Biographie
Muslim Magomayev was a celebrated singer in the former Soviet Union. He was born on August 17, 1942, in Baku, Azerbaijan, then part of the USSR (now Azerbaijan). His grandfather, Muslim Magomayev Sr., was a renowned Azerbaijani composer. Following his family's legacy, young Magomayev studied singing and piano at the Baku Conservatory of Music.
He rose to fame in the USSR in 1962 at the age of 19 after a remarkable performance at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow. In 1963, he gained recognition in Europe following a successful appearance at the Youth Festival in Helsinki, Finland. That same year, he gave his first recital at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow. At the time, popular singer Klavdiya Shulzhenko remarked, "The moment Muslim Magomayev appeared, it became a huge event. He surpasses all other singers. Everyone adores him." Magomayev quickly became a star, attracting a large following across the Soviet Union and Europe.
In the mid-1960s, Magomayev significantly advanced his vocal skills by studying at the La Scala Opera Theater in Milan, Italy. His time in Italy, renowned for its rich artistic heritage and as the birthplace of bel canto, greatly enhanced his singing and influenced his inner world. Magomayev remained a lifelong advocate of the Italian singing tradition. His admiration for legendary singers such as Beniamino Gigli, Gino Bechi, Tito Gobbi, Mario del Monaco, and Enrico Caruso fueled his operatic studies.
Magomayev excelled in performing leading arias from roles like Figaro, Scarpia, Mephisto, and Onegin. However, his success in popular music somewhat hindered his operatic career, a situation reminiscent of his idol Mario Lanza, whom he noted Hollywood "stole" away from the opera stage. In 1969, Magomayev won the International Song Competition in Sopot, Poland, and earned the first "Golden Disc" at the Cannes Music Festival, selling 4.5 million records that year.
At 30, Muslim Magomayev became one of the youngest artists to receive the prestigious title of People's Artist of the USSR. He was also honored with numerous awards for his contributions to opera and popular music in the Soviet Union. Magomayev passed away from heart failure on October 25, 2008, in Moscow, Russia, and was buried in Baku, Azerbaijan.
