Yuri Lyubimov and Katalin Kunz: the genius father of Taganka and the “evil genius” who gave him almost 40 years of happiness

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Yuri Lyubimov was married four times, while he was distinguished by a frequent change of affection and sympathy. However, from 1976 until the end of his days, the Hungarian journalist Katalin Kunz was with him. She was accused of excessive influence on her husband, in attempts to quarrel the director with the actors of the Taganka theater, scandalousness and quarrelsomeness. But at the same time, no one doubted that for Yuri Lyubimov she became the ideal wife, thanks to whom he lived to a very old age.

Sudden love

Their first meeting took place in 1976 in Budapest, where the Taganka Theater, together with the director, came on tour with two of its best performances: Ten Days That Shook the World and Hamlet with Vysotsky in the title role.

Katalin, as an employee of the Soviet-Hungarian Friendship Society, accompanied the famous director everywhere as an interpreter and personal assistant. According to her recollections, passion covered them from the very first minute of their acquaintance. The incredible male charm of Lyubimov simply shocked Katalin. But she was married and he was married. And they were both so busy with work that they had time only for the exchange of passionate glances, and rare meetings out of prying eyes.

The director was visiting a girl with whom he also fell in love almost instantly. During dinner, my husband was nearby, who understood everything, but hoped that with Lyubimov's departure, everything would go away with his wife. You just need to go through it like a cold. It did not pass.

After Lyubimov's departure, Katalin began to wait for his calls, freezing at the phone. Each new meeting was like a thunderbolt. Both of them had to realize the fact that they are now unable to live without each other.

Unfriendly Moscow

She came to Moscow in 1978 as a correspondent for the Film, Theater, Music magazine. It cannot be said that the capital received her with open arms. They called her, threatened her, demanded to leave Lyubimov alone and generally get out of the city. But love gave Katalin strength, and Lyubimov - inspiration. They signed in 1978 in Budapest, a year later their son Peter was born.

It was believed that Katalin became the unwitting reason for the expulsion of Yuri Lyubimov from the country and the deprivation of his citizenship. However, it all started when Lyubimov raised a fuss about the death of Vladimir Vysotsky. It was at his insistence that the funeral of the people's favorite was held with all the befitting honors. And then the production of Lyubimov in memory of Vysotsky was banned, after which Boris Godunov and Theatrical Dances based on Bulgakov were banned.

At that time, he was constantly summoned to the Central Committee, to the Ministry of Culture. And each time she patiently waited for him at the entrances of institutions. In the car with the doctor, because his condition after such visits was depressing.

The reason was an interview with the director of the London Times. From completely innocent answers, they inflated the case with anti-Soviet propaganda, and in fact they were banned from entering the homeland.

Indomitable Katerina

He often called her indomitable Katherine. Catalin really gave the impression of a hurricane in her quest to make her husband's life easier and rid him of people who, she believed, harm him and badly affect his health.

They traveled around the world a lot, and everywhere she tried to create comfortable conditions for him to live and work. Coming to a new country, she rushed in search of the same things that were in their previous home. It seemed to her that she creates at least an appearance of constancy, which did not smell in life.

She considered it her duty to provide her brilliant spouse with a reliable rear. Sometimes self-control and composure refused to her. Explosive and very jealous by nature, she could hardly stand the constant presence of beautiful women surrounded by the director. They always appeared with him, hoping to get a role or win the heart of an idol. Sometimes she simply did not pay attention to them, and sometimes she asked the impresario to save Lyubimov and herself from the presence of some, especially annoying persons.

Return

They settled in Jerusalem, where Yuri Lyubimov was invited as the director of the Habim theater. Both of them were simply disarmed by the warm welcome they received in Israel. The director and his family were touchingly taken care of, trying to create the necessary conditions for work. And then they began to call him to Russia. How could he not have gone home? And then he stayed in Moscow, in the hope that his talent and experience will help restore the former glory of the Taganka theater. True, no one specially created the conditions for this, and Katalin began to rush between her husband and her 8-year-old son, who remained abroad.

When she flew to Moscow for her husband's 80th birthday, she was shocked by the conditions in which he had to work, was struck by the absence of truly devoted people around him. Later she decided to come to Moscow and help him. She was accused and called an evil genius, and she just worked without fatigue and mercy to herself. And I wanted everyone else to work with the same dedication. If she didn't get what she wanted, then she did everything to get rid of unnecessary and unreliable people.

She was with her husband until the last day. And when asked where she got so much strength to cope with all the difficulties, she replied that she just loves her husband very much. He passed away on October 5, 2014. Since the death of her husband, his widow has been the head of the Y. P. Lyubimova.

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