(MENAFN- AzerNews) By Laman Ismayilova
Rauf Hajiyev-100 Music Festival kicked off in Baku, Azernews
reports.
The festival is dedicated to the 100th birthday anniversary of
the prominent composer, famous public figure, and People's Artist
of the USSR Rauf Hajiyev (1922-1995).
The large-scale event was organized in keeping with the
presidential order on holding Rauf Hajiyev's centenary. Within the
festival, the State Academic Musical Theater presented Rauf
Hajiyev's operetta Caucasus Niece (1969).
Deputy director of the State Academic Musical Theater, Ph.D. in
Art Studies Vafa Muhajirova declared the festival open. The Culture
Ministry representative musicologist Turan Mammadaliyeva spoke
about Rauf Hajiyev's legacy. The outstanding composer created a
myriad of musical masterpieces including symphonies, oratorios, and
cantatas that won world fame.
Rauf Hajiyev is the author of nearly 100 songs like My
Azerbaijan, Spring is coming, Baku, Leyla, around 20 symphonic and
classical compositions, six ballets, and nine operettas as well as
soundtracks for twenty movies.
His lyrical songs in a patriotic spirit, combining national
motives and modern style, entered the repertoire of famous
performers and played an important role in the development of the
song genre.
Rauf Hajiyev's operetta Caucasus Niece is characterized by its
superb music, interesting storyline, and subtle humor. The work was
initially popular in the Soviet time and continued the line of
lyrical operetta created by Rauf Hajiyev.
Honored Art Worker Ali Usubov put on Caucasus Niece on the stage
of the Moscow Operetta Theater in 1969 and soon, the operetta has
become a treasure in the golden fund of the Soviet classics.
For over 50 years, theater-goers from Russia, Belarus, Latvia,
and other countries have been able to enjoy an operetta, which is
distinguished by great music, an interesting storyline, and subtle
humor.
'Caucasus niece is distinguished by its magnificent music. As
the musicians like to say, there are no meaningless sounds in Rauf
Hajiyev's music. The full title of the work is Caucasus niece, or
Do not hide your smile since Rauf Hajiyev and his co-authors
described comical situations in the operetta, especially Biberli's
scams. When I started work, I thought, why don't we show the main
theme in the operetta, which is romance, which is brilliantly
reflected in music,' Ali Usubov said.
Chief Director of the theater Javid Imamverdiyev, conductor,
Honored Art Worker Fahraddin Atayev, choirmaster, Honored Artist
Vagif Mastanov as well as Honored Artists Nargiz Karimova Svetlana
Bulah, Boris Grafkin, actors Nijat Gabibov, Emil Heydarov, Mehriban
Zaliyeva, Rauf Babayev, Alimammad Novruzov and Firuz Mammadov gave
the audience a real celebration.
Well-known vocalist Qasim Xalilov shared his impressions about
the operetta with Trend Life.
'Dramaturgy and staging are so organically combined with Rauf
Hajiyev's music that the audience watched it with great pleasure
and interest. Despite the fact that the premiere of the performance
took place more than fifty years ago, it has not lost its relevance
and emotional perception to this day. The actions taking place on
stage and the dynamics did not let go of the audience for a second.
Ali Usubov's brilliant work and the actors made it possible to both
laugh and mourn, as well as plunged the audience into the romantic
atmosphere,' Qasim Xalilov said.
'The director superbly matched all the mise-en-scene, the
movements of the actors on stage to the music, which created
incredible dynamism. The music sounded in various styles -
operetta, Azerbaijani pop music, folklore, and even jazz and all
these music styles corresponded to acting and actors' movements on
the stage. The romance was superbly played. I would especially like
to note soloist Nargiz Karimova, who played the main character
Lala. She created a magnificent image of a romantic girl in love,'
he added.
Notably, Rauf Hajiyev-100 Music Festival will run in Baku and
Ganja cities until December 27.
The music festival features the composer's works as well as a
scientific and creative discussion dedicated to the memory of Rauf
Hajiyev.
Festival concerts, performances, and events are being held at
the Heydar Aliyev Palace, at the State Academic Musical Theater, at
the State Museum of Musical Culture of Azerbaijan, the Ganja State
Philharmonic Hall, at the International Mugham Center, and at the
State Academic Philharmonic Hall.
Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az
and Milli.Az.
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Tags: azerbaijani music music festival azerbaijani composer rauf hajiyev culture operetta azerbaijan state academic musical theater