Rashid Vagapov is an outstanding Tatar singer, Honored and People's Artist of the Tatar Republic. Thanks to his work, the musical culture of the Tatar people became widely known. He was called the Tatar nightingale and the Tatar Chaliapin.
Biography
Vagapov Rashid Vagapovich was born on May 7, 1908 in the village of Aktukovo, Nizhny Novgorod Region.
His father, Abdulvagap Khairetdinov, was a mullah.
His mother, Asmabike, gave birth to seventeen children, of which seven survived. Rashid's mother gave birth to the fourth.
The father always singled out Rashid among his children. They said about the boy that he was his father's favorite.
As a child, Rashid loved to listen to his fellow villagers singing. When he grew up, it was not difficult for him to learn to play the accordion. The boy began to sing and accompanied himself. Rashid had an unusually beautiful voice. The villagers often asked him to sing their favorite songs.
After graduating from school, the young man entered the Nizhny Novgorod Tatar Pedagogical College. After graduation, he worked as a teacher in rural schools.
In 1936, Rashid Vagapov was admitted to study at the Moscow Conservatory. The Tatar Opera Studio was opened at the Conservatory, which he graduated from. After graduation, Vagapov worked at the House of Tatar Culture in Moscow.
During his youth, the artist had a chance to go through cruel times for his homeland. Mass repressions began in the country. By order of Stalin, innocent people were arrested. In 1937, Rashid's father became a victim of Stalinist repression. He was shot as an "enemy of the people." The tragic fate of his father forever left an unhealed wound in the artist's heart.
Before the start of the Great Patriotic War, Vagapov was invited to Kazan. He became a soloist of the Tatar State Philharmonic Society.
During the war, the artist toured with concert crews throughout the Tatar Republic. With his songs, he sought to strengthen people's faith in victory over the Nazis.
In 1950, Rashid Vagapov was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Tatar Republic.
In 1957 he was awarded the title of People's Artist of Tatarstan.
Rashid Vagapov died in 1962. He died at the age of 54.
For the 85th anniversary of the artist's birth, a memorial plaque was installed on the house in which he lived.
In memory of the singer, a street in the capital of Tatarstan is named after him.
In 2004, the Rashid Vagapov International Tatar Song Festival was established. The best performers of the Tatar song genre take part in it.
On the native land of Rashid Vagapov, in the village of Urazovka, Nizhny Novgorod region, a monument was erected to him.
Creation
Rashid Vagapov is rightfully called a legendary singer. His amazing timbre of voice and charm amazed the Tatar audience.
Musicologists noted that the artistry and manner of performance of Rashid Vagapov is close to the style of the American singer Frank Sinatra.
The artist managed to combine the melodiousness of folk melodies with the pop genre. In his work, the traditions of Tatar songs echoed with classical vocals. He did it so naturally and harmoniously that his singing became unique.
The singer made an invaluable contribution to the popularization of Tatar music.
The public's love for him was boundless.
Personal life
He met his first wife, Khalifa Rakhimova, in the village of Petryaksy, Nizhny Novgorod region. The girl lived in this village, and Vagapov came there to work as a teacher.
They both loved to sing and were fond of music. This brought them closer, and Rashid offered Khalifa his hand and heart. They got married in 1927. They had four children, but two of them died in infancy. Fate left their son Shamil and daughter Venus alive.
In 1941, Vagapov was offered a job in Kazan. Khalifa did not want to move with her husband to another city. Rashid left and they parted.
In Kazan, he found his second love - Zaytunu Fetkhulov. They were introduced by the chief choreographer of the Kazan Opera House, Gai Tagirov.
The singer was looking for a dancer in his team, and Tagirov introduced Zaytuna to him. The young sixteen-year-old girl immediately won his heart. They soon got married. Rashid was very happy about the birth of the sons of Rustam and Zufar.
He was worried that he could not see his children from his first marriage. This tormented him throughout his life.
