Rubaba Muradova
Encyclopedia
Rubaba Khalil qizi Muradova , born Rubaba Ishragi (21 March 1930, Ardabil
– 28 August 1983, Baku
), was an Azerbaijan
i opera (mezzo soprano) and folk singer.
ian city of Ardabil
. In 1943, she moved to then Soviet Azerbaijan, and settled in the city of Ali Bayramli
. Since age 17, she acted in various roles at the local theatres. In 1950, a troupe from Baku was touring the region. During the tour, an actress for one of the main roles got sick, and the head trouper agreed to replace her by Rubaba Muradova for one night. Despite poor performance (according to Muradova herself), she was successful mostly due to her vocal improvisation of the role. She then was invited to move to Baku to pursue a degree in professional singing.
In 1953, she graduated from the Zeynalli College of Music in Baku, where she was taught by prominent khananda
Seyid Shushinski
. She started working at the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theatre in 1954. Her most famous role was that of Leyli in Uzeyir Hajibeyov
's Leyli and Majnun (1908). Muradova's lyric improvisations are remembered for their emotionality that would often bring people in the audience into tears. Her colleagues explained this such emotional singing by the diffuculties Muradova experienced in her personal life, particularly her being homesick for Ardabil
and not being able to visit it because of the closed Soviet-Iranian border.
In 1971, Rubaba Muradova became the People's Artist
of Azerbaijan.
Ardabil
Ardabil is a historical city in north-western Iran. The name Ardabil probably comes from the Zoroastrian name of "Artavil" which means a holy place. Ardabil is the center of Ardabil Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 412,669, in 102,818 families...
– 28 August 1983, Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
), was an Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
i opera (mezzo soprano) and folk singer.
Life and career
Rubaba Muradova was born to a family of a cleric in the IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian city of Ardabil
Ardabil
Ardabil is a historical city in north-western Iran. The name Ardabil probably comes from the Zoroastrian name of "Artavil" which means a holy place. Ardabil is the center of Ardabil Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 412,669, in 102,818 families...
. In 1943, she moved to then Soviet Azerbaijan, and settled in the city of Ali Bayramli
Ali Bayramli
Shirvan -Climate:The summer months are typically dry and very hot due Shirvan's semi-desert climate, temperature column could be risen to 44 °C often resulting in moderate drought conditions...
. Since age 17, she acted in various roles at the local theatres. In 1950, a troupe from Baku was touring the region. During the tour, an actress for one of the main roles got sick, and the head trouper agreed to replace her by Rubaba Muradova for one night. Despite poor performance (according to Muradova herself), she was successful mostly due to her vocal improvisation of the role. She then was invited to move to Baku to pursue a degree in professional singing.
In 1953, she graduated from the Zeynalli College of Music in Baku, where she was taught by prominent khananda
Khananda
A khananda is a name generally given to singers of mugham, an Azeri folk music genre. The word is of Persian origin and means "singer"...
Seyid Shushinski
Seyid Shushinski
Seyid Shushinski , born Mir Mohsun Seyid Ibrahim oglu Shushinski , was an Azerbaijani folk singer .-Early career:...
. She started working at the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theatre in 1954. Her most famous role was that of Leyli in Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir Hajibeyov
Uzeyir bey Abdul Hussein oglu Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer, conductor, publicist, playwright, teacher, translator, and social figure from Azerbaijan. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani classical music and opera...
's Leyli and Majnun (1908). Muradova's lyric improvisations are remembered for their emotionality that would often bring people in the audience into tears. Her colleagues explained this such emotional singing by the diffuculties Muradova experienced in her personal life, particularly her being homesick for Ardabil
Ardabil
Ardabil is a historical city in north-western Iran. The name Ardabil probably comes from the Zoroastrian name of "Artavil" which means a holy place. Ardabil is the center of Ardabil Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 412,669, in 102,818 families...
and not being able to visit it because of the closed Soviet-Iranian border.
In 1971, Rubaba Muradova became the People's Artist
People's Artist
People's Artist is a honorary title in the Soviet Union, Union republics, in some other Eastern bloc states , as well as in a number of post-Soviet states, modeled after the title of the People's Artist of the USSR....
of Azerbaijan.