Farhad Badalbeyli: "Uzeyir Hajibeyov's 'Arshin mal alan' helped Azerbaijan more than diplomats"

Why symphonic and classical music is not being written in Azerbaijan?

The number of young composers writing symphonic music is few. The composers writing classical and symphonic music are not so many in the world. You can rarely come across to these composers even in Beethoven's, Bram's country, Germany. We are not living in the period of Gara Garayev, Fikret Amirov, the society has changed. Show-business governs now, because it is easy to get fame in show-business. But symphony composers work on one note for hours. Garayev, Amirov were respected and paid enough money. When the composer was writing a symphony, the government was sending him to Moscow to rest. That is why classical music was developing at that time. Today the royalties are rising up in Culture and tourism ministry. The money should not be main, the main is composer's ambitious, his talent. We should help young composers today, because they have too much problem. Otherwise classical music will die.

The state budget for next year envisages the least for culture. What can you say about the development of culture in this case?

The culture was an ideology in Soviet period. We criticize and insult the communists, but they treated to the Soviet culture as an ideology. That is why Garayev, Shostakovich were respected. They knew that their plays are like the trumps in US. We understand that we live in bad conditions now. We should know that the culture takes the leading part in the information struggle. It was interesting for every-one in Austria when 'Arshin mal alan' was staged, they appreciated Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijani drama highly. Uzeyir Hajibeyov's 'Arshin mal alan' helped Azerbaijan more than our diplomats.

If Garayev's, Amirov's music be sounded in some countries of the world, negative impressions on Muslims will be destroyed. I feel sorry that the parliamentarians treat our culture this way. We saw everything what about our followers? Is Azerbaijan Abu-Dabi? Everything is made of gold in Abu-Dabi, unfortunately they do not have literature, theatre, music, opera. I should have participated in the sitting of Azerbaijani Parliament standing commission on culture, but I could not. Ganja is better than Baku, recently I had a concert in Ganja, the people were listening classical music so attentively. That is why I say we should pay attention not only to Baku, but also to the regions. I want to live in Ganja after celebrating my 60th anniversary. We take care of sport, built sport complexes in every region, but culture? Why should not we have our schools, theatres? After all it is our culture. Uzeyr Hajibeyov's way is golden way. Let's not destroy the culture left by him. I would like to believe that the parliament will envisage resources from state budget for culture. The librarians, museum workers get 10-20AzN, it is a shame. It means we do not need libraries, museums. Let’s close them and open shops on their places.

Do we need any new legislative decisions for the development of national music?

We should not afraid of expressing our attitude. We praise some people by giving them the titles world famous, outstanding. But no-one knows him even in Mashtagha. Efrasiyab Bederbeyli and Jafar Jafarov were real critics. No one accepted their criticism as insult. That is why Zeyneb Khanlarova's Leyli is remembered by every-one. Today every newcomer in show-business praise himself. It should not be this way, they should have goals. My students Murad Adigozelzadeh and Murad Huseynov continue Hajibeyov's way. We should have more followers to continue the chain, our school in every sphere otherwise there is no end for out culture. It is banned to display 20 % of US films in France, because they display these movies all day. American movies are being displayed more often than Italian, French movies on our TV channels.

Is it possible to do anything in this sphere?

The chief of Union of Writers Anar, The chief of Union of Artists Farhad Khalilov and I said for several times that we need culture TV channel. It is necessary to broadcast the programs about the most famous museums, art works of the world on this channel.

After all, our people do not opportunity to travel all the countries of the world. That is why it is very important step. Recently a German lady sang my work 'The genius of two women.' The Germans were surprised that Muslim wrote 'Ave Mariya.' Our main weapon in struggle with Armenians is our culture.

There are some discontents with honorary names. What is your view point?

We always said with Anar that honorary names should be abolished. This is a very cheap mechanism and the continuation of soviet mechanism. Does anybody need Peoples artist title? It is very funny. Instead of conferring the honorary titles, increase the salaries, let them go and represent Azerbaijan abroad.

What is the reason of our weak participation in international festivals, contests?

Today we have Alim Gasimov, Aziza Mustafazadeh, Murad Huseynov, Murad Adigozelzadeh. Our symphonic orchestra visits German every month, recently Gara Garayev Chamber orchestra came from German. The situation is getting better day by day. We should have a goal to participate in Eurovision song contest. I want Briliant Dadashova to participate there with Vokaliz. If we want to participate in this contest we should prepare. I am not satisfied with the level of Akademiya song contest being held in Azerbaijan. I do not see any composer in the same level with Tofig Guliyev and Said Rustemov.

Do you satisfy with our young composers?

I write music, buy do not call myself composer. You should have good school to be the composer. Some singers even do not know notes. It is easy to write wedding music, but to write symphony is very difficult and it requires half year.

Can lack of symphonic specialists stop activity of Orchestras?

Certainly. Uzeyir Hajibeyov brought musicians from Moscow, Leningrad. We want to involve good specialists. 300 000 AZN was allocated with president's decree and we intend to buy 20 pianos. We should have strategic program fir the development of the culture. No-one thinks of building concert hall in Baku. Heydar Aliyev Palace was built 30 years ago.

Do you accept synthesis as new method?

Yes, I accept. It is not impossible to accept Alim Gasimov's synthesis with Vagif Mustafazadeh as something modern. But I do not accept rap with mugham, rap with meykhana. Mugham is a classical music. It is possible to do any experiment abroad. We should make some changes to Leyli and Mejnun, because it is XXI century.

Does your post impede your activity?

It impedes. I will resign after celebrating my 60th anniversary.