YULIA LESHKO
“Information reasons” for our meeting with the Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus, laureate of the Special Prize of the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Kashperov could be three events at once: the first anniversary of the play “Mixed Feelings”, Alexander Borisovich’s participation in the documentary film “Pause” by Konstantin Trusov, and “ the artist’s non-round birthday, which took place in June. But, honestly, is it really necessary to look for a special occasion to once again meet and talk with a good person and a wonderful actor? Exchange opinions, share “mixed feelings.” And live on…
ALEXANDER KASHPEROV. MIXED FEELINGS
Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Kashperov, one of the luminaries of the capital’s Theater-Studio Film Actor, an absolute favorite of the public, is a very unusual person. And the point is not in his extraordinary profession or even in his universal acting role, which allows Alexander Borisovich to successfully embody almost the entire spectrum of human types and characters on stage and screen. I dare say: perhaps Alexander Borisovich as a person is even more interesting than an actor. Starting with the pedigree, with the genetic “cultural code” inherited from the parents, continuing with the difficult character, ending with incredible charm and what is commonly called “charisma”.
The actor Kashperov is so famous and wonderful that even comments are unnecessary. But it seems that he has long accepted “blasphemy and praise” quite indifferently, although he does not rest on his laurels and regularly gives rise to more and more compliments. I’m not even very sure that he will even read this essay…
We have known each other for a very long time. And more than once our magazine wrote about Alexander Borisovich, who until recently often acted in films and never dropped out of the theater process. But it turns out that there is something that for some reason remained “behind the scenes” of our meetings and conversations.
A mutual friend once mentioned Alexander Borisovich’s parents. And for me, who knows very well that Kashperov is a regular at the Philharmonic and a keen connoisseur of the classics, the following fact became a revelation. Alexander Borisovich’s mother was a professional musician, conservatory teacher, and pianist. Her career was interrupted by a dramatic incident on a tram, when a fallen window transom almost fell on her student. Alexander Borisovich’s mother reacted in time and held this heavy and dangerous thing, like a guillotine. She saved the student, but injured her musical fingers…
The actor’s father also had a direct connection to music – he was a famous artist of the Musical Comedy Theater and a popular host of musical evenings.
I learned about all this, and it was as if the “puzzle” had come together: I understood where Alexander Borisovich got his innate inner culture, breadth of soul and, of course, his rich, flexible voice, not subject to the influence of time.
– What kind of music can you call the music of your soul?
– Handel. Mozart – all concerts. Beethoven. I go to the Philharmonic, and at home the music never turns off, it plays in the background.
…He is a musician himself, he just plays on the strings of the audience’s souls…
I saw Alexander Kashperov in different images, in different guises and reincarnations, but all these acting metamorphoses once again convinced me of what I was always sure of. For an actor to succeed, he must, first of all, be an interesting person. Genuine acting talent, perhaps, lies precisely in the ability to “check” your personal qualities with the hero. What if there is nothing to check against?.. Talent is not an imitation, but an interpretation. At least in the case of Kashperov.
…Many masters and veterans of cinema took part in the thesis of BGAI graduate Konstantin Trusov, “Pause,” dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Belarusian Union of Cinematographers. Including Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Kashperov. In this uneven, controversial film, the young director made an attempt to move away as much as possible from the anniversary theme, and the round anniversary, which the creative union celebrated, became only an occasion for memories and reflections of the filmmakers. Everyone spoke about what they considered necessary to say from the screen. And Alexander Borisovich, in unison with the general minor key of “Pause,” was sad and unpretentious, so to speak. It was as if he had completely forgotten that he was an actor. He noted with bitterness that the degree of responsibility of filmmakers for the film produced has been reduced. And this is a sign of the present time; this never happened before. He spoke thoughtfully and bitterly, absolutely sincerely. He talked about how important cinema is to him, just like theater. This is his home, his heart. And this heart hurts…
The same thing, but in different words, was said by the artistic director of Kashperov’s native Theater-Studio of Film Actors, People’s Artist of Belarus Alexander Efremov: “There is a pause in our cinema…”
(…..)
A real event, one of the “highlights” of the repertoire at one time, was Alexander Efremov’s production of “Mixed Feelings.” The performance marks 5 years since its premiere, but audience interest in the performance does not dry up. Cry, laugh, experience catharsis, cleanse the soul – that’s what viewers come to “Mixed Feelings” for. This performance will one day also be called a classic.
Over the five years of existence in this role, Alexander Borisovich himself experienced a lot, which added “notches to his heart,” which made him wiser and kinder. And probably even more beautiful.
“…There must be something good. At least in the theater…”
Alexander Borisovich says this and thinks for a moment. And then he seems to come back from his thoughts:
– Good young people came to the theater. Wonderful girls: Dasha Karpechenkova, Tanya Fedorova, Ira Moroz, Violetta Krivonos… They are like children to me.
And then he invites:
– In September, come to our “apartment event”, “This is the movie” it’s called. We have a good concert, under the artistic direction of Artem Davidovich. Volodya Gritsevsky and I are there with the young people, singing good songs at home. Own company…
He told how they sang four songs on Belarusian Cinema Day, and then the audience said: “You blew up the hall!” Meanwhile, Kashperov sings songs that seem to be lyrical (“And I say: spring, I say…”), as if comical (“And everything is calm in the cemetery…”), as if philosophical (“These are the conditions, this is the environment…”, “It’s not beer that kills people”) plus the acapella romance “I Met You. And that’s it.”
I promised that we would definitely come to the apartment building in September. The entire editorial staff – listen to Kashperov sing acapella…
PS And in the evening Alexander Borisovich sent me several links on Viber. Opera diva Lea Desandre sings the aria “Laskia la spina” from Handel’s oratorio; on the stage of an English talent show, a dark-skinned boy, Simon Covell, sings with the voice of an angel, and Sinead O’Connor from the nineties recalls her youth with the song “Nobody Compares to You.” Now I know what the music of his soul sounds like – at least a few of its notes…
The full version is in “NE” No. 7, 2023.
