Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Official website of the State –
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This year, the legendary Soviet poet, theater and film actor, singer-songwriter, and prose writer would have turned 88.
Vladimir Semenovich was born in Moscow to a military communications officer. He graduated from high school in 1955, eager to enroll in theater school. However, at the urging of his father and grandfather, he opted for a more respectable profession and enrolled at the Moscow Civil Engineering Institute. He stopped attending classes after just one semester, his love for theater outweighing both the opinions of his elders and financial difficulties. Vysotsky spent the winter and spring of 1956 living with friends, rarely being home, and in June, he entered the Moscow Art Theater School. There, he began to master the intricacies of acting under the tutelage of Boris Vershilov, Alexander Komissarov, and Pavel Massalsky. It was also during this time that he began to explore poetry and developed an interest in cinema.
Thanks to his talent, he became an idol of millions:
He wrote more than 800 poems, which became widely known. He was a leading actor at the Taganka Theatre, where he played key roles such as Hamlet, Galileo, Khlopusha, and Lopakhin. He starred in more than 25 films, his most famous roles being Gleb Zheglov (in the television series “The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed”) and roles in “Intervention,” “Master of the Taiga,” and “Two Comrades Served.”
Vladimir Vysotsky's works reflected the world of the ordinary Soviet person—with all their problems, experiences, hopes, and dreams. They revealed every facet of life: profession, hobbies, daily life, actions, and moods. His guitar and inimitable voice, which became the "voice of a generation," created a unique character. Vysotsky's war songs ("Black Pea Coats," "Song of a Fallen Friend," "We Rotate the Earth," and others) became anthems to the heroism of fallen heroes, while his genre sketches ("Dialogue in Front of the TV," "Expensive Program," "Comrade Scientists," "Police Protocol") became witty chronicles of the times.
Love poetry occupied a special place in his work ("Ballad of Love," "I Love You," "Paradise Apples"). The poems were a true confession and revelation, and love was considered an absolute value and the source of life. The poet wrote: "I breathe—and therefore I love! I love—and therefore I live!"
In honor of this remarkable man's birthday, a series of events will be held in Moscow. Here's where fans of his work can go:
Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: January 24, 2026.
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