Anatoly Gennadievich (Tahir Gadelzyanovich) Iksanov was born on February 18, 1952 in Leningrad.
In 1977, Iksanov became a graduate of the department of economics and organization of theatrical affairs of the theater studies faculty of the Leningrad Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography (LGITMiK). It was noted that he, a master of sports in fencing, ended up at the theater university after he was “lured there from Voenmekh” (Leningrad Order of the Red Banner Mechanical Institute).
After graduating from the institute, Iksanov worked for a year as the chief administrator at the Leningrad Maly Drama Theater. In 1978, he became the chief administrator at the Maxim Gorky Bolshoi Drama Theater (BDT, since 1992 - the St. Petersburg Academic Bolshoi Drama Theater named after G.A. Tovstonogov), which he came to at the invitation of the theater’s chief director, Georgy Tovstonogov. From 1983 to 1996, Iksanov served as deputy director of the theater. In parallel, in 1994 Iksanov to support the activities of the BDT and social protection his employees created a charitable foundation and became his executive director, and in 1996 he took over as director of the theater. It was noted that while working at the theater, Iksanov underwent an internship in the USA, France and Switzerland, where he studied foreign experience in the field theater management.
In 1998, Iksanov took the position of deputy general director of the Kultura TV channel, one of the founders and editor-in-chief of which was Mikhail Shvydkoy, who in May of the same year took the post of chairman of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK). A few years later, the media called Iksanov Shvydkoy’s man, who became the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation in 2000.
In September 2000, by order of the head of the Russian government, Mikhail Kasyanov, Iksanov was appointed general director State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia (SABT). It was noted that the government was going to take control of the “huge cash flows” allocated for the planned reconstruction of the theater, and therefore a “competent specialist, a manager who would take on non-creative issues” was appointed as the head of the theater. But if at first Iksanov, who was not yet known in Moscow, as Nezavisimaya Gazeta noted, was received with restraint, then already in April 2001, Kultura suggested that, “apparently, management will soon become the most strong point"Bolshoi Theater.
Arriving at the Bolshoi Theater, Iksanov, as part of the fight against numerous speculators with the help of the international consulting company McKinsey, which had experience in optimizing the management of museums and theaters, radically changed the ticket sales system. Later, discussing the changes in the Bolshoi Theater that occurred from the moment he headed the theater, Iksanov noted that he and his associates managed to return the Bolshoi Theater to the international arena. "The budget has grown several times, and in connection with this the wage, and fees. To be honest, presidential grants greatly contributed to this,” he said. The director of the Bolshoi emphasized the importance of creating a board of trustees of the Bolshoi Theater, which, in his words, “guaranteed additional income for years to come.” The board included major officials and businessmen, as well as representatives of such companies as Lukoil, Basic Element, Transneft, Vneshtorgbank, Severstal Group. The press noted that it was Iksanov who was the first in Russia to introduce the term “fund-raising” into use. - indicating to them the collection of extra-budgetary, sponsorship funds for the implementation of socially significant projects of non-profit organizations.
One more important point for the theater he headed, Iksanov called “the opening of a New Stage and thereby creating the possibility of closing the main building for repairs.” He emphasized that according to accepted project reconstruction and restoration of the GABTA is supposed to “preserve the building as an architectural monument” as much as possible. Meanwhile, the implementation of the project was accompanied from the very beginning by scandals surrounding financing. Thus, in 2006, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov resigned from the theater’s board of trustees, speaking out, according to the official version, against what he considered to be an inflated estimate for the reconstruction of the Bolshoi Theater. The reconstruction of the old theater building was planned to be completed in 2008, but it was later announced that it would only be completed by the end of 2010 - beginning of 2011. Subsequently, the reconstruction of the Bolshoi Theater building, in accordance with the instructions of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, was transferred to the capital authorities, which was personally announced by the Moscow mayor in the summer of 2009. “Luzhkov, who was once bypassed when choosing a reconstruction contractor, can celebrate his victory,” wrote the Vremya Novostey newspaper, emphasizing that in this case, of course, the mayor will also bear “responsibility for the timely completion of the theater.”
In general, assessing the results of Iksanov’s activities as General Director of the Bolshoi Theater, the press noted that even after the closure of the main stage, the theater continued to “produce premiere after premiere,” however, “not one of them became an event,” and in most cases the society did not discuss premieres, but "endless scandals." Among them, in 2005, the media closely followed the fate of the scandalous production of the “hooligan opera” “Children of Rosenthal” to the music of composer Leonid Desyatnikov with a libretto by postmodernist writer Vladimir Sorokin. The production caused dissatisfaction among a number of deputies who attended the dress rehearsal. In addition, in 2005, the director of the Bolshoi Theater made a loud statement about the planned mass layoffs employees, caused by the need to save money and not restore the theater. A significant event in 2006 was the resignation of Luzhkov from the board of trustees, who opposed the overestimated, in his opinion, estimates for the reconstruction of the Bolshoi Theater. The situation surrounding Iksanov and former soloist theater ballerina Anastasia Volochkova, who, finding the director’s statement about her height and weight offensive, filed a lawsuit against him, but lost the lawsuit on this issue in the spring of 2004.
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Iksanov - Honored Worker of Culture of Russia (1994), Honored Artist of Ukraine (2004). He is one of the authors of the books “How to Ask for Money for Culture” (St. Petersburg, 1995) and “ Charitable Foundation BDT. Theory and practice of success" (St. Petersburg, 1997). As the general director of the Bolshoi Theater, Iksanov was awarded a number of public awards: he is a laureate of the annual national award "Person of the Year", established by the Russian news agency"RBC" (2004), Theater Award newspapers "Moskovsky Komsomolets" (2005) and National Award public recognition "Russian of the Year", established Russian Academy business and entrepreneurship (2006).
When asked about free time, Iksanov answered that he had absolutely none. According to him, all the most interesting things still happen at work, in the theater. “The only thing is that in the summer you can carve out two weeks, go to the country, mow the grass with a lawnmower,” he joked.
Executive Director of MFGS
Honored Worker of Culture of Russia, Honored Artist of Ukraine.
Candidate of Economic Sciences.
In 1977 he graduated from the Faculty of Theater Studies (Department of Economics and Theater Organization) of the Leningrad Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography (LGITMiK).
After graduating from the institute, he held the position of chief administrator at the Leningrad Maly Drama Theater for a year. In 1978, Georgy Tovstonogov invited him to the BDT.
From 1978 to 1996, Anatoly Iksanov worked as chief administrator, deputy director and director of the Leningrad Bolshoi drama theater named after M. Gorky (BDT). In 1994, he formed the BDT Charitable Foundation and became its executive director.
Anatoly Iksanov studied foreign experience in the field of theater management, completed professional internships in the United States of America (at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Yale University), France, and Switzerland. Wrote three books (co-authored): “How to ask for money for culture” (St. Petersburg, 1995), “BDT Charitable Foundation. Theory and practice of success” (St. Petersburg, 1997) and “Resource support for cultural institutions in conditions market economy"(M, 2008).
From 1998 to 2000, Anatoly Iksanov served as deputy general director of the Kultura TV channel.
By order of the Prime Minister Russian Federation dated September 1, 2000, Anatoly Iksanov was appointed general director of the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia.
Since June 9, 2014 is a member of the Presidential Council for the Russian Language.
Awards and prizes:
In 2004, “for an innovative approach to management in the field of culture,” he was awarded the Annual National Prize “Person of the Year,” established by the Russian news agency “RBC” (in the “Person in Culture” category).
In the same year, for “a significant personal contribution to the development of cultural relations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation and many years of fruitful creative activity"was awarded the title "Honored Artist of Ukraine".
In 2005, the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper named Anatoly Iksanov “Director of the Year,” awarding him its traditional Theater Prize in this nomination.
In 2006, he became a laureate of the National Public Recognition Award “Russian of the Year” (established by the Russian Academy of Business and Entrepreneurship).
In 2010 he was awarded the Order of Honor (Russia) and the Gold Medal named after. Anita Garibaldi (Brazil).
In 2011 he became a laureate of the Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation. In the same year he was awarded the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor (France); Awarded a certificate of honor from the President of the Russian Federation
In 2012 he was awarded the Order of the Commander of the Italian Republic.
In 2013 he was awarded the Order of Friendship.
Awarded the distinction "For merits in strengthening cooperation with the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation."
Thanks:
2005 - President of the Russian Federation
2012 - President of the Republic of Tatarstan;
Chairman Federation Council of the Russian Federation.