Muslum Magomaev

Muslum Magomayev (1885-1937). Azerbaijani composer, conductor, public figure, the closest friend of Uzeyir Hajibeyli. The author of “Shah Ismail” and “Nargiz” operas and other works.
Abdul Muslum Magomayev was born in Grozny. He had studied at a primary school in Grozny and learned playing violin, and later he has studied at Gori Pedagogical Seminary. There was Uzeyir Hajibeyli among his fellow students who later became his friend, companion and brother-in-law. He learned playing on oboe and became soloist of the seminary orchestra and sometimes performed as conductor. At this time, he actively began to learn Azerbaijani folk music. After graduating from the Seminary he started to work at a school in Lankaran and organized musical nights and spectacles there. In 1911 he moved to Baku and first became soloist and later the conductor of Azerbaijan Musical Theatre.
In 1919, Magomayev composed his first big and most famous work - “Shah Ismail” opera. There were more dialogues in the first edition of the opera and the music was based on improvisation and mugham principles. Yet, in the second and third editions dialogues were replaced with recitatives. “Shah Ismail” is an important stage in the development of Azerbaijani music as in this opera folk music ideas (mainly improvisations) have been worked in opera forms.
Along with his composer activity, Muslim Magomayev was socially active: he led Azerbaijan department of the People's Commissariat for Education. He was artistic director of musical theatre and in 1929 he was appointed musical leader of Azerbaijan Radio center. In 1935 Muslum Magomayev was conferred a title of Honoured Arts worker of Azerbaijan SSR.
Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall bears Magomayev’s name.