The pain of separation
A monument honoring the Honored Artist of Russia Boris Moiseev was unveiled at Moscow’s Troekurovsky Cemetery, confirmed by the singer’s manager, Sergei Gorokh, via RIA Novosti.
“Today, on Memorial Day, we unveil a sculptural composition at Troekurovsky Cemetery. It draws from Moiseev’s favorite piece, The Pain of Parting. The sculptor is Philip Trushin. The form of the stone resembles folded wings, captured mid-air,” explained the artist, adding that the sculpture conveys Moiseev’s forward-thinking stance in post-Soviet choreography and pop culture. The monument is cast in bronze, standing at three meters tall, set on a white Mansur granite base. Engraved on the base are the lines from the song “To love the whole world, begin with yourself.”
According to Gorokh, flowers were sent in honor of the opening by notable figures including Elton John, Philip Kirkorov, Larisa Dolina, Alla Pugacheva, and her daughter Kristina Orbakaite, among others.
Pugacheva’s involvement
Pugacheva contributed to the monument’s creation and has been thanked by the team for her support. Gorokh notes that Moiseev’s friend maintained steady communication and offered invaluable guidance on how the memorial should look. The two even met in Jurmala during a Laima Vaikule festival to discuss the project.
Gorokh emphasizes Alla Borisovna’s advice because she remained the only close colleague who stayed in touch with Moiseev until the end and provided ongoing help to the musician. It was announced that Moiseev would not travel to Moscow for the monument’s opening and would not be able to see the bronze statue in person.
According to the director, Pugacheva initially wished to fund the monument herself, but Gorokh chose to cover all expenses. “I took on the costs because this is a memory of a friend, a mentor, a teacher. I received offers of help, but this felt like a personal duty I had to fulfill,” Gorokh stated.
Absence and illness
Moiseev passed away a year earlier, on September 27, 2022, at age 68. The cause of death was a third stroke, the first occurring in 2010 when Moiseev was 56. Gorokh began caring for the artist after that event.
On October 2, 2022, a farewell ceremony was held in the Troekurovsky funeral hall. Attendees received white paper boats inscribed with the message “With love, your B. Moiseev,” a note believed to reflect the artist’s own handwriting in red ink.
In the final years, Moiseev faced a serious illness that kept him largely away from public performances, mostly staying in Jurmala. Gorokh remarked that it was impossible to coerce the artist into seeking medical help. The musician, who had gained weight from the health setbacks, dealt with limited hand movements and speech difficulties.
Born March 4, 1954, in Mogilev, Belarus, Moiseev began his career as a dancer and later became a renowned choreographer and director of a municipal theater in New Orleans, USA. His singing career took off in the 1990s. Among his best-known works are Blue Moon, a duet with Nikolai Trubach, and Two Candles, performed with Alla Pugacheva.