Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

An art exhibition dedicated to the 140th anniversary of Azerbaijani theater opened in Baku on June 24.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Adalat Veliyev said that the exhibition is organized in the framework of projects implemented in accordance with the decree of the Azerbaijani President on the 140th anniversary of the establishment of Azerbaijani professional national theater.

According to Veliyev, on the occasion of the national theater anniversary a number of activities and meetings are taking place, and a book devoted to the national theater and its leaders has been published.

Chairman of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan Farhad Khalilov spoke about the activity of scene painters.

The exhibition includes works by such artists as Togrul Narimanbeyov, Azim Azimzade, Enver Almaszade, Mikayil Abdullayev, Eldar Gurbanov, Kazim Kazimzade, Elchin Aslanov, Ismayil Akhundov, and many others.

Also, the exhibition features sketches for the "Othello", "Diamond", "Monsieur Jordan, a scientific botanist, and Dervish Mastalishah, a famous magician," "Koroglu" opera, "Leyla and Majnun", "Nargiz", "Nizami", "Maiden Tower" ballet and "Seven beauties".

The exhibition is underway in the "1969" gallery and will run until June 26.

The first professional spectacle in Azerbaijani language was staged on March 23, 1873. Hasanbay Zardabi, a secondary school teacher and Najaf bey Vezirov, a student of the school, were initiators of the spectacle. Students of the school played "Vizier of Lankaran Khanate" play by famous Azerbaijani playwright M.F.Akhundov on the stage of Baku Public Assembly.

The second show, "Haji Gara" (Miser's adventures), which is another comedy by M.F.Akhundov, was staged on April 17, 1873.

The development of professional theater and the staging of spectacles in Baku ceased after several shows. Zardabi was busy with the creation of "Akinchi" newspaper, and Najaf bey Vezirov went to Russia for studies.

Opening of a school in Shusha in 1881 and an elementary school for girls in 1894, and also opening of a musical school by critic Kharrat Gulu and the involvement of young singers there drew interest of the local intellectuals in theater. So, amateur spectacles were staged by young teachers in Shusha during summer holidays. In the initial years the repertoire consisted of M.F.Akhundov's works.

In 1888, a theatrical troupe was created in Baku with close participation of Sultan Ganizade and Nariman Narimanov. In 1897, the first professional group, titled "Muslim Drama Troupe", was established. The repertoire of the pre-revolutionary theater consisted of works by Azerbaijani playwrights.

New theatrical troupes, so-called "comradeships", appeared under the influence of the Russian Revolution in the early 20th century.

In 1919, Azerbaijan State Theater was founded.