Mango Madness
08-27-2009, 09:14 AM
Soviet and Russian anthem author Sergei Mikhalkov dies at 96
Russia Today
http://www.russiatoday.com/Art_and_Fun/2009-08-27/mikhalkov-poet-anthem.html (http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090827/155941047.html)
The veteran Soviet-era poet who wrote the words for the Russian national anthem has died.
Sergey Mikhalkov made a name for himself as an author of children's books. The legendary poet was also the father of the renowned filmmaker Andrey Konchalovsky and Oscar-winning director Nikita Mikhalkov.
He published his first poem at the age of fifteen. Since then Mikhalkov's books have become best-sellers and have been published around the world with circulation close to 300 million copies.
But his main legacy is probably the historic text of the national anthem which Mikhalkov wrote three times over six decades.
“Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics
Great Russia has welded forever to stand.
Created in struggle by will of the people,
United and mighty, our Soviet land.”
Back in 1943, the 31-year-old Mikhalkov won a contest for the best anthem lyrics to replace the revolutionary workers' hymn “Internationale”. The ambitious poet was praised by none other than Joseph Stalin, who was the main judge at the contest.
In 1944, on New Year’s Eve, the Soviet people heard Mikhalkov’s anthem set to the music of composer Aleksandr Aleksandrov for the first time.
During WWII, Mikhalkov worked as a correspondent. His stories and poems were designed to encourage patriotism and were published in major newspapers.
He is also author of the epitaph carved on the main memorial to the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin. It reads: “Your Name Is Unknown but Your Feat Is Immortal.”
In 1953, after Stalin’s death, the new leadership wanted the anthem lyrics rewritten. Sergey Mikhalkov removed Stalin's name, though still keeping the words about the Communist party.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the hymn was finally relegated to history.
Russia adopted a new anthem, but it failed to touch the public. Later, then-President Putin suggested restoring the old tune but with lyrics written from scratch.
Quite naturally, Sergey Mikhalkov appeared and once again impressed the public by winning the contest. He created his last anthem in 2000, aged 87-years.
Just three years later, then- President Putin paid a friendly, personal visit to the poet on his ninetieth birthday and presented him with the prestigious “Fatherland Order”.
Russia Today
http://www.russiatoday.com/Art_and_Fun/2009-08-27/mikhalkov-poet-anthem.html (http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090827/155941047.html)
The veteran Soviet-era poet who wrote the words for the Russian national anthem has died.
Sergey Mikhalkov made a name for himself as an author of children's books. The legendary poet was also the father of the renowned filmmaker Andrey Konchalovsky and Oscar-winning director Nikita Mikhalkov.
He published his first poem at the age of fifteen. Since then Mikhalkov's books have become best-sellers and have been published around the world with circulation close to 300 million copies.
But his main legacy is probably the historic text of the national anthem which Mikhalkov wrote three times over six decades.
“Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics
Great Russia has welded forever to stand.
Created in struggle by will of the people,
United and mighty, our Soviet land.”
Back in 1943, the 31-year-old Mikhalkov won a contest for the best anthem lyrics to replace the revolutionary workers' hymn “Internationale”. The ambitious poet was praised by none other than Joseph Stalin, who was the main judge at the contest.
In 1944, on New Year’s Eve, the Soviet people heard Mikhalkov’s anthem set to the music of composer Aleksandr Aleksandrov for the first time.
During WWII, Mikhalkov worked as a correspondent. His stories and poems were designed to encourage patriotism and were published in major newspapers.
He is also author of the epitaph carved on the main memorial to the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin. It reads: “Your Name Is Unknown but Your Feat Is Immortal.”
In 1953, after Stalin’s death, the new leadership wanted the anthem lyrics rewritten. Sergey Mikhalkov removed Stalin's name, though still keeping the words about the Communist party.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the hymn was finally relegated to history.
Russia adopted a new anthem, but it failed to touch the public. Later, then-President Putin suggested restoring the old tune but with lyrics written from scratch.
Quite naturally, Sergey Mikhalkov appeared and once again impressed the public by winning the contest. He created his last anthem in 2000, aged 87-years.
Just three years later, then- President Putin paid a friendly, personal visit to the poet on his ninetieth birthday and presented him with the prestigious “Fatherland Order”.