Famous khananda, composer and educator Gulu Asgarov
The renowned Azerbaijani khananda, mugham and opera singer, composer, and educator Asgarov Gulu Rustam oghlu was born on December 18, 1928, in the city of Salyan. Gulu Asgarov spent his childhood in Salyan, on the banks of the Kura River, in an environment full of music. Since his family was closely tied to the musical environment, his voice shone brightly at an early age. His performances at the district theater and the culture house earned him great audience admiration, even from his school days. In the early 1950s, the name of Gulu Asgarov began to gain recognition beyond the district’s borders. He won the Republican Young Talents Olympiad in 1953. From the same year, he began studying at the Asaf Zeynalli Baku Music School, where, in addition to the fundamentals of classical vocal training, he also gained a deep understanding of the traditions of mugham performance.
Gulu Asgarov, who participated in various student concerts and competitions, attracted the interest of teachers and the public with his extraordinary voice and rich repertoire. These successes paved the way for him to the Opera Theater.
Gulu Asgarov began performing as a soloist of the Opera and Ballet Theater in 1958. His first major performance was the role of Majnun in the opera "Leyli and Majnun." The mugham pieces he performed, along with his dramatic emotion, were always highly appreciated by the audience. This role solidified his position in the art world. During this time, he performed not only operas, but also mugham dastgahs, tasnifs, and folk songs in his own unique style with great skill. He improvised mughams such as "Rast", "Segah", and "Bayati-Shiraz" and presented them to the audience in concert halls. In his performance, the subtleties of mugham gained new life.
The flexibility and versatility of Gulu Asgarov's voice allowed him to perform excerpts from Western operas. He was one of the rare performers who successfully presented both national and international repertoire.
Gulu Asgarov, who developed a performing style in synthesizing opera and mugham, was one of the leading soloists at the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theater. The characters he created in works such as "Leyli and Majnun," "Asli and Karam," "Ashig Garib," and "Shah Ismayil" have left an indelible mark on our national music history.
In the 1980s, Gulu Asgarov taught young performers at the Baku Music Academy, instructing students in the secrets of mugham and opera performance through a special technique. His pedagogical principle was that sincerity and hard work were paramount in art.
Gulu Asgarov's legacy remains an example for future generations. His rich heritage is preserved in various archives and collections. These recordings serve as a valuable school for young performers.
Today, articles written about the artist's work and documentary films made introduce his legacy to an even wider audience.
The beloved Khananda Gulu Asgarov, whose name was forever etched in our national music history, passed away in Baku on June 11, 1987.
Recommended literature:
- İbişova, Ruzə Məhərrəm qızı. Əbədiyyət notları: [məqalələr toplusu] / R. M. İbişova ; red. A. Fərzəli. - Bakı : MBM, 2011. - 200 s.
- Axundova, Gülarəxanım Əhməd qızı. Azərbaycanın görkəmli xanəndələri: Monoqrafiya /G. Ə. Axundova [ön söz] ; elmi red. Z. K. Abdullayeva ; Azərb. Resp. Təhsil Nazirliyi, Azərb. Dövlət Pedaqoji Un-ti. - Bakı: ADPU, 2019. - 160 s.