"Arshin
Mal Alan"
2
Parties
of Asker and Gulchohra are diverse and wide-ranged.
Image of major hero, dreaming about great love is
expressed in the aria
from the first act. The words are from the famous
ghazal of great Azerbaijan poet Fizuli. In the second
act Asker is quite different: he is excited,
resolute, happy, and enamored. First
Gulchohra’s aria from the second act is full
of melancholy, pensiveness, and expectations. She
dreams about real fine love, and these feelings
are expressed in the next aria from the same act.
The music of this area expresses inspired impulse,
relaxation, and desire of freedom.
The
next two vocal units – aria
of III act and weeping-aria
from the IV act, both return us to the primary
mood of the heroine. They as though symbolize the
sad fate of Azerbaijan woman of those times.
Images
of other heroes are expressed as genre and manner
art. These are jolly songs and dances, inputting
vividness, merrymaking, and comic colouring into
the scenic events. They are songs of minor characters,
duets, and comic sketch where servants declare of
love: Jahan's
couplets, Suleyman's
song, Jahan,
Suleyman and Veli's couplets and dance, Asya’s
couplets and dance,
Sultan-bey's
song, Vely
and Telly's duet.
Activity
in “Arshin Mal Alan” develops very dynamically,
there is no background or commenting items. Sole
chorus of girls recreates national aroma and spirit.
Composer delicately reproduces inflexions of Azerbaijan
folk dances and songs. Inflexion of Azerbaijan folk
song “Galanin dibinde” are heard in chorus
of girls of II act, song “Janlar ichinde janim”
– in Sultan-bey’s aria, inflexion of “Terekeme”
– Asya’s dance, and inflexions of song “Boynunda
var sarilig” – in major melody of the overture.
Uzeyir Hajibeyov created bright and original
vocal style in his music comedy. This style combines
tunes of folk songs and mugam. European classic
tradition of cantilena and national melodies are
gone well together. This innovative achievement
of Hajibeyov, combined with effervescent
intrigue caused really world success of “Arshin Mal Alan”.
The
scenic life of “Arshin
Mal Alan” is incredibly gorgeous. The comedy’s premiere
was held in Tagiyev’s Theater, Baku, on October
25, 1913. The following actors were performers:
Hussein Gulu Sarabsky (Asker), A.Agdamsky (Gulchohra),
A. Hussein-zadeh (Sultan-bey), A. Olenskaya (Asya),
H. Husseynov (Vely), Gulsabah – khanum- (Jahan).
Hussein Arablinsky, outstanding Azerbaijan actor
and producer, headed the performance.
After splendid premiere, “Arshin Mal Alan” started its triumphal parade
on the stages of Trans Caucasus, Russia, and then
all over the world. “Arshin Mal Alan” was translated
into Russian, Georgian, Uzbek, Armenian, English,
Persian, Turkish, Arabian, Polish, Bulgarian, and
Chinese – 66 languages in total.
Popularity
of “Arshin Mal Alan” was phenomenal. Here it is
one of the numerous facts: they named cafes, restaurants,
shops, etc. “Arshin Mal Alan” at the Caucasus. In
1915, in Tiflis (Georgia), there was performance
of “Arshin Mal Alan” in four languages (Azerbaijan,
Russian, Georgian, and Armenian) at one and the
same day simultaneously (chronicle of theatrical
life).
There were film versions
of “Arshin
Mal Alan”.
The first attempt was carried out in 1916. The
following actors performed the major roles in
this film:
A. Hussein-zadeh (Sultan-bey), Hussein Gulu Sarabsky
(Asker), A.Agdamsky (Gulchohra), Y. Narimanov (Jahan), M.Aliyev (Suleyman).
Trio of famous singer Jabbar Karyagdioglu supported
the silent film. They performed music by “living
voices”.
Fortune of the second film version of “Arshin Mal Alan” was scandalous. Producer
from St.Petersburg G. Belyakov made it without
permission of its author Uzeyir Hajibeyov. The
film was not allowed to distribution after Composer’s
active protest.
In USA in 1937 they made film version of “Arshin Mal Alan”, issued by Armenian
producer R. Magalyan, where even name of Uzeyir
Hajibeyov, author of music and libretto was not
mentioned.
At the time of the World
War II, they made a decision to produce music
feature film “Arshin Mal Alan”. It appeared at the
screens of the former USSR in 1945. Then it was
distributed worldwide. The following actors performed
the major roles in this film: R. Behbudov (Asker), L. Javanshirova (Gulchohra), A. Hussein-zadeh (Sultan-bey), L. Abdullayev (Vely),
F.Mehraliyeva (Telly), M. Kalantarli (Jahan). Niyazi was music editor of
the film, R. Takhmasib and N. Leschenko were produces,
L.Arakishiyev, and M.Dadashov, cameramen – L.Atakishiyev
and M. Dadashov, author of scenario –Sabit Rahman.
The State Prize awarded the film in 1946.
New coloured music film “Arshin Mal Alan” was made at “Azerbaijanfilm”
studio in 1965:
authors of scenario – T. Tagi-zadeh and M. Dadashov,
producer – T. Tagi-zadeh, music editor – F. Amirov,
major roles: L.Shikhlinskaya (Gulchohra), H. Mammadov (Asker), H. Yagizarov (Suleyman), A. Gurbanov (Sultan-bey), N. Melikova (Jahan) and others.
In 1972, Moscow firm “Melodiya” issued recording of “Arshin Mal Alan” in Azerbaijan, Russian,
and Persian languages. There is a lot of literature
as reviews, comments in mass media, scientific
publications in magazines, books, and booklets.
Music star of “Arshin
Mal Alan”
is shining within world arts for 90 years. Music
history of romantic and affecting love of Gulchohra
and Asker excites and attract the listeners from
all over the world.
