Shafiga Akhundova

Shafiga Akhundova (1924-2013) Azerbaijani composer, Honoured Arts worker of Azerbaijan SSR (1973), People’s Artist of Azerbaijan (1998), student of Uzeyir Hajibeyli, the first female author of an opera in the East. “Gelin gayasi” opera (1972).
In 1943–1944, Shafiga Akhundova got her primary education at Baku Musical School named after Asaf Zeynally, where he was taught by Uzeyir Hajibeyli. Then, in 1956, she continued her education at Azerbaijan State Conservatoire named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli, where she graduated from the class of B.Zeydman. In 1972, Shafiga Akhundova composed her first opera “Galin gayasi” (Bride’s rock) based on the povest of Suleyman Rahimov. It was the first opera composed by a female composer. Shafiga Akhundova was conferred a title of Honoured Arts worker of Azerbaijan in 1973 and People’s Artist of Azerbaijan in 1998. In 2004 she was awarded with the “Shohrat” Order.
Shafiga Akhundova died on 26 July 2013 and has been buried in Baku in the Alley of Honor.
Her works: “Galin gayasi” opera (1972), “Our home, our secret” operetta, “In cotton fields” work for orchestra (1948), “In life” romance for soprano and orchestra (based on Nizami Ganjavi’s poem, 1947), two dramas for fortepiano (1946) sonatina (1946) and etc.