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Opera in Azerbaijan is
basically a 20th century phenomenon which has
incorporated elements of Azerbaijani traditional music.
The first opera performances in Baku were staged at the
old Taghiyev Theater, a building that once stood on the
site where the new Musical Comedy Theater is presently
being constructed. The new theater should open this
year-1998.
The Azerbaijan State Theater of Opera and Ballet was
built in 1910. The circumstances surrounding its
construction add to its intrigue and romance. It seems
an Italian diva came to Baku in 1909. Astonished to find
that there was no proper opera house where she could
perform, she refused to sing.
According to the story, "The Bygone Days" written by
Manaf suleymanov, now in his mid-80s, a certain oil
baron by the name of Mailov fell in love with her and
offered to build an opera house in Baku if she would
return a year later.
But could such an ornate building be completed in a
single year? Oil baron and philanthropist Haji
Zeynalabdin Taghiyev who had constructed numerous
buildings in Baku had his doubts. And so he challenged
Mailov, betting him that it could not be done. If Mailov
succeeded within the deadline, Taghiev promised to
underwrite the costs of construction. Ten month later,
Taghiev had to shell out the money. The opera was ready.
Civil engineer and architect N. G. Bayev, a graduate of
the Institute of Civil Engineering in St. Petersburg
designed the building along the lines of the Renaissance
style architecture. The total costs for construction
exceeded 250,000 rubles (approximately $30,000) an
enormous sum of money for that period.
The Opera Theater which was so vital to musical culture
in Baku mysteriously burned down in 1985. It's still not
clear how the fire started. But the building had become
such a central landmark for music and culture that
officials decided to rebuild it. Three years later on
January 3, 1988, the Opera Theater opened again. Today
it stands as one of the most beautiful and majestic
symbols of cultural life in Azerbaijan. |
