the award for her. Natalia Tenyakova was among the first winners of the Golden Mask. Then it was the Moscow Prize. It was presented at the Maly Theater. The most beautiful prize among the theater awards was created by the artist Oleg Sheintsis.

Alexander Titel, artistic director of the opera company and the main director of MAMT, is a record holder among the laureates. He has been awarded the prestigious award several times.

Other awardees include Yuri Alexandrov, Artistic Director of the St. Petersburg Opera Chamber Music Theater, director and artistic director of the Academic Russian Drama Theater. Evgenia Vakhtangova in Vladikavkaz, Vladimir Uvarov, soloist of the Ivanovo Musical Theater Irina Sitnova, set designer Alexander Orlov, puppet theater actor, teacher, leading stage master of the Bashkir Puppet Theater Airat Akhmetshin.

The award was given to the heads of regions who actively contribute to the implementation of new, significant projects and initiatives: the Governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, and the Governor of Primorsky Krai, Oleg Kozhemyako.