Muslim Magomayev | |
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| Муслим Магомаев Müslüm Maqomayev | |
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| Born | Muslim Muhammad oghlu Magomayev (1942-08-17)17 August 1942 |
| Died | 25 October 2008(2008-10-25) (aged 66) |
| Resting place | Alley of Honor,Baku,Azerbaijan |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, composer, actor |
| Years active | 1962–2008 |
| Title | People's Artist of the USSR(1973) |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Muslim Magomayev(paternal grandfather) |
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Muslim Muhammad oghlu Magomayev[a] (Azerbaijani:Müslüm Məhəmməd oğlu Maqomayev /Мүслүм Мәһәммәд оғлу Магомајев;[b] 17 August 1942 – 25 October 2008), dubbed the "SovietSinatra",[1] was aSoviet andRusso-Azerbaijaniopera andpop singer.[2] He achieved widespread recognition throughout Russia and thepost-Soviet world for his vocal talent and charisma,[3] including aPeople's Artist of the USSR award in 1973.[4]
Muslim Magomayev represented one of the most respected artistic dynasties in Azerbaijan. His grandfatherMuslim Magomayev (1885–1937), a friend and contemporary of the prominent Azerbaijani composerUzeyir Hajibeyov, was one of the founders of modern Azerbaijani classical music. Magomayev's father, Mahammad Magomayev, who died two days prior to thedefeat of Nazi Germany inWorld War II while serving as a soldier in theSoviet Army, was a giftedscenic designer; and his mother, Aishet Kinzhalova, was an actress, who deserted him with his paternal grandmother when he was less than a year old.[5] Magomayev's father was of mixed origin whose parents moved to Azerbaijan fromChechnya andGeorgia respectively, whereas hisAdygea-born mother was paternally ofTurkish origin and maternally ofCircassian (Adyghe) andRussian descent.[6] However, when asked about his ethnicity, Magomayev considered himselfAzerbaijani.[7]
After his adoption by his grandmother he learned to play the piano as a child, and began to take voice lessons at the age of 14. As a teenager, he became interested in Italian songs, Americanjazz, and other styles of popular music. He majored in piano and composition at theBaku Academy of Music.[5]
He was 19 when he first performed at an international youth music festival inHelsinki.[5] His performance was noted byYekaterina Furtseva, then Minister of Culture of the Soviet Union, who offered him to be a soloist at theBolshoi Theatre. Magomayev declined the offer.[8] In 1962, at the age of 20, Magomayev first appeared inMoscow where he performed during the Days of Azerbaijani Culture.[5] He sang an aria fromGounod’sFaust, and the song "Do the Russians Want War?" in a gala concert at theKremlin Palace of Congresses, and became a celebrity on the spot.[5] He recorded three songs with Azerbaijani composerAsya Sultanova. A year later, he gave his first solo concert in the Moscow Tchaikovsky Concert Hall to a full house and became a soloist of theAzerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. Muslim earned fame in the USSR as an opera singer with his performance inRossini's "The Barber of Seville". He also became known for his arias fromPuccini's "Tosca",Hajibeyov's "Koroghlu" and "Shah Ismayil", which was composed by his grandfather.[9]
In 1964 and 1965, Muslim was a visiting artist atLa Scala inMilan, but turned down the invitation to sing in the MoscowBolshoi Theatre upon his return. Instead, the singer turned to popular music, becoming a cult figure ofsoviet estrada for several generations of music lovers in the Soviet Union. Muslim Magomayev's popularity in the USSR was overwhelming. He used to give three concerts a day filling huge arenas all across the Soviet Union, while his albums sold millions.
In 1966 and 1969, Magomayev performed inOlympia with great success. The director of OlympiaBruno Coquatrix offered him a contract, and Magomayev was seriously considering an opportunity to pursue an international career, but Yekaterina Furtseva refused to grant the Ministry of Culture's permission, claiming that it needed Magomayev to perform at government concerts. In 1969, he received theMidem Gold Disc Award inCannes for album sales of over 4.5 million units. In 1973, at the age of 31, Muslim was awarded the Soviet Union's highest artistic title:People's Artist of the USSR.[10]
Magomayev moved to Moscow in the early 1970s. He became the art director of the Azerbaijan State Bandstand-Symphonic Orchestra in 1975 and toured inItaly,France,Bulgaria,Finland,Canada,United States,Cuba and other countries.
Magomayev was also known as a composer, writing several film soundtracks and songs. In addition, Magomayev acted in films and hostedtelevision andradio broadcasts devoted to prominent musicians of the 20th century.
Magomayev was an influence on many important Soviet musical figures, includingAlla Pugacheva, who often spoke fondly of him.[11]
Magomayev married when he was 19, to Ofelia Veliyeva, but the union did not last a year.[5] His daughter from that first marriage, Marina,[12] lives in the United States.[5] He eventually remarried, this time to the opera singerTamara Sinyavskaya.[5]
In later life, Magomayev struggled with a serious heart condition.[5]
In the early 2000s, Magomayev officially stopped his musical career and gave only a few performances, together with his wife. He died on 25 October 2008 in his flat inMoscow from a heart attack.[13][14] He was buried in theAlley of Honor in his native city ofBaku, next to his grandfather, on 29 October.[15] The funeral ceremony was attended by Azerbaijani PresidentIlham Aliyev, Magomayev's widow Tamara Sinyavskaya, his daughter Marina, as well as state officials and international delegations.[12] Thousands of people came to pay a final tribute to the singer.[12][16]
Istiglal Order (Azerbaijan, 2002)
Shohrat Order (Azerbaijan, 1997)
Order of Honour (Russia, 2002)
Order of the Red Banner of Labour (USSR, 1971)
Order of Friendship of Peoples (USSR, 1980)In 1997, aminor planet of theSolar System,4980 Magomaev, was named in his honor.[citation needed]
Броская внешность матери, ее одаренность, видимо, в большой степени оттого, что в ней намешано много кровей: ее отец был турок, мать — наполовину адыгейка, наполовину русская... Сама она из Майкопа, а театральное образование получила в Нальчике. Много лет спустя я встретил там одного старого актера, который сказал мне, что учился вместе с моей матерью. Когда я рассказал ей об этой встрече, она вспомнила его.
