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 MARTON Nikolai Sergeyevich
People’s artist of Russia
(Born September 10, 1934)
After finishing Kiev Theatre Institute named after Karpenko-Karov in 1958, Nikolai Marton worked in M. Gorky Russian Drama Theatre, where he had played over 20 roles in 4 seasons.
Among his works of that period there were Don Juan (Stone Lord, L. Ukrainka, 1961) and Uriel Acosta (Uriel Acosta, Karl Gutzkow, 1962)
In 1962 Nikolai Marton was admitted to the Company of the Pushkin Academic Drama Theatre. His bright image, emotionality, musicality, plastic figure and expressive voice gave him a chance to become one of the leading actors of the Theatre in very short while.
His first works: the part of Albert in Miserly Knight written by A.S. Pushkin (Little Tragedies, 1963) and Fabiano Fabiani in Victor Hugo`s drama Marie Tudor (1964) became a true success not by a chance.
The part of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in the performance after L. Malugin`s play The life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1966) brought a true recognition to him.
Nikolai Marton`s repertoire is very diverse and distinct indeed. For the period with a precise sense of figure plastic, gestures and voice tones. Some kind of affectation of his acting style doesn’t deprive of emotional impact. Among his best roles of the last years we may mention: Sysoy Psoich Rispolozhensky (The Bankrupt, A.N. Ostrovsky, 1990), Champa (Cap and Bells, L. Pirandello, 1993), Anuchkin (The Marriage, N. Gogol, 1998), Firs (The Cherry Orchard, A.P. Chekhov, 2001), Zemlyanika (The Inspector-General N.V. Gogol, 2002)
In the recent premiere performance Petersburg after A. Bely novel (directed by A. Moguchy), Nikolai Marton plays the part of senator Apollo Apollonovich Ableuhov. His way of acting incredibly joins the academic approach to text presentation (speaking) and some techniques of slapstick comedy. It is like an instant change of masks when his character Ableuxov, a master of fate in imperial Russia, turns into a gentle sentimental father, absolutely helpless against his son’s betrayal.
In the performance after A. Bely’s novel Petersburg (Director Andrey Moguchy, 2005); Nikolay Marton has played the role of Senator Apollon Ableukhov. A true virtuoso, he managed to combine the academic manner of presenting text with the tricks of a street knockabout comedy. Through an instantaneous change of masks, a ruler of destinies in the tsarist Russia Ableukhov turns into a tender and sentimental father, vulnerable against his son’s betrayal. “The role of Apollon Ableukhov was given to the last of the Mohicans of the Alexandrinsky Stage, i.e., Nikolay Marton. He is perfectly managing the noble vertical and seems to be a part of the imperial style.” (Elena Gerusova. “The Double Agent.” // Kommersant. June2, 2005). “Speaking about the Senator: in Nikolay Marton’s performing, he is grandiose. This is an absolutely Gogol’s demonic type, reminding of the great imperial performing style. Senator Ableukhov is as if rooted in the colossal eternal bureaucratic system: revolutionaries look Lilliputs against him.” (Jeanne Zaretskaya. “Everything Gets Together at the Point of a Family Table” // Vecherniy Peterburg. May20, 2005).
Actor’s repertoire includes the roles of Prince Abrezkov in Tolstoy’s The Living Corps (Director Valery Fokin, 2006); Ivan Ivanovich Pererepenko in the performance The Ivans after N. Gogol’s novel The Story How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich and other Gogol’s writings (Director Andrey Moguchy, 2007); Semyon in the performance The Gardeners by M. Isayev (joint project of the Alexandrinsky Theater, the Formal Theater, and the Russian Engineering Theater AXE, 2008); Death (Ksenia. The History of Love by V. Levanov, Director Valery Fokin, 2009); Angel-Magician (Izotov by M. Durnenkov, Director Andrey Moguchy, 2009). In Andrey Moguchy and K. Filippov’s performance “The Fortune” he plays the role of the grandfather of Tiltil and Mitil (Director Andrey Moguchy, 2011).
In 2007, Marton participated in the concert performance of M. Lermontov’s Masquerade (music of A.I. Glazunov) at the St. Petersburg State Academy Capella; this performance was dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the legendary Meyerhold’s performance. Nikolay Marton played the role of the Unknown. He continued his creative cooperation with the Capella in Peer Gynt performance. Nikolay Marton became Artistic Director of this original music and literary composition after Henrik Ibsen’s drama and Edward Grig’s music. Nikolay Marton also played the role of Peer Gynt.
In 2006, Nikolay Marton was awarded with the ORDER OF HONOR (Verdict of the President of the Russian Federation #392 as of April 17, 2006).
In 2009, Nikolay Marton received a special prize of the Nominating Council of the “Golden Soffit,” the top St. Petersburg Theater Award for his “Creative Longevity and the Unique Contribution into the Theater Culture of St. Petersburg.”
Apart from his work in the theatre, Nikolai Marton appears in films and television.
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