National maestro. How a headstrong daughter brought Muslim Magomayev down Magomayev biography
Childhood and adolescence
Muslim was born in the capital of Azerbaijan during difficult war times. He never saw his father - theater artist Magomet Magomayev died near Berlin just two weeks before the end of the war. Mother, Aishet Magomayeva (Kinzhalova) was a theater actress, winner of the Stalin Prize. She lived with her little son in Baku throughout the war, and after the news of her husband’s death she returned to her native Maykop. 
Having recovered a little from her grief, Aishet decided to continue her theatrical career and went first to Vyshny Volochyok and then to Murmansk. She left her son to the relatives of her deceased husband - uncle Jamal Magomayev, his wife Maria Ivanovna and grandmother Baidigul-Jamal took up raising the boy.
Muslim's grandfather, his full namesake, after whom the boy was named, was one of the founders of academic Azerbaijani music, played various musical instruments beautifully, and wrote music for operas. He died before the war from consumption, so our hero knew about his great ancestor only by hearsay.
From his grandfather, there was a piano, a violin and a clarinet in the house, which little Muslim loved to play. Seeing the child’s craving for music, they first hired him a private teacher, and in 1949 he was sent to a specialized ten-year school at the conservatory, where he immediately became one of the best students. Unlike many of his peers, who attended lessons “under pressure,” music and vocal lessons gave Muslim great pleasure. At the same time, like any normal boy, he was interested in technology, loved to disassemble toys to understand their structure, and as a teenager he read books about adventures.
The mother tried several times to take her son with her, but still believed that only in Baku would he be able to get a decent education and get on his feet firmly. In addition, the woman married a second time, gave birth to a son, Yura, and a daughter, Tanya, and was busy raising them.
Meanwhile, Muslim was making undoubted success in the musical field, spending hours listening to records of great opera singers and trying to compose music himself. It is interesting that at first the teachers predicted a career for the young man as an outstanding composer and paid little attention to his unique vocal abilities. However, when, after the mutation, Muslim’s voice not only did not break, but also began to sound with magical velvet tints, they became interested in him as a singer. Conservatory professor Vladimir Anshelevich undertook to patronize the talented teenager, who insisted that Magomaev enter the music school. His vocal teachers were Alexander Milovanov and Tamara Kretingen, who made the teenager a real opera star.
Muslim Magomayev 1962
His first public performance took place in 1957 on the stage of the local Sailors' Palace of Culture, and four years later Magomayev was enrolled in the song and dance ensemble of the Baku Military District. As part of it, the aspiring singer went on a tour of Transcaucasia, and in 1962 he became a laureate of the VIII Festival of Youth and Students in Helsinki. The audience and jury members were deeply shocked by the virtuoso performance of Figaro's cavatina and the powerful dramatic reading of the song "Buchenwald Alarm", and they unanimously awarded the victory to the young Soviet artist.
Career
From that moment on, Magomayev’s career began to rapidly gain momentum. After his victory in Helsinki, he was invited to the Kremlin for the festival of Azerbaijani art, performed a solo program in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, and in 1963 became the leading soloist of the Azerbaijan Opera and Ballet Theater. A year later, the singer left for Milan, where he trained at the famous La Scala theater, and upon his return went on a large tour of the USSR with productions of “The Barber of Seville” and “Tosca.” He was repeatedly persuaded to join the Bolshoi Theater troupe, and in 1969, after a successful tour in Paris, the French offered the singer a one-year contract. However, Magomayev’s popularity in his homeland had already reached such an unprecedented level that officials from the Ministry of Culture did not let him go, and Muslim refused to emigrate. 
The 70s were the heyday of Magomayev’s professional career, his songs were heard at every turn, and records sold in millions of copies. Each of his concerts became an event on a national scale; the singer was also a regular guest at international festivals.
In 1973, an incident occurred that could have put an end to the career of any singer, but not Magomayev. Muslim Magometovich was accused of inflating rates for performances (instead of the required 200 rubles, he received three times more for a concert). After a high-profile trial, Magomayev was banned from touring outside of Azerbaijan, but soon government officials intervened in the matter, who were also crazy about his songs. Brezhnev was the first to notice the singer’s absence at government concerts, and Andropov put an end to his case, who personally ordered Minister of Culture Furtseva not to obstruct Magomayev, against whom the investigative authorities no longer have any complaints.
In the same year, Muslim Magometovich became an Honored Artist of Azerbaijan and People's Artist of the USSR. In 1975 he headed the pop-symphony orchestra he created, with which over the next ten years he traveled throughout the Soviet Union and foreign countries. The director of the orchestra was the singer’s Baku friend, composer Gennady Kozlovsky. He is the author of several popular hits, including “Blue Eternity,” which became one of Magomayev’s calling cards.
Muslim Magomayev - “Blue Eternity”
In total, the singer’s creative collection includes about 600 pop songs, opera arias and romances, many of which are forever included in the Golden Fund of world culture. Among them are works based on poems by Leonid Derbenev and Alexandra Pakhmutova, the music for which was written by Arno Babajanyan and Nikolai Dobronravov. Songs performed by Magomayev are heard in Soviet films; the Troubadour sings in his voice in the sequel to the famous “Musicians of Bremen”.
Muslim Magomayev about the m/film “The Bremen Town Musicians”
Shortly before his death, Magomayev wrote the song “Farewell, Baku” based on Yesenin’s poems, which became the unspoken anthem of the capital of Azerbaijan.
The last years of Muslim Magomayev
In 1998, Magomayev stopped giving concerts due to heart problems. His voice had lost its former power, and the singer considered it impossible to sing at half strength. Muslim Magometovich spent his last years in Moscow, received Russian citizenship in 2005, but did not lose touch with his homeland and until his last days considered himself a faithful son of the Azerbaijani people. Magomayev closely followed the events in his native country, criticized the activities of Polad Bulbul-ogly as Minister of Culture, and communicated with fans. Many years of friendship connected Magomayev with the family of Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, as well as with the famous businessman Araz Agalarov and his son Emin. 
Aliyev’s death in 2003 shook the singer’s already poor health; he withdrew into himself and practically stopped appearing in public. The song “Farewell, Baku,” recorded in 2007, became a kind of ending to his life and creative career - a year later the singer passed away.
Magomayev died of a heart attack caused by coronary artery disease. Thousands of people came to the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall to say goodbye to the singer, after which the coffin with the body of the deceased was sent to Baku. The singer rests on the Alley of Honor next to his famous grandfather. A year later, a monument to the legendary artist was solemnly unveiled at the grave; one of the streets of Baku and a school in his hometown bear his name.
Personal life
Magomayev enjoyed fantastic success with women, but, like a true Eastern man, he preferred not to advertise his personal life. He got married for the first time at the age of 18, having fallen in love with a classmate at a music school, the beautiful Armenian Ophelia. The young couple lived together for only three years, and even the birth of their daughter Marina could not save their marriage. 
After the divorce, Magomayev had many affairs, about which there were incredible rumors, but the meeting with Tamara Sinyavskaya changed his life forever. Their first acquaintance took place in 1972 as part of the Days of Russian Art held in Baku. Tamara was married and at first did not take Muslim’s courtship seriously, but already during the second meeting she realized that she was ready to do anything for this man. In 1974, the lovers got married and have never been separated since then.
Daughter Marina left with her mother from the USA, where she married the son of composer Gennady Kozlovsky, a longtime friend of her father. She and her husband Alexander have a growing son, Allen, who in 2008 visited Moscow with his parents to take part in a Channel One program dedicated to his famous grandfather.
Muslim Magometovich Magomayev in all sources is called an Azerbaijani (and, of course, Soviet) singer and composer. The famous baritone was indeed born in the capital of the Azerbaijan Republic, Baku. But whether he even had Azerbaijani ancestors is a big question.
Origin of mother
Muslim Magometovich’s mother, Aishet Akhmedovna, also belonged to the artistic community. She was an actress and winner of the Stalin Prize in 1941. Aishet Akhmedovna's stage name is Kinzhalova. She was born in the capital of the Republic of Adygea, Maykop. Aishet Akhmedovna's father was Turkish, her mother was 50% Russian, 50% Adyghe.
Felix Kireev, a historian of Ossetian origin, researched the ancestry of the famous singer and made a very interesting conclusion. Aishet Kinzhalova’s grandfather could have been Ossetian Ivan Aleksandrovich Khanzhalov. He was a nobleman of high birth, a White Guard colonel and the head of the Vladikavkaz Military District.
Naturally, in Soviet times, a famous actress could not “shine” with such a “non-worker-peasant” origin. And Muslim Magomayev himself never mentioned that his great-grandfather was an Ossetian and a royal subject. In the name of preserving the lives of themselves and their children, Magomaev’s ancestors had to forget about this part of their ancestry.
Origin of father
Magomayev's father was a theater artist. According to official data, he was Azerbaijani by nationality. Muslim Magometovich's paternal grandfather, Abdul-Muslim, was a famous Azerbaijani and Chechen composer. The Philharmonic in Baku is named after him. But he came from an old Chechen family, or teip in Chechen, Vashendora. Born in Grozny, the capital of the modern Chechen Republic.
Muslim Magomayev himself said that his paternal grandmother (Bagdagul-Jamal) was a Tatar. The singer avoided questions about his grandfather’s nationality. But in Chechnya, both his grandfather and great-grandfather are well known. Muslim Magometovich's great-grandfather was a Chechen gunsmith, born in the village of Starye Atagi. It is there that the Magomayev family nest is located, and that is where their surname comes from. Thus, it turns out that Muslim Magometovich’s family included Russians, Ossetians, Tatars, Turks, Adygeis and Chechens.
Sinyavskaya revealed family secrets during the recording of the documentary film “Muslim Magomayev. There is no sun without you.” According to her, there were three loves in the life of the famous performer: music, wife and only daughter Maria. The singer hoped that the heiress would follow in his footsteps, but she decided to do differently.
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Sinyavkaya stated that as a musician, Magomayev regretted that his daughter did not start a pop career. “He never put pressure on anyone. And he didn’t influence Marina’s choice, but he was annoyed. Because she is a talented girl, and she had musical abilities. And Muslim was often annoyed: how is it possible, from a musical family, but the path of her ancestors is not continued,” she said.
Magomayev's widow noted that Marina played the piano beautifully. What exactly the heiress of the famous singer does remains a mystery: she lives in the USA and rarely communicates with journalists.
Let us remember that Marina previously shared her memories of her father with reporters. According to her, he loved to joke around. “In Baku, snow is a rare occurrence, and when I was born it snowed, and my dad called me Snegurochka. This name stuck with me. I was little, but my dad seemed tall and very cheerful to me,” she said.
Muslim Magomayev died in 2008. The release of the documentary “Muslim Magomayev. There is no sun without you” is timed to coincide with the singer’s birthday – on August 17, 2017, he would have turned 75 years old.
Soviet pop singer, composer.
Honored Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR (1964).
Honored Artist of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR (1971).
People's Artist of the USSR (1973).
Honored Cultural Worker of the Polish People's Republic.
Born on August 17, 1942 in Baku (Azerbaijan).
Father - Magomet Magomayev, a theater artist, died at the front two days before the Victory.
Mother - Aishet Magomayeva (nee Kinzhalova), dramatic actress.
His grandfather is Muslim Magomayev, a famous Azerbaijani composer, whose name is given to the Azerbaijan Philharmonic.
Since childhood, he was fond of painting and sculpture.
He studied piano and composition at the music school at the Baku Conservatory.
Graduated from the Azerbaijan State Conservatory in vocal class by Shovket Mamedova (1968).
In 1960-1961 - soloist of the Grozny State Philharmonic.
All-Union fame came after his performance at the Kremlin Palace of Congresses at the final concert of the Azerbaijani art festival in 1962.
Muslim Magomayev's first solo concert took place on November 10, 1963 in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.
From 1963 to 1968, Magomayev was a soloist at the Azerbaijan Opera and Ballet Theater named after Akhundov, and continues to perform on the concert stage.
In 1964-1965, he interned at the La Scala theater in Milan, but at the end of the internship he refused to work in the Bolshoi Theater troupe.
In 1966 and 1969, Muslim Magomayev's tour at the famous Olympia Theater in Paris was a great success. Olympia director Bruno Cocatrice wanted to get Magomaev for another year and offered him a contract, promising to make him an international star. The singer seriously considered this possibility, but the USSR Ministry of Culture refused, citing the fact that Magomayev had to perform at government concerts.
In 1973, at the age of 31, he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR.
From 1975 to 1978, Magomayev was the artistic director of the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra, which he created, with which he toured extensively throughout the USSR.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Magomayev’s popularity in the USSR was limitless: stadiums with thousands of people, endless tours throughout the Soviet Union, constant appearances on television. Records with his songs were released in huge numbers. To this day, he remains an idol for many generations of people in the post-Soviet space.
Magomayev's concert repertoire includes more than 600 works (Russian romances, classical, pop and Neapolitan songs); he starred in the films: “Nizami” (1982) and “Muslim Magomayev Sings”, “Moscow in Notes”.
In 1978-1987 - soloist of the Baku Opera House.
Family.
First wife - Ophelia (married at the age of 18, lived with her for one year). There is a daughter, Marina, and a grandson, Allen.
The second wife is Tamara Ilyinichna Sinyavskaya (they lived together for almost 34 years), singer, People's Artist of the USSR.
In 1997, one of the minor planets of the Solar System, known to astronomers under the code 1974 SP1, was named after him 4980 Magomaev.
He passed away on Saturday October 25, 2008 at 06:49 am in his Moscow apartment from coronary heart disease.
prizes and awards
Order of Honor (August 17, 2002) - for his great contribution to the development of musical art.
Order of Independence (Azerbaijan, 2002) - for great services in the development of Azerbaijani culture.
Order of Glory (Azerbaijan, 1997).
Order of Friendship of Peoples (1980).
Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1971).
Badge of honor “For services to Polish culture.”
Badge "Miner's Glory" III degree.
Order "Heart of Danko", awarded for outstanding achievements in the development of Russian culture.
In 1969, at the festival in Sopot, Magomayev received 1st prize.
and in Cannes in 1968 and 1970 - the “Golden Disc” for millions of copies of records.
Muslim Magometovich Magomayev was born on August 17, 1942 into a Baku artistic family. His father Mohammed was a theater artist. A month after the birth of his son, he went to the front and died in Berlin a few days before the end of the war. Aishet, the mother of Muslim Magomayev, was a theater artist. After the war, she left for Russia, and her son remained in Baku with his uncle Jamal, who replaced both his father and grandfather.
Muslim studied at a ten-year school at the Baku Conservatory, where they soon noticed his clear and strong voice. The boy’s interest in classical vocal art arose after watching the film “Young Caruso”. Muslim listened to records, of which his uncle had a lot, watched films, took notes and sang everything. He became so interested in singing that he moved from a music school, which did not have a vocal class, to the Baku Music College.
In 1961, the young singer began working in the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Baku Military District. He performed arias from operas and pop songs. A year later he was sent to Helsinki, to the VIII World Festival of Youth and Students. Returning from Finland, Muslim Magomayev learned that an article about him had been published in the Ogonyok magazine: “A young man from Baku conquers the world.” Soon he was invited to speak on central television, and a year later Muslim Magomayev took part in the Decade of Culture and Art of Azerbaijan held in Moscow. At the final concert he performs Figaro's cavatina from Rossini's opera The Barber of Seville. After the performance, the hall exploded with applause. In the box of the concert hall sat the Minister of Culture of the USSR E.A. Furtseva and the famous tenor Ivan Semenovich Kozlovsky, who together with everyone enthusiastically applauded the young Azerbaijani. The next day, all the newspapers in the country wrote about the talent of the singer from Baku.
All-Union fame and world fame
In 1963, his first solo concert took place at the Concert Hall. Tchaikovsky Moscow Philharmonic. In the same year, Muslim Magomayev became a soloist of the Azerbaijan Opera and Ballet Theater. In 1964, the young opera singer went on a one-year internship at the famous Italian theater La Scala.
In 1966, Muslim Magomayev performed for the first time on the stage of the legendary Parisian Olympia concert hall. His second performance at Olympia took place three years later. After these tours with the Leningrad music hall, the director of Olympia offered Muslim Magomayev a contract. Permission for this contract had to be obtained from the USSR Ministry of Culture. Ekaterina Furtseva responded to a request from France with a categorical refusal, and Magomayev himself, upon returning to the USSR, was prohibited from performing at important concerts. The ban was lifted when Yu. V. Andropov, who was then Chairman of the KGB, wanted to hear Muslim Magomayev at a concert on the occasion of the anniversary of the Cheka/KGB.
Muslim Magomayev received his higher musical education after he became an Honored Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR. In 1968, so many listeners came to his diploma concert at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory that all the windows and doors in the hall had to be opened.
The versatility of creativity
From the very beginning of his career, Muslim Magomayev performed pop songs along with opera arias. In the late 1960s, he performed twice at the Cannes International Recording and Music Festival and both times received a Golden Disc for selling several million records with his recordings.
In 1969, Muslim Magomayev performed at the International Pop Song Festival in the Polish city of Sopot and received the main prize in two categories, which was contrary to the rules of the festival. For the Azerbaijani singer, the organizers of the famous festival made an exception and for the only time in their history they awarded two main prizes to the same artist.
Among the admirers of Muslim Magomayev’s work there were many famous and influential people. For example, Leonid Brezhnev loved to listen to the Italian song “Bella Ciao” performed by Magomayev.
Muslim Magomayev’s repertoire included several hundred arias and more than 100 pop songs, many of which, such as “Beauty Queen” and “Best City on Earth,” thanks to his performance, remain popular in the 2000s. As a composer, he wrote music for 32 songs and 6 films. For 14 years (until 1989), Muslim Magomayev was the artistic director of the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra.
Muslim Magomayev was awarded the titles "People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR" and "People's Artist of the USSR." In 2002, he was awarded the Order of Honor for his great contribution to the development of musical art.
Personal life and family
In the last years of his life, the great artist stopped performing, believing that each voice had its own time. Muslim Magomayev died in Moscow on October 25, 2008 and was buried in Baku.
Muslim Magomayev was married twice. He met his first wife, Ophelia, at the conservatory, where they both studied. Muslim and Ophelia had a daughter, Marina. After graduation, Marina went to live in the USA, but until her father’s last days she maintained a very warm relationship with him.
In 1974, opera singer Tamara Sinyavskaya became the wife of Muslim Magomayev. She was with him until his last breath. Muslim Magometovich once said that he could not marry another, that he and Tamara Ilyinichna had true love, common interests and one thing.
