Vyacheslav Sobolev(I)

Vyacheslav Sobolev was born in a post World War II Vienna, Austria where his father, a soviet paratrooper officer, was stationed at the time. There his spent first years of his life (Austria stayed occupied by ally troops until 1955). The family then moved to Rostov-na-Donu, Russia. Vyacheslav showed early musical/compositional talent and after graduating high school was accepted to Moldova State Conservatory of Music, department of folk instruments, specializing in accordion and bayan. Vyacheslav never received any training as an actor, but did land a few uncredited episodic roles in his youth. Most of his professional career Vyacheslav performed as a part of various ensembles and orchestras, including renowned National Kuban Cossack Choir. Extensive traveling took a toll on his health and he was given an opportunity to settle down in stanica Rodnikovskaya in Kurgan Region of Krasnodarsky Krai which is situated in the South Western plains of the Russian Republic and take a position as a director of a local Kuban Choir. In 1991 writer/director Lidiya Bobrova cast Vyacheslav in the lead role of "Oy, vy, gusi..." (Hey, you, geese...") which was filmed on the actual location of Vyacheslav's hometown. The movie was nominated for Golden Leopard in 1991 at Locarno International Film Festival and won SACD Grand Prize and European Jury Award in 1992 at Angers European First Film Festival.

After filming of the movie Vyacheslav's health progressively deteriorated and he never acted again and lived out the rest of his life on the land of his Cossack ancestors. Vyacheslav Sobolev passed away on December 26, 2002. He is survived by 3 daughters.