Nizami (opera)

[1][2] The music and the libretto of the opera were written by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli based on the plot and motives of Mammad Said Ordubadi's novel the "Sword and Feather".

The work is assessed by specialists as a positive experience in terms of expanding in Azerbaijan the thematic, genre range and the novelty of the content in this direction.

In his works, the peculiarities of the oriental thinking, the views of life, the concept of time and space found their high artistic expression.

Possessing rich encyclopaedic knowledge, Nizami played an important role in the convergence and development of the Eastern and Western cultures.

Those, inspired by the poetry of Nizami, wrote numerous musical works of various genres based on the poet’s creation "Khamsa", gazelles and on the basis of his life path.

Nizami’s poems were also perceived by the musicologists as valuable examples for studying the musical culture of the era the poet lived in.

[9]Creating the opera "Nizami", Afrasiyab Badalbeyli used the plot and motives of the novel the "Sword and Pen" by the Azerbaijani Soviet writer Mamed Said Ordubadi.

In the new post-war peaceful conditions, the content and themes of the literary and artistic works and all types of art have been significantly renewed.

The authors in many genres began to be attracted by the topics related to history, the significant events of the past, the literary monuments and the nation's cultural heritage.

New themes and images led to search for new genres, forms, means of expression, expanding the range of creativity in certain areas of art.

Badalbeyli set himself the goal of creating an image of the historical personality, poet, philosopher, in a genre not previously represented in the national opera, and thus bringing something new to it.

The composer, pursuing the goal of glorifying the famous poet in music, for the first time brought to the stage a living image of a person whom the people knew well and who embodied all the best qualities of the mankind.

[11] The stage director was the People's Artist of the USSR Ismayil Hidayatzade, the conductor was the Honoured Art Worker, the author of the opera "Nizami" Afrasiyab Badalbeyli.

The roles were played by: Murtuza Mamedov (Bulbul) - Nizami Ganjavi, Sona Mustafayeva - Azra, Fatma Mukhtarova - Rena, Huseynagha Hajibababekov - Khosrov, Aghababa Bunyadzada - ruler Gizil Arslan, Boyukagha Mustayev - Amin Kharis, and others.

The opera's events take place in Ganja, which at the described time was a point of the collision of the various states and forces' interests.

The characters of the opera - Nizami Ganjavi and people close to him in spirit - are representatives of various social’s strata who care about the fate of their hometown.

[14] The part of Nizami in the opera represents the great poet in arias and arioso as a noble man who loves his people and the hometown.

[22][23][24] Afrasiyab Badalbeyli accompanies the image of the tender and sincere Rena, with whom Nizami is in love, with a lyrical melody close to the repertoire of the classical opera.

The protagonist of the novel, the poet Nizami Ganjavi, witnessed many events that negatively affected his personal life and creation.

It shows the poet's image, the atmosphere of the political and social life of the Azerbaijani people of those distant years, the complex world of human relations.

Heydar Aliyev noted that Fikret Amirov's ballet “One Thousand and One Nights”, Jahangir Jahangirov’s opera “The Fate of Khananda” and the poem “On the other side of Araz”, the opera “Nizami” by the famous representative of the Badalbeyli dynasty Afrasiyab Badalbeyli and, along with them, many symphonic works are great events in the musical life of Azerbaijan.

Lala Azeri notes that “the "Nizami" opera by Afrasiyab Badalbeyli has become a significant event in the musical culture of Azerbaijan in terms of expanding the ideological-thematic, figurative-genre range in the operatic creation.

For the first time, the author brought on the opera stage the immortal image of the genius Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi...

In this work, Nizami Ganjavi and the people close to him who care about the fate of the city are fighting against those who are looking for their own benefit and thirst for power.

Afrasiyab Badalbeyli devoted a wide space to the choral scenes in the opera, bringing the role of this genre to the fore.

The work is assessed by experts as a positive experience in terms of updating the content and expanding the genre and the thematic range of this direction in Azerbaijan."

Lala Azeri adds that “although the staging life of the opera “Nizami” was short, its music is distinguished by an unusual melody.

The outstanding singers Fatma Mukhtarova and Rakhila Jabbarova performed arias from the opera "Nizami" with a great skill.

And at present, Nizami's aria, performed by the soloist of the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Mirza Fatali Akhundov the Honoured Artist Ramil Gasimov continues its life."

In 1939, in connection with the upcoming 800th anniversary of Nizami Ganjavi, Afrasiyab Badalbeyli was entrusted with the creation of an opera about the life of the great thinker and poet of the 12th century.