Beijing: September 18, 2025, marks the 140th anniversary of the birth of Uzeyir Hajibeyli - the esteemed composer and pioneer of modern professional musical art in Azerbaijan, who was also a conductor, musicologist, publicist, playwright, educator, public figure, and People's Artist of the USSR.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, AZERTAC continues its series of conversations with notable figures in music and culture. In a recent discussion, Claudia Yang, a renowned Chinese pianist and Artistic Director of the Silk Road International Arts Center, shared her insights on the enduring legacy of Uzeyir Hajibeyli. Yang expressed a personal connection to Azerbaijan, noting the artistic vitality and cultural harmony that her friends experienced during their visits.
As a musician who appreciates global cultural diversity, Yang has embraced music beyond the Western classical tradition, exploring the folk heritage of China and other nations. In 2021, she served as Artistic Director of the Belt and Road Great Wall International Folk Culture and Arts Festival, where she was responsible for designing international exhibitions and performances. This role inspired her to present a foreign operetta, leading her to select "Arshin Mal Alan" by Hajibeyov, a beloved work composed in 1913.
Faced with pandemic-related challenges, Yang collaborated with local orchestras and singers in China, staging a concert version with support from the Azerbaijani Embassy. She worked with the Tianjin Song and Dance Theater Symphony Orchestra and its operetta singers, ensuring the performance honored the original score. "Arshin Mal Alan" holds historical significance in China, having been the first foreign operetta staged in Chinese translation in 1959 at Beijing's Tianqiao Theater, with a warm reception from audiences, especially in Tianjin.
Yang served as the stage director of this production, overseeing everything from casting to musical interpretation. She emphasized that Hajibeyov's work transcends a simple love story, portraying Azerbaijani life with kindness, humor, and sincerity while speaking a universal language that crosses cultural barriers. Yang praised the operetta's musical rigor, lyrical melodies, and lively rhythms, which encapsulate the essence of the performing arts.
Recounting the premiere, Yang described the audience's enthusiastic response, highlighting the operetta's ability to showcase Hajibeyov's genius and strengthen cultural bonds between Azerbaijan, China, and beyond. The performance celebrated music's power to unite, inspire, and create beauty across borders.