The voice of the people: in Moscow, they said goodbye to Valentina Talyzina

The voice of Nadia from "Irony of Fate" and Uncle Fyodor's mother from the series of films about Prostokvashino, Countess Anna Fedotovna from "The Queen of Spades" and the chairman of the local photo studio in Eldar Ryazanov's comedy "Zigzag of Luck" — Valentina Talyzina gave the embodiment to almost two hundred heroes in theater and cinema. Her talent and passion were remembered on June 24 on the stage of the Mossovet Theater — there was a farewell ceremony for the actress, who died a few days earlier at the age of 90. The funeral ceremony was attended by her daughter Ksenia Khairova and granddaughter Anastasia Talyzina, one of the most sought-after young actresses, as well as numerous colleagues on stage: Alexander Yatsko, Valery Barinov, Andrei Konchalovsky and Yulia Vysotskaya, Elena Valyushkina and many others. For more information, see the Izvestia report.

"We couldn't have thought that this would be her last stage appearance."

Saying goodbye to Valentina Talyzina became a rare example of an intelligent ceremony in its calmness — without unnecessary pathos and fuss. Her colleagues and relatives entered the Mossovet Theater quietly, from the service entrance, in order to avoid communicating with dozens of journalists on duty at the front doors. It was more important to say the main, sincere and warm words and share memories from the very scene to which Valentina Talyzina gave almost 70 years.

— She said goodbye to the audience in time, having played wonderfully in the play "Wolves and Sheep". She didn't want to leave just like that, leaving behind the memory of her former roles," said Alexander Yatsko, a colleague of the actress, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation. — She said goodbye to the audience with a convincing role, which she brilliantly played, despite the fact that she could no longer even walk. She was sitting in an armchair, and it was the same serious big artist Valya Talyzina. Today, fate puts an end to this wonderful and interesting biography in the right place, because this house, this scene is the place of her power. The place of power of this theater was formed by the efforts of this wonderful, very interesting, diverse, contradictory, funny, restless woman.

Valentina Talyzina passed away on June 21. She was 90 years old. Despite her age and health problems, she did not want to leave her beloved stage and the audience. She played in two performances, volunteered to perform at a festive concert on May 9th.

— She was very cheerful, cheerful, energetic. At that time, we couldn't even think that this was her last appearance on stage. We really hoped that she would delight the audience next season, and even staged a performance for August — "The Queen of Spades". The era is gone. The People's Artist has actually left," said Evgeny Marcelli, the theater's artistic director.

Valentina Illarionovna has played more than 40 central and main roles in the Mossovet Theater, and more than 100 in films. She starred with legendary directors — in "Athos" with Georgy Danelia, in films by Eldar Ryazanov, including "Zigzag of Luck", "Old Robbers" and "The Irony of Fate". In the latter, Talyzina voiced Barbara Brylskaya's character Nadia and played one of her friends. She also gave Uncle Fyodor's mom her voice in the Prostokvashino cartoon series. She's the one who sings "If there were no winter."

— Our celestial troupe has been joined by another great actress. All her roles in films and in the theater that we know are diamonds, emeralds, diamonds," Valentina Valyushkina recalled with tears. — Her voice, which she gave to the characters, was glued to her face if it was a movie, or to a picture if it was cartoons. Although we knew perfectly well that it was her voice, it surprisingly matched what we saw on the screen, and it seemed that this particular person was speaking.

"We were all a little afraid of her"

Colleagues remembered Valentina Talyzina as an infectious, energetic artist with a great sense of humor, who had a special passion for jokes.

— I'm reading the telegrams now and I remember how we celebrated her 90th birthday here in January, I also read the telegrams here. An energetic, very beautiful aunt was sitting here and kept telling me, "Yacko! What are you reading so fast? Read it slower!" I'm trying to read the way she asked me to now. She was a very funny artist who loved both witty words and biting jokes," said Alexander Yatsko.

According to the partners, Valentina Illarionovna had a complex personality — she was uncompromising, strong and proud, but she worshiped talent.

— A wonderful actress has left, a direct, sincere, therefore not an easy person, but a talent, an unconditional talent. Her words could always be perceived as the judgment of a talented, direct, difficult person. I was afraid of her. We were all a little afraid of her, I think," said director Andrei Konchalovsky, who came to the funeral ceremony in the company of Yulia Vysotskaya's wife.

All this, colleagues said, came from a great and unconditional love for their work.

— She loved the theater, she was jealous of the theater, especially young actresses, because the love was ardent. And they got hurt by her, unflatteringly, because she said everything she thought, maybe sometimes sharply, but precisely because the all-encompassing love in her life was theater," Larisa Naumkina said.

But my colleagues tried to listen to my comments. They say they were on business.

— Exactly 19 years ago, I joined the Mossovet Theater and appeared on stage as her son. She was like a senior. Everyone reacted to her remarks in different ways. It was destructive for some, but for me it was always creative," Stanislav Bondarenko shared.

The guests of the funeral ceremony strewed the stage with flowers — roses and lilies. She was visited by People's Artist of Russia Vladimir Sulimov, a creative companion of Valentina Talyzina, who entered the theater two years later, and director Igor Yatsko, who staged the actress' last two performances, Wolves and Sheep and The Queen of Spades. Valery Barinov came to say goodbye. On stage, he knelt in front of the daughter and granddaughter of the People's artist, who continue their work. Ksenia Khairova serves in the Theater of the Russian Army. Anastasia Talyzina is one of the most sought—after and talented young actresses who took her grandmother's last name. Valentina Talyzina was buried at the Vagankovo cemetery.