Biography
Muslim Magomaev earned the nickname "the Soviet Sinatra" for his commanding baritone and status as Communist Russia's most popular and accomplished pop performer, whose repertoire ranged across folk traditions, operatic arias, and jazz standards alike. Born on August 17, 1942, in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, he came from a theatrical household: his father, Magomet Magomaev, worked as a stage designer before dying in World War II, while his mother, Aishet Magomaeva, performed as an actress. A prodigy who trained in piano and composition at the Baku Conservatoire, Magomaev first appeared before the public at nineteen during the World Youth Festival held in Helsinki, Finland. Spring 1963 brought his decisive break when, at a Kremlin Congress Palace event honoring Azeri culture, he sang arias from Gounod's Faust and delivered the song "Do the Russians Want War?" to resounding acclaim. Headlines followed across the country, leading directly to his debut recital at Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and establishing him as a regular presence at official state events, where he enjoyed the consistent backing of leaders that included Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, and Yuri Andropov.
Magomaev later studied at Milan's La Scala opera house and appeared at Paris' Olympia Theatre, sharpening his command of the operatic literature. Even so, he stayed devoted to lighter repertoire and became known for his nuanced readings of Soviet standards, among them the perennial favorite "Shiroka Strana Moya Rodnaya." Over the course of his career he sold more than four million recordings and amassed a catalog exceeding six hundred titles that included "Hello Dolly," "Chattanooga Choo Choo," and "Bella Ciao." In 1973 he received the title People's Artist of the U.S.S.R. That same year he established the Azerbaijan State Variety Symphonic Orchestra, serving as its artistic director until 1989 and devoting increasing attention to the ensemble while still presenting occasional solo programs. After a serious heart ailment surfaced, Magomaev largely stepped back from live appearances so that listeners would retain an image of him at his peak, although he kept releasing new recordings until his death in Moscow on October 25, 2008.
Magomaev later studied at Milan's La Scala opera house and appeared at Paris' Olympia Theatre, sharpening his command of the operatic literature. Even so, he stayed devoted to lighter repertoire and became known for his nuanced readings of Soviet standards, among them the perennial favorite "Shiroka Strana Moya Rodnaya." Over the course of his career he sold more than four million recordings and amassed a catalog exceeding six hundred titles that included "Hello Dolly," "Chattanooga Choo Choo," and "Bella Ciao." In 1973 he received the title People's Artist of the U.S.S.R. That same year he established the Azerbaijan State Variety Symphonic Orchestra, serving as its artistic director until 1989 and devoting increasing attention to the ensemble while still presenting occasional solo programs. After a serious heart ailment surfaced, Magomaev largely stepped back from live appearances so that listeners would retain an image of him at his peak, although he kept releasing new recordings until his death in Moscow on October 25, 2008.
Albums