The 27^th of January 1908 is the historical date. In this year the first national opera “Leyli and Mejnun” appeared, which was created by Uzeir Hajibeyov on the basis of Fisuli’s poem with the same title. This very day (the 27^th of January) commemorated the birth of the first opera theatre in the history of the whole Near and Middle East. He transmitted the ancient Azerbaijani professional music to the new level at the same time preserving its traditions, national style and color.

Hajibeyov (Hajibeyli) Uzeir Abdulhusein oghlu – A great composer, musician, playwright and official figure. Born on 18^th September 1885 –  died on 23th  November 1948. He was born in Shusha district, in Agjabedy village, in the family of a rural clerk. The richest musical atmosphere and musical traditions of Shusha had a great and of course positive influence on his musical education. His first teacher was his uncle A. Aliverdibeyov, who was   a musician and pedagogue, and studied folklore art. In 1908 in the H.Z. Tagiyev theatre was held the first performance of the opera “Leyli and Mejnun”. This opera laid the basis for the appearance and the development of opera genre not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the whole Moslem East.

In 1918-1920, during the years of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, he was working on the magazine “Azerbaijan” and had a very significant role in the strengthening of Azerbaijani independence. During the years 1909-1915 he composed such mugham-operas as “Koroghly”, “Sheyh Sanan”, “Rustam and Zokhrab”, “Shah Abbas and Hurshud Banu”, “Harun and Leyla”.

Some of his works are famous in the whole world; these are such operettas as “Arshin mal alan”, “O olmasin, bu olsin”, “Er ve arvad”, symphonic mughams like “Shur”, “Chahargah” and romances like “Sensiz”, “Sevgili janan” and others.

Uzeir Hajibeyov is considered to be the author of both the hymns of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the Azerbaijan SSR (Soviet Socialist Republic). The music of Uzeir Hajibeyov is in the list of golden fund of the world music.

Magomayev Moslem Mohammed oghlu (18.10.1885-07.06.1937)- Born in  Grozny. His family was from Gazakh district, Azerbaijan. A great composer, conductor and public figure. Beginning from 1912 till the end of his life he conducted opera orchestras.  He is the author of such operettas as;  “Shah Ismail” and “Nargis”, and the symphonic play “Shalale”. He recorded  more than 300 national songs and melodies of dances.

He died in Nalchik and was buried in Baku.

Garayev Gara Abulfaz oghlu (05.02.1918-12.05.1982)- Born in Baku in the family of a doctor. He was a composer, pedagogue, public figure, national artist of Azerbaijan and prize winner. The author of such ballets as “Yeddi gozel”,  “Ildirimly yollarla”, the opera “Veten” and the romantic musical comedy “Goshgun qaskoniyaly”. He also was the pupil and follower of Uzeir Hajibeyov.

Amirov Fikret Meshedi  Jamil oghlu  (22.11.1922-20.02.1984) - Born in  Ganja. He was a great composer and national artist of Azerbaijan. Being the pupil and follower of Uzeir Hajibeyov he enriched the Azerbaijani music.

He is considered to be the author of the opera “Sevil”, such musical comedies as “Yurakchalanlar”, “Gozun aydin”, also of the ballets  “Nasimi dastany”, “Min bir geje”, “Nizami” and symphonic mughams ”Shur”, “Kurd ovshary”, “Gulustan-Bayati-Shiraz”. He also composed a lot of sonates, songs and romances.   His works, especially symphonic mugham, were performed in many countries of the world.