Son of Harutyun. Chief magician of the USSR: Harutyun Hakobyan. The Master's Last Miracle

April 26 marks the 99th anniversary of the birth of the famous Soviet pop artist, illusionist Harutyun Hakobyan. He devoted at least 4 hours a day to training and achieved such a level of skill that at foreign competitions they did not believe that he did not use any additional devices. During the Second World War, the artist often performed on the front line, and the Germans watched his tricks through binoculars. Khrushchev asked him to show foreign delegations tricks with burning dollars, and Brezhnev demanded that he be taught black magic.

Harutyun Hakobyan became a world-famous star only thanks to his own talent and perseverance. He was born into a poor Armenian family forced to flee Turkey, where he was born, to Armenia. He graduated from a construction technical school and continued his studies at the Moscow Institute of Land Management. One day he attended a magician's performance and was so impressed by the magic tricks that he snuck backstage and began exploring the “box without a bottom.” He was caught red-handed and mistaken for a thief. He had to explain to the police for a long time that he was in fact a student at the institute.

Harutyun Hakobyan never became an engineer. He graduated from college, but immediately took up self-study profession of an illusionist and began working in the Moscow State Theater. He trained 18 hours a day to perfect his skill level.

During the Second World War, Harutyun Hakobyan, as part of front-line concert brigades, often visited the front line and performed for soldiers in hospitals. On the Belorussian Front near Orsha they had the opportunity to appear on an improvised stage in close proximity to enemy positions. The sniper, who was watching the Germans through an optical sight, then told him that all this time the Nazis had been watching the magician through binoculars. Hakobyan reacted to this news with humor: “Let them watch! They won’t notice the secret of the trick anyway.”

The magician had many fans. He began an affair with one of them, Margarita. But, as it turned out, the girl was Beria’s mistress. In order to neutralize his opponent, he decided to expel him from Moscow to Armenia. Only after Stalin's death was Akopyan able to return. But even in forced exile, the illusionist did not waste time and continued to hone his skills. In 1957 he received first prize at the International Illusionists Competition in Colombo, in 1959 he earned the Grand Prix in Paris, and in 1977 in Karlovy Vary.

But Khrushchev and Brezhnev were very supportive of the magician. Khrushchev often invited him to government concerts and introduced him to foreign delegations as “ Russian miracle” and asked to show them tricks with burning dollars, after which rubles appeared in the hands of the illusionist. At the same time, Khrushchev triumphantly said: “Look what miracles our artists show: we burn your currency - and our Soviet ruble appears!” Once at a banquet, Khrushchev made a toast: “I want to drink to a swindler on an international scale - to Harutyun Akopyan!” Both the guests and the “hero of the occasion” himself did not understand whether this was a compliment.

Brezhnev was sure that such tricks could not be explained by sleight of hand and asked Akopyan to teach him black magic, which he, in his opinion, mastered perfectly. The son of the illusionist Hmayak Hakobyan said that his father knew the technique of hypnosis, but nothing more. Harutyun argued: “Magic as such does not exist. Magic is knowledge and skill. The whole secret is in technique and wit.”

Harutyun Hakobyan was the author of more than 500 tricks with playing cards, his repertoire included more than 1000 tricks, and during his performances he did not use any special equipment or additional props. Harutyun Hakobyan achieved such a manipulation technique that he did not need any props. Abroad, he was called a “great master of manipulation.”

He gave his last concert in 1995, and after that he could not perform due to serious problems with health: the artist was diagnosed with blood cancer. Nevertheless, he lived for another 10 years and even when bedridden, he did not let go of the deck of cards. His son Hmayak Hakobyan inherited all the secrets of the skill and for many years also performed magic tricks on the stage.

There have always been many legends about famous illusionists.

One of the most famous illusionists in the world honed his skills 14–16 hours a day.
Builder, son of a blacksmith
...An imposing, smiling man with oriental features took off his jacket and walked towards the embarrassed spectator who had just been called from the hall. The artist quickly folded a small piece of paper into a bag, which he showed to his “victim.” Then he put a small handkerchief there.
– What do you think, dear comrade viewers, is it possible to deceive a person at such a distance that he does not notice where the handkerchief went? - the artist ironically asked the audience, moving the bag directly in front of the man’s eyes. And a second later he unfolded the bag, and it turned out that in his hands there was again a small piece of paper without any sign of a handkerchief.
The audience burst into applause, and the “victim” returned to her place with the joyful knowledge that she had just been deceived by the great Harutyun Hakobyan himself.
One of the greatest illusionists of the 20th century was born in the town of Igdir on the border of Turkey and Armenia on April 25, 1918. When the Turks carried out a massacre in Ygdyr, populated by Armenians, Harutyun was not even a year old. His mother died, and his father, a local blacksmith, fled with his son in his arms to Yerevan.
Later, the father remarried, and the stepmother disliked her stepson, so Harutyun’s childhood was difficult in the full sense of the word.
After graduating from the 7th grade of school, Harutyun Hakobyan entered a construction technical school, after which he began working at a construction site. A few years later, the young builder was offered to continue his studies at an institute in Moscow, to which he happily agreed.
Harutyun was so eager to change his life that he left for the capital three months before the start of classes and at first lived at the station. Then the young man began working at a construction site, while simultaneously entering the Moscow Institute of Land Management.
Harutyun spoke Russian poorly, nevertheless, although not without difficulty, he managed to graduate from college and receive a diploma. However, fate decided to radically change his life.
Magic began with the police
Once, while still a student, Harutyun came with friends to a pop concert. Among others, he saw the performance of a magician who took things out of a completely empty box without a bottom.
The young man, who had never seen a magician before, was so shocked that during the intermission he snuck backstage and climbed into the box, trying to unravel the secret of the trick. The artist caught him in the act and handed Hakobyan over to the police.

The trial ended successfully for the curious viewer, but Harutyun “literally” fell ill with tricks. He entered the amateur artistic circle at the Kukhmisterov club, where he studied the art of magic.
By the time he received his diploma, Harutyun Hakobyan already had extensive experience performing at concerts in clubs. And soon he made the most important decision in his life, entering Mosestrad as a professional illusionist.
When the young artist got used to the profession, he very quickly developed his own individual style. He abandoned props in the form of boxes and other large equipment, adhering to the principle of “sleight of hand, no fraud” in his performances.
Harutyun Hakobyan reached the pinnacle of his skill with grueling training that took 14–16 hours a day. But the effect was amazing - in front of the public, he could endlessly tear and cut paper, which at the same time remained intact, do unthinkable things with cards and pull out of nowhere a whole heap of large banknotes.
The last trick, which was extremely popular with the head of the USSR Leonid Brezhnev, made accounting workers, right up to the Minister of Finance, grab the heart.
Secrets for Leonid Ilyich
This happened in the mid-70s of the last century. A friendly team of Soviet artists, including musicians and magicians, got ready to go to their next patron concert...
After the funeral service and dance, the artists happily settled down on the bus, recalling the vicissitudes of the just ended meeting with strongmen of the world led by their beloved comrade Brezhnev, and were about to move on, when they suddenly noticed that one of them was not there. This is what they feared most. Magician Harutyun Hakobyan was absent, and it is clear that Leonid Ilyich personally detained him...

The agonizing wait continued for forty minutes. It turns out that the leader asked the magician to personally demonstrate only to him the secrets of turning simple pieces of paper into rustling Soviet currency with the profile of Vladimir Ilyich. Harutyun Amayakovich could not refuse the elderly man and patiently turned his palms with “two bottoms” in front of his nose... Leonid Ilyich groaned with pleasure, straightened his jaw, and happily batted his eyelashes. WITH looking smart asked leading questions. Finally, tired, he said in a deep voice:
- OK. Even though I don’t understand a damn thing, I’ll instruct the Minister of Finance to let him sit and twist the papers. Otherwise he’s always crying that he doesn’t have enough money!
Friend of the public, enemy of colleagues
Harutyun Hakobyan became perhaps the first Soviet artist who, back in the mid-1950s, began to bring Soviet Union huge amounts of foreign currency earned from concerts abroad.
Akopyan’s stunts shocked the Western audience no less than the domestic one. Most of the tricks he invented are now considered classics of world illusion.
Unlike the illusionary Kio dynasty, which is an integral part of the circus, Harutyun Hakobyan preferred to perform on stage. He didn’t just show tricks, he knew how to communicate with the public and win them over with emphatic politeness. His numbers and jokes were constantly accompanied by the phrase “Please pay attention, dear comrade viewers...” Pronounced with a colorful Armenian accent, this phrase, accompanied by another trick, caused a fit of laughter from the audience along with stormy applause.

With great love from the public, Harutyun Hakobyan made many enemies among his colleagues. It was not just a matter of envy - the illusionist willingly shared with the public the secrets of his tricks, which he described in books.
Once the illusionist almost paid with his life for this. At the exit from the entrance, a man was waiting for him and tried to hit Akopyan on the head with a crowbar. The plan was foiled only by accident, and the people who came to the rescue failed to catch the attacker.

How Akopyan Jr. made his debut
Harutyun Hakobyan’s constant assistant was his wife Leah, a brilliant singer. She was predicted to have a great future in operetta, but she devoted her entire life to her family and her husband’s career.
On December 1, 1956, Harutyun and Leah had a son, who was named Hmayak. The successor of the dynasty showed his first trick back in the maternity hospital, when the head doctor was surprised to find his wedding ring in the baby’s palm.
“Yes, Comrade Hakobyan, now I see for sure that this is your son,” the doctor noted.

Hmayak Hakobyan really became an illusionist, although his popularity is still inferior to the world fame of his father. Hakobyan Sr. was a laureate of the most prestigious illusionist competitions, which he loved to tell the public about in his inimitable, ironic form.
The Master's Last Miracle
He was loved not only by the audience, but also by the country's top leadership. In 1982, Harutyun Hakobyan became the first illusionist to be awarded the title people's artist THE USSR.


He was offered many times to stay abroad, promising millions in earnings. In response, the illusionist just shrugged his shoulders. The passion for hoarding was never inherent in him. Large amounts from his earnings he donated to the Peace Fund, provided financial assistance to victims of natural Disasters, including the devastating earthquake in Armenia that occurred on December 7, 1988.
Harutyun Hakobyan gave his last benefit concert in 1995, after which he left the big stage. In the same year he was given terrible diagnosis- leukemia. Doctors gave the 77-year-old artist no more than two - three years life. The great illusionist lived ten.
IN Last year During his life he practically did not move and did not get out of bed. However, his hands continued to manipulate the deck of cards. The master of illusion remained himself until his very last days.

Harutyun Amayakovich Hakobyan (Armenian: Հարություն Հմայակի Հակոբյան). Born on April 25, 1918 in Tsolakert (now Igdir in Turkey) - died on January 13, 2005 in Moscow. Soviet and Russian pop artist, illusionist, magician, actor, publicist. Honored Artist of the Armenian SSR (1950). People's Artist of the Armenian SSR (1961). People's Artist of the USSR (1982). Father of Hmayak Hakobyan.

Harutyun Hakobyan was born on April 25, 1918 in Tsolakert (Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic - now the city of Igdir in Turkey). According to one version, he was born on April 26.

Father was a blacksmith.

In 1918, the Armenian genocide began in Turkey and the Hakobyan family fled to Armenia with six-month-old Harutyun in their arms. During this period, Harutyun lost his mother. Later, the father remarried, his stepmother did not like his son, so Harutyun’s childhood was difficult.

WITH early years was dancing.

In 1935 he graduated from the choreographic school in Yerevan. Then he joined the ensemble folk dance. However, at the insistence of his father, who wanted his son to become an engineer, he entered a construction college. After graduating from college, he worked at Armstroy.

In 1937, among the best builders, he was sent to Moscow to continue his education, where he entered the Moscow Institute of Land Management (now - State University on land management).

While studying in Moscow, he entered the amateur arts club at the Kukhmeister club. At one of the pop concerts at the Theater of Miniatures I saw a magician for the first time. This meeting decided future fate Harutyun. Now he began to devote all his free time from classes at the institute to magic tricks: he made props, learned the secrets of the simplest tricks, creating new versions based on them.

By the time he graduated from the institute, he had accumulated considerable experience of successful touring on club stages. In 1942, through a competition, he entered the Mosgosestrad (later Mosconcert) and became a professional artist.

In 1943 he graduated from the Moscow Variety School.

During the war he was part of a front-line brigade and performed on the front line 1,600 times.

Since 1965 he has performed in solo concerts. During his work on the stage, he prepared about 1000 numbers and fantasy tricks.

In 1973 he graduated from the Faculty of Pop Art of GITIS (now Russian University theatrical art - GITIS) in Moscow (according to other sources - Higher Directing Courses at GITIS).

Having become an illusionist and having learned the secrets of many tricks, Hakobyan wanted to free his hands from unnecessary props. After years of hard training of his hands, constant training and warming up of his fingers, he became a manipulative magician and was able to create performance programs from tricks that required almost no props. Akopyan's performances were distinguished by high artistry, plasticity, charm and amazing manipulation techniques. Harutyun Hakobyan appeared alone on an empty stage and kept the audience in suspense for an hour and a half.

Harutyun Hakobyan achieved the pinnacle of his mastery through grueling training, which took 14-16 hours a day. But the effect was amazing: in front of the public, he could endlessly tear and cut paper, which at the same time remained intact, do unthinkable things with cards and pull out of nowhere a whole heap of large banknotes. The last trick, which the Soviet leader liked extremely, made accounting workers, right up to the Minister of Finance, grab the heart.

Harutyun Hakobyan came up with more than 500 card tricks, but they were not welcomed on the Soviet stage - although at closed concerts for the party leadership, Hakobyan was always asked to perform tricks with cards and money.

Laureate of seven international illusionist competitions, including: Honorary diploma of a member of the “Magic Club” of Ceylon (Colombo, 1957); Honorary diploma of the Paris Society of Illusionists and a commemorative medal named after Robert-Houdin (1960); Medal named after V. Durova and the prize (GDR, 1974); Second place in the “Manipulation” section at the XII International Competition of Illusionists in Karlovy Vary (1977); Honorary diploma “Honored Magician” (Zasloužilý magik) of the XVII International Festival in Karlovy Vary (1982).

The name of Harutyun Hakobyan became widely known outside the Soviet Union. He became one of the first Soviet artists who, back in the mid-1950s, began to bring huge amounts of foreign currency to the Soviet Union, earned at concerts abroad. Akopyan’s stunts shocked the Western audience no less than the domestic one. Most of the tricks he invented are now considered classics of world illusion. Participated in international competitions, toured abroad.

In one of his interviews, he said: “I have visited more than eighty countries. Paris 1959 is especially memorable to me. Magicians from twenty countries gathered there, including the USA, Japan, France, India, Italy, Austria... I won the Grand Prix - the Big gold medal with the image of Robber Houdin, the founder of illusionism in France. Among modern foreign magicians, I would note Mr. Senko, the American John Goodes and Saccaro from India. Each of them has their own unique handwriting. I remember a trip to India, where there were countless fakirs and snake charmers. Spreading mats right on the ground, they pull out their simple props from the bags, and the performance begins... Magicians all over the world immediately recognize each other. I showed an Indian magician several tricks and gave three of them as a gift; the old man became agitated: “But I don’t have money to pay you; I wanted to buy a single trick from a visiting American, but I couldn’t even do that.” I replied: “You don’t need to pay anything! This is my souvenir." And we parted as good friends.”

Also visited Morocco, Thailand, Cambodia, Yugoslavia, Syria, Bangladesh, Japan, etc.

The technique for performing some tricks was published in the magazines “Science and Life” and “Young Technician”.

He gave his last benefit concert in 1995.

He has been acting in films since 1955, making his debut as the magician Alfelbaum in the film “Princess Mary.” Later he could be seen in the films “Carnival Night” (magician), “Tehran-43” (photographer Mustafa), “Let’s no tricks!..” (magician), etc.

Harutyun Hakobyan in the film "Princess Mary"

Harutyun Hakobyan in the film "Tehran-43"

Harutyun Hakobyan in the film "Let's no tricks!.."

He donated large sums of his earnings to the Peace Fund and provided financial assistance to victims of natural disasters, including the devastating earthquake in Armenia that occurred on December 7, 1988.

In 1995, he was given a terrible diagnosis: leukemia. The doctors gave the artist no more two to three years life, but he lived ten. In the last year of his life, he practically did not move and did not get out of bed.

Died on January 13, 2005 in Moscow. He was buried at Troekurovskoye Cemetery. The monument was made by sculptors Soghoyan.

Personal life of Harutyun Hakobyan:

Wife - Liya Ivanovna Akopyan. At first she worked as an assistant with her husband, then she graduated from the conservatory and became a singer.

Son - (born December 1, 1956), Soviet and Russian actor, circus performer. Honored Artist of Russia.

Filmography of Harutyun Hakobyan:

1955 - Princess Mary - Alfelbaum, magician
1956 - Carnival night - magician (uncredited)
1963 - Big and small - magician in a cafe
1968 - At thirteen o'clock in the morning
1974 - Big attraction- magician
1980 - Tehran-43 (Tehran 43 / Téhéran 43) - photographer Mustafa
1985 - Session of a hypnotist (film-play) - Ferdinando Jacolliot, magician and hypnotist
1992 - Let's no tricks!.. - magician

Bibliography of Harutyun Hakobyan:

1960 - 10 tricks for children
1961 - Tricks on the stage
1964 - 50 entertaining tricks
1980 - In a world of wonders
19893 - I give magic lessons

Awards and titles of Harutyun Hakobyan:

Honored Artist of the Armenian SSR (1950);
People's Artist of the Armenian SSR (04/26/1961);
People's Artist of the USSR (1982);
Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1986);
Order of Honor (Russia) (1998);
Medal “For Valiant Labor. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin";
Medal "For the Defense of Moscow";
Medal "For victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War" Patriotic War 1941-1945";
Medal "For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945";
Medal “Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945”;
Medal "In memory of the 800th anniversary of Moscow"

...An imposing, smiling man with oriental features took off his jacket and walked towards the embarrassed spectator who had just been called from the hall. The artist quickly folded a small piece of paper into a bag, which he showed to his “victim.” Then he put a small handkerchief there.

What do you think, dear comrade viewers, is it possible to deceive a person at such a distance that he does not notice where the handkerchief went? — the artist ironically asked the audience, moving the bag directly in front of the man’s eyes. And a second later he unfolded the bag, and it turned out that in his hands there was again a small piece of paper without any sign of a handkerchief.

The audience burst into applause, and the “victim” returned to his place with the joyful knowledge that he had just been deceived by the great himself. Harutyun Hakobyan.

One of the greatest illusionists of the 20th century was born in the town of Igdir on the border of Turkey and Armenia on April 25, 1918. When the Turks carried out a massacre in Ygdyr, populated by Armenians, Harutyun was not even a year old. His mother died, and his father, a local blacksmith, fled with his son in his arms to Yerevan.

Later, the father remarried, and the stepmother disliked her stepson, so Harutyun’s childhood was difficult in the full sense of the word.

After graduating from the 7th grade of school, Harutyun Hakobyan entered a construction technical school, after which he began working in construction. A few years later, the young builder was offered to continue his studies at an institute in Moscow, to which he happily agreed.

Harutyun was so eager to change his life that he left for the capital three months before the start of classes and at first lived at the station. Then the young man began working at a construction site, while simultaneously entering the Moscow Institute of Land Management.

Harutyun spoke Russian poorly, nevertheless, although not without difficulty, he managed to graduate from college and receive a diploma. However, fate decided to radically change his life.

Magic began with the police

Once, while still a student, Harutyun came with friends to a pop concert. Among others, he saw the performance of a magician who took things out of a completely empty box without a bottom.

The young man, who had never seen a magician before, was so shocked that during the intermission he snuck backstage and climbed into the box, trying to unravel the secret of the trick. The artist caught him in the act and handed Hakobyan over to the police.

Harutyun Hakobyan, 1964. Photo: RIA Novosti / Ozersky

The trial ended successfully for the curious viewer, but Harutyun “literally” fell ill with tricks. He entered the amateur artistic circle at the Kukhmisterov club, where he studied the art of magic.

By the time he received his diploma, Harutyun Hakobyan already had extensive experience performing at concerts in clubs. And soon he made the most important decision in his life, entering Mosestrad as a professional illusionist.

When the young artist got used to the profession, he very quickly developed his own individual style. He abandoned props in the form of boxes and other large equipment, adhering to the principle of “sleight of hand, no fraud” in his performances.

Harutyun Hakobyan achieved the pinnacle of his mastery through grueling training, which took 14-16 hours a day. But the effect was amazing - in front of the public, he could endlessly tear and cut paper, which at the same time remained intact, do unthinkable things with cards and pull out of nowhere a whole heap of large banknotes.

The last trick I really liked head of the USSR Leonid Brezhnev, forced the hearts of accounting workers, right up to the Minister of Finance.

Friend of the public, enemy of colleagues

Harutyun Hakobyan became perhaps the first Soviet artist who, back in the mid-1950s, began to bring huge amounts of foreign currency to the Soviet Union, earned at concerts abroad.

Akopyan’s stunts shocked the Western audience no less than the domestic one. Most of the tricks he invented are now considered classics of world illusion.

Unlike the illusionary dynasty Kio, which is an integral part of the circus, Harutyun Hakobyan preferred to perform on the stage. He didn’t just show tricks, he knew how to communicate with the public and win them over with emphatic politeness. His numbers and jokes were constantly accompanied by the phrase “Please pay attention, dear comrade viewers...” Pronounced with a colorful Armenian accent, this phrase, accompanied by another trick, caused a fit of laughter from the audience along with stormy applause.

With great love from the public, Harutyun Hakobyan made many enemies among his colleagues. It was not just a matter of envy - the illusionist willingly shared with the public the secrets of his tricks, which he described in books.

Once the illusionist almost paid with his life for this. At the exit from the entrance, a man was waiting for him and tried to hit Akopyan on the head with a crowbar. The plan was foiled only by accident, and the people who came to the rescue failed to catch the attacker.

How Akopyan Jr. made his debut

Harutyun Hakobyan’s constant assistant was his wife Leah, a brilliant singer. She was predicted to have a great future in operetta, but she devoted her entire life to her family and her husband’s career.

On December 1, 1956, Harutyun and Leah had a son, who was named Hmayak. The successor of the dynasty showed his first trick back in the maternity hospital, when the head doctor was surprised to find his wedding ring in the baby’s palm.

Yes, Comrade Hakobyan, now I see for sure that this is your son,” the doctor noted.

Hmayak Hakobyan really became an illusionist, although his popularity is still inferior to the world fame of his father. Hakobyan Sr. was a laureate of the most prestigious illusionist competitions, which he loved to tell the public about in his inimitable, ironic form.

Harutyun Hakobyan, 1984. Photo: www.russianlook.com / Yuri Somov

The Master's Last Miracle

He was loved not only by the audience, but also by the country's top leadership. In 1982, Harutyun Hakobyan became the first illusionist awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR.

He was offered many times to stay abroad, promising millions in earnings. In response, the illusionist just shrugged his shoulders. The passion for hoarding was never inherent in him. He donated large sums of his earnings to the Peace Fund and provided financial assistance to victims of natural disasters, including the devastating earthquake in Armenia that occurred on December 7, 1988.

Harutyun Hakobyan gave his last benefit concert in 1995, after which he left the big stage. That same year, he was given a terrible diagnosis of leukemia. Doctors gave the 77-year-old artist no more than two to three years to live. The great illusionist lived ten.

In the last year of his life, he practically did not move and did not get out of bed. However, his hands continued to manipulate the deck of cards. The master of illusion remained himself until his very last days.