Uzeyir Hajibayli's operetta "The Cloth Peddler" (Arshin Mal
Alan) has left a deep mart in the history of Azerbaijani music.
The operetta combines the traditions of European classical and
Azerbaijani national music.
Hajibayli composed the operetta in Saint Petersburg. His
masterpiece was staged on October 25, 1913.
The operetta got its name from the characteristic word used for
street cloth merchants, who measured the fabric with an 'arshin'
(unit of length).
The action of the operetta takes place in Shusha, the city where
the composer grew up.
So, women in the East have long worn a veil, they were not
allowed to appear on the street with an open face. The girls got
married, as a rule, at the will of their parents. The groom in most
cases also saw his bride only after the wedding.
Uzeyir Hajibayli's operetta tells about a young man who
pretended to be a cloth peddler in order to see his future
wife.
The image of the protagonist of the Asgar is generally expressed
in an aria, the words of which are taken from the famous ghazal of
the great Azerbaijani poet Fuzuli. The arias of the second main
character Gulchohra, are imbued with a sense of sadness and
expectation.
The images of the other characters, as well as the choir of
girls, are expressed in a genre way through cheerful songs and
dances, which recreate the spirit of folk life.
At the same time, Hajibayli brilliantly blended the traditions
of European classics and Azerbaijani folk music.
For the first time, the operetta was staged by the outstanding
director Huseyn Arablinsky.
After the brilliant premiere, "Arshin Mal Alan" started its
triumph on world stages. It was translated into 80 languages and
staged in nearly 200 theaters in 80 countries.
The film was shot in 1945 based on the same-name operetta. The
musical comedy was filmed by directors Rza Tahmasib and Nikolai
Leshchenko. The main roles in the film were played by Rashid
Behbudov and Leyla Javanshirova.
The musical film has been shown in 136 countries and translated
into 86 languages. The film broke the record in the number of
viewers in almost 50 countries.
The musical story of the romantic and touching love of Asgar and
Gulchohra still excites and attracts listeners from all over the
world.
Uzeyir Hajibayli's masterpiece has been recently demonstrated in
Canada.
The composer's timeless work was presented at the Greenwin
Theater of the Meridian Arts Center in Toronto with the support of
the Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Diaspora.
Azerbaijani Music and Dance Ensemble "Tabriz" mesmerized the
Canadian audience with their wonderful performance.
The performances of the soloists, dancers and musicians in
traditional costumes, the voices of the vocalists made a great
impression on more than three hundred spectators.
The operetta will also be staged in other Canadian cities.
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