Baku, August 22 (BNA): Azerbaijan has expressed its rich appreciation for a famous singer by unveiling his statue in the Baku Coastal National Park.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva unveiled the two-meter-high bronze statue of sculptor Omer Eldrov at a ceremony attended by dignitaries, family members, artists and fans.
According to his biography, Magomayev was born on August 17, 1942 in Baku, Azerbaijan. He became famous in the USSR in 1962, at the age of 19, after an excellent performance at the Kremlin Palace, Moscow.
In 1963, he became known in Europe after a successful performance at the Youth Festival in Helsinki, Finland.
At the age of thirty, Magomayev was one of the youngest recipients of the highest artistic title, People’s Artist of the USSR. He received many awards and honors for his contribution to opera and folk music in the Soviet Union.
Magomayev died of heart failure on October 25, 2008.
“The Azerbaijani people are rightly proud of Maslum Magomayev because he was a great singer and a great composer,” Aliyev said at the ceremony.
“He was like no other on the Soviet stage. Indeed, the songs performed by Muslum Magomayev make us all emotional even today. We all have our own memories of Muslum, including me.”
Aliyev said that a Muslim is very attached to his mother country.
“Although he spent most of his career in Moscow and toured other cities of the Soviet Union, he came to Baku several times a year, gave concerts and was always in touch with his friends.
“We held a number of meetings in particular and very friendly relations in both Moscow and Baku,” the minister was quoted by the Ertak news agency as saying.
“All of us knew Muslim as a wonderful performer, singer, composer, and most importantly a wonderful person, a respectable person and a reliable friend.”
Talking about a Muslim today is easy and difficult. Because he was a great character, as an artist and as a human being. One could talk about it for hours. At the same time, while referring to all his talents, those who knew him closely, those who loved him, first of all, remember him as a person, of course. “I’m sure you feel the same way,” he added.
“Even before he turned 30, he was awarded the title of People’s Artist of Azerbaijan, and at the age of 31 he was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the USSR. This is a rare event for a pop singer. In general, Muslim’s voice was a gift from God, and his unique style in Performance is a phenomenon, and no one has ever risen to their level then or today.
“Maslum’s attachment to his land is also reflected through his works. The songs he composed about Azerbaijan, the Land of Fire and the Caspian Sea are all at once wonderful and full of love for the motherland. These songs live and will live forever.”