Afrasiyab Badalbeyli

Afrasiyab Badalbeyli (1907-1976) Azerbaijani composer, conductor, author of the first Azerbaijani ballet “Giz Galasi” (The Maiden Tower, 1940), librettos and other works. After completing his education in Baku A.Badalbeyli continued his education at a music school affiliated with the Leningrad Conservatory. At the age of 20 Afrasiyab Badalbeyli composed music for Jafar Jabbarly’s staged play named “Od Galini”. This music was highly appreciated by musicologists. For a while he worked as a conductor assistant in Moscow and Leningrad cities. He worked as a conductor at the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theatre from 1938 to the end of his life. Afrasiyab Badalbeyli is an author of the first ballet of Azerbaijan music. By composing “Giz Galasi” (The Maiden Tower) ballet in his 22, he became the founder of this genre in Azerbaijan music history.