Gelena Velikanova is a Russian and Soviet singer whom viewers know from the songs “Lilies of the Valley”, “Everything That Was”, “Girls Stand” and many others. It marked a whole era in Soviet music. The authorities did not like the singer for her too frivolous repertoire, but the audience adored the melodies that were simple and understandable to every Russian person.
Childhood
Gelena Velikanova was born in 1923 in Moscow. Her family was simple, her parents lived very poorly, but at that time many lived like that. Gelena studied well at school and was a very sociable girl. Her voice was immediately noticed by friends and teachers and recommended that she enroll in a music school. But the war began, and the Gelena family had to evacuate to Tomsk.
Education
In Tomsk, the sociable girl was not lost, she worked in the hospital, helped nursing the wounded. And soon she decided to continue her education and entered the institute for a technical specialty. There was simply nowhere else to go in Tomsk, and the country needed young engineers.
But, unfortunately or fortunately, the girl did not have any ability to exact sciences. And she decided to return to Moscow, where she entered the Glazunov Music College.
Music career
Success came to the singer rapidly after she sang the song "Lilies of the Valley". The voice of Helena Velikanova came at that time from each speaker. Subsequently, the song "Lilies of the Valley" was rehearsed many times in Russia and abroad.
But the singer’s work was not limited to this song alone. It is enough to recall the works “Rule te rolla”, “Two shores”, “Girls are standing”, “Rash, talianka” and many others. Helena's voice, ringing like a bell, could not be confused with anything.
Conflict with authorities and loss of voice
Nevertheless, the singer did not please the authorities. Her songs were called bourgeois vulgarity and were not recommended for listening. The authorities wanted patriotic songs, and the tormented soul of the people demanded lyrics and simple melodies. Famous composers continued to write for Helena Velikanova.
It is said that Furtseva herself did not like Gelena Velikanova because of her appearance, which was inappropriate for the Soviet citizen. The fact is that the singer herself came up with her concert dresses, and they were very different from the outfits of other pop stars.
All these troubles struck the most precious thing for Helena - her voice. Once, after improper treatment of a cold, Velikanova lost her silver voice-bell, which never returned.
Nevertheless, the singer took up teaching. One of her most famous students is singer Valeria.
