Cause of death of Valentina Tolkunova. Tolkunova stopped receiving treatment for the fatal disease after surgery three years ago. Personal life of Valentina Tolkunova

Valentina Vasilievna Tolkunova. Born on July 12, 1946 in Armavir - died on March 22, 2010 in Moscow. Soviet and Russian singer. People's Artist of the RSFSR (1987).

Valentina Tolkunova was born on July 12, 1946 in the city of Armavir, Krasnodar Territory, into the family of Vasily Andreevich Tolkunova and Evgenia Nikolaevna Tolkunova.

Father, Vasily Andreevich, a native of the city of Rtishchevo, Saratov region, was a career military man.

Mother, Evgenia Nikolaevna (nee Smirnova), was born in the village of Tankhoi, Pribaikalsky district, Buryat-Mongolian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, worked at the railway station.

Grandfather - Nikolai Vasilyevich Smirnov was repressed and spent 18 years in camps.

Grandmother - Anisya Nikanorovna Smirnova (Strizhak) from Tankhoy.

The younger brother is Sergei Tolkunov (born July 6, 1949), singer, Honored Artist of Russia, worked with his sister at concerts. Currently he is the president of the Valentina Tolkunova Charitable Foundation for the Support of Contemporary Art.

The Tolkunov family lived in the village of Belorechenskaya, where Vasily Andreevich was sent from Transbaikalia to restore the village.

In 1950, the family moved to Moscow. There was always music playing in my parents’ house: records with songs performed by Lydia Ruslanova. Valentina learned all the songs from their albums.

In 1964 she entered the conducting and choral department of the Moscow State Institute of Culture. In 1966, Valentina Tolkunova entered the vocal and instrumental orchestra under the direction of Yu.S. Saulsky (VIO-66), in which she was a soloist and performed songs to jazz music.

In 1971, the singer graduated from the Gnessin Music College and voiced songs by composer I.E. Kataev to the poems of Mikhail Ancharov in the television film “Day by Day”.

In 1972, the poet Lev Oshanin invited Valentina Tolkunova to perform on the stage of the Hall of Columns at the anniversary concert with Vladimir Shainsky’s song “Ah, Natasha.” For this performance, the singer was given a dress embroidered with pearls. Tolkunova herself wove some pearls into her hair. Since then, it has become an integral part of her stage image.

Since 1973, she worked in the Mosconcert association.

A separate line in the singer’s work is the song for the TV show “Good night, kids!” "Tired toys are sleeping".

Valentina Tolkunova - I can't do otherwise

Since 1989, she has been the director of the theater of musical drama and song of the creative association "ART", which staged a number of musical performances.

In 2004, Valentina Tolkunova purchased a small house not far from the Diveyevo Monastery. When I came to Diveevo, I went to services, prayed, and took communion. The singer also tried to do charity work. She contributed to the restoration of the cross on one of the churches of the Zadonsky Monastery in the Lipetsk region, gave many charity concerts for large families, and also sent funds from commercial performances to large families.

"When talking about the work of Valentina Tolkunova, they always emphasize the simplicity of her manner of performance, the absence of deliberate gestures, the search for her own path in art. Listening to Valentina Tolkunova, I think about her understanding, about the wisdom that shines through in each of her musical phrases. Only this wisdom is special, feminine and patient, only this understanding is endowed with the insight of a child, only the rhythm of her smooth movements is inspired by the soul of an affable and benevolent woman, coloring the world for us with an even light of tenderness and constancy,” noted Mikael Tariverdiev.

“I think that she is one of the greatest Russian, Russian singers, who, of course, did a lot for her Fatherland. And Valya, she was like that - she was a citizen, she was real. That’s the word that can define her life, her personality - she was real,” Lev Leshchenko said about the singer.

Illness and death of Valentina Tolkunova

In 1992, the singer was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent surgery and underwent a course of chemotherapy.

In 2006, a breast tumor was discovered.

In August 2009, a brain tumor was discovered.

After a concert in Mogilev on February 16, 2010, Valentina Tolkunova was hospitalized in the intensive care unit of a local hospital. After discharge, she was transferred for examination to the Botkin Hospital.

On March 22, 2010, at 6 o’clock in the morning, Valentina Tolkunova fell into a coma and died two hours later. Before his death, Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov performed unction right in the hospital room.

The farewell ceremony for the People's Artist of the RSFSR took place at the Variety Theater. The singer's funeral service took place on the morning of March 24, 2010 at the Church of the Ascension on Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street in the center of Moscow, and on the same day she was buried at Troekurovskoye Cemetery in Moscow.

Funeral of Valentina Tolkunova

On August 31, 2011, a monument was unveiled at the grave of Valentina Vasilievna at the Troekurovsky cemetery. The singer was buried opposite the cemetery chapel, and her husband, Yuri Paporov, who outlived his wife by just over a month, was buried next to her.

On July 1, 2011, the grand opening of a memorial plaque to Valentina Tolkunova took place on the building of the Moscow State University of Culture and Arts. The initiator of the installation was the rector of Moscow State University of Culture and Culture Ramazan Abdulatipov, the sculptor was Grigory Pototsky.

On August 21, 2011, in the city of Belorechensk, Krasnodar Territory, a monument to Valentina Vasilievna Tolkunova was unveiled. The bronze monument, 2 meters 85 cm high, was made with funds from local entrepreneurs on the initiative of the head of the Belorechensky district, Ivan Imgrunt. The author of the monument is Moscow sculptor Irina Makarova.

In 2013, a feature series based on her biography “She Couldn’t Do Otherwise” (Olga Fadeeva played the role of Alevtina Tolkacheva, and Yulia Mikhalchik performed the songs in the film) and a documentary film “I Will Always Love You” were released.

Valentina Tolkunova's height: 163 centimeters.

Personal life of Valentina Tolkunova:

She was married twice twice.

The first husband was (1928-2003), composer, conductor of the vocal and instrumental orchestra (VIO-66), the marriage lasted 5 years. He left her for actress Valentina Aslanova.

In 1974, Tolkunova married Yuri Paporov (1923-2010), an international journalist, writer, and author of the book “Hemingway in Cuba.”

Nikolai Paporov (10.10.1977) was born into this marriage, who worked as a lighting designer at the Moscow Theater of Musical Drama and Song. In the early 80s, Yuri Paporov went to Mexico for work, Tolkunova did not go with him. He did not take part in raising his son and did not send him any money. In the early 1990s he returned to Moscow. After a car accident, he began to lose his sight. Tolkunova took him to her apartment and looked after him. He died a month and a half after the death of his wife.

In 2000, the singer’s son Nikolai was detained with heroin. Thanks to his mother's connections, he escaped punishment.

Filmography of Valentina Tolkunova:

1967 - Two hours earlier;
1971 - Summer of Private Dedova - concert host;
1971 - Day after day - performer (“Song about Russia”);
1973 - This is stronger than me - Singer in a restaurant, uncredited (song “Such old words”);
1973 - Mischievous ditties;
1973 - Black Prince - Singer in a restaurant;
1973 - The investigation is conducted by the Experts. Escape - performer on radio lyric song;
1974 - Romance about lovers - performer of the final song;
1974 - Matters of the heart - song performer;
1975 - Bride from the North - performer (song “White Fluff”);
1976 - Mom - Swallow (voice);
1977 - Soldiers of Freedom;
1982 - Wormwood - bitter grass - performer of a song;
1986 - Concert film “I Believe in Rainbows”;
1989 - Concert film “Premiere of the Year”

Scoring of cartoons by Valentina Tolkunova:

1975 - At the port
1984 - Winter in Prostokvashino (song “If there were no winter”)
1972 - Russian tunes (song “Oh, I got up early”)
1974 - Song of the Magic Stone (song “What are miracles?”, uncredited)
1975 - Screensaver of the program “Good night, kids” (song “Tired toys are sleeping”)

Discography of Valentina Tolkunova:

1972 - “I’m standing at a stop”
1973 - “In everything I want to get to the very essence”
1974 - “White Fluff”
1974 - “All this was not with me”
1974 - “Year of Love”
1975 - “Dedicated to Komsomol”
1976 - “The haymaking showers are already ringing”
1977 - “Snub Noses”
1980 - “At the New Year’s tree”
1985 - “If there were no war” (double album)
1986 - “Conversation with a Woman” (double album)
1991 - “Seryozha”
1992 - “Forty-five”
1995 - “I can’t do otherwise”
1997 - “I’m a country girl”
1997 - “Dream-grass”
2002 - “My Invented Man”
2011 - “How to be happy” (released after the singer’s death)

Songs by Valentina Tolkunova:

“And love is a swan” (Music: Almaz Monasypov - Lyrics: Lira Abdullina);
“And I simply can’t live without the Volga” (E. Martynov - A. Dementyev);
“And now I would like to take the roundabout” (V. Popov - K. Filippova);
“Why did love leave” (Music: Larisa Andreeva - Lyrics: Larisa Andreeva);
“But you didn’t understand my love” (Music: A. Flyarkovsky - Lyrics: M. Tanich);
“Alyoshka without a father” (R. Mayorov - M. Ryabinin);
“Ah, my love, love” (Music: Hmayak Moryan - Lyrics: Natalya Emelyanova);
“Ah, my love, loser” (P. Aedonitsky - F. Laube);
“Ah, lilac-lilac” (V. Popov - V. Popov, N. Popova);
“Grandmother” (B. Terentyev - N. Dorizo);
“White Land” (P. Aedonitsky - Yu. Vizbor) with Eduard Khil;
“Birch Evening” (S. Tulikov - M. Plyatskovsky);
“In the city of Noyabrsk” (O. Feltsman - B. Dubrovin);
“In a single vase” (D. Ashkenazi - O. Fokina);
“In the port” (M. Minkov - S. Kozlov) with Oleg Anofriev;
“Waltz for Life” (E. Shchekalev - G. Georgiev);
“Waltz to Calvary” (O. Ivanov - K. Filippova);
“Waltz of Lovers” (L. Lyadova - P. Gradov) with Lev Leshchenko;
“Waltz of a Woman” (Music: Lyudmila Lyadova - Lyrics: Vladimir Lazarev);
“Waltz of the Bride” (R. Mayorov - S. Gershanova);
“Vanya” (A. Pakhmutova - N. Dobronravov);
“Spring suffering” (E. Stikhin - G. Pozhenyan);
“Rowan Branch” (A. Pakhmutova - N. Dobronravov);
“Willow Twig” (L. Osipova - V. Dagurov);
“Evening of school friends” (A. Morozov - M. Ryabinin);
“I want to achieve everything...” (B. Vlasov - B. Pasternak) Album “All this was not with me”;
“Vocalise” (K. Molchanov) Album “All this was not with me”;
“Vocalise” (P. Aedonitsky);
“Memory” (V. Migulya - L. Rubalskaya);
“Remembering the Past” (Music: V. Migulya - Lyrics: Maxim Gettuev);
“It’s always sad to watch” (V. Popov - Yu. Shchelokov, V. Popov);
“Everything will heal before the wedding” (S. Tulikov - M. Plyatskovsky);
“All this was not with me” (A. Morozov - M. Ryabinin);
“Second Youth” (A. Morozov - M. Ryabinin);
“You will remember me” (E. Krylatov - E. Rastopchina);
“Do you remember” (V. Uspensky - L. Smolenskaya);
“Where the trouble passed” (O. Kvasha - E. Kuznetsov, L. Alekseev);
“Where were you before?” (E. S. Kolmanovsky - E. A. Dolmatovsky);
“The Voice of Childhood” (B. Rivchun - V. Gin);
“My city Alma-Ata”;
“Bitter Honey” (V. Popov);
“Let’s get together” (N. Ivanova - A. Velikorechina);
“Old Time” (B. Emelyanov - D. Kedrin);
“Girl and Rain” (E. Shchekalev - E. Naumova);
“Girl with a boy” (Yu. Saulsky - B. Dubrovin);
“Dolphins” (M. Minkov - O. Anofriev);
“Village Street” (V. Orlovetsky - A. Romanov);
“Wooden horses” (M. Minkov - E. Shim);
“Childhood has gone into the distance” (A. Ostrovsky - L. Oshanin);
“Dialogue at the New Year’s tree” (E. Kolmanovsky - Y. Levitansky);
“Good omen” (M. Fradkin - E. Dolmatovsky) with Lev Leshchenko;
“Kindness” (V. Migulya - B. Dubrovin) with Vladimir Migulya;
“Good People” (N. Ivanova - R. Kazakova);
“Pre-war tango” (V. Levashov - V. Krutetsky);
"House in the village";
“House on the outskirts” (V. Migulya - A. Poperechny);
“Home, Home” (O. Feltsman - B. Dubrovin) with Leonid Serebrennikov;
“Dear Editorial Board” (G. Dolotkazin - B. Larin);
“Daughters” (V. Pipekin - V. Lopushnoy);
“Friend” (O. Feltsman - R. Rozhdestvensky);
“If there were no war” (M. Minkov - I. Shaferan);
“If there is love in the world” (M. Magomayev - R. Rozhdestvensky) with Muslim Magomayev;
“Zhaleika” (P. Aedonitsky - I. Romanovsky);
“Woman” (L. Lyadova - V. Lazarev);
“Yellow Rowan” (V. Gamaleya - M. Poperechny);
“There is little light outside the window” (E. Kolmanovsky - K. Vanshenkin);
“Why is this happiness to me” (O. Feltsman - M. Tanich);
“Vicious Circle” (V. Vysotsky);
“Belated Song” (I. Korolev - L. Kretov);
“Why did you call me” (A. Pakhmutova - L. Oshanin);
“The Sound of Steps” (I. Kataev - M. Ancharov);
“Hello, son” (O. Feltsman - M. Ryabinin);
“Green Grass” (V. Druzhinin - G. Georgiev);
“Winter Moscow” (R. Mayorov - L. Ivanova);
“Both in jest and seriously” (E. Shchekalev - V. Kostrov) with Leonid Serebrennikov;
“Oriole” (A. Mazhukov - O. Gadzhikasimov);
“Igoreshka-Igorek” (E. Grigoryants - A. Trilisov);
“Of Three Roads” (N. Bogoslovsky - M. Tanich);
“July Thunderstorms” (L. Lyadova - T. Ponomareva);
“If only there were no winter” (E. Krylatov - Yuri Entin);
“Like on a blue sea” (folk);
“Drip-drip” (I. Kataev - M. Ancharov);
“A Drop of Happiness” (Yu. Chichkov - V. Karataev) with Leonid Serebrennikov;
“Swing” (S. Pozhlakov - G. Gorbovsky);
“Lullaby” (A. Gradsky - N. Konchalovskaya);
“Lullaby” (M. Kazhlaev - B. Dubrovin);
“Lullaby to the World” (I. Krutoy - K. Kuliev/N. Grebnev);
“Lullaby for my son” (L. Khmelnitskaya - R. Kazakova);
“The leaf is spinning” (N. Bogoslovsky - I. Shaferan);
“Who Still Believes in Love” with Lev Leshchenko;
“Where the Years Run” (P. Aedonitsky - L. Zavalnyuk);
“Boat” (T. Khrennikov - M. Matusovsky);
“I love Russian birch” (V. Gazaryan - A. Prokofiev);
“Love is a ring” (J. Frenkel - M. Tanich);
“I love it” (M. Kazhlaev - V. Portnov);
“Love has passed” (A. Mazhukov - A. Dementyev);
“Mama” (E. Rabkin - N. Palkin);
“Mathematician” (N. Bogoslovsky - M. Tanich);
“My City Gorky” (P. Aedonitsky - I. Shaferan) with Joseph Kobzon;
“My invented man (V. Popov);
“My Sochi” (V. Shepovalov - V. Gin);
“Sea Bride” (E. Zharkovsky - V. Lazarev);
"Sailor of the Black Sea Fleet";
“My friend is my Moscow” (V. Tolkunova - G. Georgiev);
“Music” (I. Krutoy - K. Kuliev/N. Grebnev);
“Music of the past years” (M. Minkov - Yu. Rybchinsky);
“We rode on a boat” (Russian folk song);
“On the Pier” (A. Mazhukov - V. Kuznetsov);
“There is fog above the river” (Yu. Saulsky - L. Zavalnyuk);
“The hour of the night has come” (I. Brahms - G. Scherer and A. Mashistov);
“Don’t wake her up so early” (V. Lozovoy - A. Krongauz);
“Don’t tell me about him” (A. Morozov - V. Gin);
“It didn’t happen” (A. Morozov-M. Ryabinin);
“It was not in vain that people told me” (S. Tulikov - M. Plyatskovsky);
“Don’t judge me” (V. Uspensky - M. Ostashova);
“Silent Cinema” (N. Bogoslovsky - M. Plyatskovsky);
“There is no road for separation” (Yu. Saulsky - G. Pozhenyan);
“Nothing ends” (A. Izotov - S. Gershanova) with Evgeny Kurbakov;
“Snub noses” (B. Emelyanov - A. Bulycheva);
“Night Call” (V. Ghazaryan - G. Georgiev) with Lev Leshchenko;
"Ordinary person";
“Lonely accordion” (B. Mokrousov - M. Isakovsky);
“Loneliness together” (V. Popov);
“Lake” (R. Pauls - L. Oshanin);
“Oh, the Kremlins!” (A. Ilyin - N. Ibragimov) - Anthem of Ryazan;
"Officer's honor";
“Oh, you are unfaithful” (Ya. Dubravin - V. Gin);
“Queue for happiness” (E. Ptichkin - M. Plyatskovsky);
“Spiderweb” (L. Lyadova - M. Tanich);
“The mountain ash is overripe” (V. Orlovetsky - V. Dzyuba);
“Transfers” (S. Tomin - A. Klenov);
“Song Without End” (E. Kolmanovsky - I. Shaferan);
“Song of Isidora” (N. Bogoslovsky - A. Bogoslovsky);
“Song about a magical land” (E. Adler - L. Dymova);
“Song about Women” (N. Ivanova - A. Krongauz);
“Song about the native land” (E. Krylatov - L. Derbenev);
“Song of Happiness” (V. Rubashevsky - V. Shlensky);
“Song about a lonely friend” (N. Bogoslovsky - N. Dorizo);
“The Light of Sorrow” (A. Malinin - L. Rubalskaya);
“Letter to myself” (E. Filippov - M. Ryabinin);
“Talk to me, mom” (V. Migulya - V. Gin);
“Understand me” (N. Bogoslovsky - I. Kokhanovsky);
“Glade of Light” (A. Stalmakov - V. Stepanov) with Evgeny Kurbakov;
“Above the Sudzha River” (E. Zharkovsky - I. Selvinsky);
“Play me an old record” (V. Popov);
“I invite you” (S. Tulikov - M. Plyatskovsky);
“Recognition” (A. Kolts - A. Goltseva);
“Sorry, forest” (V. Vovchenko - G. Georgiev);
“Sorry that I wasn’t there” (A. Moryan - L. Shchipakhina);
“Forgive me, Russia” (V. Vovchenko - G. Georgiev);
“Farewell, pigeons” (M. Fradkin - M. Matusovsky) with Oleg Ukhnalev;
“White fluff” (A. Babajanyan - A. Voznesensky);
“Tell me, field” (V. Pikul - V. Kuznetsov);
“Foggy River” (E. Hanok - A. Poperechny);
“I decided” (M. Mishunov - V. Sokolov);
“Our Parents” (O. Feltsman - Yu. Garin);
“Russia” (M. Bolotny - R. Kazakova);
“Daisies for Lovers” (M. Chistov - L. Tatyanicheva);
“Russia is my Motherland” (V. Muradeli - V. Kharitonov);
“Russian Woman” (A. Pakhmutova - N. Dobronravov);
“They cut down a tree” (V. Patrushev, O. Dynov - L. Ovsyannikova);
“Russian Village” (S. Kastorsky - E. Shantgay);
“Russian Soul” (A. Kuznetsov);
“Planes and Nightingales” (A. Mazhukov - L. Oshanin);
“Firefly” (Georgian folk - A. Tsereteli/N. Grunin);
“Pipe and Horn” (Yu. Chichkov - P. Sinyavsky) with Leonid Serebrennikov;
“Silver Weddings” (music by Pavel Aedonitsky - art. Ekaterina Sheveleva);
“Seryozha” (L. Quint - Yu. Rybchinsky);
“The Gray-Eyed King” (A. Vertinsky - A. Akhmatova);
“Sister” (M. Fradkin - I. Shaferan);
“Fairy tales walk around the world” (E. Ptichkin - M. Plyatskovsky);
“The word “no”” (V. Popov - K. Filippova);
“Snowfall” (A. Ekimyan - A. Rustaikis);
“I hear my mother’s voice again” (Ya. Frenkel - I. Shaferan);
“Solnechnogorsk” (V. Gazaryan - E. Buranova);
“Dream-grass” (E. Ptichkin - T. Korshilova);
“Forty-five” (V. Dobrynin - M. Ryabinin);
“Save and Preserve” (E. Krylatov - E. Yevtushenko);
“Sleep, my child, sleep” (A. Arensky - A. Maikov);
“Sleep, my joy, sleep” (W-A. Mozart - B. Flis - E. Sviridenko);
“Terminal station” (Yu. Saulsky - P. Leonidov);
“Moscow Gives the Start” (A. Pakhmutova - N. Dobronravov) with Lev Leshchenko;
“Old Wallpaper” (Yu. Nikolaenko);
“Old Words” (O. Feltsman - R. Rozhdestvensky);
“Old Waltz” (S. Kaminsky);
“I wish I could become a mountain ash” (N. Shestakova);
“I’m standing at a stop” (I. Kataev - M. Ancharov);
“The snow is melting” (E. Kolmanovsky - L. Derbenev);
“Taiga Waltz” (M. Slavin - P. Gradov);
“Tango in a disco” (O. Feltsman - B. Dubrovin) with Leonid Serebrennikov;
“I loved you” (A. Morozov - K. Ryzhov);
“Textile Town” (J. Frenkel - M. Tanich) with the ensemble “Weavers”;
“Tick-tock” (Alexander Morozov - Viktor Gin);
“Quiet courtyard, old house” (V. Popov);
“That Day” (V. Vetrov - O. Fokina);
“You and I” (V. Basner - M. Matusovsky) with Leonid Serebrennikov;
“You Whistle” (M. Kartinsky - R. Burns/S. Marshak);
“Forgive me, tree” (I. Kataev - M. Ancharov);
“Corner of Russia” (V. Shainsky - E. Sheveleva);
“The showers of haymaking have already begun to ring” (V. Khoroshchansky - A. Poperechny);
“The ship is leaving” (A. Izotov - M. Lisyansky) with Leonid Serebrennikov;
“When leaving, do not take anything from the past” (V. Popov - K. Filippova);
“Fuga” (I. Kataev);
“Alyoshka walked with Natasha” (S. Tulikov - A. Gangov);
“I want to believe” (I. Yakushenko - I. Shaferan);
“Bird cherry” (V. Bibergan - D. Livshits);
"What can I say?" (V. Pipekin - K. Filippova);
“Someone else’s lipstick trace” (V. Popov - K. Filippova);
“To a school friend” (V. Dmitriev - M. Ryabinin);
“It was me” (M. Tariverdiev - T. Korshilova);
“I am a village girl” (V. Temnov - P. Chernyaev);
“I walked down the street at night” (I. Kataev - M. Ancharov);
“I’ll wait for you” (A. Ostrovsky - L. Oshanin);
“Apple Tree” (E. Gryaznova - M. Guskov);
“Fair” (A. Stalmakov - S. Gershanova);
“On a Clear Sunny Day” (M. Mishunov - I. Morozov, L. Derbenev);
“I can’t do otherwise” (music by Alexandra Pakhmutova - art. Nikolai Dobronravov)

– We were very close and had similar characters. We always had something to talk about,” recalls Evgenia Nikolaevna. – We constantly went somewhere... I really loved to sing, and my mother sang too... But since we lived poorly, in a simple family, there was no opportunity to become an artist. I worked in a carriage depot all my life. But Valya was able to fulfill our family dream! She sang in a children's choir, toured the country, studied at the Institute of Culture...

According to Evgenia Nikolaevna, her daughter seemed to feel that she would face a serious illness. All her life she helped the terminally ill; under her care there were always several people who were not denied either money or attention.

“Valya helped her first vocal teacher, who was seriously ill,” recalls the singer’s mother. – I gave money for an operation to a fan from Nizhny Novgorod, and helped a girl from the Far East who suffered from multiple sclerosis. Valya sent her money until the very end, and then paid for the funeral and monument. And even with her second husband, even though they no longer lived together, she acted like a human being. When he became seriously ill and was practically blind and stopped hearing, she took him in and hired a nurse. And there’s nothing to say about me! She fully provided for me, the closets were filled with clothes that she gave. And she bought the apartment where I live.

Valentina Tolkunova’s second husband, 86-year-old journalist Yuri Paporov, died a month and a half after his wife. After the death of his wife, he was virtually orphaned, felt unwanted and was very worried. After all, Paporov also had oncology; he fell ill even earlier than Tolkunova. A few days after Tolkunova’s death, he was admitted to the hospital and never came out. Paporov was buried next to Valentina Vasilyevna, at the same Troekurovsky cemetery.

The Almighty helped her die without pain

“Valya shared everything with me, so I was the first to know about her illness,” says the artist’s mother. – After the first operation, she felt fine for quite a long time, it seemed that the disease had been stopped... But in 2006, new metastases were found. She didn’t take care of herself, worked a lot and didn’t tell anyone about her illness. I told her: you need to rest more. But she went on tour until she collapsed...

The singer’s mother claims: Tolkunova had a chance to live longer! Doctors offered her different treatment options. But the singer did not agree...

“After the second operation, Valya felt better,” says Evgenia Nikolaevna. – Doctors suggested chemotherapy. But she refused! I couldn't imagine being left without hair. She said: “No matter how long I have left to live, until the end of my life I will remain as the people knew me.” She was very strong-willed. Of course, “chemistry” would probably have helped her survive for some time. But maybe she's right. I left earlier, but at least without the crazy pain. Until recently, even under a drip that was put in because of a blood clot, I didn’t believe in the bad. I was always greeted with a joyful smile at the hospital. When she was taken to intensive care for the last two days, she was very weak. But she also reassured me: “You know, mom, everything will be fine. I saw God today and he told me: “I love you and I will help you.” These were the last words I heard from her. He helped her get rid of the excruciating suffering that could await her.

For Valentina Vasilievna, her long luxurious hair was a kind of amulet, a talisman. It seemed that if she lost them, she would lose herself too. The family knew this and therefore did not insist on fighting to the end. Only now sometimes, when things happen especially bitterly, they regret it.

Best of the day

Back on February 17, Valentina Tolkunova was hospitalized at the Botkin hospital after she became ill during a tour in Belarus.

She had to undergo another course of treatment. At some point, medical procedures helped Valentina Vasilyevna. She felt good and even decided to stop chemotherapy. Only those closest to her knew about Valentina Vasilyevna’s serious condition - the artist forbade doctors from disclosing information about her illnesses.

On the night of March 20, while in his room, he felt a sharp deterioration in his health. Doctors immediately took all necessary measures and transferred her to intensive care. Unfortunately, all the doctors' efforts were in vain.

A few hours later, Valentina Vasilievna asked to bring her a priest. The priest performed the procedure of unction right in the ward.

The immediate cause of her death was acute heart failure. The artist was conscious during her last hours. At 6 o'clock in the morning, Tolkunova fell into a coma, after which she was connected to a ventilator.

Three years ago, the people's favorite was diagnosed with breast cancer. The artist underwent her first operation to remove the tumor and underwent several chemotherapy sessions. It seemed that the disease had subsided. But, as it turned out, she was only hiding. Some of the cancer cells survived, and they metastasized to the liver, lungs and brain. Last summer, doctors again had to resort to surgery. Then doctors did not hide their concerns about the extent of the disease - Valentina Vasilievna was diagnosed with “third stage of cancer.”

Despite her painful illness, Valentina Vasilyevna took part in concerts until recently. She expected to perform at the Russian Army Theater on the eve of the 65th anniversary of our Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Valentina Vasilievna Tolkunova truly deserved national love in the 70-80s. She was a performer of many popular songs, including “I’m Standing at a Stop,” “Silver Weddings,” “My Darling, If There Were No War.”

Valentina Tolkunova was born on July 12, 1946 in Armavir, Krasnodar Territory. A year later, her family moved to Moscow. In 1964 she entered the conducting and choral department at the Moscow State Institute of Culture, graduating in 1976. In 1971 she graduated from the Gnessin Music College.

In 1966, composer and conductor Yuri Saulsky organized the vocal-instrumental orchestra “VIO-66” and invited then-Valechka Tolkunova to join the vocal group - or rather, a jazz band. She devoted five years to the ensemble as a jazz vocalist.

The singer’s solo debut took place in 1972 at a creative evening with the poet Lev Oshanin, where she sang Vladimir Shainsky’s song “Ah, Natasha.” Since 1973, Valentina Tolkunova has been a soloist of the Moscow Concert, and since 1987 the artistic director of the Moscow Theater of Musical Drama and Song, which she organized.

In February 1986, the premiere of the play “Russian Women” took place based on Nekrasov’s poem, with poems by Pushkin and Koltsov, where Valentina Tolkunova played the main roles. Along with her debut in the opera, the singer starred in the same year in the fantasy film “I Believe in Rainbows.” Since 1989 - director of the theater of musical drama and song of the creative association "ART", which staged a number of musical performances.
As a theater actress, she appeared on stage in the plays “Waiting” (1989), “I Can’t Do Otherwise” (1990), “Splash of Champagne” (1991), “Don’t Leave Me, Love” (1992) “I am your dewdrop, Russian "(1995), "New Spring of Valentina Tolkunova."

Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1979), People's Artist of Russia (1984). She toured in Finland, Japan, India, Germany, Luxembourg, USA, Canada, Greece, Australia, Vietnam, Singapore, Israel. The singer has published 12 records and CDs. She has performed more than 300 songs in musical films and theatrical performances alone. V. Tolkunova became a laureate of the television competition “Song of the Year” 23 times.

Press attaché of the Bolshoi Theater Katerina Novikova told open sources of information that Valentina Levko died today. The cause of death of the famous opera singer, who performed a wide variety of roles from 1960 to 1982, was stated to be a severe, long-term illness. The family did not disclose the exact diagnosis of the 92-year-old artist; most likely, age increased the poor health of the public favorite.

Biography facts

Nee Surkova was born on August 13, 1923 in one of the capital's hospitals. From the age of 8, Valentina Nikolaevna was interested in music and successfully passed the qualifying exams for the music school at the conservatory in the violin class. At the age of 12, the talented girl began to study professional vocals at the same time.

In the period from 1943 to 1949, she received a higher musical education at the Gnessin School and at the university of the same name as an orchestra artist and viola teacher. During her studies, she repeatedly worked as a guest violinist at the Theater of Miniatures and the Theater named after. Yarmolova.

Valentina Levko died

Since 1963, she has participated in all tours, thanks to quickly receiving a diploma as an opera performer at the Moscow Conservatory. Natural abilities and her own desire made the impossible possible - Valentina Nikolaevna graduated from the university as an external student, which no one had done before.

Her contralto and mezzo-soprano are remembered in the most famous concert halls in the world:

1. Carnegie Hall and Music Verrein.
2. Albert Hall and Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.
3. Concert Hall named after P. I. Tchaikovsky and Small Hall of the Philharmonic named after M. I. Glinka in St. Petersburg and others.

The opera singer died at the age of 92

At the beginning of the century, music critics became interested in the works of the opera diva of the last century. Thanks to this, the world saw 11 CDs with recordings of her parts. Soviet viewers of the older generation remember the artist’s voice from the films:

1. “Wedding in Malinovka” is a song by the mother of the main character Sophia.
2. “A simple story...” - song “To that highway, to the crossroads” and others.

Family and Children

The artist married the best pilot of the 67th Guards Aviation Regiment, Vladimir Levko, in 1950. After finishing his service, the husband of the opera diva was a test pilot for many years. The pilot died in 1991, at the height of the default and fall of the USSR.