Lev Leshenko

COMBINING BASKETBALL AND ART ISN’T HARD

Lev Leschenko is a symbolic figure on the Russian singing stage. This classical baritone is well-known by everyone in our country. His songs “Nightingale Grove”, “Parents Home” and “Victory Day” never cease to be sung and played. Then, of course, we remember the ballade of the Moscow’s Olympic bear-mascot, Mishka, which was heard at the last day of the Games becoming at once a classical sports song.

Lev Valerianovich, did you know that the Olympic Misha would fly away on the last day at the time you were rehearsing the farewell hymn of Moscow Olympics?

No, I didn’t. Iosif Tumanov, whom I knew since I was a student and he was one of my professors, said to me: “Leo, it’s up to you but it should symbolize a farewell to the Olympics. Try to imagine that atmosphere and sing it with sentimental sorrow”. I tried my best but, frankly, I never dreamed it to become such a great success.

When we hear that song tears well up. Are you a sentimental person?

I am, just like any Russian. I also care a lot about people who are close to me.

Let me ask you as a long-time fan of Dynamo about the current performance of your favorite team. What prevented it from entering the main round of Champions League?

I would blame lack of experience for that. By and large my favorite team has some obvious problems with its lineup. It particularly lacks high-class forwards. But this doesn’t explain it. The truth is that Dynamo’s budget is much smaller than that of Spartak or CSKA. Their powers are initially unequal. I want to thank our coach Andrei Kobelev. Dynamo plays good football, which is what really matters to me as fan.

Do you prefer to appear at the stands or watch it on TV?

Frankly speaking, I only once visited the Arena-Khimki where Dynamo currently plays. My touring schedule is extremely dense, which is why it is hard for me to find time for stadium.

Do you cherish any memories of the old stadium in Petrovskii park?

Oh, so many great memories! The brilliant goal by Streltsov against CSKA. The amazing ise of Dynamo from the last to the second place in 1958 tournament. The return of Yashin to football after World Cup in Chile. There’s so much to remember...

Was it a right decision to close the legendary arena for restoration?

It was an inevitable decision. The stadium was already in terrible shape, it was virtually falling apart. The main thing now is not to allow the reconstruction to take too much time.

People of old age often say that in their times football was idealistic while now it’s all about money. What would you say to that?

I think that a professional sport is more interesting than the encounters of amateurs. It’s quite a different matter that sportsmen were never undernourished. However, in those days the patriotism and the pride people took in their club were higher. People were simpler too.

If I got it right, you’re also the president of the basketball club Triumph. How do you manage to combine this position with your artistic career?

It’s not as hard as it may seem. I am fulfilling my presidential duties in my spare time. We do not play that often. Next season the Russian basketball super-league will feature only nine teams. It means there will have only eight matches at home. Plus five or six matches of the Euro Cup. I think this is not that much. I am contacting potential sponsors, seeking to attract new investments. If we compare this year’s budget to that of the last year we will see that it became ten times smaller! Nevertheless, we take heart. We preserved the team and are putting our bets on young Russian players. They will still be guided by the best Russian basketball coach Stanislav Eremin.

What is your favorite sport?

There were times when I could never miss a chance to kick any ball I would come across. I played football, basketball, volleyball, tennis. With age I began to favor more tranquil sports, such as swimming and table tennis. Not long ago I entered the court once again and got a shoulder trauma. I am now recovering from it in a gym under the guidance of professor Sergei Bubnovskii. He is a true genius of physiotherapy.

You’re often seen as a member of artistic groups of support at the Olympics and other major international tournaments. Who are your friends in the sports elite?

I am proud to say that I am a close friend to many athletes. Vladimir Petrov, Sergei Makarov, Ilia Kovalchuk... I often watched basketball games with Alexander Ovechkin. I am glad to see Yurii Semin return to Lokomotiv. In early August I celebrated the 55th birthday of Valerii Gazaev.

One last question about sports. Does competition in show-business strongly resemble sports battles?

Of course it is much more intense on stage! These days few artists are invited to corporate celebrations due to the crisis. Real battles are launched for such contracts. It’s one of the main sources of income for many. On the other side, in the world of sports you can see an athlete merely appearing in the field or sitting way the match on the bench while his moneys are still coming.

Natalia SIMONOVA

Photos courtesy of KALINA BAR

Archive: autumn 2009