Following tradition

Kamil SHAHVERDI Director of the Rashid Behbudov Foundation “Arshin-long” successes of “... Mal Alan”

IN 1909, THE GREAT AZERBAIJANI COMPOSER UZEYIR HAJIBAYOV, THE FOUNDER OF OPERA IN THE MUSLIM EAST, WROTE THE FIRST MUSICAL COM- EDY «THE HUSBAND AND THE WIFE». THIS NEW AND UNUSUAL GENRE FOR THE AZERBAIJANI AUDIENCE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. IN 1910, HE WROTE A SECOND MUSICAL COMEDY «NOT THAT ONE, BUT THIS ONE» («MASHADI IBAD») - ONE OF HIS MOST POPULAR WORKS.

n 1913, while studying in the St. Petersburg Conservatory, Hajibay- Iov wrote a great operetta called «Arshin Mal Alan» (Libretto by Uzeyir Hajibayov), which became a master- piece of world music. The composer introduces the operetta to his teacher Professor Kalafati, who was delighted with what he heard and suggested that Hajibayov show the work to the director of the conservatory, A. Gla- zunov. A great Russian composer, A. Glazunov, familiarized himself with «Arshin Mal Alan» and called it «a beautiful, fi rst Russian operetta». From St. Petersburg, Uzeyir sent his work to his friend and colleague, composer Muslim Magomayev, in . On 25 October 1913, the fi rst production of

38 The printed music edition of “Arshin Mal Alan” published in Tifl is back in www.irs-az.com 1916-1917 and claimed by someone named V. Bektabekov to be his own

Heritage_2_(13)_2013_LAST.indd 38 4/22/13 2:11 PM The printed music edition of “Arshin Mal Alan” published in Tifl is back in 1916-1917 and claimed by someone named V. Bektabekov to be his own

«Arshin Mal Alan» took place in Baku gle performance, he literally studies at the Theater of Haji Zeynalabdin the operetta and appeals to Sarabski Tagiyev. The main roles were played with the desire to translate «Arshin by G. K. Sarabski (Asgar) A. Agdamski Mal Alan» into the Armenian language. (Gulchohra), A. Huseynzada (Sultan- Sarabski says that this required the au- bay), Gulsabah Khanum (Jahan), M. thor’s consent. In the summer of 1914, Kh. Teregulov (Suleyman), A. Olenskaya Uzeyir returns from St. Petersburg to (Asiya), Kh. Huseynov (Vali), while the Baku. Magalyan immediately comes director was H. Arablinski and conduc- from Tifl is and meets him. Hajibayov tor - M. Magomayev. agrees to have the operetta translated The music is beautiful, lyrical and into Armenian. In summer 1915, the at times fi ery, based on a synthesis of translation was ready. Immediately af- folk and world classical music, sincer- ter the translation, Magalyan actively ity of the characters of the operetta. began to collect a troupe that laid the The brilliant work by the great com- foundation of the fi rst Armenian mu- poser and playwright Uzeyir bay im- sical theater. «...Uzeyir bay Hajibayov’s mediately won the hearts and minds operetta ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ was trans- of the viewers. It was translated into lated by Magalyan into Armenian in ditions of which was that the author more than 75 languages and staged Tifl is and was successfully staged in would get 10 per cent of the profi ts in 187 theaters in 76 countries: in 16 theaters» (2). The Armenian newspa- from the fees after each performance. cities of , in 17 cities of Bulgaria, per Mshag, published in Tifl is in the Otherwise, the author had the right to 13 U.S. states, 17 cities of Poland (1,500 Armenian language, reported (№ 197, stop the performances. times), 28 cities of Russia, 8 cities of September 1915): «The operettas ‘Ar- The fi rst performance of Magalyan’s China, etc. The archives of the Rashid shin Mal Alan’ and ‘Not that one, but troupe in Baku in Armenian was held Behbudov Foundation store unique this one’ have already been translated on 19 September 1915 at the Opera documents about these productions into Armenian.» Kaspi newspaper (16 House with the participation of Uzeyir of «Arshin Mal Alan». The name was so September 1915) publishes a report: bay. At the end, the Armenian audience well-known and loved that many res- «The Tifl is Armenian troupe of the op- called the author Uzeyir bay on stage taurants and shops in Baku, Tifl is and eretta has arrived in Baku. They will play with rapturous applause. Magalyan’s other cities were called «Arshin Mal Uzeyir Hajibayov’s operetta Arshin Mal troupe staged «Arshin Mal Alan» in Alan» for advertising purposes. Alan in Armenian.» Armenian in diff erent theaters of Baku In 1945, the Baku fi lm studio made Magalyan’s troupe fi rst staged «Ar- for a month every day. At the same a movie called «Arshin Mal Alan», in shin Mal Alan» in Armenian on 2 Sep- time, the troupe of M. Magomayev which the main role was played by tember 1915 at the Eriksyan Theater in and H. Sarabski staged the operetta in Rashid Behbudov. The fi lm was shown Avlabar - one of the central districts of Azerbaijani. in 136 countries and dubbed into 86 . The performance - the fi rst musi- On 27 October 1915, the premiere languages. In connection with the cal performance in Armenian – had a of «Arshin Mal Alan» in Armenian 100th anniversary of world cinema, great success with the Armenian audi- played by a second newly-created the fi lm «Arshin Mal Alan» of 1945 was ence. After 7 performances, Magalyan Armenian troupe of I. Voskanyan took included on the list of spectators’ 100 comes on tour to Baku and agrees on place in Baku: «On 6 November, Tagi- favorite movies (1). the production of the Armenian ver- yev’s theater will show the operetta But the happy life of the operetta sion of «Arshin Mal Alan» at the opera ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ performed by I. Vos- was marred by Armenian borrowings. house. In Baku, he meets with Uzeyir kanyan» ( Kaspi newspaper № 247, 5 In February 1914, a company of bay and familiarizes the author with November 1915); «On 7 November, Azerbaijani artists led by Huseyn his translation. He makes adjustments ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ will be played in the Sarabski went on a tour of Transcau- and after watching rehearsals, agrees Armenian language in Nikitin’s circus» casian cities. In Tifl is, «Arshin Mal Alan» to have the performance premiered in (Baku newspaper № 247, 5 November was fi rst seen by Armenian musician Baku. The agreement was confi rmed 1915; the same - Yeni Iqbal newspa- Sedrak Magalyan. Not missing a sin- by a legal contract, one of the con- per, № 161, 9 November 1915); «On

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10 November, Voskanyan’s troupe cal novel ‘Hunt’ by Raffi and the play great success» (4). It was after the per- staged Uzeyir Hajibayov’s operetta ‘Ar- ‘Tatevos Ivanich’ by Chalakhchi. But all formances of Armenyan’s troupe that shin Mal Alan’ for the 20th time in Baku this had no success. During the second the author’s name became constantly (Reviews by critic Gubali, Kaspi № 253, show of these productions, the hall absent from the posters. 12 November 1915). In Tifl is, Uzeyir was already empty. Voskanyan is not On 10 June, the premiere of «Arshin bay’s work attracts the attention of guilty of these unsuccessful produc- Mal Alan» in Russian with famous ac- several Armenian theater workers. S. tions. Armenian viewers are to blame tors of Baku’s Freedom Theater under Torosyan creates his own troupe - the as they are not demanding with regard the leadership of Amirago was held at third Armenian musical theater troupe to performing arts. They willingly and Tagiyev’s theater in Baku. The main roles - specifi cally to perform the operetta. repeatedly watch Hajibayov’s work, but were played by Leontovich (Gulchohra), Sergey Ayvazov wrote in the Russian do not go to their own performances. Zhdanov (Asgar), the conductor was magazine Teatr i Iskusstvo (№ 44, 1 The troupe, which has a high-level Hacibayov himself. After the success November 1915), published in St. Pe- ensemble, is playing works of art and in Baku, Amirago’s troupe successfully tersburg: «Translated from Azerbaijani, suff ering a big loss, while Hajibayov’s performed in Yessentuki, Pyatigorsk the operetta ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ has been operetta, shown 25 times, has a full and Kislovodsk. On seeing this, Arme- repeatedly performed with great suc- house each time...» nyan begins secret talks with leading cess in the Armenian language, and By this time, «Arshin Mal Alan» had actors of Amirago’s theater - Leontovich from a fi nancial point of view, it brings already been translated into Georgian, and Zhdanov: he promises them twice a great profi t...» Uzbek and other languages and had as much as royalties they received in By the end of 1915, Gevorg Prumy- been successfully staged in Russia and Amirago’s troupe. He manages to win an created the fourth Armenian troupe Central Asia. The fi nancial success of the actors over. Amirago was forced to for the production of «Arshin Mal Alan» this performance in a vast geographi- stop his tours, while Armenyan contin- in Tifl is. An actor of the troupe, Astik cal area attracted the attention of ued his tour with new actors. Yeramyan, wrote: «Finally the day has many theater workers. The tour of M. It is notable that in the same Rus- come for the premiere of ‘Arshin Mal Magomayev and H. Sarabski and the sian newspapers in announcements Alan’. In the evening, we had to open daily production of the performance on «Arshin Mal Alan» performed by all the doors of the theater, because in diff erent cities had a snowball eff ect. Amirago, the name of the author of the there was no point in closing the door. Outside of Baku, the name of the operetta - Uzeyir bay – was defi nitely They would have been broken in any true author gradually disappeared indicated, while in the announcements case. When I went on the stage and from the posters, and it was virtually of the performance by Armenyan in saw the hall, I was terrifi ed. People lit- impossible to control the process. Thus the same newspapers – it was not. The erally hung from the columns, and it the nationalist plagiarism of «Arshin newspapers Terek, Kavkazskiy Kray and seemed that they were about to col- Mal Alan» began. Kavkazskoye Slovo referred to «Arshin lapse. The success was incredible.» (3) By the end of 1915, the fi fth Ar- Mal Alan» more and more often as The stunning success of «Arshin menian troupe was created. Armen an «Armenian operetta». The author’s Mal Alan» irritated Armenian intellec- Armenyan, who was educated in Paris rights were violated in central Russian tuals. Baku newspaper (№ 272, 6 De- and had worked in various theaters of newspapers. N. Privalov said in his ar- cember 1915) published an article by Russia, saw the popularity and great ticle in the weekly «Russkaya Muzykal- an author with the abbreviated name fi nancial return of «Arshin Mal Alan» naya Gazeta» (21 August 1916): «Arme- of «A-yan»: «Artist Voskanyan is tire- and came from Russia to Baku. Later nyan, who has been working in the lessly doing everything to wake up he wrote: «Thus, having met with the theater for thirteen years, has created and involve the apathetic Armenian author of the music and texts of the a troupe. A graduate of the Drama De- public in theater. Voskanyan is trying operetta, , I wanted to partment of the University of Paris, Mr to attract their attention with a variety consult and agree on the production Armenyan is also a musicologist and of performances and repertoires. Af- plan. At fi rst he was surprised by my folklorist. Lately he has been using ter the play ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ by U. Ha- visit and then listened to me and gave music in his performances. We saw his jibayov, which had undeserved and the green light. ‘Arshin mal alan’ was beautiful operetta «Arshin Mal Alan». unprecedented success, Voskanyan shown in Astrakhan, Tsaritsyno, Rostov, The text of the operetta was written presented the public with the histori- Yekaterinodar and other cities and won by a graduate of the Petrograd Con-

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servatory, Uzeyir Hajibayov, and Mr Ar- menyan, using oriental folk melodies, created the music of this operetta. Glory to Mr Armenyan, who created not only national theater, but also re- stored Armenian music.» Armenian intellectuals wondered why «Arshin Mal Alan» gained such a success not only with the Muslim audi- ence, but also on the Armenian stage? The famous Armenian musicologist Kara Dervish wrote in Teatr i Iskusstvo magazine (№ 11, 13 March 1916): «Thus, despite years of eff orts, no national op- eretta has been created on the Cau- casian Armenian stage. This year, the impossible happened. Even the best Russian operetta troupes could envy the success of the Armenian operetta, which made a big splash in Baku, Tbilisi and other cities. Suffi ce to say that in one season alone, Armenian troupes played the operetta ‘Arshin Mal Alan’, translated from Azerbaijani, in Tifl is 60 times and in Baku more than that.» Mshag newspaper (3 September 1916) published a huge editorial about the success of the operetta: «Why is every- one so fond of ‘Arshin Mal Alan’? For more than two years, the Azerbaijani operetta ‘Arshin Mal Alan’, which has won a great success on the Armenian stage, has also been of great interest to such pleasure. I think that we cannot is preserved only in churches (! – K. Sh.). the Armenian intelligentsia. Yesterday prevent the people from watching this But Armenians are not able to perceive at the Artistic Society theater (Tifl is – K. show endlessly. I should note that, like European music either. This will require Sh.), I watched another production of all operettas, ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ also lacks a lot of time. Another reason is that, this work performed by the Yeritsyan’s a deep meaning (? – K. Sh). Neverthe- having lived under the yoke of their troupe. And this time, the hall was less, for many psychological reasons, troubles and misfortunes for a long packed with viewers from the middle- this product will attract the attention time, the Armenian people are so ea- class population. Besides them, there of the Armenian people. Armenians ger to watch ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ in order were many offi cers, intellectuals, and have lived side by side with the Turks, to forget about everything and fi nd at even the English missionary Mr. Mak and Persians for centu- least some peace.» Kamma Adonis and Mr. Gipokbekyan ries. And their ears are fi lled with the That’s how Armenian intellectuals in the hall. I watched the performance sounds of the tar and the kamancha represented by the director of Mshag to the end and it became clear why (Azerbaijani musical instruments – K. newspaper explained the incredible the Armenian people, who have lived Sh.). Therefore, Eastern music has en- attraction of their people to the im- side by side and in constant commu- tered the fl esh and blood of the Arme- mortal and greatest creation of Uzeyir nication with the Turks for centuries, nian nation. Of course, ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ bay Hajibayov – the operetta «Arshin are watching ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ with music is not Armenian music. The latter Mal Alan».

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thanks to the works of great Uzeyir bay. Not having their own handwriting in this direction, the Armenians success- fully translated operas and operettas of Hajibayov from Azerbaijani into Ar- menian, creating one troupe after an- other. For example, V. Papazyan wrote: «The operetta was the predominant genre even in the repertoire of drama theaters. It is especially worth mention- ing the Armenian troupe of Voskanyan, which showed with great success the operetta ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ translated from the Tatar (Azerbaijani - K. Sh.) lan- guage» (6). A. Yeremyan recalled: «Our troupe (G. Prumyan’s troupe – K. Sh.) of the operetta came to Yerevan. There were two operettas in our repertoire – ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ and ‘Mashadi Ibad’. Despite this, we had an unbelievable success. The same persons could be seen in the hall every day. Our shows were attended by both Armenians and Muslims.» (7) From J. Garabagi’s review of the play «Arshin Mal Alan» (Kaspi newspaper, 13 September 1917): «This operetta has gone beyond its purpose. The incredible and great success of the musical comedy served to create the fi rst Armenian musical theater group. The factor of imitation was so strong that multiple Armenian troupes for Program of the “Arshin Mal Alan” performance appropriated by the Armenians

«Arshin Mal Alan» gave an impetus in August 1916 in Tifl is: «G. Yeritsyan’s to the development of musical theaters troupe performed the operetta ‘Arshin in the Caucasus, theaters in Central Mal Alan’ for the fi rst time. The perfor- Asia and in southern parts of Russia, mance was a rare success and caused and, along with that, the operetta was stormy applause. The theater was also a tempting source of income. packed with viewers.» (5) Therefore, theaters gladly turned to On 17 September 1916, the fi rst this work. In Tifl is, cities of the North performance of «Arshin Mal Alan» by Caucasus and Turkestan, the perfor- Gazaryan’s troupe – the seventh Ar- mance was staged in Azerbaijani, as menian troupe created for the oper- well as Russian, Georgian and Uzbek. etta – was held in the hall of the Tbilisi G. Yeritsyan’s troupe was the sixth Council. Armenian troupe created specifi cally The genre of Armenian musi- for the production of «Arshin Mal Alan» cal theater began to develop rapidly

42 Program of the “Arshin Mal Alan” performance appropriated by thewww.irs-az.com Armenians

Heritage_2_(13)_2013_LAST.indd 42 4/22/13 2:08 PM Program of the “Arshin Mal Alan” performance appropriated by the Armenians staging operettas immediately began to be set up. ‘Arshin Mal Alan’, which has been repeatedly translated into Russian and Georgian along with Armenian, is simply not leaving the scene. One can safely say that no other opera or operetta has been as profi t- able as the sensational ‘Arshin’. And that, as expected, contributes to the creation and development of opera companies. Thus, ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ has played a huge role and proved a turn- ing point in the development of the theater world of the peoples of Trans- caucasia.” In many cities where «Arshin Mal Alan» was demonstrated, the name of the author - the great Uzeyir bay - was not specifi ed! Uzeyir bay Hajibayov vainly looked for ways to protect his copyright. Things reached such a point that the composer placed the following announcements in almost all the newspapers of the time: Zulfu- gar bay and Uzeyir bay Hajibayov need a lawyer to protect their copyright on their works ‘Arshin Mal Alan’, ‘Ashig Garib’ and other operas and operettas. In cities of the Transcaucasia, Turkestan, Astrakhan and other regions, a lawyer from local activists who knows Russian is needed. To gentlemen who wish to cooperate as lawyers, please contact Uzeyir bay Hacibayov with a letter to not but indicate the name of Uzeyir our national traditions are so shame- the address: Baku, Verkhne-Priyuts- bay Hajibayov in Baku, made serious fully distorted. First, in the third act, kaya Street 63 «(a quote from Achig violations while showing the operetta, the composer’s music is completely Soz (Open Word) newspaper, № 500, distorting the plot and musical part of changed; even if several songs are 18 June 1916). This call received a re- the play. sung, they are in unrecognizable sponse from many cities, and Hajibay- An outstanding Azerbaijani com- form. And it is not known where the ov’s copyright was restored. However, poser, friend and colleague of Uzeyir other songs were collected from. I it was not possible to exclude the mis- bay, Muslim Magomayev wrote in asked them why they don’t play the appropriation of the composer’s work newspaper (8 February piece as it is written in the original. by Armenians. 1919): «On 4 February, at the State They said that we have always played On 28 May 1918, a Democratic Theater (Baku Opera Theater – K. it this way, and we are not going to Republic was established in Azerbai- Sh.), Armenian artists performed the change anything. The director made jan. The production of Arshin perfor- popular operetta ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ by various tricks in some roles played by mances in various languages, inclu- the famous Muslim composer Uzeyir the actors. All this brought the piece ding in Armenian, continued in Baku. Hajibayli. I think it’s time to put an to an insulting level. When I looked, Armenian theater workers, who could end to the fact that the operetta and I involuntarily remembered the fi lm

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‘Arshin Mal Alan’, which was shown Svetlov was making a fi lm based on the Sovietization of the Transcaucasia, in the Forum cinema a few years ago, «Arshin Mal Alan» (the fi lm was re- a large surge began in the wave of and the gramophone record that was leased in 1917 and was a huge suc- emigration. Moving to the West, enter- sold in Tifl is. These plates supposedly cess), businessman G. Belyakov who prising Armenians did not forget to take contained music from ‘Arshin Mal came from St. Petersburg also decided the libretto and noted of «Arshin Mal Alan’, but in fact, ‘resourceful’ dealers to make a fi lm on this subject. If Svetlov Alan» with them. Uzeyir bay Hajibayov used the sonorous name and popular- recruited professional actors playing remained behind the Iron Curtain of ity of the operetta, adding all kinds of the operetta in Azerbaijani (H. Sarabski, the , which allowed some «Armenian songs» to the plates. I want A. Huseynzada, A. Agdamski, M. Aliyev, people to get away with plagiarism. to note distortions in posters, and I Y. Narimanov and others), G. Belyakov From an interview with one of the myself witnessed that the author’s recruited Armenian actors with the plagiarists Sedrak Surabyan: «In New name was not indicated on notices York (1923), we rented a building – a about the play put up on city walls in 1,300-seat theater. We showed ‘Arshin Vladikavkaz. Then in response to my Mal Alan’. The success of the play was question, one of the Armenian leaders incredible. My wife Mango Surabyan said that ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ was an old played the part of Asiya, and I played Armenian work. He argued with me Suleyman. Americans and Armenians for a long time that this operetta was living in the United States met the op- not created by the author, but was eretta with great interest. A graduate an ancient Armenian legend. Isn’t it of the Petrograd Conservatory - pia- time to put an end to these acts? If nist Kushnaryan – played a great role someone wants to play the translation in the success of the performance in of this work, they have to coordinate the United States. Giving solo concerts their actions with the author. After the in New York, Kushnaryan undertook approval of the translation, the author to conduct the music comedy ‘Arshin may allow the show. The director is Mal Alan’. We also showed the operetta allowed to change the performance. ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ in Boston, Worcester, But he has no right to engage in buf- Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Los An- foonery on the stage instead of creat- geles, San Francisco, Syracuse, Albany, ing the image of the characters.» Cleveland, and other cities.» (8) I should note that M. Magomayev Poster of the “Arshin Mal Alan” Sedrak Magalyan, the one that fi rst was largely involved in the fate of «Ar- performance appropriated staged «Arshin Mal Alan» in Armenian shin Mal Alan». The archives contain by the Armenians in Tbilisi, created the Shant troupe in Uzeyir bay’s original letters to Muslim lowest cost. On 3 January 1917, Bel- the U.S. The troupe staged «Arshin» in bay from St. Petersburg, in which the yakov’s fi lm was shown at the Forum various U.S. states from 1923 to 1958. composer informed his colleague cinema. Uzeyir Hajibayov, together The work of U. Hajibayov was men- about the purpose of his operetta. It with his lawyer Alimardan bay Top- tioned in the posters as the «Queen of was Muslim whom the author sent his chubashov (a prominent statesman Armenian Operetta», and all this time manuscript for the production of the and one of the leaders of the ADR – K. Magalyan posed as the author of the work. At the premiere on 25 October Sh.), asked Mayor Kovalev to suspend operetta (9). 1913, the performance was conducted the demonstration of the fi lm. Copy- In 1937, in the United States, the by Muslim bay Magomayev. right violations and distortions of the Magana Films company shot a fi lm Ogamyan and Kostanyan in Tifl is in plot were so obvious that the mayor called «Arshin Mal Alan» in Hollywood. 1917, Muradyan in Baku in 1918, and signed an order to the director of the The director and producer of the Allahverdyan in 1920 created more Forum cinema, Andreyev. The fi lm was fi lm was Sertak Vartian, while Sedrak Armenian troupes. suspended. Magalyan was mentioned as the play- Plagiarism penetrated cinematog- We should also highlight the mi- wright and musician of the fi lm in the raphy. For example, having learned sappropriation of «Arshin Mal Alan» by subtitles. that the director Boris Nikolayevich Armenians in foreign countries. After Interestingly, the operetta was

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known in the United States long before Surabyan and Magalyan. In Molla Nasreddin magazine (№ 2, 16 February 1917), an author under the pseudonym of Demdemeki wrote: «One of the newspapers of the Ameri- can city of New York reports that the operetta ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ has started to be produced in American theaters. I should say from myself that in 6 months of my journey, I saw that in Ashgabat, Tashkent, Orenburg, Sa- mara, Tsaritsyno, Astrakhan, Petrovsk, Vladikavkaz, nothing but ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ was talked about on the streets and at the markets. The secret of this popularity should be sought in the ‘mystery’ of ‘Arshin Mal Alan’. There- fore, Armenians, Georgians, Russians and Americans share the success of this work... This wonderful operetta of our fellow countryman Uzeyir bay Ha- jibayov also captivated the American audience. Yusuf Bay Vazirov (Chaman- zaminli – K. Sh.) wrote in Millat news- paper (№ 18, 15 September 1918): «In the recent period, our composer and the pride of Azerbaijan Uzeyir bay Ha- jibayov has begun to systematize our music. With his operas and operettas, he glorifi ed not only himself, but the whole nation, and the whole world learned about Azerbaijan. ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ and ‘Not That One, But This One’, which are now staged by Armenians and Tatars in Crimea, are also works That’s how Armenian «cultural fi - 5. Kavkazskoye Slovo newspaper. of Uzeyir bay. ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ was gures» plagiarized the operetta of the Tbilisi, № 193, 1 September 1916. a huge success even on the Ameri- genius Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir 6. V. Papazyan «Through the Theaters can stage. We are proud to say that Hajibayov «Arshin Mal Alan». of the World», Leningrad, 1937, p. throughout the Islamic world, we 230. are the authors of the fi rst opera and Literature 7. S. A. Rzayev «Pages of History of operetta.» Friendship», Baku, 1964, p. 51. The above quotations prove once 1. Ogonek magazine № 2 8. Ulduz magazine, № 2, 1971. again that it is not Armenian theater- (4433), January 1996, p. 40-41. 9. S. Azizbayova. «The Productions of goers who glorifi ed «Arshin» in Amer- 2. Yeni Igbal newspaper, 7 Septem- ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ in Armenian and ica, but rather having come to the U.S. ber 1915 Georgian. / / «Proceedings of the and seeing the enormous popularity 3. Literaturnaya Armenia. Yerevan, Academy of Sciences of the Azer- of the immortal operetta, these gentle- 1959, vol. 2, p.289. baijan SSR», Series of literature, men decided «to do their dirty job». 4. Ibid, v. 2, p. 291-292. language and art, 1978, № 1

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