Distinguishes Artist of Russia

(Born 20.03.1935)

Rudolf Kuld got an excellent dramatic training at the master shop of Professor B. Zon at the Leningrad Theater Institute named after A. Ostrovsky. This allowed him to become one of the leading young actors at the Russian Drama Theater of Tallinn before long after graduation from the institute. Rudolf Kuld had played twelve roles in two seasons; among those were Slavka (“Five Evenings” by A. Volodin), Vasya (“Quadrarure of the Circle” by V. Katayev), Nicolay (“In a Quest for Enjoyment” by V. Rozov), Krivoy Zob (“The Lower Depths” by M. Gorky) and others.

In 1959, Rudolf Kuld was invited to work at the Leningrad Academy Drama Theater named after A. Pushkin. A young an talented actor, he got actively involved in the repertoire: he had played such diversified roles as VAyonen (“An Optimistic Tragedy” by Vs. Vishnevsky, 1961), Lyalind (“The Friends and the Years” by L. Zorin, 1961), De-Brizar (“Flight” by M. Bulgakov, 1962), Alber (“The Little Tragedies” by A. Pushkin, 1962), Egmonte (“Before the Sunset” by H. Hauptmann, 1963), Yacob (“A Wild Captain” by Yu. Smuul, 1965), Kondratyuk (“A Grave Accusation” by L. Sheinin, 1966), Shubin and Gyiome (“Life of Saint Exupery” by L. Malyugin, Conrad (“Much Ado of Nothing” by W. Shakespeare, and many others.

After these roles, Rudolf Kuld started to be seen as an interesting character actor. His command of the form, precise selection of bright and expressive details, feeling of the author’s style, impeccable taste and sense of proportion allowed the actor to create vivid and sticking to the memory images. A true master, Kuld managed not only to express the external typicality of his characters but also express their deep internal drama.

In 1970s, Rudolf Kuld’s mature mastership and professionalism allowed him to play such major roles as Rembrandt (“Rembrandt” by D. Kedrin, 1977), Buslov (“Untilovsk” by L. Leonov, 1978), Narokov (“Talents and Admirers” by A. Ostrovsky, 1982), Khlopusha (“The Captain’s Daughter” by A. Pushkin, 1984), Barclay De Tolli (“Field marshal Kutuzov” by V. Soloviev, 1985).

The role of Belan in O. Zagradnik’s “A Melody for a Peacock” became a clear success of the actor (1978). In the years of work on the Alexandrinsky stage Rudolf Kuld played about one hundred roles. In the actor’s repertoire were such roles as Moskalev (“Uncle’s Dream” by Fedor Dostoyevsky, 1987), Le Bret (“Cyrano de Bergerac” by E. Rostand, 1987), Boreyev (“Slow down in the Skies” by R. Solntsev, 1988),  Advisor (“Lisistrata” by Aristophanes, 1989), Wralman (“Ignoramus” by D. Fonvisin, 1990), Sumarokov (“Jokers, or a Word of Appraisal on Sumarokov,” 1992), Petrich (“Platonov” by A. Chekhov, 1996), Stepan (“Marriage” by N. Gogol, 1998), Ferapont (“The Three Sisters” by A. Chekhov, 2003). The role of Pimen in A. Pushkin’s tragedy “Boris Godunov” turned into an interesting work of the actor (1999).

Presently, Rudolf Kuld is engaged in Valery Fokin’s performances: The Double after the Petersburg poem of Fyodor Dostoyevsky (2005), where he plays the role of the Old Valet Gherasimych, protecting Berendeyevs’ house against the unwanted guest Mr. Golyadkin; and The Living Corps by L. Tolstoy (2006), where he plays Valet.  Critic E. Alexeyeva wrote about this role: “Not only Prince Abrezkov, but also the old Valet are zoomed here. Rudolf Kuld’s personage, alike Chekhov’s Firs, is dull of hearing and slow in his reactions.  This is why he is late with answering questions and often answers not to the point, but he does take an active part in the life boiling in the performance." ("The St. Petersburg Vedomosti," 18.01.2007). In Andrey Moguchy’s performance Izotov, created after the play of a modern dramatist Mikhail Durnenkov, Rudolf Kuld plays the Angel-Magician (2009).  He hlays the role of the Second Grave Digger in Valery Fokin's Hamlet (2010). In Andrey Moguchy and K. Filippov’s performance “The Fortune” he plays the role of a member of the Orchestra of Forgotten Things’ Souls (Director Andrey Moguchy, 2011).

 
In 2007, he took part in the concert performance Masquerade after M. Lermontov’s drama.  (Music by A. I. Glazunov; the St. Petersburg State Academy Capella; Director I. Selin, Musical Director V. Chernushenko).

In 2006, Rudolf Kuld was awarded with the medal “ORDER OF MERIT FOR COUNTRY” of II Degree (Verdict of the President of the Russian Federation N 392 as of April 17, 2006).