August 17 marks the 84th anniversary of the birth of Muslim Magomayev, a bright star of world musical culture and a People’s Artist of Azerbaijan and the USSR.
Sea-news.az reports that having captured the hearts of millions with his wondrous voice, wide creative range, and unique performance mastery, the artist is considered a symbol and legend of the former Soviet pop stage.
Performing for the first time at the age of 14 at a sailors’ club in Baku, the singer returned from the 8th World Festival of Youth and Students in Helsinki in 1962 with a medal, acting on the recommendation of Maestro Niyazi. At that time, the popular Ogonek magazine published an article about him titled “A Young Man from Baku Conquers the World.”
As a soloist at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Magomayev interned at the famous La Scala theater in Milan, Italy. He is one of the first artists to bring classical opera arias into the realm of pop music.
Thanks to his rich creative work and popularity, he was awarded the honorary title of People’s Artist of the USSR at the young age of 31. With a repertoire of around 600 pieces, his renditions of Uzeyir Hajibeyov’s romances “Sənsiz” (Without You) and “Sevgili canan” (Beloved Soul), composed to Nizami Ganjavi’s ghazals, are considered the highest philosophical peak where the spirits of three great geniuses converge.
His immortal song “Azerbaijan,” composed to the lyrics of Nabi Khazri, resonates as our people’s unofficial anthem. The artist also starred in the films Muslim Magomayev Sings, Nizami, and Moscow in Notes.
The Azerbaijan State Variety-Symphony Orchestra, created and led by Muslim Magomayev, played a vital role in the development of national music. For his services, he was awarded independent Azerbaijan’s highest honors, the “Shohrat” and “Istiglal” orders.
As his life partner, USSR People’s Artist Tamara Sinyavskaya, emphasized, Muslim Magomayev is a great musician of all times, and the monument of art he created will live forever.
