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There is probably no person in Russia who has not heard of Uralmash, a plant in the Ural city of Yekaterinburg. In the Soviet years, equipment for blast furnaces, mines, blooming machines, walking excavators and much more were produced there. About 40 thousand people worked here, living a stone's throw from the plant.

Many years ago, in the capital of Norway, Oslo, a monument was erected to Soviet soldiers who fell during the liberation of the Viking country from fascist occupation. The inscription on the monument reads: “Norway thanks you”...

There was never a division of Poland between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. And no amount of furious screaming through the gnashing of teeth of the self-proclaimed preachers of true humanism will cancel this fact. The process, which is commonly called the “partition of Poland,” in fact represented the return of territories temporarily occupied by the Poles after the Soviet-Polish War of 1920-1921.

When the construction of Stonehenge was completed, there were still about 500 years left before the construction of the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

Women have been serving in the army for a long time, they fought heroically on the fronts of two world wars of the 20th century and now command battalions and regiments, but at the beginning of the 19th century the prevailing opinion in society was that they had no place in the army.

The Industrial Party case is one of the most controversial trials of the 1930s. During times Soviet Union This page of history was carefully avoided, as were many other events related to repression. Today this process is commonly called fabricated, organized to justify the failures of the first five-year plan. But is this really so?

“Enlightened princes and wise generals who are able to get smart spies are sure to achieve great results” (Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”).

In ancient times, the Galapagos (Turtle) Islands in the Pacific Ocean served as a haven for pirates. Only in 1835, 300 years after the discovery of this amazing archipelago, the first scientist, Charles Darwin, visited it. Almost another 90 years passed, and then in the spring of 1923, the steam schooner Noma of an American scientific expedition approached one of the islands - Indefatigable. It was headed by zoologist William Beebe.

Those who read Greek myths cannot help but remember the myth of Galatea. A talented sculptor named Pygmalion sculpted such a beautiful statue that he fell in love with it. Thanks to his strong feeling, the statue managed to come to life. Elena Dyakonova, the heroine of this article, was also, in a sense, this Galatea. During her life, she was the muse of several geniuses. But, at the same time, she was in some way Pygmalion for them. In any case, one of them owes his success to her.

Do not forget that this woman was called not only Galatea. She was both a witch and Cinderella... But she entered the history of world art precisely as Helen the Beautiful, Gnandiva, the divine and incomparable Gala.

Life thanks to consumption

The origins of this enchantress and the first seventeen years of her life gave absolutely no hope that the girl was promised a brilliant destiny. She was the daughter of a modest Kazan official who died early. The family moves to Moscow. Then a misfortune happens to the girl - she falls ill. The diagnosis does not inspire hope: it was consumption and tuberculosis, common for those years. Her stepfather (a lawyer) contributed to the healing. The family raised some money, and Elena Dyakonova left for a mountain sanatorium in Switzerland.

She had already come to terms with the fact that she would not survive. This affected her character: the girl became unsociable, very harsh, she did not trust people. But there was a man who managed to melt this thick shell of ice. He was the charming young Parisian Eugene Grendel. He wrote poetry. Eugene's father considered poetry to be nonsense and forbade him to engage in literature. But the son did not listen to him. He came to Elena and read her his own poems. And she gradually softened. Gradually she began to believe. It was in those days that she began to call herself Gala (the emphasis was on the last syllable). Possibly from a French word meaning "celebration, revival."

The way home

Elena Dyakonova (Gala) returns to Russia in a year. She recovered and fell in love. Eugene wrote her letters full of passion and love. They were also in verse. Gala answered him with the same strength of feelings. It is unlikely that in those bright days she thought that with the same words that she now calls Grendel (“my child”, “my chick”), she would call the rest of the geniuses in her life.

Meanwhile, Eugene publishes his first collection of poems under the pseudonym, which a little later became known in all corners of the world - Paul Eluard. Galu's premonition did not deceive: life confronted her with a truly great man.

And the First World War began in the world. Paul wanted to go to the front. Elena begged him in letters not to risk her life and health. But besides the war, Grendel’s father was also on the way to their happiness. He didn’t want such a union: his son and some Russian! But here Elena Dyakonova, whose biography is permeated with a feeling of love for her geniuses, was able to show worldly wisdom and acumen for the first time in her life. She began to write warm and tender letters to Eugene's mother, who was so kind as to support the young people.

Marriage of lovers

February 1917. Elena Dyakonova (Gala) moves to Paris and marries her beloved poet. They vow to be together always, every minute. For their wedding, her husband's parents gave them an oak bed. The young couple vowed to die together in it when their time comes.

Just a year later, little Cecile was born to them. The couple will live together for twelve years. Many years will be unusually happy, but the first problems will begin in 1921.

24 months three of us

The life of a successful poet and his beautiful wife took place in theaters, salons and cafes in winter, and exclusively in fashionable resorts in summer. They also spent this summer of 1921 at the resort. Here they made acquaintance with the German artist Max Ernst and his wife Lou. All four were brilliant and young. And husbands will soon become recognized throughout the world.

And then life threw them an unexpected turn. A feeling arises between Gala and Ernest. They both understand that this is not adultery, but something more. Max breaks up with his wife, but Paul couldn’t do that. He stayed with Gala and Max.

It is truly incomprehensible and surprising, but Gala manages to love both. In different ways, but to love. Passionately and sincerely. The fragile Paul cannot stand this and one day he simply disappears.

Looking for a husband

Ernst and Elena Dyakonova, whose photos are a mixture of beauty, grace and luxury, are looking for him all over the world and discover him in Indochina. Having taken him from there, the three of them return to Paris, home. But this is only externally the three of us. At this point, Gala had already stopped loving Ernst. This caused him incredible pain. On the other hand, Eugene, whom she now loved even more than before, was also deeply and permanently wounded.

Now Eugene’s head is haunted by obsessive ideas of taking possession of her not only in the presence, but also with the participation of another man. He writes her many letters in which he describes his erotic fantasies about threesome love. Even after their separation, Paul will be obsessed with these fantasies, despite the fact that he himself will have a new muse, and Gala will get married again. The photo of Elena Dyakonova will always be with him until the end of his life.

Paul himself will bring Elena's next husband to their house.

Extravagant Loser

In the late twenties, friends introduce Elena and Eugene to a strange young Spaniard who was an artist. He was incredibly skinny, with a very long and funny curled mustache. He was very fearful and shy. He seemed like some kind of weirdo. He laughed almost constantly. Literally rolled on the ground when he was choked with laughter.

Who was he - a madman, a psychopath or an ordinary loser trying to hide his complex life behind such an appearance? The spouses were unpleasant about the extravagance in his clothes - beads on his neck, women's puffs on his shirt...

But Elena’s incredible intuition helped her see a genius in this strange man. What was driving her then? She couldn't explain it. Together with her husband, they accept an invitation to go to the artist in Spain. The journey took place in the heat of the day. And this despite the fact that Gala always preferred coolness. Much later, she claimed that she immediately realized that she would be this man’s wife. At that period of her life she was very lonely. Yes, she was married, she and her husband indulged in light affairs on the side. But there was nothing serious about it. But Elena Dyakonova considered her loneliness to be her greatest misfortune.

In one of them he took her for a walk in the mountains. And there, over the sea, he began a decisive assault on the beauty. The Spaniard pressed his greedy lips to her and asked what she would like him to do to her. She quite seriously asked the artist to blow her up. This artist was the great Salvador Dali.

Gala and Dali are the most important thing in the whole world!

Many years later, already a famous and wealthy man, the artist wrote in his diary that Gala and Dali were the most important in the whole world. In second place is Dali. On the third are the rest, both Gala and Dali.

Lena Dyakonova, Dali's muse, unconditionally believed in her destiny and the genius of Salvador. She decided to leave her rich husband and stay in a rural Spanish house for several years, completely devoting herself to this strange man. This time she was no longer homeless. She was the queen of the Parisian bohemia, who gave her attention and care to the poor.

The first time they spent in complete seclusion, Gala even sewed her own dresses. Dali was sure that he was destined to live and die in complete poverty. But Gala did not give up: she visited museums and exhibitions with his drawings. And she won. Taking her literally at her word, the Viscount de Noailles sent almost thirty thousand francs to Dali for a painting that he had not yet painted. Just a year later, Dali became famous!

Now he was a famous artist. And from many of his canvases she looks, his muse, Lena Dyakonova, Dali’s wife. Finally, Gala’s dream came true: the great master immortalized her image! After all, since childhood, this is exactly what she dreamed of.

Cruel time

Unfortunately, only images in paintings can be immortal. The day comes when Lena Dyakonova, whose date of birth is September 7, 1894, feels that she has begun to grow old. For her, this was the beginning of the end. Now her every day was devoted to different cosmetic procedures. And love. Only now exclusively for psychotherapeutic purposes. Elena Dyakonova has changed a lot internally. Now she needs young men.

As Gala ages, her sense of greed intensifies. She counts all the money that falls into her hands several times and hides it, like a peasant woman, behind the bodice of her dress. After her death, a suitcase full of banknotes will be found under the bed where she slept.

The end of her life was completely sad. As she got older, she began to fall frequently. The result is a femoral neck fracture. She ends up in the hospital. On June 10, 1982 she dies. This was Lena Dyakonova (born September 7, 1894).

Salvador Dali survived her by several years. All this time, every morning he began with the fact that his assistants rolled the stroller into the round tower located above the crypt in which he, only his Gala, rested.

You are Italian, you sing in English, a minute ago you were communicating with the manager in French. How many languages ​​do you know?

I was born in Milan, studied at the best school in the city. I did it with difficulty. Latin and Greek seemed very boring to me. Later, while studying in Madrid at the famous dance school "Amor de Dios", I had to become acquainted with the Spanish language. In London and New York, purchasing

profession of director and photographer, I learned English. I had to master French, since I often visit this country.

I took private lessons in playing the guitar, composing, and vocals. It was my dream to become a singer, although my parents are far from music: my father is a businessman, my mother is an architect.

When and how did the “Gala” project come about?

Gala is my real name. We started working about four years ago. My first single appeared in the winter of 1995, but “Freed From Desire” brought real success in 1996. In 1997, “Let A Boy Cry” and “Come In To My Life” were released, which today occupy the top lines of the charts in my homeland and in Europe. But I never set a goal just to become a “star”; I always wanted to communicate more with people. I'm very excited about this opportunity.

Did you have any stereotypes about Russia before coming to St. Petersburg?

Best of the day

No, my father often visits Russia on business, and when he returns, he always praises your country very much. Before going to St. Petersburg, I was a little afraid: do they or don’t they know me here? I will say not out of politeness: I really liked the Russian public. She is lively and expressive: hands are always reaching out to me, people are trying to make contact. In Europe, when I go down to the hall, the audience keeps their distance, not perceiving personal contact. This is not the case in Russia, and I like it. You remind me of the Italians: you are just as expressive.

What impression did St. Petersburg make on you?

He is magical. Just as I imagined from my father’s stories: everything is huge, the city was built on a grand scale. It’s a little cold, but in the Peter and Paul Fortress I bought a rabbit hat - I’ll give it to my father. We were at the Aurora, took pictures at the Savior on Spilled Blood, and had lunch right in our long Lincoln car with bananas and bread, bought on the street.

How do you like the Alcatraz club?

I often perform in nightclubs and stadiums. A few days ago I sang in Madrid at the Plaza stadium, where the bullfight takes place. "Alcatraz" has something in common in design with the famous New York club "Tunnel". There are four similar halls and many bars. I think in the future clubs will transform into similar venues. The very concept of a rave implies a “gathering” of people.

In your free time, do you go to similar establishments?

Oh, there is very, very little free time.

What kind of music do you listen to, who are your idols?

BEATLES, Prince, Steve Wonder.

After our conversation, a correspondent from one of the radio stations approached the singer and asked her to repeat in Russian: “My name is Gala, you are listening to the radio...” On the fourth attempt, despairing of correctly pronouncing such a complex text, Gala exclaimed in English: “ “No, I will never learn Russian!”

Having cooled down a little, she was still able to conquer this phrase.

This is how she is - a Gala superstar - a charming, sociable, extremely talented and purposeful girl.