Sagkaev, Valery Alekseevich

Youth

Valery Sagkaev was born on January 14, 1951 ^{[1] [2]} in Tkibuli . In early childhood, he lost his father and barely made ends meet with his mother and two brothers. At the age of twelve, she and her mother moved from Tkibuli, in Western Georgia , to Tskhinval . Mom got a job as a cleaner, while Valera went to night school, he could not afford more ^[3] .

Already in his youth, he showed the ability to music and singing. He sang at school evenings, among his comrades, at the Tskhinvali factory “Emalprovod”, whose workers often after a shift rushed to the factory club to listen to a fifteen-year-old singer ^[3] . There, at the factory, in 1964-1965, Sagkaev worked in an amateur group ^[4] . According to the artistic director of the State Chamber Orchestra of South Ossetia L. Chekhoev, his voice was already singled out by timbre, range, strength. At one of the school olympiads, sixteen-year-old Sagkaev, accompanied by a brass band, performed Buchenwald Nabat without a microphone ^[5] . Young Sagkaev was a fan of the work of Vladimir Vysotsky , often sang his songs, imitating his manner of performance.

Sagkaev’s talent was manifested not only in singing, according to friends, he drew well. Not having the opportunity to enter an art school, he nevertheless loved drawing very much. Preserved sketches made by his hand ^[3] . In addition to a pencil or neck, he did not use anything. Not because he couldn’t - there were no funds ^[5] .

The early years

In 1970, Sagkaev entered the Tskhinvali College of Music (TsMU) in the vocal department, where he plunged headlong into the atmosphere of creativity ^[4] . The famous Ossetian composer Felix Alborov (whose name was later named after the school) taught the young student, who at first glance appreciated a naturally gifted guy. The young singer’s repertoire in his second year included opera parts, including a recital aria from Xerxes by Handel , aria Ibrahim from Fatima, Taimuraz from Azau, Russian romances by Rachmaninov , Tchaikovsky , Dargomyzhsky ^[3] . While still a student at TsMU, he won a second prize at the Vocalist Festival in Tbilisi ^[5] .

After graduating with honors from TsMU ^{[4], the} next stage in Valery Sagkaev’s life was to be the Tbilisi Conservatory , where he was listened to and received great interest. But for various reasons, without receiving the necessary support, he did not become a student at the Tbilisi Conservatory. He considered the main thing for himself to be able to sing. According to the testimony of a friend of the singer, bard Valery Avagimov, they often performed together in military units, schools, worked part-time concerts, he lived poorly, paid pennies for performances ^[3] .

In 1977, Valery Sagkaev was noticed at a political song contest in Pitsunda . He was preparing to perform the song “ Victory Day ”, but two days before the contest it turned out that Tamara Gverdtsiteli also opted for this composition. Valery succumbed to her, taking the "Buchenwald Alarm" by V. Muradeli . Then he did not take first place, but became a laureate of the competition, which was also a big victory at that time ^[3] . And three years later, in 1980, he became a laureate of the All-Union pop song contest ^[2] .

Beginning

In the mid -1960s, a vocal and instrumental ensemble Aizold (Sound) was created at the South Ossetian State Pedagogical Institute , the creative team of which did a lot for the development of Ossetian pop art ^[4] . The best young musicians of Tskhinval gathered in it. After a short time, Valery became one of his leading vocalists. His repertoire included Ossetian, Russian and foreign pop songs. And later he became one of the leading singers of the vocal-instrumental ensemble “Bonvarnon” (“Morning Star”) and the South Ossetian state song and dance ensemble “Simd” . In these two ensembles, Sagkaev’s talent began to gain widespread recognition, along with them he went on tour in many parts of the USSR ^[3] .

When something related to his favorite business, he could sometimes afford even liberties. Once, while in Moscow , he picked up and called the People's Artist of the USSR, composer Alexander Pakhmutova .

- Hello! Good morning! Is that you, Alexandra Nikolaevna?

- Yes, I'm listening…

- You see ... This ... you are sorry ...

- Yes, yes, I'm listening!

- Sorry, I came from Ossetia and I want to sing your song to you.

- How? Right now?

- Yes, if it's possible…

“Well then, sing.”

- You, my melody ... (Valery sings)

- Hmm, what do you think, I did not recognize the voice of Muslim Magomayev?

- No, I swear on honor, I sang it!

- Can not be!

After such an intriguing statement, Alexandra Nikolaevna invited the stranger home. Pakhmutova and Dobronravov listened with great curiosity to the singing of a strange Caucasian. And he, without letting them come to his senses, left as unexpectedly as he called ^[3] .

And once, on January 25 , on the birthday of Vysotsky, Valery went to Moscow, came to the mother of his idol and sang Vladimir’s songs to her. It was a cry from the soul.

An important turning point in the career and work of Valery Sagkaev was his acquaintance with the director of the North Ossetian television Emma Torchinova, resulting in fruitful cooperation and close friendship. Largely thanks to her, Sagkaev’s popularity became truly popular, he began to appear on television, participate in concerts, star in videos, they began to recognize him on the street. Soon, they together prepared a series of songs based on the verses of Kosta Khetagurov . Viewers of North Ossetia had the opportunity to hear these songs in June 1991 in the program of the republican television “My song is pain and joy” ^[3] .

Until the last days, Sagkaev worked in the North Ossetian State Philharmonic Society , being its soloist ^[4] .

Last days and doom

Shortly before his death, crouching for a moment to the coffee table - for the last time, he quickly sketched with a pencil the outline of the guitar and wrote: “Valery Sagkaev. Bless and save!". And he left Vladikavkaz south. He never returned.

Then I asked him: “What kind of drawing is this, does it look like a tombstone?” There was no answer.

- Emma Torchinova, director

On that day, February 2, 1992, when Sagkaev painted a farewell cross, his close friend, like-minded person, creative mentor - journalist and director of the State television and radio company “Alania” Emma Torchinova escorted the singer to her native Tskhinval. With the money received from the sale of shoes that were gorgeous at the time that her sister brought from Dushanbe , she collected Valery a bag full of groceries and gifts for the children. He was happy that he was not going empty-handed to his wife and daughters.

Sagkaev was always embarrassed to accept financial assistance even from people close to him. But until the end of his days he remembered every kind look, every kind gesture and was sincerely grateful to all who care.

The day before departure, he asked me to write a poem about snow. I wrote. He took the guitar and tried to sing once. He sang as if crying. This entry has even been preserved. Only years later did I realize how prophetic the lines were.

We went to the bus station. There was a severe frost. I let him wear one of my dad's earflaps to warm and protect. Valera got on the bus, put down his bag and stepped back into the street. We stand, but the bus is not going and not going. He went inside again, went out again ... And so several times. He gave me some feathers for drawing, then handed me the key to the room, which he had just been allocated at the Nursing Home shortly before. I ask: “Why?” I hear: “Take it this way.”

If I then understood that this is a sign from above that it should not be let go ...

Valera got off the bus for the last time. We said goodbye, he waved his hand, went in, sat down and left. I didn’t see him again.

- Emma Torchinova, director

In February 1992, Valery Sagkaev, who was in Tskhinval at the time, was planning a concert and recording of the program in Vladikavkaz . Due to bad weather (it was snowing in the mountains) the trip was delayed twice. Nevertheless, in order not to be late, on February 16, 1992 Valery Sagkaev left Tskhinval on the only Transcaucasian highway leading to Vladikavkaz. However, he only reached the pass, where an avalanche buried the singer and his friends underneath ^[3] . In the pocket of his jacket were unfinished verses:

Together with him, a famous athlete, two-time USSR champion in weightlifting Gris Kochiev, died in a car ^[6] . In total, more than twenty people died that day under an avalanche ^[4] .

Personal life

Wife - Louise Archilovna Dzhaparidze, daughters - Khatuna and Ekaterina.

Sagkaev often gave free concerts: he sang in the House of the Disabled and Elderly, in schools and universities, and sanatoriums.

Once Valery accidentally heard: in the Republican House of Nursing and Disabled there is a former miner, World War II veteran Mikhail Gabaraev. He wrote a song for him and came to the old people with a guitar. He sang Ossetian, Russian songs, looking through the eyes of a miner. And when he found out that the brave soldier was bedridden, he asked to be led to him. Sagkaev sang for him alone with such dedication, as if in front of him was a crowded room. And the former miner listened and could not hold back tears of gratitude. “You see,” Mikhail Gabaraev later said with pride, “after all, he sang for me alone” ^[3] .

Sagkaev’s repertoire included songs in different languages, which he performed without accent. According to the recollections of the bard Valery Avagimov:

Valera had a great craving for languages. He sang in Ossetian, Russian, Armenian, Georgian and even English. Moreover, he sang without an accent.

Somehow we spoke with him in a military unit. The audience understood by my last name that I was Armenian and asked to sing something in Armenian. I said: "Guys, I'm sorry, but I do not know how." Then Valera took the microphone and began to sing. Everyone was in shock ^[3] .

The repertoire of Valery Sagkaev was more than eighty songs. However, one of them - "Mæ Iryston" (My Ossetia) - has gained particular popularity. The song, which, according to the chairman of the Union of Composers of North Ossetia Atsamaz Magkoyev, is today one of the best cult songs about Ossetia , was created in 1983 . Music to the words of the poetess Lyudmila Galavanova was written by composer Timur Kharebov. "M æ Iryston" became actually the anthem of Ossetia, the main folk song. He began all his performances on tour with the performance of this song. Without it, the audience did not accept Bonvernon concerts, they demanded that Sagkaev perform it again and again ^{[3] [7]} .

A few months after his death by the efforts of admirers of his talent in Vladikavkaz on July 24, 1992, an evening in memory of Valery Sagkaev was held in the assembly hall of the House of Arts. The hall was crowded, but could not accommodate a huge part of those who wanted to personally pay tribute to the artist. At the evening, Chairman of the Supreme Council of North Ossetia Akhsarbek Galazov announced that Valery Sagkaev would be awarded the title of People's Artist of North Ossetia ^[1] .

February 16, 2011 , on the nineteenth anniversary of the death of Sagkaev, in the Government meeting room in Tskhinval, and then on February 18 in Vladikavkaz, a concert in his memory “Requiem of the traveler” was held. It was attended by many famous performers of Ossetia, as well as the ensemble “Bonvernon”, the soloist of which was Valery Sagkaev himself. The proceeds from the sale of tickets were transferred to the singer’s family ^{[8] [9]} .

For his services in the field of musical culture of Ossetia and his personal contribution to the national song art, he was also awarded the title "People's Artist of the Republic of South Ossetia" ^[2] .

The street in Tskhinval is named after Valery Sagkaev ^[10] .

• Marina Kadieva. Valery SAGKAEV: fate and songs (Russian) . Ossetia-Kvaysa (February 20, 2011). Date of treatment October 28, 2012. Archived October 28, 2012.
• Best Val Valya. Rukhs nom mysgæyæ / Bulæmærgææn askyuydis yæ zaræg (Ossetian) . Republican socio-political newspaper "Khurzurin" (February 20, 2012). Date of treatment October 28, 2012. Archived October 28, 2012.
• The song "Mæ Iryston" performed by Valery Sagkaev and VIA "Bonvernon" (1987). (osset.)
• The song "Requiem" performed by Valery Sagkaev. (osset.)