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In the obituary of Russian Orthodox Church concerning death Вии Артмане it is told: “Почившая it was world renowned as the actress of theatre and cinema but very few people knew, that it was orthodox христианкой, not in words, but also in practice professing the belief. Many parishioners could see its praying in Riga Piously-Trinity-sergievom a female monastery. In sacred christening Вия Артмане carried Elizabeth’s name”. |
Mum of the future actress did not wish for the daughter of actor’s destiny, including an art source rather распутными persons, and in dreams saw the daughter the lawyer. Thus, “not knowing, that creates”, named its rare name for Latvia Алида. Алида Валли – the known actress, Mussolini admired with talent and which beauty. At Валли and Артмане actor’s abilities revealed approximately at a time, only here conditions for this purpose were different.
Before outcast the relatives had appeared in the prosperous house of the Riga aristocrats – mother have accepted there servants, Алида 5 years went on fields with хворостиной – grazed rural cows. In the Riga family хворостина was not useful. Here appreciated art – the senior master’s daughters were trained in Berlin, one – to the singing, the second – to ballet. Once “ballerina” has seen, how Алида danced in an empty hall under the classical music flowing from a radio receiver. “From a lordly shoulder” has shown to quickly seizing little girl some ballet pases.
Later in Riga the school of dances on type “a-lja Айседора Дункан” will open, and Алида becomes one of its first schoolgirls. Then former shepherdess will take a great interest in theatre, with identical pleasure visiting representations as on Latvian, and in Russian. In a theatre world all was solemnly, волшебно, kindly by all means won harm. Passionately it wanted to girl to get into this bewitching world of a scene.
The actress of Art academic theatre of a name Yana Rajnisa Artmane becomes in 1949, having finished preliminary its drama studio. The girl entered into an actor’s life with name Вия. Romantic идеалистки in execution Артмане gradually gave way tragical, sometimes to grotesque female images.
In 20 years, in 1969, Latvian actress the rank of the National actress of the USSR has been appropriated. The national love has come to 1970 when together with Evgenie Matveevym Artmane has acted in a film “Native blood” in a role паромщицы Sleepyheads. But ahead there will be more many significant, versatile roles remembered to the spectator. Charm of its fair-haired heroines was marked by many critics. One of the brightest works – role Джулии in a screen version of the novel of S.Moema “Theatre”.
Артмане long 50 years remained to true theatrical company of theatre of J.Rajnisa (Dailes). But in 1999 in view of developed not at its will of circumstances has passed in the Riga youth theatre.
In 1993 neonationalization in Latvia has deprived the actress of apartment. The house in which she has lived more than 40 years, have transferred to the descendant of the former owner. “On an old age of years insult from our government I bear with honour”, – spoke with irony Артмане. Including herself “the devoted Latvian”, she never left the in a trouble. But the government could allow itself it in relation to the actress. Have remembered, for example, that acted in film in Russia. Other facts of the biography too have seemed dangerous to the new power. Only after occurrence in a press of article of the son “How many costs Вия Артмане?” Merits of the actress have started to recognise, have given habitation. Артмане it has been awarded by an award of Three Stars.
At people of such level of envious persons always suffices. To the talented actress “light” days were necessary to go through many. To a life tried to approach philosophically. On memoirs of director Janisa Strejcha, “during the most bitter and difficult moments she did not panic, behaved frostily. Showing the big sincere nobleness, never revenged. Unless could throw to the address of this or that person any exact phrase executed of thin irony”.
The main director of Daugavpilssky theatre Haris Petrotskis tells:
- 11 years ago I worked on the Latvian film studio. It would be desirable to embody a director’s plan – to remove a television serial about composer Emilse Darzinshe. To a role of mother of the composer has dared to invite Вию Артмане. Before were familiar with it at level of mutual greetings at infrequent meetings. Has called it, named a role. Вия long enough got acquainted with the scenario, “trying on” an image on itself. Has agreed, but there and then the actress had many questions. For example, who will make up? Invited the adviser for an art make-up. It did not like a wig for a role of mother, offered by the costume designer. Having seen itself in a mirror, has told: “Mother of the composer in 1890 could not have such hairdress”. As a result itself has gone to specialised shop in Riga in the street Кр. A baron where at that time traded in wigs for theatre, a make-up etc., and has chosen that is necessary in the spirit of historical time.
The serial acted in film within a year in different corners of Latvia and St.-Petersburg.
With Артмане it was easy to work. She knew what to do on a set because in advance carefully thought over a role. There was no moment that звездность actresses it was paraded because this звездности and in помине was not. On the contrary, Вия it was remembered by the skill to communicate, goodwill. Free minutes told jokes, joked. Somehow shootings passed in Вецпиебалге and have ended late. All have got hungry. In small hotel where the film crew has stopped, a food has not been organised, and shops were already closed by then. Local have advised one cafe. We approach – doors are closed. In a two-storeyed small house (on the second floor) there lived owners of an institution – the husband and the wife. We with hope have knocked. On the request to feed hungry Riga actors firm refusal has followed. It was necessary to mention, that with us V.Artmane. And about a miracle – doors have swung open! Ahead of us the good party with songs and dances behind which from our party business did not become waited. By the way, Вия did not avoid to drink for the company a red wine glass.
So it has turned out, that in a multiseries film “Эмилс Дарзиньш” Артмане at the life final stage has played the greatest role. Once again it have started to show on LTV-1 on the eve of day of its death.
Favourite heroine Artmane – queen Elizabeth (performance “Elizabeth – the queen of England”). She told, that during an agonal farewell monologue at it on rehearsal a white beads under pearls that has been apprehended by the director and most Артмане significant addition to the text was scattered. The monologue proceeded, and subsequently a beads was scattered in performance each time during the necessary moment.
The actress not too happy in a matrimonial life, very much loved the son – Каспара Димитерса which named mother “the director of my life”. It learnt it to despise ignorance and hack-work, to that the result should not be forced – all made efforts should be hidden the ease reached as a result. Каспар it is is many-sided talented – the poet, the bard, the artist, the carpenter and the mason. It very believing person.
After years in 2004 I has seen Вию Артмане at theatre Dailes where on the occasion of Day of theatre has gathered a lot of public. Артмане – grey-haired, with proud turn of a head, a characteristic regal smile sat in an armchair. Many tried to communicate to it then – journalists, critics, actors, directors. To me has carried. Our conversation has unexpectedly lasted about an hour. It was surprising – recollected, exchanged opinions and impressions on much. All this time was kneeling to the queen Latvian (and not only Latvian) scenes, being afraid to be removed even on slightly. It was already very sick, but creative spirit talented actresses, human interest to an event illnesses at least for a short while forced to recede.
Name Вии Артмане became an original brand of Latvia those years when such independent state and in помине was not. Extremely efficient during the young and mature periods of a life, recently it has transferred some operations, strokes and kept by miracle.
Actor Maris Puris has called Ивару Калныньшу, being on tours in Russia to inform tragical news on death of the actress. After the termination of performance Калныньш declared sad news to the Russian public. All hall silently has risen. On persons of spectators any confusion has fallen asleep. People of it did not expect. V.Artmane has been always favourite by Russians, clear and close to them, one of irreplaceable in a cinema and on a scene. Not without reason at festival of a patriotic film of a name of its friend Evgenie Matveeva (in Kronstadt) the actress from Latvia has received Peter the Great award. All loving it bitterly to realise loss, – the director has concluded.
P.S. The terrestrial way of the great actress has ended, and the legend about it has begun. “I am happy, that the vein in that country and at me was such spectator!” – these words and not to everyone will have today to liking, but Артмане said them simply, strongly, with all my heart. Her name names one of minor planets. When stars die, their light still for a long time goes to the Earth. Light Вии Артмане will recover for us its unique image through immortal roles of the actress. It will come to us Juliette, Офелией, Ekaterina, Elizabeth…
Jeanne TCHAIKIN