The farewell ceremony for actor Viktor Semenovsky is scheduled for February 7 at the Alexandrinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. The event will begin at 11:00 in the morning and is expected to bring together family, colleagues, and theater fans who followed his long career. This public tribute reflects a life spent in service to the stage and screen, and it marks a moment for the city to honor a veteran performer connected to one of Russia’s oldest theatres.
Semenovsky died on February 1 at the age of 81 following a heart condition that was confirmed by family members. His passing closes a chapter in an era associated with the Alexandrinsky Theatre, where he dedicated 55 years of his professional life to performances on stage and appearances on screen. The news has sparked an outpouring of memories from peers who describe him as a consummate craftsman with a generous spirit and a steady, reliable presence in every room he entered.
Across a prolific career, Semenovsky appeared in dozens of productions, with film credits including The Life of Klim S., Casting, Ligovka, and Secrets of the Investigation. On television, he was seen in the series Slaughter Power and Broken Lights Streets. His long tenure at the Alexandrinsky Theatre placed him at the heart of a thriving artistic community, where his versatility and commitment helped shape a generation of performances that resonated with audiences far beyond the walls of the theatre.
During his fifty-five years with the Alexandrinsky Theatre, Semenovsky contributed to a diverse repertoire, ranging from classic Russian drama to contemporary works. He brought a quiet authority to his roles, combining precise phrasing with an authentic humanity that made even smaller moments feel meaningful. His presence on stage became a benchmark for many aspiring actors, illustrating how steady craft and collaborative spirit can sustain a career across decades of change in the arts landscape.
Colleagues recall a disciplined actor who listened intently, trusted the rhythm of the text, and found truth in the pauses that give a scene its breath. He balanced dramatic gravity with a warmth that made his characters feel lived-in and human. The theatre community mourns the loss of a veteran artist who helped mentor younger performers and who consistently enriched the shared life of the stage through thoughtful collaboration and generosity towards others.
Earlier, the widow of the singer Vladimir Levkin spoke about Semenovsky’s generosity and his openness to recognizing and supporting fellow artists. These memories highlight the respect he earned across the arts, from the theatre to television and film, and underscore the broad impact of a career built on camaraderie and professional integrity.
The upcoming farewell will be a public moment of tribute, acknowledging the breadth of Semenovsky’s work and his long service to the Alexandrinsky Theatre. The programme will give fans a chance to reflect on his contributions to stage and screen and to celebrate a life spent in the pursuit of compelling storytelling. The theatre and the broader artistic community hope the event will offer comfort and a sense of closure to those who admired his work and to colleagues who shared the stage with him over the years.
His memory is likely to endure through the characters he created and the performances that remain in the theatre’s archives, in the hearts of audiences who witnessed his craft, and in the stories shared by friends and collaborators who had the privilege of working with him. The farewell is as much a recognition of a lifetime spent making art as it is a communal moment for theatre lovers to reflect on the endurance of a craft that continues to shape the cultural landscape. The city of St. Petersburg and the Alexandrinsky Theatre will, in time, commemorate his extensive legacy with renewed appreciation for the contributions he made to Russian drama and television.