Moscow honoured legendary Muslim Magomayev

 A commemorative event on the 70th anniversary of legendary Azerbaijani singer Muslim Magomayev has been held in the Russian capital.

Representatives of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s Office in Russia, employees of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress and Russian society laid flowers at the monument of the great singer m in Moscow.

Magomayev (August 17, 1942 – October 25, 2008), dubbed the "King of Songs" and the "Soviet Sinatra" was a Soviet and Azerbaijani baritone operatic and pop singer of the 1960s and 1970s. He achieved iconic status in Russia and the post-Soviet countries, including his native Azerbaijan, for his vocal talent and charisma.

Magomayev was awarded several honors including People`s Artist of Azerbaijan, People`s Artists of the USSR (1973), Order of Honour (Russian Federation), Order of the Red Banner of Labour, Order of Friendship of Peoples, Istiglal Order, and Order of "Heart of Darko." He became the art director of the Azerbaijan State Bandstand-Symphonic Orchestra in 1975 and toured in France, Bulgaria, Finland, and Canada.

He earned fame in the USSR as an opera singer with his performance in Rossini`s "Barber of Seville". He also became known for his arias from Puccini`s "Tosca", Hajibeyov`s "Koroghlu" and "Shah Ismayil", which was composed by his grandfather.

In 1964–1965, Muslim was a visiting artist at La Scala in Milan, but turned down the invitation to sing in the Moscow Bolshoi Theater upon his return. Instead, the singer turned to popular music, becoming a pop idol for several generations of music lovers in the Soviet Union. Muslim Magomayev`s popularity in the USSR was overwhelming. He quickly became a cult figure and gave three concerts a day filling huge arenas all across the Soviet Union, while his albums sold millions.

In 1969 he received the MIDEM Gold Disc Award in Cannes for album sales of over 4.5 million units. In 1973, at the age of 31, Muslim was awarded the Soviet Union`s highest artistic title: People`s Artist of the USSR.

Magomayev was also known as a composer, writing several film soundtracks. In addition, Magomayev acted in films and hosted television and radio broadcasts devoted to prominent musicians of the 20th century.

In 1997, in recognition of Magomayev`s professional successes, a Russian astronomical society named a planetoid of the solar system in his honor, 4980 Magomaev.


/AzerTAc/