Alexander Davidovich Poznansky (1929–?) — Soviet and Russian actor, master of artistic recitation, People's Artist of the RSFSR, and Honorary Citizen of Nizhny Novgorod Region. He was born in Nizhny Novgorod (then still called Nizhny Novgorod) on November 6, 1929.[1] He spent the greater part of his life and creative career in the city, working for more than half a century on Nizhny Novgorod stages and on local radio and television.[1]

Early Years

Poznansky's childhood and youth unfolded during the harsh pre-war years: in 1937, when he was seven years old, his father was arrested and subjected to political repression. David Yefimovich Poznansky (1897–1938) had worked as production manager at a garment factory of the Regional Children's Commission; the family was told he had died of cirrhosis of the liver, though he was subsequently rehabilitated posthumously.[1][1] In 1947, he enrolled in the theatre school attached to the State Jewish Theatre and took part in a production directed by Solomon Mikhoels.[1] He later graduated from the Shchukin Theatre School in Moscow. While still a student, he took part in the All-Union Recitation Competition marking the 20th anniversary of Mayakovsky's death and was awarded a diploma; after that he regularly received invitations to perform at Moscow Philharmonic concerts.[2] The recitation stage increasingly attracted the young actor, but on the advice of the outstanding master of the spoken word, People's Artist of the USSR Dmitry Nikolaevich Zhuravlev, he decided first to build up experience on the theatrical stage.[2]

Theatre and the Road to the Stage

After graduating from the Shchukin School, Poznansky Gorky and joined the Gorky Youth Theatre. Over three years he played a wide variety of roles. The ones most fondly remembered by Nizhny Novgorod residents were his romantic leads — Romeo in Shakespeare's tragedy and the Gadfly in a stage adaptation of Voynich's novel. In 1956 he won first prize at the regional competition for young creative talent for his role as the Gadfly, and that same year Philharmonic, with which he had already been collaborating since his return to Gorky.[2] From 1957 onward he began touring independently with solo literary recital programmes across the entire Soviet Union. His early programmes appeared in succession: in 1957, an evening devoted to Mayakovsky; in 1958, an evening of Yesenin's poetry; in 1959, an evening of stories by Chekhov and Kuprin; in 1961, "Voices of the Young" (Yevtushenko, Voznesensky, Rozhdestvensky); in 1962, an evening of poetry by Pushkin and Lermontov; and in 1989 he created the programme "Biblical Motifs" based on works by Pasternak, Andreyev, Kuprin, Chekhov, and Aitmatov.[1][1]

Creative Work

Over the course of his career, Poznansky created more than 35 programmes of his own.[1] His repertoire encompassed works by Zoshchenko, Yesenin, Mayakovsky, Chekhov, Pushkin, and Dostoyevsky. He performed without a text in hand, without partners, conjuring for his audiences — in his own words — entire "universes": atmosphere, the faces of characters, a sense of place and time.[1] At the jubilee evening marking his 80th birthday, People's Artist Valery Nikitin called him "the last romantic reciter" for his radiant, life-affirming talent.[2] Zhuravlev later wrote to Poznansky: "Thank you for carrying the banner of knightly service to the art of the Word with such purity and nobility!"[2]

Alongside his touring activities, Poznansky performed on Gorky Television, worked as a director, and was active in public life as a member of the Board of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia.[1]

Recognition

Poznansky was awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR. He is an Honorary Citizen of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.[2] In November 2009, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, House of Actor (Nizhny Novgorod) hosted the jubilee evening "Monologue Before the Curtain" — an author's programme with reminiscences spanning more than 55 years of creative life.[2] In the words of journalist Georgy Molokin, Poznansky was a legend to several generations of Nizhny Novgorod residents.[1]

Sources

  1. wikiprofile.ru — Poznansky, Alexander Davidovich — Alexander Davidovich Poznansky was born on November 6, 1929. His father, David Yefimovich Poznansky (1897–1938), worked as production manager…
  2. KP — Nizhny Novgorod — Alexander Poznansky turns 90 (archive)
  3. Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — The Last Romantic