“They were one”: Safronov spoke about Solomin’s last will
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“He always said that he wanted to rest next to his wife.”
The death of Yuri Solomin shocked the acting world. At the end of last year, the director of the Maly Theater suffered a stroke. But, despite the difficult recovery, everyone was sure that the actor would definitely recover. Nikas Safronov was friends with Solomin for more than thirty years. In a conversation with MK, the People’s Artist of the Russian Federation told what kept Yuri Methodievich in this world and what a terrible blow he suffered several years before leaving.
“We met Yura back in the early 90s,” says Nikas. “Despite his titles and high status, he was always open to communication and communicated politely and kindly. Most importantly, Yura was very modest. I remember in the early 2000s I offered to paint his portrait. Yura politely refused at first: “I’m not worthy of this.” Then I invited him to just come visit me and look at the paintings. He came and I persuaded him to pose. This portrait has already been exhibited many times and has always been very popular among people. Everyone noted the similarity and character. By the way, Yura himself really liked the work.
Nobody thought he would leave. He was adored by friends, family, colleagues, and the theater troupe of the Maly Theater. Probably few actors were so sincerely loved by the entire acting fraternity. And everyone who knew him believed that he would recover. Because Yura always steadfastly fought against difficulties. Literally in the first days of January I was told that they were going to discharge him from the hospital. We were all sure that the worst was behind us…
Of course, running such a theater for 35 years is a big burden and responsibility. But Solomin lived a full life. And he lived until he was 88 thanks to his work. She gave him an incentive to live and create. He retained good spirits, a sober mind, and a clear memory. His work saved him and did not allow him to go into prostration, especially after the death of his wife. I remember he said that as a child he decided that he would fall in love only once and for all. And so it happened. He met his wife at drama school and lived with her all his life. They were one with him. When she passed away (Solomin’s wife died in 2019. – Auto.), as if some part of him died along with her… For Yura it was a terrible blow, of course.
In addition to working in the theater, Yura actively participated in the development of our capital. I was always very worried about how Moscow was developing. I remember several years ago there was a competition to improve our city – Yura took an active part in it. He was generally a socially responsible person. He came to elections and parades. I often saw them together with my wife. By the way, he always said that he wanted to rest next to her – it was his will. And it’s very good that the family fulfilled this last wish of the great artist… I express my sincere condolences to all the relatives of Yuri Solomin and mourn with them: this is a huge loss for the whole country, we have lost one of the greatest actors of Soviet times.”
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