Alexei Dulkevich, a celebrated musician, chansonnier, virtuoso violinist, vocalist, and Honored Artist of Russia, has died in St. Petersburg at the age of 72. His colleagues from the production studio "Night Taxi" announced his passing on the night of October 13. Dulkevich had been a part of the "Bratya Zhemchuzhnye" collective at the studio for many years. His violin can be heard in numerous albums recorded there, and his name has become synonymous with contemporary chanson.
In recent years, Dulkevich released albums that quickly became rare collector's items and were highly regarded by fans of gypsy romance and genre music, according to the production center. In an obituary, his colleagues describe him as an intelligent and unwavering person who became a legend in his lifetime thanks to his talent. They extended their heartfelt condolences to his loved ones.
The cause of Dulkevich's death has not been revealed, and information about the funeral arrangements has not been provided. Born on March 26, 1953, in Leningrad, Dulkevich began performing as a dancer and violinist in the State Gypsy Ensemble at Lenconcert in 1972. He graduated from the Institute of Culture named after Krupskaya (now the St. Petersburg State Institute of Culture) in 1983, specializing in choral conducting.
Dulkevich had the opportunity to collaborate with musicians and composers such as Mikhail Krug, the group "Artel," and others during his time at the "Night Taxi" studio. For over 20 years, the virtuoso violinist worked with musician and composer Alexander Rosenbaum, touring, giving concerts, and participating in album recordings. His violin can be heard in songs from albums like "In Memory of Arkady Severny" and "New Songs," recorded in the early 1980s.
Last spring, Alexander Rosenbaum congratulated Alexei Dulkevich on his anniversary and reminisced about the day they met. "I remember that day in April '82 like it was yesterday, which brought us together forever. A young, handsome guy with sparkling eyes full of enthusiasm... More than forty years have passed since then, and here you are, already 70. But you're still the same. The sounds of your violin still touch the soul, and your fiery gypsy dance captivates the audience with applause," Rosenbaum emotionally expressed in tribute to his colleague.
Alexei Dulkevich also had experience as an actor, appearing in the film "The Living Corpse" in 1986, and later participating in the filming of the television series "Streets of Broken Lanterns."
