On November 20, the opera Nasimi, dedicated to the life and legacy of the great Azerbaijani poet and philosopher Imadeddin Nasimi (1369-1417), premiered at the Heydar Aliyev Palace. The event was presented by the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater with the support of the Ministry of Culture.
The audience included Anar Alakbarov, assistant to the president of Azerbaijan and executive director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation; Minister of Culture Adil Karimli; official guests of the COP29 in Baku; members of parliament; and well-known cultural and literary figures of our country.
The new opera, composed by People's Artist Professor Siyavush Karimi with a libretto by academician Rafael Huseynov, is a significant contribution to Azerbaijani art, sharing the great poet's rich heritage with future generations and a global audience through the language of art.
The musical and stage director of the performance is Ayyub Guliyev; the stage director is Honoured Artist Inare Babayeva; the choreographer is Honoured Artist Yuriy Lobachev; the choirmaster is Honoured Artist Sevil Hajiyeva, while the set designer is Honoured Artist Ramil Gasimov, and the light designer is Rafael Hasanov.
The main role of Nasimi is played by Honoured Artist Ramil Gasimov. Other roles in the performance are performed by People's Artists Teyyub Aslanov (Fazlullah Naimi), Nuraddin Mehdikhanli (Chronicler), Honoured Artists Ilkin Ahmadov (Abdulgadir Maraghayi), Anton Fershtandt (Vizier of Amir Teymur), Jahangir Gurbanov (Malik al-Shu'ara), soloists Fatima Jafarzadeh (Sanam), Kamila Nabiyeva (Fatima), Sama Hamzayeva (Nasimi's mother), Mahir Taghizadeh (Amir Teymur), Taleh Yahyayev (Zahid), Fahmin Ahmadli (Amir Teymur's representative), Khayal Huseynov (Dervish), Ruslan Persan (First Guard), Rza Khosrovzadeh (Second Guard), Fuad Azizzadeh (Keeper of the keys of the dungeon), and Elmir Rustamov.
The symphony orchestra and choir of the Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, the ballet troupe, the "Natig Rhythm" group led by People's Artist Natig Shirinov, People's Artist Elchin Hashimov on the tar, Honoured Artist Elnur Ahmadov on the kamancha, and Amrah Orujov on the lute performed together during the performance.
The opera, which reflects Imadaddin Nasimi's profound philosophy, free spirit, and humanistic ideals, was warmly applauded by the audience.
After the performance, academician Rafael Huseynov, the librettist of the opera, took the stage and highlighted the important role of national leader Heydar Aliyev in introducing Imadaddin Nasimi as an Azerbaijani poet during the Soviet era. He expressed his gratitude to all those involved in the creation of the Nasimi opera and to the Ministry of Culture.
