Artistic influence Mikhail Savoyarov

mikhail savoyarov postcard (1913)

savoyarov first russian music scene own eccentric style of performing different circus or theatre. in 1910s both success , influence follow ‘music concerts’ of igor severyanin poetry accompanied mikhail kuzmin. however, aleksandr blok influenced eccentric style of artist , poet savoyarov. it’s evident in post-revolutionary works. according academic shlovsky few comprehended «the twelve» poem , condemned because used take blok only. twelve, portrayal of criminal revolutionary petrograd, compared shklovsky bronze horseman pushkin, had brand new images:

«...the twelve ironical work. it’s written not folk rhyme “flash” language. savoyarov style of street trolls».

— (viktor shklovsky, hamburg account: articles, memoirs, essays (1914-1933).

shklovky talked savoyarov’s songs in ‘ragged genre’ performing go on stage dressed , painted criminal. george balanchine, choreographer, forever memorized savoyarov singing thieves songs: “alyosha, sha! – take half-tone lower, stop telling lies”... such criminal atmosphere in twelve poem pervades petrograd, frightful city of snowy winter of 1918.



savoyarov put musical in common practice parody songs of (or responses to) other authors. famous of them child, don’t hurry (a response mikhail kuzmin’s romance child , rose) , you’re still same (a parody of vertinsky’s romance little fingers smell incense). during concerts in 1920s savoyarov change costumes, make himself , performed second part under name (and mask) of ‘artist valertinsky’. did turn vertinsky wasn’t forgotten during period of immigration.



savoyarov’s easy manner of singing, gesticulating, moving around stage , playing violin had profound effect. after manner of savoyarov, in 1920-30s playing violin disciple, singer of satirical songs grigory krasavin, first performer of famous bublichki (‘bagels’) of yakov yadov, started performing.

yuri khanon, saint petersburg, 2008.

in 1930s both in leningrad , moscow many artists learned savoyarov. among famous disciples of period arkady raikin pre-eminent. nowadays hardly remembers in 1930s raikin started not reciter , satirist musical eccentric , dancer mime , first fame , title of laureate of all-ussr variety actors competition came him dance , mimic numbers chaplin , mishka.

that time when alexander menaker learned lot savoyarov. school of eccentric can distinguished in andrei mironov, menaker’s son’s, manner of performing , in musical parts of young konstantin raikin. 1 of savoyarov’s songs of 1915 (rural scene trumpeters) performed andrei mironov in eldar ryazanov’s film (o bednom gusare zamolvite slovo, 1981) word poor hussar (“...across village running boys, girls, women, kids, swarm of locusts, trumpeters blow trumpets” ). music number rewritten composer andrei petrov, lyrics savoyarov remained same.

perhaps evident artistic influences of mikhail savoyarov can considered grandson, composer, 1988 “european oscar” winner , ingenious writer , artist working under pseudonym yuri khanon. eccentric mikhail savoyarov may have found new incarnation in him…partly philosophically , academically. king of eccentrics’ granddaughter, tatyana savoyarova known eccentric artist (partly surrealist , mocker).

savoyarov’s artistic style distinguished charms of ‘very lively’ performance, natural musicality, plasticity, subtle nuances, strong ability transform, ability reveal text , subtext, supplementing singing dancing , mimic scenes. such performance has 1 drawback: must seen , listened in person. archives didn’t save neither gramophone recordings nor film fragments. savoyarov heritage left published music, photographs , collections of poems.