What happened
On March 21, Pavlik gave a big solo concert at the Kiev Palace “Ukraine” – the artist created a sensation not only on stage, but also on social networks. But immediately after the concert, his wife, who was also the concert director, accused the organizers of being biased towards Pavlik. She stated that as soon as Pavlik “relaxed and began to enjoy himself,” the concert “simply stopped.” According to Repyakhova, her husband was offered an adrenaline injection, allegedly because he looked tired and his voice did not sound. Repyakhova added that her husband had to work in “difficult and unacceptable conditions.”
Not daring to name the person against whom she had complaints, Repyakhova warned that “she will not remain silent.”
“They tried to ‘negotiate’ with me. They came up and asked how this could be hushed up. But they got the wrong person,” she wrote.
The administration of the Palace “Ukraine” commented on Repyakhova's statements on Instagram on March 22.
“Yesterday an unacceptable situation arose – a conflict with swearing behind the scenes, where the concert producer allowed himself unacceptable behavior towards Repyakhova. We believe that no difficult conditions and circumstances justify such behavior towards a woman. We sincerely apologize to Ekaterina Nikolaevna. Work has already been done, and yesterday a personal apology was sent to Ekaterina Nikolaevna’s messenger from the person who allowed himself unacceptable behavior,” the text says.
The organizers also recalled that the Ukraine Palace initiated and organized Pavlik’s concert.
“For the first time in 10 years, Viktor Frankovich appeared on the main stage of the country with a solo concert. Despite the lack of government funding and the incredible risks associated with holding an event of this level in our difficult times, the Ukraine Palace invested its funds in this concert. And we thank Viktor Frankovich for the incredibly soulful concert that the audience so needs today,” the post stated.
The sound producer of the concert, Dmitry Saratsky, responded to Repyakhova’s statement.
“Those who know me, I think, will not speak of me as an unprofessional person. For me, the criteria of quality, professionalism and high standards are fundamental,” Saratsky noted. “I was among those who decided to take an intermission during the concert to make sure that everything was in order with the state of the artist’s voice.”
He explained that during Pavlik's performance with the team, he heard a “tendency towards vocal fatigue.”
“This is an absolutely normal situation after rehearsals and complex preparations. When it became clear that the condition could worsen, I insisted on a pause: to carry out control, call a phoniatrist and check the condition of the vocal cords. I am convinced that this decision was correct. The artist’s voice is his reputation in front of the audience. We had no right to put Viktor Frankovich at risk,” he added. “That is why the decision was made to have an intermission. And, in my opinion, it was useful for everyone: and for artist, both for the orchestra and for the audience, which after the intermission really lit up with the artists with renewed vigor.”
Continuation of the scandal
On the evening of March 23, Repyakhova published videos on Instagram Stories that she shot on her phone while communicating with the head of the Ukraine Palace, Sergey Perman.
In response, he said on Instagram that he regretted starting a collaboration with Pavlik and his wife Repyakhova.
“It’s just disgusting,” Perman said.
What colleagues say
Many public people have already commented on the situation on Facebook.
Producer Alena Mozgovaya believes that Perman does not need to prove anything.
“You have already done so much for the outstanding personalities of this country and culture as a whole that you will remain in history without further ado. Yes, our nerves are not of steel and at times we break down, but you need to judge a person not by his words, but by his actions. And you are doing wonderful and necessary things,” Mozgovaya addressed Perman.
Presenter Konstantin Grubich said that in this conflict there is no side that would be right.
“But a cold mind says that the artist’s team initially violated the rules. Because the organizers’ demand to help the vocalist with a voice doctor is professional, humane and the only correct one. The chips began to fly further – the Russian language with the palace director’s obscenities, a quarrel. It is clear that all this is disgusting and not the way we want, and how it should be ideally. In the end, Perman publicly speaks in state everywhere,” Grubich wrote. “And in this case I I would forgive him for his psychosis, because I understand the root cause.”
Grubich recalled that Perman has had productive work in the palace over the past five years, including the restoration of the building after Russian shelling.
“There could have been a benefit performance for Pavlik, but otherwise it would have been a shameful shambles,” he concluded.
Grubich added that he has known Pavlik for 30 years, and does not know Perman personally, but would trust him to organize a concert on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
Journalist, founder of the online publication “GORDON” Dmitry Gordon on Instagram called what was happening persecution of Perman.
“A terrible war, nightmare and horror, death and destruction. It would seem that you need to be kinder, but no, some, in spite of everything, continue to do their favorite thing: being mediocrities and losers, they attack the smart, kind, talented. My friend Sergei Perman has done so much for Ukraine, Ukrainian culture and the best figures of Ukrainian culture, that protecting him from another persecution is even somehow pointless. Seryozha, everyone knows who you and who they are. They are temporary, but you are forever! Enjoy every day and every minute, create, conceive, implement and help our great old people, as you have been doing for many years – selflessly, at the call of your heart,” Gordon wrote.
Editor-in-chief of the site “GORDON” Alesya Batsman publicly addressed Perman.
“You have done so much good for Ukrainian culture, for outstanding Ukrainian geniuses, that proving something to someone is in vain. Your deeds speak for you every day. It is difficult for me to list the number of wonderful creative projects that you have been able to implement on your own over the decades! Not for yourself, but for grateful Ukrainian spectators. And how many Ukrainian luminaries have you become family, taking upon yourself the solution to all their problems – from creative to issues of their health – simply by I call your soul,” she wrote. “Don’t worry. The dust will settle. And you and your good deeds will remain forever.”
Ukrainian singer commented on Batsman’s post Svetlana Belonozhko.
“The Palace “Ukraine” is our prestigious, responsible, main concert venue! Not everyone can afford to hold a concert in “Ukraine”, but if Perman takes charge of organizing the concert, then everything was always at the highest level! Anyone who has not done big concerts has no idea how much energy needs to be invested to make everything happen! And if they have entrusted Sergei, then his word is law during the concert! You must be able to negotiate, and not create a scandal, dear customers! We We have been making our “Melody” at the “Ukraine” Palace for 20 years, and nothing like this has ever happened,” she wrote. “It’s a shame that we are not talking about the triumph of Viktor Pavlik, but about the dirt after the concert!”
The widow of Ukrainian composer Igor Poklad, Svetlana Poklad, noted that Perman and his team over the years of work have radically raised the status of the concert venue.
“They present not just a high-quality “product”, they decorate Ukrainian culture with fresh, bright colors! And this is seen by everyone who attends events in the palace. This has never happened in all the years of the existence of this scene. Never, ever! My almost half a century of experience in observing the events that took place there allows me to say so,” Poklad assured.
She noted that a spouse for a creative person should be a reliable support system.
“They say that if the Lord wants to punish a man, he gives him… a woman like himself. So that there are no offenses,” she added.
Singer Irina Bilyk spoke about Pavlik’s wife under Perman’s Facebook post.
“I would rather remember how I seduced a married man in a hotel. Maybe I added something to the glass,” the artist wrote.
People's Deputy Yulia Grishina also commented on the conflict.
“Thank you for the new breath of the Ukraine Palace. For the support of Ukrainian singers, dancers, actors. For the popularization of Ukrainian culture. For the opportunity to watch Ukrainian shows of the European level,” she addressed Perman.
He was also supported by presenter Alexey Sukhanov, director Katerina Tsarik and actress Inna Belokon.
“Even a legend should maintain critical thinking, despite love and marital status,” Sukhanov wrote.
Belokon advised Perman to “step over and move on.”
“It’s disgusting to see this ingratitude and hypocrisy from the people who represent the artist. The team of the Palace “Ukraine” are professionals and people who care about the quality of music shows and the comfort of the audience,” Tsarik said.
Context
Repyakhova is Pavlik’s fourth wife. She gained fame during the artist's scandalous divorce from his third wife – Ukrainian dancer Larisa Sozaeva. Repyakhova repeatedly had scandals online with Pavlik’s ex-wife, including over real estate that the singer acquired in his third marriage. At the same time, she developed her blog, gradually attracting new subscribers after the scandals.
In the spring of 2023, Pavlik's wife boasted of her husband’s special pass while driving across the Kyiv South Bridge to the theater. After criticism, she called Ukrainians evil spirits. Traffic on the South Bridge is permitted only for special vehicles of emergency and emergency services, public transport, transit freight transport, as well as cars with special passes.
After the scandal, Pavlik special pass was cancelled.
