Baku honors memory of legendary maestro Niyazi

Thirty three years have passed since the death of prominent Azerbaijani conductor, Niyazi Hajibeyov.

The collective of the Azerbaijan State Museum of Musical Culture and Niyazi's home-museum vested the grave of the maestro in the Alley of Honor on August 2.

Music lovers were able to visit the maestro's home-museum for free. Documentary films about the maestro, concerts as well as video materials featuring "Rast" mughamballet and "Chitra" ballet were screened here.

Niyazi Hajibeyov, known simply by his first name "Niyazi", conducted major symphony orchestras in Prague, Berlin, Budapest, Bucharest, New York, Paris, Istanbul, London, Tehran and Beijing.

The maestro played a significant role in making Azerbaijan’s classical music known to the world.

The maestro was one of the first composers in Azerbaijan who wrote music for film and theater.

Niyazi's most significant works include the opera "Khosrow and Shirin" (1942), and the ballet "Chitra" (1960). His symphonic mugam "Rast" achieved worldwide popularity and was included to the repertoire of many symphony orchestras around the world.

Niyazi was honored as the People's Artist of the USSR (1959) and received the USSR State Prize (1951, 1952) and highest title of the USSR, the Hero of Labor (1982).

He was also the conductor and music director of the Azerbaijan State Symphony orchestra for 46 years, from 1938 to his death. The maestro died on August 2, 1984.