Fikret Amirov

Internet Edition compiled by Onno van Rijen

Updated 9 August 2012

Born

22 November 1922 in Giandzhe/Kirovabad in Azerbaidzhan. Died: 20 February 1984 in Baku.

Education

From 1938 until 1939 at the Music College of Kirovabad. From 1939 until 1940 preparation-class of Baku Conservatory. From 1940 until 1941 and from 1942 until 1948 at Baku Conservatory (composition under Zeidman).

Style

Amirov composed symphonic music, vocal chamber music and piano music mainly. He uses a lyric tone as basis. He transposes elements of the tradition of Azerbaidzhan in his music.

Works

Variations for piano (1942)

Poem to the Memory of the Heroes of the Great Patriotic War for symphony orchestra (1943)

"Robbers of the Heart", musical comedy (1944)

"Happy News", musical comedy (1946)

Double Concerto for piano, violin and orchestra (1946)

Romantic Serenada for piano (1946)

To the Memory of the poet Nizami, symphony for string orchestra (1947)

Revised in 1964 and 1983.
Movements:
1. Andante Maestoso
2. Allegretto Giocoso
3. Andante Molto Sostenuto
4. Allegro con Brio

LP Melodiya C10 16501: Azerbayan SO, G. Rozhdestvensky (cond)
CD Olympia OCD 578: Azerbayan SO, G. Rozhdestvensky (cond)

Concerto for piano and folk instruments (1947)
Composed with A. Babayev.
"The Seagull", opera (1948)

Elegy for cello and piano (1948)

Poem-Monologue for cello and piano (1948)

Two Preludes for piano (1948)

"Shur", symphonic mugam for orchestra (1948)

LP Melodiya D 033325-6: Azerbaijan State SO, Y. Gadzibekova (cond)
LP Le Chant du Monde LD 8003: Moscow Radio and TV SO, Niyazi (cond)
CD Olympia OCD 578: Moscow Radio SO, R. Abdullayev (cond)
CD ASV CD DCA 1014: Moscow SO, Antonio de Almeida (cond)
"Kurdy Ovahary", symphonic mugam for orchestra (1948)
LP Melodiya D 033325-6: Houston SO, Leopold Stokowski (cond)
CD Everest EVC 9048: Houston SO, Leopold Stokowski (cond)
CD Olympia OCD 490: Moscow Radio and TV SO, Y. Adigezalov (cond)
CD ASV CD DCA 1014: Moscow SO, Antonio de Almeida (cond)
CD AI CD 1201: Azerbaijan SO, Y. Adigezalov (cond)
"Ulduz", opera (1948)

To the Memory of Ghadsibekov, poem for violin, cello, piano and orchestra (1949)

"The Wintry Road", poem after Pushkin for tenor, baritone and orchestra (1949)

"Azerbaidzhan", suite for symphony orchestra (1950)

LP Melodia D 024839: Azerbaijan SO, Niyazi (cond)
"Sevil", opera (1953)

To the Memory of Ghadsibekov, second version, poem for violin, cello and piano (1953)

Five Pieces for wind quintet (1953)

Suite on Albanian Folk Themes for two pianos (1955)

Composed with Elmira Nazirova.
Twelve Miniatures for piano (1955)

Children's Album for piano (1956)

Concerto for piano and orchestra after Arabian Themes (1957)

Composed with Elmira Nazirova.
Video
Zöhrab Adigüzelzade with the St.Petersburg Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ismayil Hajiyev perform Amirov's Piano Concerto: movement 1, part 1, movement 1, part 2, movement 2 and movement 3.
CDs
LP Melodiya D 4216: Moscow Radio and TV SO, Y. Svetlanov (cond), E. Nazirova (piano)
CD Naxos 8.572666another review: Royal PO, Dmitry Yablonsky (cond), Farhad Badalbeyli (piano)
"Sevil", opera, second version (1959)

Azerbaidzhanian Capriccio for symphony orchestra (1961)

LP Melodiya D 024839: Azerbayan State SO, Niyazy (cond)
CD Olympia OCD 490: Moscow Radio and TV SO, Y. Adigezalov (cond)
CD ASV CD DCA 1014: Moscow SO, Antonio de Almeida (cond)
CD AI CD 1201: Azerbaijan SO, Y. Adigezalov (cond)
Symphonic Dances (1963)
LP Melodiya D 24839: Radio Orchestra, N. Rzaev (cond)
CD ASV CD DCA 1014: Moscow SO, Antonio de Almeida (cond)
"To the Memory of Nisami", symphony for string orchestra, second version (1964)
LP Melodia D 014291-2: Moscow Radio and TV SO, G. Rozhdestvensky (cond)
LP Melodia D 014291-2: Azerbaijan ChO, Nazim Rzajev (cond)
CD Olympia OCD 578 A+B: Azerbaijan SO, G. Rozhdestvensy (cond)
CD AI CD 1206: Azerbaijan ChO, Jasjar Imanov (cond)
CD Olympia OCD 490: Moscow Radio and TV SO, Y. Adigezalov (cond)
To the Memory of Ghadsibekov, third version, poem for chamber orchestra (1964)

Elegy for string orchestra (after the Elegy for cello and piano, 1948) (1965)

Two Preludes for piano, second version (1965)

"Sevil", opera, third version (1967)

"Ghulistan Bayati Shiraz", symphonic mugam for mezzo-soprano (or alto saxophone) and large symphony orchestra (1968)

LP Melodia C10 08711-2: Moscow Radio and TV SO, G. Rozhdestvensky (cond)
CD Olympia OCD 490: Moscow Radio and TV SO, Y. Adigezalov (cond)
CD Arte Nova 74321 82556 2: Dresdner SO, M. Helmrath (cond)
"A Tale of Nasimi", choreographic poem (1969)
CD Olympia OCD 490, Moscow Radio and TV SO, Y. Adigezalov (cond)
CD AI CD 1202, Azerbaijan SO, Y. Adigezalov (cond)
"Sevil", film music after the opera of 1953 (1970)

Symphonic Portraits for four soloists, narrator and orchestra (1970)

Two Preludes for piano, third version (1971)

Twelve Miniatures for piano, second version (1971)

Children's Album for piano, second version (1971)

Legends on Nasimi, poem for chorus, orchestra and traditional instruments (1972)

"Conquerors of the Kaspian Sea", vocal poem (1975)

Georgia, cantata (1976)

Poeme Symphonique for alto saxophone and orchestra (1977)

Arabian Nights, ballet in two acts (1979)

LP Melodia C10 19373 003: Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, N. Rzaev (cond)
CD Olympia OCD 578: Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, N. Rzaev (cond)
"Sevil", opera, fourth version (1980)
LP Melodia D 019415-20 Moscow Radio and TV SO and choir, R. Niyazi (cond)
Six Pieces for flute and piano
1. Song of the Ashug
2. Lullaby
3. Dance
4. In the Azerbaijan Mountains
5. At the Spring
6. Nocturne
CD BIS 419: Manuela Wiesler (flute), Roland Pöntinen (piano)
CD Cala CACD 1512: Jeanne Baxtresser (flute), Peidja Muzijevic (piano)
CD Cala-United CACD 88026: L. Newman (flute), A. Hurton (piano)
CD Gallo CD-894: Christian Delafontaine (flute), Martina Mourtazine-Chapochnikova (piano)
"A Tale of Nasimi", choreographic poem, transcription by Roman Gorelashvili (1985)
LP Melodia C10 24331 000, Roman Gorelashvili (piano)

Thanks to Dr. Alan S. Carr from the US, Erik Andersson from Sweden, Arturo Camillacci from Baku and Holger Sambale from Germany for additional information

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