Farhad Shamsi oglu Badalbeyli is an outstanding Azerbaijani pianist and composer. He was born in 1947 in the family of the famous Azerbaijani producer and People’s Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR.

Farhad Badalbeyli graduated from Azerbaijan State Conservatoire in 1969. He has done his post-graduate studies at Moscow State Conservatoire between the years of 1969-1971. He became famous after International competitions: Smetana competition in Czechoslovakia (1967, III Premium and special prize), and Vianna da Motta competition in Portugal (1968, I Premium).

His second area of activity is organizational and enlightening one. He was first Deputy chairman of Azerbaijan musical society within 1986-1989. He initiated creation of Union of Azerbaijan music figures. He chairs it starting from 1989. He became a member of the foundation “Friends of Azerbaijan Culture” in 1995. 1971 started to teach at Azerbaijan State Conservatoire and he is rector of the same institution since 1991.

He is Honored Artist of Azerbaijan (1972); People’s Artist of Azerbaijan (1978); People’s Artist of the USSR (1990); Laureate of Azerbaijan State Premium (1986).

As an outstanding pianist, public figure, enlightener, and educator Farhad Badalbeyli is remarkable in Azerbaijan culture. The essence of his comprehensive activity is to fight for progress of native culture, to preserve its great artistic potential. Jointly with careful approach to national traditions, he considers essential to have “opened” cultural space. It is necessary to be able flexibly compose national and international, to have productive relations with artistic schools of other countries. He emphatically declares these ideas in his numerous articles, interviews, and statements. And moreover, he confirms it by actual practice.

The essence of such vision was grounded in his family. Representatives of this creative dynasty were famous with their spacious and progressive views. Further events of his life (success at the competitions) advanced him to the leading role in Azerbaijani art, and outlined him as a missionary and emissary of Azerbaijan culture abroad. Due to Farhad Badalbeyli, Azerbaijan appeared at pianist map of the world. And his further concert activity became the valuable communication channel. The world got information through this channel. It was information on Azerbaijan, its past and present, its culture and values. Azerbaijan in turn received remarkable opportunity to be involved in cultural traditions of other folks. Farhad Badalbeyli always aspired to play with representatives of various national schools. His joint concerts with various orchestras, soloists, and conductors confirm it. His joint performances were with the following orchestras: Moscow (Russia), Huston (USA), Zagreb (Yugoslavia), Izmir, Istanbul, Ankara (Turkey), etc.; conductors: Dudarova, Fedoseev, Shimshek (USA), Aykal (Turkey), etc; soloists: T. Sinyavskaya, B. Rudenko, O. Kagan, V. Gavrash, and many others.