If Not That One, Then This One
The operetta was reviewed in the Kaspi newspaper of April 7, 1911, which noted that its music included both traditional and newly-written melodies.
[4] The premiere of If not that one was held in Baku, on April 25, 1911 at the Mailov brothers' theatre (today the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater).
[5] Many actors and singers took part on staging of the musical in following years, including Alihuseyn Gafarli (Mashadi Ibad), Lutfali Abdullayev (Hambal), Nasiba Zeynalova (Senem), Lutfiyar Imanov (Sarvar, Rza bey), and Hajibaba Baghirov (Mashadi Ibad).
It was translated into many languages and was successfully staged in cities of South Caucasus, Turkey, Yemen and Tabriz and others.
[7] If not that one was staged by actors of the Azerbaijan State Theatre of Musical Comedy under the guidance of Jannat Salimova, during the 27th International Fajr Festival, which was held in Tehran in 2009.
Sarvar reads Fuzûlî's gazals to Gulnaz , who informs him that her father Rustam bey is going to marry her to the old merchant Mashadi Ibad.
They all visit Rustam bey's house and call on him to explain why he is marrying his daughter to a third party, whilst promising her to Mashadi Ibad.
If not this one, then that one is considered one of the major comedies of prerevolutionary Azerbaijan, ranked with the satirical works of Mirza Fatali Akhundov and Jalil Mammadguluzadeh.
[10] Hajibeyov ridicules commonplace family prejudices of his time, when a woman had to agree with demands of her father, such as marrying to an old man, or sitting under lock and key if her husband wants, and who can be disowned for her disobedience.
According to Matthew O'Brian, support of woman rights is the central point of Uzeyir Hajibeyov's comedy.
Unlike other heroes of Hajibeyov's operas, they are characterized as active persons, who do not accept a passive approach to their destiny.
Rustam bey, who wants to sell his only beautiful daughter to Mashadi Ibad is characterized by immorality, idleness and fear when facing inevitable downfall.
Musicologist Elmira Abbasova notes that Uzeyir Hajibeyov records the speech of representatives of various sectors of society of that time with precision and artistry.
The theme of satire of everyday life relations in prerevolutionary Azerbaijan, in which spongers, rich men, and rogues from various sectors of society were ridiculed, was familiar to audiences from other countries, for example, to Tajik and Uzbek spectators, and it found a keen response among them.
[12] Abbasova opines that all the music of the operetta forms an important component of the action, extending the characteristics of the dramatis personae, and promoting the active and natural development of events.
The clumsy and arrogant merchant Mashadi Ibadm, the main anti-hero of the comedy, is presented with undisguised frankness.
The song "In spite of my old age" is based on the traditional eloquent "Uzundara" melody, which is transformed by Mashadi Ibad's version in which he cynically argues about love.
The parody portrait of this unlucky groom is continued in subsequent passages; for example, the traditional melody "Darchiny" becomes a comic song for Mashadi Ibad and Rustam bey in duet.
The music acquires a sad and lyrical character, while groom feels the moral superiority of the girl over him.
But anger and disgust can be heard in Mashadi Ibad's voice in the ensemble "It is impossible", because has now learnt about the love between Gulnaz and Sarvar.
Abbasova remarks that music of this comedy reveals a m ore advanced and multifaceted portrait of character than its predecessor (Husband and wife).
It featured Aliagha Aghayev (Mashadi Ibad), Aghasadyg Garaybeyli (Rustam bey), Tamara Gozalova (Gulnaz), Arif Mirzaguliyev (Sarvar), Mohsun Sanani (Gochu Asger) and Lutfali Abdullayev (Baloghlan).
A trio consisting of khananda Khan Shushinski (daf), Talat Bakikhanov (kamancha) and Bahram Mansurov (tar) perform the Seygah mugham in the dinner party scene at Rustam bey's house.
People's Artist of Azerbaijan Amina Dilbazi dances in Gulnaz's preparation ceremony scene.
In 2004, a cinema film Mashadi Ibad 94, starring Aygun Kazimova, was shot by Planeta Parni iz Baku studio based on motifs of the operetta, but set in 1994.
