Koroğlu (The Blind Man's Son) is an opera in five acts by Uzeyir Hajibeyov to a libretto in Azerbaijani by Habib Ismayilov, with poetry by Mammed Said Ordubadi.[1] The libretto is based on episodes from the Epic of Köroğlu, a heroic legend prominent in the oral traditions of the Turkic peoples. The opera premiered on April 30, 1937 at the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theater.
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Koroğlu was written in 1936 and first performed on April 30, 1937 at the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theater in Baku, conducted by the composer with Bulbul in the title role.[2] It was Hajibeyov's last complete opera and is described by Yury Gabay in the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians as his most important work, winning him a USSR State Prize in 1941.[3] The opera had its first Moscow performance in 1938 and received its first complete staging in Russian in 1943.
Koroğlu is still frequently performed by the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theater. In the late 1980s its overture became an unofficial anthem for the Azerbaijan movement for independence from the Soviet Union and is still often used to open concerts in Azerbaijan.[4]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
| Koroghlu opera-the first act | |
| Koroghlu opera-the second act | |
| Koroghlu opera-the third act | |
| Koroghlu opera-the fourth act | |
| Koroghlu opera-the fifth act | |
| Role | Voice type |
|---|---|
| Ali, old man, horse-holder of Hasan khan | Bass (voice type) |
| Rovshan (afterwards Koroghlu), his son | Tenor |
| Nigar, Rovshan’s beloved | Soprano |
| Eyvaz, her brother | Tenor |
| Hasan khan | Baritone |
| Ibrahim khan- close of Hasan khan | Bass |
| Hamza bey- close of Hasan khan | Tenor |
| Ehsan pasha | Tenor |
| Polad, Hasan khan’s servant | Tenor |
| Hasan khan’s jester | Tenor |
| Court singer (woman) | Soprano |
| Nadir-peasant | Tenor |
| Veli-peasant | Tenor |
| Heralds-the 1st, 2nd, 3rd | Tenor |
| Farrash | Tenor |
| Commanders | Tenor |
Azerbaijan. The end of XVI century. Walls of a majestic palace rises above in the middle of the picturesque nature, at the foot of a mountain. These are the possessions of Hasan khan. Poor huts of peasants are scattered among the palace.
Their life is hard. Hasan khan is a cruel, heartless ruler. Knout, violence, robbery, murder-are facilities by which he shows his power.
Driven to despair by poverty, starvation, and atrocities of khan nation is beginning to grumble and it seems there is enough spark for firing nation’s anger.
But khan feasts. Neighbor-feudal lords get together in his palace. Wishing to show his generosity, Hasan khan has decides to present horse one of the guests. Let, the horse herd wrangler Ali bring the best horse from the herd!-the khan demands. But unfortunately Ali has driven the herd off to the fields and it is impossible to perform khan’s order. Khan is angered. Khan takes it out on poor horse herd wrangler. Blind him!-the khan ordered.
The poor man falls to his knees, swears that he hasn’t done it deliberately, askes for execution as for the great mercy,-it’s better to die than to lose the eyes! Khan’s word is the stone, he hasn’t got heart; khan’s servants take Ali away.
Ali’s son ashik Rovshan returnes home and doesn’t suspect of the accident, sing about her love to beautiful Nigar. But she hurries to inform her beloved about khan’s crime. Rovshan hurries to help his father. But it is late! The crime has been committed. “Now, you are Koroghlu,the son of blind man!” – Ali sorrowfully says Rovshan.
Henceforth, the aim of Rovshan’s life is revenge. Taking Koroghlu name, he goes to the mountains and calles all oppressed and offended people by khan. They will revenge upon the bloody tyrant. His call-is that spark, by which the fire of the nation’s revolt blazes up.
Hasan khan is anxious in thought: will the strong walls rescue him from the nation’s anger? The battle of rebels becomes larger and the name of Koroghlu becomes legendary. The feudal tremble in front of the nation’s avenger, and even the mighty Hasan khan hasn’t got enough power to attack them. He calls Turkish Ehsan pasha to help him. Two “wolves” have colluded quickly, but can the predators believe each other? Their collusion is celebrated with feast, the vine is poured, dancers whirled…But Hasan khan knows no rest.
The soldiers come running in the luxury hall with bad news: khan’s army is destroyed by Koroghlu’s soldiers. There is a commotion among the guests. Feast becomes a council of war. Everybody offers its own plan for suppression of the rebels. Khan’s jester’s curious offer is the most trusted: to steal Koroghlu’s favourite horse-Girat. Koroghlu will come immediately to free his loyal friend, and then they will catch him. The rebellion will be deprived of a leader. But who will have the courage to steal the horse from the rebels’ tower-Chenlibel? Bald-headed Hamza is ready! The beautiful Nigar will be award for it. Let it be! – Hasan khan agrees.
Nigar is horrified by coming trouble. She secretly sends her brother Eyvaz to Koroghlu.
More and more rebels get together under flag of the famous commander of the nation. Koroghlu returns to the tower from the next campaign with new detachment of soldiers. Everybody are the brothers in Chenlibel, and new coming soldiers become the members of one family. The rebels take the friendship oath, loyalty oath to the battle flag of Koroghlu – the fighter for the nation’s happiness.
Disguised Hamza appears near the walls of the tower. He asks for cover and shelter: he is horse-holder, running from the persecutions of Hasan khan. Koroglu is trustful and simple. He charges Hamza to look after his Girat. People warns Koroglu, but it is vain.
At night a storm bursted out. Darkness and a bad weather favored the crime: Hamza steals Girat.
Koroghlu recollected too later – the enemy has already disappeared in darkness. Favourite Girat has been disappeared, too.
A cheerful feast in Hasan khan’s palace. An unknown to somebody ashik appears. Interested Hasan khan offers him to sing. Strings of saz twang, a song about ardent love and beautiful beloved poures from the strings. How good sings this ashik! A new song glorifies Koroghlu’s horse-Girat. The khan laughs smugly: because Girat is in his stable! But ashik doesn’t believe: Girat cannot be here. Then Girat is brought to the hall by khan’s order.
Hamza enters. Looking to ashik Hamza cries: “Koroghlu!” Koroghlu is gripped and tied up. The khan is delighted-a mousetrap has been shut down. Broken hearted Nigar and gripped Eyvaz have been brought. Who sent him to Chenlibel? Nigar confesses bravely: she has done that. Hamza falls himself on her with weapon, but Koroglu breaks the way with one motion and hurries to help and kills Hamza. He jumps on Girat in a flash and disappears.
All power of Hasan khan’s anger falls upon Nigar. Execute her publicly with Eyvaz and a horse-holder Polad, who couldn’t save trusted him Girat!
The people are driven to the square to watch execution. There are heard grumbles in the crowd. Koroghlu’s struggle for freedom infused people’s courage. The people loudly curse the khan.
The people meet convicted persons with empathy; beautiful Nigar motionlessly stands in scaffold with the support of her friends. She has to leave this life firstly. Hasan khan comes and orders to begin the execution. There is no fear in the courageous heart of Nigar. She angrily blames the khan. At that moment when butcher’s axe falls down the soldiers burst into the square with Koroglu and set convicted persons free. The heavy men deserve the punishment. The people greet Koroglu.