SEARCHING OLD FOR SOMETHING NEW

She can be called one of the most active representatives of Azerbaijani mugam. Concerts, television appearances, tours and educational activities... Her creative life is so saturated that sometimes you do not even know how to start a conversation. For this reason, we first wanted to know at least in general terms what the people's artist and Professor Malakxanim Ayyubova is doing today.

- For many years I've been teaching mugam at the University of Culture and Arts. I have a lot of talented students. Currently I'm preparing to record several mugams. However, I recorded them before as well, but over the years people improve, and you feel that it can be performed in a different way and in different interpretation. So my work never ends. I'm always in a creative search.

- You're a member of the jury in many representative music competitions. Accordingly, sometimes you have to criticize young performers and talk about their mistakes aloud. And what about yourself, are you tolerant of criticisms or does it depends on who is criticizing?

- You know, sometimes a person has to avoid excessive modesty. I want to say that I always try to make sure that everything is okay in my career and family. I don't like it when someone criticizes me. People's Artist Alibaba Mammadov, whom I personally regard as the father of our mugam, once said on the air that the Rast mugam should be performed only by men. However, I disagreed with him in the same broadcast and told the ustad (teacher) that the times when professions were divided into male and female ones are long gone. Today, there are areas in which women are better than men. If we can cope with something, then why shouldn't we do it?

I've been on stage for 35 years, and I've had quite a bumpy career. I learnt from such a venerable artist as Qulu Asgarov. I performed in the Irs folk ensemble from 16. Is it difficult to perform something that has already been sung? Someone has already sung it and you just repeat it. I performed unfamiliar songs forgotten by the people and never heard any criticism from the people or officials.

- Have you got tired of fame and wanted to live a simple, quiet life?

- I'm quite a free person, and fame and honour have never pressured me. I walk around freely like everyone, shop and meet people. I can keep away only from people who don't understand this simplicity. But in life, I'm not an arrogant person. My talent is a gift of God, and I became famous thanks to the people. Why should I be constrained among people? If necessary I perform at charity events and before soldiers. I consider myself a patriot.

- Honorary titles... From the side you look like someone who attained everything they wanted. And yet there can't be a person without a dream...

- Praise be to God, the people accepted me with love. And the state has always appreciated my work. As a mother and grandmother, I'm also happy. I'm proud of the fact that I'm a university professor. But the creative search continues. As long as people want to see me on stage, I'll continue to work. And when I feel that I'm no longer needed, I'll try to leave on time so as not to lose this love and respect.

Sometimes it happens that people don't like someone and don't want to see him on stage, but he continues to go on stage and perform. But there are artists people don't want to part with even if they are 70.

By the way, at one time there was a proposal that persons who have reached a certain age should leave the stage. I'm against it. Why should someone leave if the audience loves them and still listens to them?! Take, for example, People's Artist Zeynab Xanlarova. Recently, her new concert was broadcast. Believe me, holding my breath and not standing up from my seat, I listened to it until the end, although I watched this concert not just as a spectator, but also as a person who is knowledgeable in music. It's hard to surprise a person versed in music with a performance and force him to watch TV for hours. Zeynab Xanlarova can do it. But there're those of whom the audience already gets tired when they are 40. I want to be a performer people will listen to even in old age. There's the visual site of the issue, and it's not just a beautiful appearance. It's important to look healthy.

- Azerbaijan is conducting a lot of work to promote mugam in the world. You're a member of a large team involved in this good cause. How do you assess our achievements in this field?

- Of course, all this is not happening by itself. President Ilham Aliyev and especially First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva pay great attention to this issue. With their support, we travel the world with mugam, promoting our culture and music. In Soviet times, we also went on foreign tours, but couldn't introduce ourselves as Azerbaijanis then. Thank God, today we're independent and can proudly speak on behalf of our country everywhere. We tell everyone about our country with our songs, mugams and the performance of Karabakh Sikastasi. After all, music is also part of politics.

- You're one of the performers of the role of Layla. What prevented you from staying on the opera stage?

- To always perform Layla, you have stay linked to opera. I love diverse activities - I perform both folk and contemporary music and make videos. I was the first female singer to begin teaching at the university and writing scientific articles. I received the title of professor for this. If I'd had only opera, I wouldn't have had time for all this.

- Usually venerable mugam performers differ for their conservatism. If you're offered a duet with a rapper, i.e. a synthesis of rap and mugam, will you accept this offer?

- Sure, why not. If it's quality music, I'm happy to accept it. My advice to readers, avoid cheap stuff and listen only to good music. It brings up people and directs them to a better place.