Leonid Kharitonov
Leonid Mikhailovich Kharitonov – Soloist of the Ensemble. (b. Golumet, Irkutsk Oblast 1933). (Russian: Л.М. Харитонов). People’s Artist of Russia, Honoured Artist of Russia; bass-baritone soloist.
When his father went missing in World War II, his mother brought him up. At the age of 14yrs he studied locally to be a welder, and began to perform as a singer. At 17 years old he started auditioning at Irkutsk Philharmonic, then at Moscow Philharmonic, and finally was accepted by Moscow Conservatory. This was very difficult because as a Siberian he did not have even a matriculation certificate, but his strong singing voice spoke for him. For nearly 20 years he was a member of the Red Song and Dance Ensemble of the Soviet army (later the Alexandrov Ensemble): in the choir from 1953 to 1965, and a soloist from 1965 to 1972. He subsequently became a soloist with the Moscow Philharmonic. He performed successfully in most concert halls in Russia: On tour he visited the entire country, including the Kremlin Palace concert hall. He was the pride of Russia, sang at concerts for the Government and for foreign delegations. After that he went on tour abroad a great deal.
With the Alexandrov Ensemble he recorded The Ballad about Russian Boys (music: Novikov; lyrics: Oshanin L.), John Reed Walks Around Petrograd (music: Novikov; lyrics: M. Vershinin), War Isn’t Over Yet (music: B. Muradeli; lyrics: M. Andronov), Here Lenin Lived (music: B. Terentiev; lyrics: A. Fatyanov), Lenin’s Guard (music: B Aleksandrov; lyrics: M Khotimsk), My Fatherland (music: O. Feltsman; lyrics: Oshanin L.), Veterans Don’t Grow Old in their Souls (music: Tulika S.; lyrics: Y. Belinsky), Peacefighter’s Song (music: B. Muradeli; lyrics: V. Kharitonov), Gray Hair (music: A. Ekimyan; lyrics: F. Laube), Son of the Fatherland (music: S. Tulika; lyrics: V. Lazarev), Son of Russia (music: St. Tulika; lyrics: V. Kharitonov), Ej, Uhnem (Song of the Volga Boatmen), Death of Varyag.
Listen to the songs performed
by Leonid Kharitonov
The official site of this soloist is located here.
 The Veterans... |
 The Soloists |
 Leonid Kharitonov |
 The Cliff |
 The Cliff |
 The Cliff |
 Dark-Eyed Cossack Girl |
 Czechoslovakia Tour |
 Paris, 1965 |
The Alexandrov Ensemble 
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Dear Friends of Ensemble Alexandrov!
I remember Leonid Kharitonov when He came to Paris with You. I was at the Palais des Sports, and that was a very great pleasur tu hear him when He song “Quand fera-t-il jouir, Camarade”.
This yuer You will be in my country during the 2010 Franco’Rissian year. I shall go the see you as often it was possible. I kwen you wil perform in Rouen (110km from Amiens, my town) and I shall have the opportunity to meet you, because I whall celebrate 50 years of “vernosty” for you. You have been my poutniki all along that time, and life was more than beautiful thanks to You.
Priviet druziam (Vadik Ananiev, Vassily Shtefutsa and all other members of your zaluzhny Kollektiv !!
Let me tell that Rossyia is my second fatherland, and my russian wife from Rostov na Donu podarela mne Synok, zovut Maksim ( ne gorki a sladki….)
Liubliu Vas!
Yves Le Duc
14 rue des Francs Juges
80000 AMIENS
France
Dear Mr. Yves!
Thank you very much for sharing your memories of the Ensemble’s and Leonid Kharitonov’s performance in Paris! Although this blog is not an “official” Ensemble site, we, the administrators, are great admirers of the Ensemble and enjoy sharing its history and music with fans from all over the world! I myself feel a special connection, since I am Leonid Kharitonov’s younger son. I will certainly share your comments with him! He’ll be very pleased to hear your memories! (And by the way, you can visit his official English language web site at http://www.lkharitonov.com and his official Russian site at http://www.leonidharitonov.ru.)
Actually, we have been looking for the recording in any form (vinyl, CD, mp3 etc.) by L. Kharitonov of the song you mention (“Quand Fera-T-Il Jour, Camarade?”) and can’t find it anywhere so far. Do you have any information about it? We would appreciate it a lot! We were even thinking to contact Mireille Mathieu about it. (BTW, did you notice that the last photo above is L. Kharitonov’s performance of this song at the Palais des Sports, which you attended!) )))
I’m happy to hear that you’ll be able to attend the Ensemble’s performances in your country this year–ENJOY! Best regards to you and please give my best regards to your wife as well.
Sincerely,
Mikhail Kharitonov
for Mr.LEONID KHARITONOV-bass
Dear Sir
I collect authographs and letters from very important opera singers in the world. I send you many letters during 50 years to different addresses also to your birthday in 18 September, but without success. Now i have Internet and find this e-mail.
Please very much to send me(not with e-mail please) a photo with your dedication and a letter.
Thank you very much and all my best wishes and continuous success!
Yours sincerely
Arthur Kremer
Dear Mr. Kremer!
We will try to send you the artist’s photo with his original autograph to the mentioned address.
le meilleur interprète des bateliers de la Volga
Thank you! Many people think so…
Hello,
nice to send me this video, I really enjoyed myself. I’ve listened to the first time I had turned 16 and tenors were for me the most beautiful voice. When I listened to yours that I have all questioned. I asked my brother who sang, he replied: Leonid Kharitonov. Name printed in my memory ever since. It is thanks to him that I listened to all the Choirs of the former Red Army. I prefer Opera but we listened to the music as the other, since the Choirs sang as the Opera House. I just perpetuates his memory because he left us too soon and he had the entire collection of Alexandrov Ensemble and others like Babloev, Fleet Soviet Poustovalov … My brother took the pseudonym Vladimir Rouslanov as corresponding to acquire uniforms and caps on ebay. I intend to make a slideshow of the boatmen and I think you should send it but be patient because I do not want to do the same thing on You Tube. I hope you have soloists alive. If you have information to acquire photos from Oleg Razoumovsky I’d be happy. I hope that since the end of communism you live decently all your talent past and present. It was a pleasure (and honor) to contact you.
cordially
Georges
J’adore votre façon de chanter “Черноглазая казачка”, j’ai l’a découvert aujourd’hui et j’ai la entendu plusieurs fois, dix quinze peut-être! Quel beauté…Vous etes admirable cher ” Леонид Михайлович”
Hello,
I recently discover Kharitonov and I fell in love the way he sings. I listen 30 times in a row “the Cliff” and I could listen it 1000 times!.
Is it posible to get an artist photo with the originial autograph? I would like to put this photo in my particular Singer museum.
Just go on google and write their name, you will have all the pictures you want …and also on this site
Ok, but I was asking for the possibility of getting an autographed picture (a real autograph). I don´t know if it is possible.
ah! ok I misread
A great singer with a strong and really impressing voice. Listening to “The volga boatmen” I was deeply touched. Absolutely fantastic!