How many Russian pop singers can boast of a large range of voices? And these four singers managed to combine three male timbres on one stage. And they are so organically intertwined with each other that during the performance of these guys it is impossible to understand who sings with what voice! I'm talking now about an unusual classical quartet - group "Quattro".
The composition included four graduates of the Academy of Choral Art named after A.V. Sveshnikov: high and sonorous tenor Anton Sergeev, gentle baritone Leonid Ovrutsky, magnificent bass Danila Karzanov and velvet tenor Anton Boglevsky. Previously, Denis Vertunov was also in the group, but last year he left it. Each of the participants contributes to the performance of the good old hits and songs of his own composition.
The quartet began its creative activity in 2003. But only in 2008 the real popularity came to the group. This happened thanks to their victory in Sochi at the Five Stars. Intervision". And the recognition of millions of Russians "Quattro" received in 2009, when they entered the top three leaders of the national selection for Eurovision-2009.
A team of professionals has been winning the hearts of the public for a long time. They give concerts not only in the world's megacities and cultural centers, but also in small towns in Russia, which, of course, does them credit.
The group performed on the same stage with such legendary performers as Placido Domingo, Alessandro Safina and Dmitry Hvorostovsky. And in London, in the prestigious Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences, they sang with Iosif Kobzon.
Many fans from all over the world appreciate the skill of the singers, their original reading of songs based on the works of famous Russian composers such as Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Borodin. The members of the team were wonderfully chosen by votes. Their timbres and unique performance surprise connoisseurs of the classics. The quartet's repertoire consists of completely different styles - these are classics in modern processing, and romances, and hits of past years, and, of course, author's songs.
I want to highlight one of them - "Chamomile fields". Everything is magnificent in it - a combination of four "golden" voices of the performers, a very kind and lively text and a melody that sinks into the soul. These are the folk songs that the Russian stage lacks so much today!
The quartet has a wonderful album "Songs of Victory", which includes songs of the war years "Katyusha", "Dark Night", "Cranes", "Song of War Correspondents", etc. These compositions will certainly be remembered by the listeners, because with them the quartet expresses feelings that cannot be expressed in words. Their performance excites and touches to the core.
I would also like to note the album "Soviet Hits". It contains songs that our parents, grandparents love. In the new performance, you can hear such hits of past years as: “Moscow windows”, “And love is like a dream”, “Give me back the music” and “There is only a moment”. The older generation will definitely not remain indifferent to such a gift from the youth.
The quartet has earned incredible popularity for this format thanks to the new performance of old hits and their own works. Although the impeccable appearance - strict suits, butterflies, polished shoes to a shine - is also very impressive to the public! In addition, at each performance, the group gives "gifts" to its fans: lyrical compositions on the piano or other interesting instruments, Italian arias, which are known to many, sound. All this makes the group not only special, but also quite popular among the current pop stars.
Kvatro- Moscow vocal group, created in 2003 by graduates of the Academy of Choral Art A. V. Sveshnikov.
Compound
- Leonid Igorevich Ovrutsky - baritone tenor (b. 08/08/1982, Moscow) Received a conductor's and vocal education. Prior to the creation of the group, he worked as an assistant to director Kirill Serebrennikov, and sang for several years at the Helikon Opera. Trained as a conductor in the orchestra of Vladimir Spivakov, participated in the production of the Mariinsky Theater "Falstaff" by Giuseppe Verdi. He was awarded in the nominations "Student's debut on the professional stage" and "Best role in musical theater. Vocal" at the festival "Moscow Debuts" (2001-2003 season).
- Anton Vladimirovich Sergeev - tenor (b. 02.11.1983, Norilsk) Previously auditioned as a symphony conductor with Vladimir Spivakov.
- Anton Nikolayevich Boglevsky - tenor (b. 10/08/1983, Moscow) Conducted the choir while studying at the Academy of Choral Art.
- Denis Ivanovich Vertunov - baritone (b. 07/05/1977, Moscow) Before the creation of the group, he participated in five jazz a cappella bands.
Group history
The team was founded in 2003. All members of the group - Anton Sergeev, Anton Boglevsky, Leonid Ovrutsky and Denis Vertunov - graduated with honors from the Academy of Choral Art. A. V. Sveshnikova, studied vocals in Italy for several years and now continue to study at the graduate school of the Institute of Contemporary Art. They have established themselves as a group that sings exclusively live. The vocal abilities of the band members allow them to perform works of various styles - from classics in modern processing to jazz and soul. Often in the repertoire of "KVATRO" there are Russian and Soviet, Italian songs, songs from films, as well as remakes of world hits. In general, the genre in which the artists work can be called "pop-opera" - pop arrangements harmoniously combine with vocals and accompaniment of a symphony orchestra. Leonid Ovrutsky, one of the four musicians, writes his own compositions for the group.
The team did not immediately hit the stage. For some time, young people sang in the church choir of the Sretensky Monastery, traveled a lot around the world with the mission of uniting the Catholic and Orthodox churches, performed at such major concert venues as the State Kremlin Palace, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the KZ im. P. I. Tchaikovsky, BZ of the Conservatory. P. I. Tchaikovsky, MMDM, State Concert Hall "Russia", Concert Hall "October", Mikhailovsky Theater, Concert Hall "Festival", Lincoln Center (New York). And after a meeting with a representative of the First Channel Directorate, Yuri Aksyuta, the road to show business opened up for the group.
On April 23, 2008 in Moscow, in the Hall of Church Councils of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, a solemn ceremony of presenting the National Prizes established by the International Academy of Social Sciences and the International Academy of Patronage under the common motto "Creating in the name of Great Russia ..." was held, and all four soloists became holders of the highest public awards in the "Flaming Heart" nomination.
KVATRO performs at the leading concert venues in Moscow and other Russian cities. And the group's first experience on the Russian professional stage was participation in the television competition "The Secret of Success", where they received the support of Valery Meladze. Since then, the group has participated in many famous competitions and festivals. Among them are "Slavianski Bazaar", "STS lights a superstar", "New Wave". KVATRO is also the winner of the 2008 ZD Awards in the Breakthrough of the Year category. But their main achievement is the victory in the competition “Five Stars. Intervision ”, where the competent jury awarded the team the first prize, after which the soloists of the group received an offer to become the first artists produced by the new national label RussiaRecords, headed by Elena Kiper. She also became the director of the debut video for the song "I Love You", which was filmed in Moscow on January 19, 2009.
The team won nationwide recognition in the qualifying round of Eurovision 2009, entering the top three leaders of the national selection and gaining 12% of the votes based on the results of voting by viewers.
Young singers are frequent guests at events of the highest level, they performed on the same stage with Placido Domingo, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Alessandro Safina. The group is especially popular with the business elite of the country, participates in presidential and gubernatorial balls.
Currently, the team is working on recording the first album, and the first solo concert is also planned.
“The RMA Business School gave me new knowledge, betrayed my self-confidence, opened up new horizons. RMA introduced me closely to the world of show business, here I found a large number of friends in this field, I even managed to work with many of them. Now I periodically cross paths with some RMA students and teachers at events, concerts, we always remember the time of training with warmth.
On January 27, the concert "Element" of the vocal group "Quattro" will take place in the House of Music. One of the soloists is a graduate of the faculty . On the eve of the concert, Danila answered several questions for our website.
Anton Boglevsky, Anton Sergeev, Leonid Ovrutsky, Danila Karzanov
Tell us about the program "Elements", in the announcement it is said that this is an absolute premiere?
Yes, it really is an absolute premiere! In my memory, none of the Russian artists have ever made such a synthesis of songs and poems. I am sure that this will be an incredibly exciting and educational journey for the viewer, and it will be interesting for both the older generation and the youth. The Elements program is filled with the works of great poets: the program contains many lyrical compositions, romances and the most beloved Soviet songs, there will also be poems by Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Sergei Yesenin, Afanasy Fet, Alexander Blok and other great ones that we will read for our viewers.
How is the preparation for the concert going?
Not so long ago, we had the premiere of the New Year's program "Russian Winter", which took place in the Crocus City Hall. This is a big show staged by Viktor Kramer with the participation of the best representatives of rhythmic gymnastics - pupils of Irina Viner. With all seriousness, we approached the preparation of this show, which, it should be noted, went off with a bang. Then there were the New Year holidays - also, as you know, a hot time for an artist. In parallel with all this, we began to prepare for the show "Elements", to select songs and poems. After the New Year's performances, they took a short time out, took a breath, and now they resumed preparations with renewed vigor - many hours of daily rehearsals. All in the usual, favorite mode.
You started performing with the Quatro group in 2017, tell us how did you start working together?
A year ago, I could not even imagine that I would sing in the Quatro group, at that time I was the soloist of another group. I had a creative crisis: I suddenly began to realize that I had stopped enjoying what I was doing, that I had lost the meaning ... As a result, I had to leave the group for free swimming. I started writing songs, started thinking about a solo project.
Some time later, the artistic director of the Quatro group, Leonid Ovrutsky, called me and offered to work with them, without thinking twice, I agreed. I knew the guys from Quatro for a long time, we studied at the same educational institution (Academy of Choral Art named after A.V. Sveshnikov - approx. RMA), perhaps that's why we "sang" so quickly. From the first rehearsal, I felt at ease. Now, looking back and looking forward, I realize what my soul demanded and what I was going for all this time.
Tours in Russia, Israel and America are scheduled until May, how do you like this schedule?
Touring is a familiar way of life for me, I have been touring since I was 10 years old. But trips with Quatro are a special pleasure: new venues, an unforgettable reception, and the very atmosphere in the team is very pleasant, friendly, creative.
I love my job, I love the stage, I love this process.
I would like to take this opportunity to ask about the RMA - what are your impressions from the training?
Every educational point in my life has helped me get where I am today. The faculty gave me new knowledge, betrayed my self-confidence, opened up new horizons. RMA introduced me closely to the world of show business, here I found a large number of friends in this field, I even managed to work with many of them. Now I periodically cross paths with some RMA students and teachers at events, concerts, we always remember the time of training with warmth.
The musicians returned from vacations that they spent in different parts of the world. Denis Vertunov rested with friends in the Khibiny, in the Murmansk region.. - And I like to relax in Russia. Our country is so beautiful that there is no need to go somewhere in the Alps.” And here is another soloist of Quatro,
Photo: Press service of the group
Anton Boglevsky, together with his wife Yulia, went to London. “I had to visit this city on tour, but I rested there for the first time,” he says. “London has made us fall in love with itself!”
Photo: Press service of the group
Leonid Ovrutsky and Anton Sergeev spent their holidays in Thailand, both of them, without saying a word, on the island of Koh Samui. “We did not fly together, each with his own company,” the artists shared their impressions. - Just both love Asia, and especially - this island. We lived in different hotels, but, of course, did not miss the opportunity to meet and have a common party.” Returning to Moscow, the rested Quatro soloists began rehearsals for a big solo concert, which will take place on March 9 at the Kremlin Palace.
Anton Sergeev, Anton Boglevsky, Leonid Ovrutsky and Denis Vertunov, together with the Quatro group, took third place in the final of the Eurovision qualifying round, although many predicted they would win. The guys told ZhG about their hopes and beloved girls who supported them.
We will not dispute the results of the competition
– To be honest, are you satisfied with the third place?
Anton Boglevsky: And the fact that we were in the top three with such a wonderful singer as Valeria also means a lot to us.
Denis: In general, we asked all our fans to vote for Anastasia Prikhodko. Still, the competition was held on March 8 (laughs).
Anton Sergeev: For those who do not understand: Denis just joked.
- Iosif Prigogine is sure that the results are rigged and they need to be protested.
Leonid: And he also said: it would be nice if the Quatro group participated in Eurovision. Hearing this from his lips is worth a lot.
Anton Sergeev: We are not going to protest anything personally. If Prigogine wants to change something, it is his right.
- Will you try to go to the competition in a year?
Leonid: We are still arguing in the group, is it worth trying again or enough.
- They say that at the competition you were going to rock with Olympic champions Nastya Myskina, Sveta Khorkina, Ira Slutskaya and Sveta Masterkova?
- We sang with them in the program "Two Stars" of "Channel One". We met before filming, then we all went to a restaurant together. And they came up with this story: like it would be great to perform at Eurovision together. Bilan had one Plushenko, and we have four champions. So your chances of winning are quadrupled.
Anton Sergeev: True, we would love to compete with them, but it so happened that our champions are very busy now. They are not up to us.
Nastya Myskina fell in love with Denis
- Who did you like more - Nastya, Ira, Sveta Khorkina or Sveta Masterkova?
Leonid: Denis liked Myskina!
Anton Sergeev: And Myskina - Denis. So they fell in love with each other...
- Denis, tell us the details soon!
Denis (downcast eyes): I don't know what to tell.
- Did you kiss?
- Immodest question.
Leonid: Well done, Denis. Nothing needs to be said. Girls don't like talkative guys.
Anton Sergeev (quickly shifting the conversation to another topic): Our champions, by the way, got us hooked on sports. And each to their own.
Anton Boglevsky: Now we both skate and play tennis...
Denis: And we sit on the twine - on the longitudinal and transverse.
What girls are you attracted to in life?
Leonid: These two (points to Antonov) are attracted by their wives. And Denis is a Don Juan with us - he loves all women, from 15 to 50 years old. (Laugh.)
Anton Sergeev: And I love not only my wife. But also my daughter. She was born in November. Future actress. She was a little over three months old when she starred in our video.
Have you met crazy fans?
Anton Boglevsky: Recently, at a concert in Perm, one temperamental lady almost turned our quartet into a trio. She made an attempt on the life of Denis.
Did he not love her?
Denis: She was kind of strange. She ran up to me backstage, all disheveled, and fired fireworks in my face. Either she wanted to congratulate me on the beginning of spring, or she expressed her joy at meeting me, I did not understand. But he almost lost his eyes.
Anton Sergeev: But we normally treat even such manifestations of fan love. It’s a young thing: emotions, hormones, spring…
We got kicked out of the academy for trying to make money
– Where are you from?
Leonid: We are all Muscovites.
Denis: They all studied at the same institution - at the Academy of Choral Art. They met there and started singing together.
Leonid: And then the four of us were kicked out of there!
Anton Sergeev: Do you think it's worth talking about it?
Leonidas: Why not? People have the right to know the truth about us.
- They kicked you out for what?
- Once we flew on tour to the French town of Colmar. At the same time, there was a concert of the Canadian singer Garou. We really wanted to get to this celebration of life. But we had money, the cat cried. And we decided to earn. They stood on the square, put their hats next to them, pretended to be street musicians - they sang world hits in different languages.
Anton Boglevsky: And everything went fine until we heard unambiguous pops. It turned out that all this time our artistic director from the academy was standing nearby. It ended up there quite by accident. However, to put it mildly, he did not like our behavior very much.
Anton Sergeev: As a result, we were kicked out of the academy. But we saw this as a good sign and, taking advantage of the opportunity, united in a group.
Denis: Then, of course, we were reinstated. Probably for talent.
What do you do in your free time from music?
Denis: Love.
Leonid: And sports. Between music and love. We skate, play tennis, run...
Anton Boglevsky: I am a car maniac. Everything about cars drives me crazy.
Anton Sergeev: Since my daughter was born, I try to spend as much time with her as possible. Children grow up fast - I don't want to miss anything.
Leonid: In general, from time to time we are thrown into a variety of areas - from yoga to lectures on the history of impressionism. We are passionate and curious people.
