The people of Shusha made it the pearl of the Caucasus, the cradle of our culture, the mugham-singing heart of Azerbaijan
Soltan Ismayil oghlu Hajibeyov, (5 May 1919, Shusha – 19 September 1974, Baku) was an Azerbaijani composer and People’s Artist of the USSR.
He was born in Shusha. After elementary school he moved to Baku and began to live in the family of his uncle, Uzeyir Hajibeyli. After graduating from high school, he entered trumpet class (he was a student of Colpinski) of Baku Music School. In 1939 Hajibeyov graduates from the music school and enters the faculty of composer’s of Azerbaijan Conservatoire, the class of professor B.I. Zeydman (music theory – N. Shumakov) and finished his education in 1946. He performed as the conductor of Baku Musical Comedy Theatre (now Azerbaijan Musical Theatre) while he was still a student at the Conservatoire. During 1940-1942 he led the Saz Player Girls Ensemble of Baku Philharmony. During 1942-1945 he was artistic director of Baku Philharmony orchestra (director by 1947). He was teacher (by 1948), professor (by 1965) and director (by 1969) of Azerbaijan State Conservatory. He died on 19 September 1974 and was buried in Baku, in the Alley of Honor.
The main works of the composer: “Red rose” musical comedy (1940), “Iskender and a shepherd” children’s opera (1947), two symphonies for orchestra (1944, 1946), “Karvan” symphonic suite (1945), overture (1956), concerto (1964), concerto for violin and orchestra (1945), instrumental and vocal dramas, works for folk instrumental ensemble, romances, songs, music for dramas (“Khanlar by S.Vurgun (1944), “Yashar”, “Aydin” by J.Jabbarli (1957-1959) and etc.
He received the Stalin Prize of second degree in 1952 for his ballet “Gulshen” and was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the USSR in 1973.