Konstantin Sokolsky
Encyclopedia
Konstantin Sokolsky Russian singer (7 December 1904- 12 May 1991). Sokolsky was born in Saint-Petersburg, Russia
, but for most of his life lived in Riga
, Latvia
(his father came from Ludzas County, which is where the family moved to after the revolutionary turmoil of 1917 began in Saint-Petersburg).
There he worked as a woodcutter and loader, until in 1928 at Riga's 'Mars' cinema he first appeared on stage as a singer. Initially, he tried to imitate Alexander Vertinsky
(for example, he too sang in a Pierrot
costume), but later found his own style. He got acquainted with popular composer Oscar Strok, author of tango music
, and became the first to sing all his new songs. In the same time, he himself wrote lyrics and music for several songs.
In the 1930-40s, first with the Riga Bonzo Theatre and later individually, he went on tours of Romania
, Czechoslovakia
and Yugoslavia
, where he became very popular among different audiences, including many Russian émigré
s. Sokolsky's stage image was refined, but could still be interpreted as acting the 'Russian bear', with a sense of self-parody. Very tall, joyous, with self-respect — he reminded many Russian émigrés of their Mother Russia, which they had had to leave, sooner or later after the Bolshevik
revolution.
In Russia, his songs also became popular, released on L.P.'s with the Bonophon and Bellaccord labels.
During WW2
, he stayed in Latvia. In 1944 he was arrested by the Germans, but escaped.
In Soviet time, he would easily mention that his favourite politician was Kārlis Ulmanis
(Latvian prime minister before Soviet occupation). Perhaps because of this, his songs were actually banned from radio broadcasting etc. (In fact, all the romance music
of Oscar Strok and other popular composers was banned as 'not-Soviet').
Unlike many Russians, who in Soviet times considered Latvia a Russian province, Sokolsky could speak Latvian
very well. In 1991 he greeted the forthcoming Latvian independence.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, but for most of his life lived in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
(his father came from Ludzas County, which is where the family moved to after the revolutionary turmoil of 1917 began in Saint-Petersburg).
There he worked as a woodcutter and loader, until in 1928 at Riga's 'Mars' cinema he first appeared on stage as a singer. Initially, he tried to imitate Alexander Vertinsky
Alexander Vertinsky
Alexander Nikolayevich Vertinsky was a Russian and Soviet artist, poet, singer, composer, cabaret artist and actor who exerted seminal influence on the Russian tradition of artistic singing.-Early years:...
(for example, he too sang in a Pierrot
Pierrot
Pierrot is a stock character of pantomime and Commedia dell'Arte whose origins are in the late 17th-century Italian troupe of players performing in Paris and known as the Comédie-Italienne; the name is a hypocorism of Pierre , via the suffix -ot. His character in postmodern popular culture—in...
costume), but later found his own style. He got acquainted with popular composer Oscar Strok, author of tango music
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
, and became the first to sing all his new songs. In the same time, he himself wrote lyrics and music for several songs.
In the 1930-40s, first with the Riga Bonzo Theatre and later individually, he went on tours of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, where he became very popular among different audiences, including many Russian émigré
Émigré
Émigré is a French term that literally refers to a person who has "migrated out", but often carries a connotation of politico-social self-exile....
s. Sokolsky's stage image was refined, but could still be interpreted as acting the 'Russian bear', with a sense of self-parody. Very tall, joyous, with self-respect — he reminded many Russian émigrés of their Mother Russia, which they had had to leave, sooner or later after the Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
revolution.
In Russia, his songs also became popular, released on L.P.'s with the Bonophon and Bellaccord labels.
During WW2
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he stayed in Latvia. In 1944 he was arrested by the Germans, but escaped.
In Soviet time, he would easily mention that his favourite politician was Kārlis Ulmanis
Karlis Ulmanis
Kārlis Augusts Vilhelms Ulmanis was a prominent Latvian politician in pre-World War II Latvia during the Latvian period of independence from 1918 to 1940.- Education and early career :Ulmanis studied agriculture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich and...
(Latvian prime minister before Soviet occupation). Perhaps because of this, his songs were actually banned from radio broadcasting etc. (In fact, all the romance music
Romance (music)
The term romance has a centuries-long history. Applied to narrative ballads in Spain, it came to be used by the 18th century for simple lyrical pieces not only for voice, but also for instruments alone. During the 18th and 19th centuries Russian composers developed the French variety of the...
of Oscar Strok and other popular composers was banned as 'not-Soviet').
Unlike many Russians, who in Soviet times considered Latvia a Russian province, Sokolsky could speak Latvian
Latvian language
Latvian is the official state language of Latvia. It is also sometimes referred to as Lettish. There are about 1.4 million native Latvian speakers in Latvia and about 150,000 abroad. The Latvian language has a relatively large number of non-native speakers, atypical for a small language...
very well. In 1991 he greeted the forthcoming Latvian independence.