First People's Artist of Azerbaijan - Haji Agha Abbasov
Haji Agha Mutalib oglu Abbasov was born on 16 June 1888 in Mashtaga village of Baku in the family of a teacher. He received his primary education in the Russian-Tatar (Russian-Turkic) school in his native village, then continued his education in Baku. In 1906-1909 he received pedagogical education in Port-Petrovsk (now Makhachkala). There H. Abbasov created a theatre troupe of Azerbaijanis, and then transformed it into a theatre in Temir-Khan-Shura district (now Buynaksky district of Dagestan).
After receiving a teaching diploma, he returned to Baku. Together with Mirza Alekper Sabir he taught children in Balakhani village. At the same time, he was an active member of the ‘Union of Muslim Artists’ and such theatre troupes as ‘Nijat’, ‘Khamiyat’. Later he performed in the theatre troupe of ‘Safa’ society, in the opera and operetta troupe of Hajibekov brothers.
In 1920, Haji Agha Abbasov became an actor of the present Azerbaijan State Drama Theatre. A significant part of Haji Abbasov's stage activity is also connected with the Turkic Satir-Agit Theatre (Turkic Free Satir-Agit Theatre) he created and directed. The opening of the theatre on November 13, 1921 was attended by many prominent figures of culture and state of that time - director Konstantin Stanislavsky, Nariman Narimanov, engineer Ziver bey, Azim Azimzade, Mamed Said Ordubadi.
H. Abbasov, appointed director of the State Drama Theatre in 1927, managed to prove himself as a capable and dedicated cultural figure. Abbasov, who worked tirelessly for the development of Azerbaijani theatre, first of all cared about the education of a new generation of actors. It was due to these qualities that in 1929-1937 he was appointed head of the Baku Theatre Technical School. Here he primarily cared about providing the theatre with qualified directors and actors. During these years he brought up a whole generation of actors of the Azerbaijani stage. Many of these actors - Alesker Alekperov, Adil Iskenderov, Barat Shekinskaya, Rza Afganli - were widely known figures of art not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the Soviet Union. Due to these merits, in 1932 H. Abbasov became the first to be honoured with the title of People's Artist of Azerbaijan.
The life path of the outstanding actor was not so simple. He was subjected to repressions and persecutions for a long time. Living in forced exile in Central Asia, he continued his stage activities there, creating theatre troupes and associations.
During the Great Patriotic War, he worked as a head of the Department of Arts under the Council of People's Commissars of the Republic. The establishment of theatres in Gazakh, Shemakha, Goychay, Zagatala and Barda is directly connected with his name. H. Abbasov travelled to villages of Azerbaijan, found talented youth and helped them.
H. Abbasov created beautiful images on stage. Such as Haji Gara in the comedy of Mirza Fatali Akhundzade, Haji Gambara in the comedy of Najaf bey Vezirov “Out of the Rain, into the Downpour”, Mirza Mehdi Khan in “Nadir Shah”, Shamdan bey in the comedy "Trouble of the Tongue" or "Shamdan Bey" by Nariman Narimanov, Gubad in “Blacksmith Gave” by Shamsaddin Sami, Osip in “The Government Inspector” by Nikolai Gogol, Molla Huseyn Derbandi in “Gazavat” by S. L. Lansky, Soltan bey in “Arshin Mal Alan” by Uzeyir Hajibekov, Mashadi Ibad in “If Not That One, Then This One”, Kerbelai Gubad in “Husband and Wife”, Ordukhan bey in “Young at Fifty Years Old” by Zulfugar Hajibekov, Keblu Kerbelai Haji in “Married Bachelor”.
Hajiagha Abbasov died on 7 May 1975 and is buried on the II Alley of Honor in Baku.
Recommended literature:
- Abasov, Hacıağa Mütəllib oğlu. Xatirələrim/H. Abasov ; layihə rəhb. Ş. Sadiq ; mətn tərtibatı R. Yerfi ; naşir M. Xan ; diz. və qrafika T. Fərzi. - Bakı: XAN, 2016. – 118 s.
- Səfərov, Cabir Mahmud oğlu. Hacağa Abasov /C. M. Səfərov ; red. A. Babayev, İ. Göyçaylı ; rəss. S. Qənbərov. - Bakı: Azərnəşr, 1963. - 55 s.