Baku, February 7, AZERTAC

Azerbaijan has historically drawn on its rich culture to make valuable contributions to the global cultural heritage.

The world of classic music treasury contains names of a number of Azerbaijani composers and singers.

The founder of professional Azerbaijani music Uzeyir Hajibayli (1885-1948) is the author of the very first opera (Leyli and Majnun, 1908 and operetta (Husband and Wife, 1910) in the Muslim Orient.

His operetta The Cloth Peddler (1913) has been staged in dozens of countries and made into a film (1945) which has been shown in over 100 countries. The 100th anniversaries of “Leyla and Majnun” opera and operetta “The Cloth Peddler” were celebrated at the events organized by UNESCO.

Hajibayli also wrote Azerbaijan’s first musical comedies. His three operettas “Husband and Wife”, “O olmasin, bu olsun” (If not that one, then this one) and |Arshin mal alan” (The Cloth Peddlar) have lost none of their relevance today.

Uzeyir Hajibayli was the first Azerbaijani composer to write music for orchestras of traditional instruments, chamber orchestras and choirs.

One of Hajibayli’s greatest legacies was bringing forward the idea of establishing a professional music school. Hence, the Baku Academy of Music, was founded in 1920 and named after Hajibayli after his death. The school has trained Azerbaijan's famous composers, including Gara Garayev, Fikrat Amirov, Jovdat Hajiyev, Soltan Hajibayov, Tofig Guliyev, and Vagif Mustafazade.

Uzeyir Hajibayli’s statue, erected in front of the Baku Music Academy, is still devoted to the synthesizing Eastern and Western musical traditions.

The ongoing restoration works at the house-museum of Uzeyir Hajibayli located in the city of Shusha that President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have viewed during their recent visit to the liberated lands in 2021, as well as the groundbreaking ceremony for a monument to the great Azerbaijani composer held in St. Petersburg in January 2022, once again demonstrated the genuine commitment of the Azerbaijani society and the Azerbaijani government to promote its rich cultural heritage worldwide.

The world-known Azerbaijani composer, Gara Garayev left a deep imprint on the musical culture not only of Azerbaijan, but around the world. Garayev was a student of Shostakovich, who is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century and whose music is heavily indebted to the music of his native Azerbaijan.

The ballets “Seven Beauties” and “The Path of Thunder” by Gara Garayev (1918-1982) are considered masterpieces of the art of ballet in the world. Garayev’s symphony pieces constitute part of the repertoire of the world's leading orchestras. After featuring in many countries, “Seven Beauties” was finally staged in 2014 in San Diego (California), for the first time in the United States.

Another world-famous Azerbaijani composer, whose 100th anniversary of (1922-1984) was included in the UNESCO anniversaries program for 2022-2023 in the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Paris, is Fikrat Amirov (1922- 1984). His name occupies a special place in the history of classical music,

He is considered the founder of the symphony mugham genre. His ballet “One Thousand and One Nights" fascinates global audiences to this day with its charming music and choreography.

With his music, Fikrat Amirov made tremendous contributions to the world music earning much international recognition.

Amirov’s music found much recognition and admiration in the U.S. as well. His works were also performed by symphonic orchestras of New York, Philadelphia and Houston under the leadership of Leopold Stokowski, one of the leading conductors of the 20th century.

Outstanding composer, People's Artist of the USSR and Azerbaijan Arif Malikov (1933-2019) worthily continuing the vivid creative traditions of generation of masters, wrote new pages in the annals of national music.

For more than half a century famous theater scenes of the world his ballet "The Legend of Love" has been staged, which is one of the greatest achievements of Azerbaijan’s musical culture.

The symphony, ballet, operetta, cantata, vocal, camera and instrumental works created by Arif Malikov, the great composer of our time, a talented disciple and worthy successor of Gara Garayev's composers school, have always been in the list of valuable pearls of Azerbaijan musical treasury.

Long-term commitments of Arif Malikov in the development and promotion of Azerbaijani music culture has been highly appreciated by the state. He was found worthy of a number of honorary titles, and was bestowed by the following awards “Heydar Aliyev”, “Istiglal” and “Shohrat” which are regarded as the highest awards of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan's extraordinary masters of the voice are known to the world. Famous singer Bulbul (1897-1961) is the founder of professional Azerbaijani vocal arts.

Having graduated from the Milan Conservatory in 1931, this opera tenor made performances at numerous concerts venues around the world.

In August 2021, the House-Museum of People's Artist Bulbul, who made a great contribution to the development of Azerbaijani music culture and played an important role in the formation and evolution of the professional vocal school, was opened in the city of Shusha after restoration.

The participation of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva at the opening ceremony was a manifestation of Azerbaijan’s strong commitment to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the country and properly pass the following generations.

Another graduate of the Milan Conservatory was first Azerbaijani professional female singer Shovkat Mamamdova (1897-1981). She appeared on stage in Moscow, Kyiv, Saint Petersburg, Paris and other cities, and later went on to train new generation of singers as a talented teacher.

One of the voices that notably promoted Azerbaijan on the international level is that of Rashid Behbudov (1915-1989). This singer, who gained fame in dozens of countries from India to Latin America, is the founder of the Baku Song Theatre.

In December 2016, a solemn ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijani singer Rashid Behbudov was held at the Heydar Aliyev Palace. The event was organized under the Order of President Ilham Aliyev.

Muslum Magomayev is another distinguished Azerbaijani composer who had created spectacular works in the classical music field. Magomayev (1942-2008) managed to win the hearts of millions of fans from young age with miraculous baritone voice.

Having been trained at the La Scala theatre in Milan, he went on to win international competitions held in cities as Helsinki, Sopot and Cannes.

Today, Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, named after him, is also organizing various shows, which are based on classical music.

The traditions laid down by the coryphaeus are continued by the younger generation of Azerbaijani musicians.