On September 17, ANAS Main Building held a scientific conference on “Uzeyir Hajibeyli: literary-cultural values and spiritual-aesthetic richness”.
The event was organized by the Presidium of ANAS, the Humanities and Social Sciences Departments. An exhibition reflecting the life and work of Uzeyir Hajibeyli was also organized within the framework of the conference.
Opening the conference ANAS President, Academician Isa Habibbeyl stated that the event was held in accordance with the Decree of the Head of State “On the Celebration of the 140th Anniversary of Uzeyir Hajibeyli” dated February 3, 2025. Stating that the Action Plan of ANAS was approved in connection with the implementation of the Decree of the Head of State, Academician Isa Habibbeyli noted that a series of conferences dedicated to Uzeyir Hajibeyli were held in scientific institutions and organizations, regional departments and centers of ANAS, a number of publications were published, and articles were prepared. He noted that Academician Zemfira Safarova's book "Uzeyir Hajibeyli: Life and Creative Career" has recently been published in English, emphasizing that the publication in question will play a major scientific and cultural role in researching the legacy of the great composer and promoting it to the world.
The head of ANAS spoke about the role played by the creator of the first opera in the East, a brilliant composer, a well-known public figure, People's Artist, laureate of State Prizes, academician Uzeyir Hajibeyli in the cultural and musical history of Azerbaijan, emphasizing that he created musical works worthy of ghazal pearls such as "Sensiz", "Sevgili canan". He noted that Uzeyir Hajibeyli was able to create his own original style by combining the subtle features of Azerbaijani folk music, mugham and ashug art in his creativity. He laid the foundation of our national opera with the opera "Leyli and Majnun" based on the poem of Mahammad Fuzuli, and for the first time transcribed the rich music of Azerbaijan inherited for centuries into music. Academician Isa Habibbeyli recalled that last year, within the framework of the 530th anniversary of M. Fuzuli, the ANAS collective organized a viewing of the opera "Leyli and Majnun" performed by the collective of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater.
Sharing his thoughts on the masterpiece of Uzeyir Hajibeyli's work, the opera "Koroglu", the President of ANAS said that in this work, which is included in the list of world musical pearls, the composer achieved the complete unity of East-West traditions and fully expressed the idea of patriotism. He evaluated the opera "Koroglu", which has a deep content, as one of the rare examples of world heroic opera. He also emphasized that the works of the great composer "Arazbari" and "Jangi" are unique examples of Azerbaijani national culture.
Stating that Uzeyir Hajibeyli was one of the personalities who wrote about Azerbaijani music science, the head of ANAS said that his fundamental scientific work "Fundamentals of Azerbaijani folk music" is still used as a music textbook today, as a relic of the excellent work of the musicologist-scientist. He noted that in addition, Uzeyir Hajibeyli compiled a textbook on "Accounting Problems" and wrote the operetta "Arshin Mal Alan", which has gained great fame on a global scale. Academician Isa Habibbeyli also touched upon the socio-political activities of Uzeyir Hajibeyli and spoke about his relations with the composer's brother in exile, Jeyhun Hajibeyli.
Emphasizing that Uzeyir Hajibeyli was one of the 15 founders of the Academy in 1945, Academician Isa Habibbeyli said that this brilliant personality rendered invaluable services in the establishment and development of ANAS.
At the end of his speech, academician Isa Habibbeyli said that a generalized and large-scale book dedicated to the outstanding composer was being prepared at ANAS.
The event included the work of Professor Irada Kocharli, head of the Department of the Institute of Architecture and Art of ANAS, “A look at the scientific heritage of the genius Uzeyir Hajibeyli”, Professor Naila Rahimbeyli, head of the department of the same institute, “Synthesis of traditions and modernization of culture: analysis of the heritage of Uzeyir Hajibeyli from a culturological aspect”, Professor Adil Asadov, head of the department of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, “The first author of the philosophical presentation of mugham”, Doctor of Philology Shahbaz Musayev, senior research fellow of the Institute of Literature named after Nizami Ganjavi, “Publicistics of Uzeyir Hajibeyli”, Professor Ismayil Kazimov, head of the department of the Nasimi Institute of Linguistics, “The language of Uzeyir Hajibeyli's feuilletons”, and the head of the department of the Institute of Folklore, Ph.D. Leyla Mammadova's report on "Folklore Codes in the Dramaturgy of Uzeyir Hajibeyli: From Folk Poetics to Artistic Synthesis" was heard. Also, the Chairman of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan, Corresponding Member of ANAS, Firangiz Alizadeh, spoke and touched upon the role of Uzeyir Hajibeyli in the development of Azerbaijani culture and musical art.
