The Orchestra
The Azerbaijan State Symphonic Orchestra was established in 1920 by initiative of the founder of Azerbaijan professional music, Uzeyir Hajibeyli. Being one of the first orchestras in the former Soviet Union, the Azerbaijan State Symphonic Orchestra has played a significant role in the promotion of professional music since the very first day of its establishment. It is affiliated with the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society.
Composers such as Rhené-Baton and Otto Klemperer were invited from abroad to assist in establishing and training the orchestra body. From 1938 to 1984, Hajibeyov's nephew Niyazi was conducting the orchestra. After his death, the conducting has been performed by People's Artist of Azerbaijan, Professor Rauf Abdullayev. The orchestra has toured a number of countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, and Egypt.
Uzeyir Hajibeyov (1885–1948)
Uzeyir bey Abdul Huseyn oglu Hajibeyov (September 18, 1885 – November 23, 1948) was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer, conductor, publicist, playwright, teacher, translator, and social figure. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani composed classical music and opera, and was the first composer of an opera in the Islamic world.
Hajibeyov composed the music of the national anthem of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (re-adopted after Azerbaijan regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991). He was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1938 — during the entire Soviet history, only three or four Azerbaijani musicians ever attained this level. He was also honored with the Order of Lenin and the Stalin Prize (won twice: 1941 for the opera Koroghlu, and 1946 for the 1945 film based on his opera Arshin Mal Alan).
Amongst his accomplishments are several operas based on folk fables including Ârshîn Mâl âlân and Kür-üghli, plus compositions based on the mystical verses of Nézâmî Gandjavî, the 12th century Persian poet and Sufi philosopher. Hajibeyov died at the age of 63 and was buried at the Alley of Honor in Baku.
