THE LAST ORPHEUS MUSLIM MAGOMAYEV

Quite frankly, without much pathos, Muslim Magomayev was called the golden voice of the era. The one who left, but thanks to his songs lives in the hearts of millions of fans. And if not everyone from the younger generation remembers his name, then almost everyone has heard the “Ray of the Golden Sun …” from “The Bremen Town Musicians” performed by Muslim Magomayev. The singer did not just have a divinely beautiful, extraordinary voice, he put a particle of his own soul into each song, so the songs performed by Muslim Magomayev are an example of the highest art!

Muslim Magomayev: “Luck is a reward for courage”
People’s favorite, who literally wore on his hands, had an amazing baritone, which fascinated more than one generation. He was born in a famous Azerbaijani family on August 17, 1942. Grandfather was a pianist, composer and conductor. The grandson was named in his honor – Muslim, and he fully continued the work of the famous ancestor. Father did not return from the front, died a few days before the victory. Muslim’s mother – Ayshet Kinzhalova – was a dramatic actress.

Uncle Jamal’s house became a family forever for the boy, and his uncle replaced his father and grandfather. Singer Muslim Magomayev At the time when Muslim’s peers played with toy cars and tin soldiers, he put a grandfather music stand, took a pencil in his hands and led an imaginary orchestra.

In 1949, Muslim was sent to a music school at the Baku Conservatory. For the first time, the boy’s unique voice was spoken about when he was 8 years old — together with the choir, he diligently deduced “Sleep My Joy, Sleep.”

The main business of his life began with the Italian film “Young Caruso”. Every day at Uncle Muslim’s cottage he could watch the best films: captured, old and new. He continued his studies at the music school, but singing became his passion. He was shy about doing something with strangers and hiding his secret from his family and teachers. Together with his friends, Muslim created a secret society of music lovers, where he listened to vocal recordings, jazz music. Gradually from listening to practice.

Big ship – great sailing
singer Muslim Magomaev Magomayev could not continue his studies at the music school. Singing fascinated him so much that all other subjects became distracting, and he moved to a music school. There life was in full swing, and even concert practice was encouraged, and then Muslim was accepted into the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Baku Air Defense District. Once he was summoned to the Central Committee of the Komsomol of Azerbaijan and reported on the upcoming trip to the VIII World Festival of Youth and Students in Helsinki. Performances were a great success. Arriving in Moscow, Muslim saw his photo in the magazine Ogonyok with a note: “A young man from Baku conquers the world.”

The turning point in the biography of the singer was March 26, 1963. The Decade of Culture and Art of Azerbaijan was held in Moscow. The young performer was very warmly received. A couple of days later, TASS information appeared in newspapers from a concert by Azerbaijani artists, where it was reported: “Muslim Magomayev got the biggest success. His magnificent vocal, brilliant technique give ground to singer Muslim Magomayev to say that a richly gifted young artist has come to the opera ”.

He was offered to perform solo in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. And next year, the Baku Opera and Ballet Theater put forward the candidacy of 22-year-old Muslim for an internship at the Milan Theater “La Scala”. He went along with Anatoly Solovyanenko. This is an unprecedented for those times luck – to get at such a young age in the holy of holies of operatic art.

In the summer of 1966, Muslim Magomayev first went to France, where he was to perform on the stage of the famous Olympia Hall as part of a large group of Soviet artists. The director of the concert hall, Bruno Cockatrix, offered him to stay on tour for a year, but Muslim refused. The newspaper “Russian thought” wrote: “The young singer is the last number, and the public does not want to let him go, suits him more than a well-deserved ovation.”

Muslim Magomayev: “And there was little room for this song”
Soon Muslim Magomayev again found himself in France – in Cannes, where the next singer Muslim Magomayev was held at the International Festival of Recording and Musical Publications. His records sold fantastic 4.5 million copies. The singer from the USSR received the “golden disc”. The next few years were years of victories at various creative contests and music festivals where the audience applauded Muslim while standing.

Muslim Magomayev always had full-fledged foreign tours. Of the Soviet entertainers on the line of the State Concert, he first went to the United States. And at 31, he was awarded the highest award – the title of People’s Artist of the USSR. It was also a rare case when a singer, who does not have the title of People’s Artist of the Republic, was awarded the title within the Union.

Magomayev did not like interruptions – he preferred to sing in the same breath, he admitted that if he accelerates, it is difficult for him to stop.