In Moscow, they said goodbye to actress Irina Miroshnichenko. Report from the funeral ceremony

On Monday, at the Moscow Art Theater (MKhT) named after Chekhov, they said goodbye to Irina Miroshnichenko. The actress died on August 3 at the age of 81 in the hospital, where she got a few days earlier. At the farewell ceremony, they recalled that Ms. Miroshnichenko was “one of the actresses who were an example for a whole generation of women.” And also – that “Irina Petrovna loved the theater, and he reciprocated her”

Farewell to Irina Miroshnichenko took place on the Main Stage of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater – in the theater where the actress served for almost 60 years. In the morning, a line of admirers of her talent lined up outside the building: people in black tried to hide in the shade from the scorching sun. The funeral service was supposed to begin at 11 o’clock, but by this time the hall was still almost empty – only cameramen crowded in the aisles. The coffin with the body of the actress towered on the stage, surrounded by bouquets.

The farewell ceremony was started by the rector of the Moscow Art Theater School Igor Zolotovitsky. He tried for a long time to adjust the hissing microphone – however, as an actor, it was not difficult for him to speak from the stage without sound reinforcement. So, blocking the noise in the hall, he read government telegrams. Condolences were expressed by President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and head of the Ministry of Culture Olga Lyubimova. On his own behalf, Mr. Zolotovitsky added that “Irina Petrovna was the meaning of this space” – and recalled that at creative evenings and meetings she “always tried to talk not about herself, but about how life brought her together with wonderful colleagues.”

“Equipment breaks down and junk… It’s just that she, like me, cannot believe that it doesn’t exist,” said Mikhail Shvydkoi, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation. “She resisted all her ailments very powerfully. And every time she laughed, it seemed that everything was fine,” Mr. Shvydkoy continued.

Being an actress is constantly proving to everyone that you are strong, you don’t envy anyone. And she did it all 60 years. As long as we remember, you are alive! Sorry for everything and see you soon!

The current artistic director of the Moscow Art Theater, Konstantin Khabensky, recalled that the actress always gave gifts to people she sympathized with. “She always came to me with them. We discussed the theatrical youth a lot, talked about the restoration of performances on the stage of the theater,” said Mr. Khabensky. He also remembered how last fall the anniversary of the actress was held at the Moscow Art Theater, which “she herself directed.” “It was a big holiday. Then she stopped appearing in the theater. Apparently, she could not afford, using the words of Exupery, “to appear disheveled in public,” suggested Mr. Khabensky.

Speakers constantly recalled the actress’s smile and her habit of sharing only positive emotions – “never bringing negative things to the theater that was her home.” Also, everyone noted that the actress had never been involved in intrigues and “did not say a single bad word about her colleagues.” “Let the rest of the women forgive me, but Irina Petrovna was an icon of this theater, even its showcase, and her talent is undeniable,” said Lev Leshchenko, People’s Artist of Russia, at the memorial service. Actress Marina Zudina – the widow of the previous artistic director of the Moscow Art Theater Oleg Tabakov – noted that Irina Miroshnichenko was “one of the actresses who were an example for a whole generation of women”: “My mother wanted a hairstyle like yours, a dress.” Also, Mrs. Zudina, in a breaking voice, added that Irina Miroshnichenko “will go to heaven” and there she “will definitely meet” with Oleg Tabakov: “Tell Oleg Pavlovich how we love him and how we miss him. And now you will be missed.”

Actor and theater teacher Avangard Leontiev recalled how he “admired the graduate Irochka” as a freshman at the Moscow Art Theater School.

“This was a generation of actors who were taught according to the precepts of the founders of the theater,” Mr. Leontiev said. “They had to not only play correctly, but also communicate correctly in the corridors and dressing rooms.” His thought was continued by the artistic director of the Theater of Nations Yevgeny Mironov: “Irina Petrovna not only worked according to the Stanislavsky system – she lived according to the Stanislavsky system.” Also, Mr. Mironov thanked the actress for the support she always provided to young actors, including once himself. And he added that “Irina Petrovna loved the theater, and he reciprocated her.”

The head of the department of culture of the city of Moscow, Alexander Kibovsky, recalled at the ceremony that the actress “still had an attempt to part with the theater.” “30 years ago she was called to head the Moscow City Committee on Culture, this is an important and resourceful position,” the official said. “But she worked for only a few months and returned back to the theater. The habit of giving herself completely to work prevented her from remaining in such a position.

By 12 o’clock the main stage of the Moscow Art Theater was still filled with quite elderly people. They whispered about how “great the old theater was”; of course, they lamented that “now he is not the same at all.” Igor Zolotovitsky again took the stage and thanked those present: “We were excited that it was summer, heat, holidays. But you still came. This is the greatest happiness for her – a full hall!

The head of the Moscow Art Theater School noted that all students dream of being like the actors of the generation of Irina Miroshnichenko: “We are shorter and thinner, but we still strive, although we cannot learn this from any lessons and subjects.”

“Sorry. And… we love you!” concluded Mr. Zolotovitsky and invited the guests to come out to the doors of the theatre.

The crowd poured into the street in a dense stream, discussing the ceremony in an undertone. An elderly man, looking around the crowd in surprise, remarked to his fellow traveler: “How unexpected that more women came. I thought there would be more men. It was they who always went to Irochka – to admire the beauty. People poured onto Kamergersky and formed a rather dense corridor. No longer trying to hide from the sun, they crowded from the entrance to the theater to the monument to the founders of the Moscow Art Theater, Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko. The coffin was solemnly carried to the hearse. For a few minutes the lane was filled with thunderous applause, completely drowning out the music from the verandas of neighboring restaurants.

After the funeral service in the church of Sophia the Wisdom of God on Sofiyskaya embankment, Irina Miroshnichenko was buried at the Troekurovsky cemetery in Moscow.

Polina Yachmennikova