Performance: Khatia Buniatishvili, piano; Orchestre Philhamonique de Monte-Carlo, conducted by Rauf Abdullayev
About Piano Concerto After Arabian Themes:
“The folk music of Azerbaijan pervades the very rarely heard symphonic works on this album. A winning synthesis of East and West, these pieces — mostly for piano — feature five of the country’s most celebrated composers, including Farhad Badalbeyli, who’s also the principal piano soloist.
The disc opens with the three-movement Concerto for Piano and Orchestra after Arabian Themes by Fikret Amirov, probably the best known Azerbaijani composer. Written in 1957 in collaboration with pianist-composer Elmira Nazirova, it’s an enjoyable pastiche of exotic Eastern melodies served up in Western concerto form.
The spirited Arabian-sounding Allegro is followed by a somber Andante, and a bravura Allegro that ends the concerto in Rachmaninov territory.”
About Elmira Nazirova (translated from Azerbaijani):
“Elmira Mirzarza qizi Nazirova was born on November 30, 1928 in Baku. In 1950, she graduated from the piano class of Professor G. Sharoyev at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli, and in 1954, from the composition class of Professor B. Zeydman. Since 1951, she has taught in the piano class at the Conservatory. Since 1953, she has been a member of the USSR Composers’ Union and the Azerbaijan SSR Composers’ Union. She was awarded the Order of the ‘Badge of Honor’.
E. Nazirova was the author of a number of works, including an overture for symphony orchestra, three concertos for piano and orchestra, preludes and variations for piano, a sonata for violin, cello and piano, and works on Azerbaijani folk songs and romances.
The ‘Piano Concerto on an Arabic Theme,’ written by E. Nazirova together with the great Azerbaijani composer Fikrat Amirov, was a major event in Azerbaijani musical culture.
Along with her creative work, E. Nazirova taught at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory for many years. E. Nazirova, who has lived in Israel since 1990, was engaged in pedagogical activities there. Among her students are laureates of a number of international competitions, they represent Azerbaijani culture in various countries.
In 2004, the 75th anniversary of composer and pianist Elmira Nazirova was solemnly celebrated at the Muslim Magomayev Azerbaijan State Philharmonic.”
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