The first People's Artist of the USSR was Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavsky, along with other founders and leading artists of the Moscow Art Theatre: Vladimir Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko, Ivan Moskvin, Vasily Kachalov... In total, there were 13 people, and not only from the Moscow Art Theatre. In the same list were: opera singer Antonina Nezhdanova, actress of the Maly Theatre Maria Blumenthal-Tamarina, Vakhtangov actor Boris Shchukin, who had not yet had the chance to shine in the role of Lenin in cinema. All were non-party members, most were masters of culture with a pre-revolutionary past. Therefore, it is incorrect to think that in the USSR high titles and awards were given solely for participation in 'Leniniana', or historical-patriotic productions, or for work in the theatre's party committee. After all, talent and public recognition were always held in high regard. By the way, the list of People's Artists of the USSR did not include directors Vsevolod Meyerhold and Alexander Tairov, whose fame in theatrical Moscow at that time was no less than that of the founders of the Moscow Art Theatre. Those who could read between the lines of directives and decrees perceived this as a sign of impending troubles. Unfortunately, this turned out to be true with a three-year delay in Meyerhold's case; he was arrested in 1939 and shot six months later. Alexander Tairov was dealt with at the end of the 1940s. **THE FIRST PEOPLE'S ARTIST WAS STILL SHALYAPIN** To be fair, the title 'People's Artist' appeared earlier - in 1919. Even before the formation of the USSR. The young Soviet republic needed ideological support from the creative intelligentsia. In the autumn of 1918, at the Mariinsky Theatre, the People's Commissar for Education of the RSFSR Anatoly Lunacharsky, admiring the talent of Fyodor Shalyapin, invited him to the stage and announced the awarding of the famous bass the title of People's Artist of the newly born republic - the RSFSR. It is said that this was a pure improvisation by Lunacharsky, but he understood actor vanity well and generally supported artists, so he hit the mark. Even in exile, Shalyapin said: '...this gift - the title of People's Artist - is dearer to me than all gifts because I am a man of the people.' By the way, it was not the Soviet power that invented honorary titles. In Tsarist Russia, there were titles for creative workers of state theatres such as 'Honored Artist of the Imperial Theatres' and 'Soloist of His Imperial Majesty', which Shalyapin received back in 1910. After the revolution, they were abolished and new Soviet distinctions were introduced. **THE YOUNGEST PEOPLE'S ARTISTS - BALLET DANCERS** In the USSR (and even now), the youngest People's Artists were traditionally ballet dancers. Maya Plisetskaya became a 'People's Artist of the USSR' at the age of 34, as did Ekaterina Maximova, Raisa Struchkova, Natalia Bessmertnova, Lyudmila Semenyaka, and other great ballerinas. And this was not even a record. Nadezhda Pavlova became a People's Artist of the USSR at the age of 28; she was the youngest ballet artist to receive this high title. But she did not hold the record for the 'age limit'. Kazakh opera singer Kulyash Baiseitova became a People's Artist of the USSR at 24. Even younger was Halima Nasyrava, a soloist of the Uzbek Musical Drama Theatre. When the decree was issued awarding her the highest acting title, Halima was only 22 years old. The names of Baiseitova and Nasyrava appeared in the first list for the title of 'People's Artist of the USSR', alongside Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko. The Party and the people ensured that the interests of the union republics were not overlooked anywhere. Therefore, almost always in the lists for titles and awards were children of various peoples inhabiting the USSR. **TITLE FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY** Formally, the highest title 'to outstanding figures of art' was awarded by the decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. In fact, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet merely formalized decisions made in the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Lists and nominations came to the Old Square from the Ministry of Culture of the USSR (the theatres submitted their applications), the State Committee of the USSR for Cinematography, the State Committee of the USSR for Television and Radio Broadcasting, the Union of Cinematographers of the USSR, and the Union of Composers of the USSR. Sometimes the initiative came not only from 'below' but also from 'above'. Lyudmila Gurchenko received the title of People's Artist of the USSR after filming in Eldar Ryazanov's lyrical comedy 'A Train Station for Two'. As many remember, Lyudmila Markovna played not Nadezhda Krupskaya or Rosa Luxemburg, but an ordinary waitress in the station restaurant, Vera Nefedova. But she played so deeply and touchingly that she touched even the stern General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, Yuri Andropov. He watched the film (1983), was charmed by Gurchenko, and signed the decree awarding her the title of People's Artist of the USSR. Each General Secretary had his own idols. Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev was very fond of Pyotr Glebov in the film 'Quiet Don' by Sergey Gerasimov. Glebov played Grigory Melekhov. After watching the film, the General Secretary called the head of the culture department of the Central Committee and asked if Glebov had a title. Upon hearing that he had - the title of 'People's Artist of the RSFSR', Brezhnev personally ordered that Glebov be immediately awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR. Pyotr Petrovich received it almost 25 years after the release of 'Quiet Don' on screens. When Brezhnev learned that Glebov was also a front-line soldier and a participant in the defense of Moscow, he ordered that he be immediately awarded the Order of Lenin. This was an unprecedented case; two decrees from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR were issued at once, under which Pyotr Glebov received both the title of People's Artist of the USSR and the Order of Lenin. The newly minted 'order bearer' even initially did not believe his luck, thinking that his colleagues were playing a prank on him. **PUGACHEVA, PILYAVSKAYA, YANKOVSKY** The last People's Artists of the USSR were Alla Pugacheva, Sofia Pilyavskaya, and Oleg Yankovsky. By the decree of the President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev dated December 21, 1991, the title of 'People's Artist of the USSR' was awarded to Oleg Yankovsky and Sofia Pilyavskaya (Alla Pugacheva received it a day earlier - December 20). Exactly five days before the collapse of the USSR. Some details about how it happened were shared with journalists by the president of the 'Lenkom' theatre, Mark Varshaver. - The theatre submitted a nomination for Oleg Ivanovich Yankovsky. I called Lyudmila Ivanovna Shvetsova (at that time she headed the apparatus of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, where she led the awards department - Ed.), - said Mark Varshaver. - Everything depended on her. I told her, well, we submitted for the title for Oleg Yankovsky. Lyudmila Ivanovna was puzzled: - Mark Borisovich, what are you talking about?! Polad Bülbüloğlu (as already mentioned, the interests of the union republics, in this case, Azerbaijan, were not forgotten - Ed.) has not yet received a title. And you are talking about Yankovsky... To which I replied: Oleg Yankovsky is the pride of our cinema, there is no equal to him in cinema, the people know and love him, he has premieres every year in the theatre... How can he not be given it?.. I don’t know if my words influenced the decision or not, but the last title of 'People's Artist of the USSR' was indeed awarded to Oleg Ivanovich Yankovsky. The theatre always cared for its artists. Not only Yankovsky but also Inna Churikova and Leonid Bronevoy became People's Artists of the USSR while working at 'Lenkom'. Undoubtedly, the authority of our chief director, artistic director Mark Zakharov, who signed our petitions, played a huge role. It all started with the Moscow Art Theatre, and it ended with the awarding of the highest acting title. Sofia Pilyavskaya worked at the Moscow Art Theatre since 1931, a contemporary of Stanislavsky. The public knows her well for the role of Aunt Kostya in the TV film 'Pokrovsky Gates'. - Sofia Pilyavskaya was in favor with Oleg Nikolaevich Efremov; under him, she began to play a lot, although she was still from the 'old' Moscow Art Theatre. A true Moscow Art Theatre actress, - said Tatiana Bronzova, who worked for many years as an actress at the Moscow Art Theatre, was the head of the troupe and the right hand of the theatre's leader, People's Artist of the USSR Oleg Efremov, to the press. - Pilyavskaya was respected in the troupe. So the title was given to her completely justly. In general, the title 'People's Artist of the USSR' was awarded to those whom the entire nation truly knew. Of course, through cinema. But the artist must also perform a lot in the theatre. The lists for titles and awards (with roles and questionnaires) were submitted to Oleg Efremov by the head of the troupe, and he selected them. Then this list was approved by the theatre's artistic council. Only then did it go to the Ministry of Culture and further through the instances... Of course, there were also those who did not receive titles. There were grievances. Vyacheslav Nevinny really wanted the theatre to submit a petition (for the People's Artist of the USSR) for his wife Nina Gulyaeva. He convinced the artistic council that Nina Ivanovna deserved it. She indeed worked a lot and successfully in the theatre. But Efremov objected: Nina Ivanovna is a wonderful actress, she is valued in the theatre, but she is not known throughout the country. And a People's Artist of the USSR should be known everywhere. And there is nothing to be offended about. In addition to the certificate from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the badge, People's Artists of the USSR received additional benefits and privileges. - They had a higher salary. Instead of 120 rubles, which ordinary theatre artists received, People's Artists of the USSR received 320-350 rubles. This was a lot of money, - says Tatiana Bronzova. - They had the right to additional living space, even when building a cooperative apartment. They were given a service car, a large plot of land, not 6 hundredths like everyone else. The right to be treated in the 'Kreml' - the hospital under the 4th Main Directorate of the Ministry of Health of the USSR, a pension of union significance. During tours, People's Artists of the USSR were entitled to travel in a sleeping car (SV), fly first class, and have a luxury room in a hotel. People's Artists from Moscow enjoyed privileges even after death - they were allowed to be buried at Novodevichy or Vagankovo cemeteries. The title 'People's Artist of the USSR' was awarded to outstanding figures of art for 55 years. It faded into oblivion along with the country from which it was awarded. Over 55 years, 1006 people became People's Artists. The holders of this title from the now non-existent country are becoming fewer each year. And the title itself, like an antique item, is becoming more valuable.
