National Theater marks 143rd anniversary

/By Azernews/

By Amina Nazarli

The National Theater, which is perceived as a temple of art, is a source of proud of every Azerbaijani.

Founded as the one of the first European-style theaters in the the Muslim East in 1873, the National Theater has passed a long way of development to confirm itself on the scene of art. It has to defeat obstacles, difficulties, artificial barriers to exist in the most complicated period of history.

National Azerbaijani theater originated in the second half of the 19th century, and “Vizier of Lankaran Khan“ by Mirza Fatali Akhundov, the first Azerbaijani playwright, prominent thinker and philosopher, was the first play staged on the grand temple.

One of the initiators of creating the national theater was educator Hasan bey Zardabi, the publicist and founder of the first Azerbaijani language newspaper “Akinchi” (“The Ploughman"). He believed that the theater will educate people with great benefit alongside the opening of schools and the printed word.

Many of his articles targeted raising public interest to theaters, which he regarded as a true source of education and culture. This appeal was welcomed by progressive intellectuals of the time, who started to think about the establishment of the national theater in Baku.

The process of foundation of the National Theatre, new arts school based on national language and culture, could found many supporters among intellectuals. The process got a real contribution from prominent Azerbaijani educators and writers such as Ahmad bay Agayev, Suleyman Sani Akhundov, Najaf bay Vezirov, Sultan Mejid Hasanzade, Alibay Huseynzade, and Asad bay Hagverdiyev.

From the very day of its establishment the Azerbaijani theater became the center to spread the ideas of enlightenment and democracy. Many literary works staged at the theater could gain sympathy among people, exposing customs of feudal society, oppression and despotism of the red-tape, obscurantism and religious fanaticism.

This sympathy and love to theater encouraged the famous oil magnate and philanthropist Zeynalabdin Tagiyev to build in 1883 a European style building with beautiful architecture and a spacious hall for the national theater. Further it will be called the National Academic Drama Theatre, which is the most favorite attraction both young and old generation of the country.

After some time, theatre appeared in a number of cities, including Shusha, Nakhchivan, and Ganja.

Later, Baku became a venue for another magnificent cultural temple -- Azerbaijan’s professional Musical Theatre established on January 12, 1908, which opened with the performance of the first national opera "Leyli and Majnun", the first ever Muslim opera in the Islamic world composed by maestro Uzeyir Hajibeyli.

Currently the capital has about 11 theatres and there are a couple dozen in the country’s regions. The national stage puts on plays by both domestic and many foreign playwrights.

Today Azerbaijan marks the 143rd Day of the National Theatre and Azerbaijani theatre continues to be one of the main centers of culture, visiting by people of all ages.

Theaters are now in their progressive period of development. Husniyye Mursaguliyeva, spokesperson of the Azerbaijan State Youth Theatre, assures that there is not only stable, but increased interest in theaters the country.

The State Youth Theater use all the opportunities to make this beautiful art continue living and developing in Azerbaijan.

Mursaguliyeva stressed that the Theater cooperate with many influential foreign theaters and hosts tours of several significant troupes from Turkey and Russia.

“Last year the actor of theater Honored Artist Nofel Valiyev was invited to the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Theater in Turkey to stage a play, which was subsequently awarded with prizes of some prestigious theatre festivals,” she told Azernews.

Moreover to attract the foreign audience, the State Youth Theatre uses state-of-the-art equipment, projecting subtitles above a stage. This method was also used during the first European Games held in Baku last summer, where the theatre presented several performances based on plays of famous foreign and national compositions.

Mursaguliyeva said that they pay special importance to the preference of audience. For instance, visitors. as well as teachers, students, and foreign spectators, wrote their preferences in special “Review Book”.