Accordionist, soloist of the Moskontsert, Valery Andreyevich Kovtun - since 1996, People's Artist of the Russian Federation.
The composer and virtuoso broadcast on the Echo of Moscow radio program about the stars of the accordion.
The beginning of the musical path
An outstanding figure was born in 1942 on October 10 in Kerch. There he lived until the age of eighteen.
Little Valera really wanted to play the button accordion. The child also had a second dream: to become a captain. Little Valera loved the sea, but the music won.
In a poorly living family there was no instrument. Finally came a happy day for the boy when they bought him a button accordion. However, at a music school, the child was refused admission, saying that they needed accordionists.
Valery was lucky to exchange the instrument. True, the child had to worry a lot, until he achieved what he wanted, and even brought a surcharge for the replacement. This money turned out to be rather handy for a poor family.
Now there was no failure. Those who wish to play were accepted to school. Classes began in the class of Grigory Chimiris.
After graduating from music school, Kovtun entered the music school. For practice, during his studies there, the student often accompanied the choir and dance group at the shipyard club.
The artist in 1991 was educated at the Institute of Culture as a director of mass performances. Children's passion for the accordion has become the meaning of the life of a young man. It was to music that he turned in moments of joy, and during sadness.
Career takeoff
The army service was held in a military brass band in the city of Nikolaev. Often from there a soldier came to visit his mother in Feodosia.
The demobilized musician was invited to the Nikolaev Philharmonic. Then Makhmud Esambaev, People's Artist of the USSR, called him to him. Kovtun since 1974 worked with the most popular singer in his time, Yuri Bogatikov.
Together, the artists worked for six years. In Yalta in 1980, the accordionist created the ensemble and became its music director and soloist. The team performed popular works of jazz and foreign and domestic classics in the processing of Kovtun.
The already well-known accordionist with his team in Donetsk at the Miner's Day had the opportunity to perform with Joseph Kobzon. The singer invited Kovtun to work with him in Moscow.
Success came right away. To shoot the program "wider circle" the artist had to travel from Yalta. In 1980, he finally moved to the capital.
Success and recognition
Since 1976, a popular musician constantly appeared on the screen. He gave six concerts a day. Performances were held at the best venues in the Garden Ring area with the most famous soloists.
In 1977, the virtuoso accordionist became a laureate of the folk instrument performers contest. In 1982 he took in the "Rainbow", a folk art competition, the festival "Sopot-1989", "Song-1990". The musician became their laureate.
The accordionist soloed in a quartet of guitar, bass and drums and the accordion. The ensemble enjoyed considerable popularity in Russia.
The composition was selected very successful. Musicians were constantly invited to perform on television and radio with solo concerts, they took part in various shows and television programs.
Kovtun wrote many works himself. He released several music collections with his music and arrangements of famous tunes in his own arrangement. In 1996, the only then-virtuoso accordion player received the title of People's Artist of Russia.
Valery Andreyevich has performed in many countries. His sold-out concerts were held in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, America, China, Vietnam and Laos. His show took place at the Kremlin for sixteen years.
