The famous Soviet and Azerbaijani opera and pop singer Rashid Beibutov was called a cheerful boy from Karabakh. In 1959, he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR, and later - Hero of Socialist Labor. On the opera stage, he performed his parts in the voice of tenor-altino.
early years
Rashid Beibutov was born in 1915. He was born in Tiflis on the territory of modern Georgia. His father's name was Mejid Beybutov, he was a famous singer-hanande, that is, he performed Azerbaijani folk songs, represented the Karabakh school of mugam (one of the main Azerbaijani music genres). The mother of the hero of our article was called Firuza Abbas Kuli kyzy Vekilova, she taught Russian in Azerbaijani schools in Tbilisi.
In 1933, Rashid Beybutov entered the railway technical school. There he soon became the founder of an amateur student orchestra. After that he served in the ranks of the Red Army, where he also was engaged in creativity. In particular, he was the soloist of the army ensemble.
At the beginning of a creative career
After returning to the "citizen", Rashid Beibutov performs for some time in one of the pop groups in Georgia. In 1934 he left for Yerevan, where he became the soloist of the local philharmonic society.
From 1938 to 1944, the hero of our article performs with the state jazz orchestra of Armenia, led by cellist and conductor Artemy Sergeevich Ayvazyan. They tour all over the country. In parallel, Beibutov begins performing at the Spendiarov Armenian Opera and Ballet Theater.
During the Great Patriotic War, the songs of Rashid Beibutov are heard on the Crimean Front.
Big screen debut
In 1943, filming of the musical comedy by Nikolai Leshchenko and Rza Tahmasib "Arishin Mal Alan" begins at the Baku film studio. This is the story of an oriental bridegroom who suffered because he could not see the face of his beloved before the wedding. Therefore, he persuaded his friend to change into a street cloth dealer. Such merchants had the right to enter houses selling their goods, girls and women, examining fabrics, did not cover their faces.
From this film, the creative biography of Rashid Beibutov in Soviet cinema began. He immediately got the main role of the rich Asker. And he got to the movies absolutely by accident. One of the creators of the picture noticed him in the house of officers in Baku. Beibutov just performed Askerâs aria, after which he was invited to join the crew.
The picture was released in 1945, was a great success in the USSR and abroad.
On the stage
At the same time, singer Rashid Beybutov became the soloist of the Azerbaijan Philharmonic. He sings on this stage until 1956, then until 1960 he performs at the Akhundov Opera and Ballet Theater in Azerbaijan. In particular, he gets the main parts there all in the same musical comedy of Hajibeyov âArshin Mal Alanâ, Amirovâs opera âSevilleâ.
In 1957, a concert ensemble was created on the basis of the Azerbaijan Philharmonic, which combines classical Azerbaijani folk instruments and the style of jazz. From 1957 to 1959, Beibutov headed it as an artistic director.
In 1966, the hero of our article was organized by the Azerbaijan Song Theater, which exists today, bears his name. Beibutov remained the soloist and artistic director of this theater until the very last days.
Popularity throughout the Union
The singer came to popularity in the 30s and 40s, when the fashion for soft and high male voices appeared in the Soviet Union. At first, they began to recognize him in the republics of Transcaucasia and the Caucasus, and then throughout the country.
Beibutov had a high tenor, possessing a warm and gentle timbre of a wide range. He combined singing breath and European production with a free guttural manner of singing, which was characteristic of mugham.
At the same time, Beibutov was fluent in Russian, which allowed him to speak without a Caucasian accent. One could immediately recognize his manner of performance, which was characteristic of the culture of Turkey and the Caucasus, a little played and sentimental, at the same time optimistic and very joyful. Among immigrants from the Caucasus, only Muslim Magomayev could be compared in popularity with Beybutov.
Tour
Since the beginning of the 50s, the singer goes on tour around the world. For several years he traveled to Hungary, Bulgaria, China, Italy, India, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Poland, Finland, and in many countries of Latin America, everywhere he was a great success.
In addition, Beibutov often successfully toured throughout the Soviet Union. He regularly included in his repertoire songs in the languages ââof the peoples of those countries in which he performed at that time.
Beibutovâs acquaintances told of a case when local residents in one village in India blocked the movement of trains, not wanting to let Soviet artists go until Beibutov appeared before them.
Many appreciate his contribution made to the development of national musical comedy and opera. He had a winning stage appearance, charm, great artistic talent, the ability to feel and understand any national music. All this brought Beybutov tremendous success, which accompanied him throughout his creative career.
Repertoire
The singerâs repertoire was diverse. At the same time, Azerbaijani folk songs and works of Azerbaijani composers still occupied a key place in it. Among them are the songs "Song of the Oilman", "Caucasian Feast", "Baku". It should be noted that, in addition to songs of the peoples of the Caucasus, Beibutov performed many classic Russian folk songs, 19th-century romances, as well as works by contemporary Soviet composers.
As a rule, for himself, he selected a special repertoire that affected the feelings of the audience. These were the songs "Beloved Eyes" by Rashid Beibutov, "Moscow Nights" by Solovyov-Sedy to the music of Matusovsky, "I Love You, Life" by Kolmanovsky to the verses of Vanshenkin.
With this repertoire he was everywhere enthusiastically received. âFavorite eyesâ of Rashid Beybutov for a long time remained his main hit.
Filming
At the same time, the hero of our article constantly starred in feature films. After the success of the film âArshin Mal Alanâ, he was remembered by many in the comedy of Latif Safarov âBakhtiyarâ, where he played the main role of drilling master Muradov, the film-concert of Eldar Kuliev âRhythms of Absheronâ, the adventure musical Oktay Mir-Kasimov âThe Thousand-First Tourâ.
Also in many films, songs are performed by him. One of the most famous of these paintings is Rafail Perelshteinâs melodrama "I Met a Girl". Rashid Beibutov is the performer of the song of the same name by the Tajik poet Mirzo Tursun-zade, which remains popular until now.
According to the plot, this is the story of a girl Lola performed by Rosa Akobirova, who attracts many men in her hometown. Almost everything is in love with her, from singers from the local amateur choir who want to get her into their ranks, ending with the usual hard worker who spends a lot of time at her house. The girlâs father, wanting to protect her from any encroachment, sends her daughter to the village, not suspecting that Said, who is in love with her, will even be able to find her there.
Another feature of the tape was that it was the first color picture at the Tajikfilm film studio; it was released in 1957. Many just in this film still remember the voice of Rashid Beibutov. "I met a girl" in his performance is still the most famous version of this work.
Among other films in which he sang, one can note "The Tale of the Caspian Oil Workers", "The Trick of Old Ashir", "Romeo, My Neighbor."
In 2008, director Veit Helmer used Beibutov's vocals in his comedy Absurdistan, which was filmed in Germany. This is the story of a small settlement with only 14 families, the biggest problem of which is the lack of water supply. Women are convinced that men cannot do anything just because of their laziness.
The main characters of the picture Aya and Temelko are in love with each other. Before a young man manages to get a girlâs hand, he will have to help the village solve water problems. This amazing story looks especially romantic to the songs of Beibutov.
Social and personal life
For more than twenty years, Beibutov remained a deputy of the Supreme Council. He held this position for five convocations in a row - from 1966 to 1989. Each time he was elected from the Nakhichevan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
He was married to Jeyran Khanum, who in 1965 gave birth to his daughter. Her name is Rashid Beibutova, she continued the work of her father, became a singer, now she has the title of Honored Artist of Azerbaijan. The wife of the hero of our article died recently - in May 2017.
Beybutov himself died as a result of an unsuccessful surgery in the summer of 1989. He was 73 years old, he was buried in Baku. The singerâs grave is on the Alley of Honor.
Memory
In Azerbaijan today, the memory of the singer, who glorified national music throughout the country, is kept. One of the central streets of Baku bears the name of Beibutov, and the State Song Theater named after him and music school No. 2 are also located on it.
In 2010, the Azerbaijani group FLASHMOB Azerbaijan staged an original flash mob in honor of the 95th birthday of the popular singer. Representatives of national music celebrated a jubilee of bright and extraordinary, staging a mass performance of his most famous songs. In the center of Baku, flash mob participants gathered to his song "Azerbaijan", and then performed excerpts from his hits "I met a girl", "Baku", "Four friends", "Dear friend".
To perform these compositions, young people spontaneously gathered in front of the Beibutov Song Theater, then near the Nasimi Monument, in front of the underpass, and finally, in the Park Boulevard shopping center.
In 2016, a monument to Beibutov was erected in front of the State Theater, which bears his name. The author was the sculptor Fuad Salaev.