7 May 2024
Fidan Gasimova
Gasimova Fidan Akram gizi (June 17, 1947, Baku, USSR) - prominent Azerbaijani opera singer. She was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in an intelligentе family.
From the age of 7, she studied in the violin class at the special comprehensive school named after Bulbul for children with musical talent. Her parents instilled her passion for music since she was a child. After graduating from school in 1967, Fidan Gasimova was admitted to the violin class of the performance department of the Azerbaijan State Conservatory named after U. Hajibeyov.
She was a very talented and patient student since her school days. Being a sophomore student, Fidan began to attend vocal lessons at the vocal department. Educators have noticed her vocal talent. Her vocal teachers were Nina Valazzi (one year), and then, after her death, Ida Lvovich. Fidan’s vocal success began to pay off very quickly. Both as a violinist and as a vocalist, Fidan Gasimova was a very talented and successful student. Therefore, in 1972, as one of the best students, she was entrusted to perform at the concert dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Azerbaijan State Conservatory. She successfully sang A. Zeynalli's song Olkem (My Country) accompanied by a symphony orchestra led by maestro Niyazi. Prominent musicians in the hall and the leadership of the Republic celebrated the emergence of a new star on the stage.
Fidan Gasimova was advised to continue her vocal education at the graduate school of the Moscow Conservatory. After graduating from the Azerbaijan State Conservatory in 1972 with two diplomas in "Violin" and "Solo singing" class, she was admitted to the vocal department of the Moscow State Conservatory named after P. I. Tchaikovsky as a graduate student. She very quickly mastered the intricacies of this art, and soon her vocal abilities were revealed again.
In 1973, Fidan Gasimova was awarded a silver medal and the title of laureate at the International Competition of Vocalists in Geneva (Switzerland). In 1974, she successfully performed at the International competition of singers held in the Netherlands and was awarded a second degree diploma and laureate title. Fidan Gasimova, who successfully completed her post-graduate studies, returned to Baku with a third diploma, as a laureate of international competitions, and began teaching at her native vocal department of the Azerbaijan State Conservatory. The victories she achieved during her studies in Moscow brought her great fame in the music world of those years.
She was often seen in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Minsk, Tbilisi, Vilnius, etc. at the performances with famous music groups. Foreign tours were also started under the line of State Concert Union. Well-known music critics and vocal experts highly appreciated her performances, vocal taste, mastery, and called her "a miracle from the shores of the Caspian".
In 1975, Fidan Gasimova was invited to work as a soloist at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after M.F. Akhundov.
In 1976, she performed her first opera role - the part of Nigar in the new premiere production of U. Hajibeyov's opera "Koroglu" with great success.
In 1977, he took part in the International competition of musicians-performers named after Viotti held in Vercelli (Italy) and was awarded the first prize in the vocal category and the title of laureate of the competition. This victory brought great success to the young singer in the Soviet Union. Fidan Gasimova entered the history of Azerbaijani musical culture as the first singer who raised Azerbaijani vocal school to the international European level.
In 1978, Fidan Gasimova was awarded the honourary title of Honoured Artist of Azerbaijan.
She successfully performed many times in Hungary, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, France, Germany, Austria, China, Morocco, USA, England, Denmark, Russia, etc. both in solo concerts and in opera performances. She performed on the stages of the Bolshoi (Moscow) and the Mariinsky Theater (St Petersburg). In Moscow, she also performed in the Column Hall of the House of Unions, in the concert hall named after P. I. Tchaikovsky, in the Great and Small halls of the Moscow Conservatory, as well as on the stage of the "House of Music".
In 1983, Fidan Gasimova was awarded the honorary title of People's Artist of Azerbaijan. In 1984, Fidan Gasimova was awarded the State Prize of Azerbaijan for her touring and concert-chamber activities.
In 1972, the "Melodiya" All-Union recording studio released the recording of Uzeyir Hajibeyov's world-famous operetta "Arshin Mal Alan". Azerbaijan State symphony orchestra under the direction of genius maestro Niyazi participated in the recording. Rashid Behbudov, Fidan Gasimova performed the Gulchohra part, and young Khuraman Gasimova performed the Asya part. Disc was released in three languages: Azerbaijani, Russian and Persian.
Fidan Gasimova created and performed a gallery of memorable characters on the stage: Nigar in the opera "Koroglu" by Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Sevil in the opera "Sevil" by Fikret Amirov, Margarita in the opera "Faust" by Charles Gounod, Micaela in the opera "Carmen" by G. Bizet, " Mimi in the opera "Bohema", Tosca in the opera of the same name by G. Puccini, Cio-Cio-San in the opera "Madame Butterfly" by G. Puccini, Tatiana in the opera "Eugene Onegin" by P. I. Tchaikovsky, etc.
Famous musicians and music critics noted her high performance culture, the extreme compatibility of her outer beauty with her inner soul. They especially noted the sweet, pleasing full-range soprano voice, the very clean and full sounding of the high notes, and the exceptional beauty of her sound in piano. All these qualities of great mastery of the performer have manifested themselves in Fidan Gasimova during the long years of her scenic activity and brought her to the level of the best masters of bel canto.
In 1988, Fidan Gasimova deservedly received the highly honourary title of People's Artist of the USSR. In 1990, she received her full professor's title and successfully continued her performance and teaching activities. In 1992-1997, Fidan Gasimova worked as a vocal professor at the Conservatory of Istanbul Dovlet University.
The government of the Republic of Azerbaijan highly appreciated the services of Fidan Gasmova in the development of Azerbaijani culture and art. In 1997, the national leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, awarded Fidan Gasimova with the Order of Glory. In 2010, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed a decree awarding Fidan Gasimova with the Order of Honour. In 2017, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev awarded Fidan Gasimova with the Order of Independence for her services in the development of Azerbaijani culture and art.
In 2015, Fidan Gasimova was awarded the title of the world's most famous performer in the 38th volume of the encyclopedia compiled by Cambridge University, Great Britain, and was awarded with a special diploma. Fidan Gasimova is the only Azerbaijani singer who has been awarded this highest award.
Currently, Fidan Gasimova is the leading professor of the Solo Singing Department of the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli. The famous singer, master and teacher successfully works on raising a new generation of singers.
Fidan Gasimova educated dozens of skilled vocalists. Many of them are laureates of international competitions, Honoured and People's artists of the Republic of Azerbaijan, soloists of Baku and foreign opera theatres and music collectives. Today, they successfully represent the Azerbaijani vocal school all over the world.
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