Asli and Karam () is the fifth

mugham Mugham () or Mughamat () is one of the many classical compositions from Azerbaijan, contrasting with tasnif and ashik. It is an art form that weds classical poetry and musical improvisation in specific local modes. Mugham is a modal system. ...

opera in four acts and six scenes written by

Uzeyir Hajibeyov Uzeyir bey Abdulhuseyn bey oghlu Hajibeyov (18 September 188523 November 1948) was an Azerbaijanis, Azerbaijani composer, musicologist and teacher. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani classical music. He composed the music of the Az� ...

. Its libretto was written by the composer based on motifs of broadly famed in the

South Caucasus The South Caucasus, also known as Transcaucasia or the Transcaucasus, is a geographical region on the border of Eastern Europe and West Asia, straddling the southern Caucasus Mountains. The South Caucasus roughly corresponds to modern Armenia, ...

poem ''

Kerem and Aslı Kerem and Aslı (; ) is a tragic love story from the Turkish-Azerbaijani popular poetry of the 16th century. The story probably originated in Azerbaijan or Eastern Anatolia and is widespread throughout the Caucasus and Central Asia. The story ...

'' (also ''Asli and Kerem''). The invincible power of love and spiritual beauty of man is glorified and feudal relations and nationalistic tendencies propagandized by clerical circles are attacked. The premiere was held on May 31, 1912, in

Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater The Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater () is an opera house in Baku, Azerbaijan. Formerly known as the Mailov Theatre (), was built in 1911 by Armenian architect Nikolai Bayev.

Huseyn Arablinski Huseyn Arablinski (), born Huseynbala Mammad oghlu Khalafov (1881, Baku – 17 March 1919, Baku), was an Azerbaijani actor. Life and career Born to a poor family, Huseyn Arablinski lost his father at a young age. He was sent by his mother to a r ...

directed and Uzeyir Hajibeyov conducted.

Huseyngulu Sarabski Huseyngulu Sarabski (), born Hüseynqulu Malik oğlu Rzayev (20 March 1879 – 16 February 1945), was an Azerbaijani opera singer (tenor), composer, playwright, stage actor, theatre director, and musician (tar). Early life Sarabski was born to p ...

(Kerem), Ahmed Agdamski (Asli), M.Teregulov (Gara Keshish), M.Mammadov (The Shah of

Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...

), G.Goychaylinski (Shaikh Nurali) and others acted. The opera was staged in several cities of the Caucasus, Middle Asia and Iran. Besides Baku, the opera was staged in

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...

(

Aghdam Aghdam () is a town and the nominal capital of the Aghdam District of Azerbaijan. Founded in the 18th century, it was granted city status in 1828 and grew considerably during the Soviet period. Aghdam lies from Stepanakert at the eastern foot ...

, Nakhchivan and others), too. Since 1957, "Asli and Karam" has been staged on Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theatre. In 1988, it was performed with new staging.

References

{{authority control Operas by Uzeyir Hajibeyov Compositions by Uzeyir Hajibeyov Music of Azerbaijan Azerbaijani-language operas Operas Operas set in Azerbaijan 1912 operas