Uzeyir Hajibayli’s mugham opera “Leyli and Majnun” in the context of the world musical culture

The beginning of the twentieth century was marked by a very important and significant event in the cultural life of Azerbaijan. In 1907, Uzeyir Hajibayli wrote the opera “Leyli and Majnun”. It was the first opera in the East. A new genre, mugham opera, was... More

The beginning of the twentieth century was marked by a very important and significant event in the cultural life of Azerbaijan. In 1907, Uzeyir Hajibayli wrote the opera “Leyli and Majnun”. It was the first opera in the East. A new genre, mugham opera, was born. It was the first opera based on national folklore. Mugham is the principal musical material of the opera. It has been performed for more than a century, but still, the opera is popular and loved by the public. Moreover, it won love and recognition all over the world and is successfully performed in different countries. What is the secret of its popularity? I would like to emphasize three components, among many factors: 1) It is mugham itself – a genre that unites all Near and Middle East nations and is admired by them. 2) It is a brilliant self-titled poem written by Fuzuli that describes the tragic story of two lovers. This theme is one of the favorite themes of the East. Academician Ignatiy Yulianovich Less