The Incomparable Olga, music and photography
The Incomparable Olga, music and photography
There are people whose lives themselves become works of art. One such example is Olga Farber, a woman who celebrated her 90th birthday but retained a keen interest in the world and a striking sense of inner harmony.
This anniversary was more than just a celebration—it became an act of remembrance, love, and loyalty. On her anniversary, Olga hosted an exhibition of photographs by her late husband, the renowned photographer Evgeny Veprinsky, who passed away during the pandemic. But his works live on, preserving the faces, destinies, and history of an entire generation.
I've always had a special respect for the members of the Guild of Jewish Artists and Craftsmen. These are the people who create beauty around us and imbue our living spaces with meaning. Many of them paint, weave artistic tapestries, and work with glass, wood, and metal. Many years ago, Nina Tsypina, who has always been my President, invited me to one of the Guild's meetings. Since then, I've remained close to this circle of talented people, many of whom have become the subjects of my publications. It was thanks to Nina Tsypina that many dreams came true; they became known far beyond their birthplaces, and they became famous and celebrated, thanks to the newspaper "R.Reklama" [the newspaper's translation of "R.Reklama" - in Russian].
But let's return to Olga Farber. She stood all evening on the day of the celebration, without sitting down—slender, with beautiful red hair, beautiful, wrinkle-free skin, dressed tastefully, accepting congratulations and flowers. No fatigue, no fuss—only dignity, light, and the sincere joy of meeting friends.
Olga was born in Kyiv to a cultured Jewish family and received a musical education. From her youth, she sang—a gift that extended to her, along with so much else: intelligence, memory, refined taste, and rare human qualities—kindness, intelligence, and the ability to see the beauty in every day.
But the most important thing is her love. More than twenty years ago, I first saw this amazing couple when my husband and I were walking back from Carnegie Hall, and on the subway, my attention was drawn to a beautiful woman looking at her husband with care and tenderness. She asked if he was comfortable, if he was in pain, how he was feeling... In that moment, I understood what true love is—quiet, attentive, without unnecessary words.
Since then, Olga Farber and Evgeny Veprinsky have become symbols of true love for me. Evgeny always had a camera with him. His portraits reveal not just faces, but characters, destinies, and an era. Among them are Svetlana Alexievich, Yulia Latynina, Garry Kasparov, Evgeny Shapovalov, Yuri Timirkanov, Alexander Sviridov, singers, directors, doctors, and other prominent cultural figures.
Olga carefully preserves this legacy. For her, her husband hasn't left—he's there, in every frame, in every memory, in every day. Her eyes hold the same depth they had at 18. She remains passionate about life, going to concerts, and discovering new things. Once upon a time, she could go out early in the morning to buy tickets, only to find herself back in the world of art that evening.
Victoria Kurchenko, President of the Pushkin Society of America, described Olga as a person who lived for art from a very early age and tried not to miss a single significant cultural event. And this is true. As Nina Tsypina put it: "Olga and Zhenya's lives were unbroken, like a thread running through a needle." Together, they recorded events, kept the Guild's books, and created a chronicle of their time.
A line of friends formed to congratulate the birthday girl – everyone wanted to say warm words, hug her, thank her, and give her flowers.
That same day, Grisha Katz, a man Nina Tsypina smilingly calls "a son of the regiment," also celebrated his birthday. Having come to America as a teenager from Odessa, he became an integral part of the Guild: he helped with exhibitions, printed materials, and created a website preserving the Guild's history. That evening, he read poetry and talked about his photographs.
Tatyana Nazarenko performed a wonderful dance for the evening's guests.
Of course, Olga Farber's story is a reminder to us all: true love never fades. It remains—in memories, in deeds, in art. It lives in every look, every gesture, every photo. People like her are simply said to be born that way. And if Olga herself hadn't revealed her age, no one would have believed it.
Marina Lagunova
