ORCHESTRA MAN

He cannot imagine existence without music and leading his orchestra. He could not be idle even after a fall when he got seriously injured and had to move about in a wheelchair and so to conduct his orchestra. Azerbaijan's renowned conductor, People's Artist of Azerbaijan and Istanbul Conservatory Professor Ramiz Malik-Aslanov has been living and working in Istanbul for more than 20 years now. He visited Baku recently. Despite his busy schedule, the maestro made time for a talk with R+ about his life, everyday work and plans for the future.

- Tell us about your childhood, family. How come that you chose conducting as your profession? 

- My ancestors hailed from music-loving Karabakh but there were no musicians in the family. My grandfather Hudadat Malik-Aslanov was among the founders of independent Azerbaijan, a parliament member, railway transport minister, one of those who signed the act on the establishment of Azerbaijan. My father, Professor and Doctor of Engineering, worked at one of Baku's oil institutes. My children and grandchildren have nothing to do with music either. I was merely growing in a cultured family which found it necessary to have their boy taught music, all the more so that the conservatory was nearby. At first, I was taught to play the cello by Isaak Mikhaylovich Turich, then by Sabir Aliyev who showed his students to Mstislav Rostropovich. But the sound of only one instrument did not suit me. I was looking for something greater, for an orchestra, and entered the conducting faculty of St Petersburg Conservatory at the first try. I learned from People's Artist of the USSR Professor Eduard Petrovich Grikurov. My first test as a conductor took place in Baku, at the Opera and Ballet Theatre where I was not only entrusted with conducting a show for children, The Little Red Riding Hood, but also taken on to work at the theatre, although I had not yet finished my studies at the conservatory. Then the news got about that a symphony orchestra was being created at the State TV and Radio Council of Azerbaijan. I was invited by artistic director Cangir Cangirov. At age 28, I left the TV and Radio Council as chief conductor of the symphony orchestra. So, everything was turning out well. I worked in Iraq, in Egypt and six years in Macedonia. But I settled down at Istanbul conservatory where the conditions proved to be better for a creative person. I had a medium level student orchestra in my hands, which has now risen to a high international class. I know each performer both as a musician and as a person. Each is going through my hands. I hand-pick them. Most of them are university students, 100 people. They are Turks but there are also foreigners from Germany, Switzerland, Canada and others asking to admit them to the orchestra. If their level is appropriate, I admit them to the orchestra. 

In addition to heading the opera and symphony sub-faculty, I work with my youth orchestra. By the way, the orchestra works basing on a French system where sitting beside the students are experienced musicians, 20 people, which enhances the musicians' training standards. We travel all over the world with our orchestra. 

- Do you popularize Azerbaijan's classical music? 

- Yes, of course. In addition, every performance we give is preceded by information about Azerbaijan. At concerts and festivals, apart from compulsory programme, we play works by Azerbaijani authors, which are usually admired by the audience. We often play Qara Qarayev's works as an encore. All symphonic music of Azerbaijan has passed through my hands, we have played piles of Azerbaijani music. Many things were played for the first time. We have also created our own video and audio studio. Its discs are made at a very high level, certainly, with essential financial contribution from the university but we make them on our own.

- What is the attitude to classical music in Turkey? 

- It is most reverential. High respect for classical music is implanted in people in that country from an early age. It is difficult to get into a hall to attend a concert, whether paid or free. The house is often sold out. Young people also come to listen to classical music. It is practically impossible to get tickets. Concerts are usually held in overcrowded halls. People sometimes have to sit on stairs. It is so despite the fact that Istanbul alone has some five or six orchestras, to say nothing about private ones that can be found almost at every cultural centre, where one can listen to a concert of symphonic music, view a play or a film. Musicians are quite often engaged with several orchestras. Music teaching is also at the highest level. There are plenty of people willing to learn music. Admission is on a competitive basis. This is why, working there, I get moral satisfaction and, I believe, that my vocation has been accomplished. 

In addition I give classes in conducting at the conservatory. I also have a philharmonic chamber orchestra at University, Isig, with which we go on tours. Our renowned fellow countrymen, such as Rizvan Sadirxanov, Yusif Hasanov, Anar Ibrahimov and others, perform with this orchestra. I believe it is now necessary to promote young gifted conductors so they can achieve an international level some 10 years from now. Most importantly, our youth orchestra went through a very rigorous selection process and won the right to play at the prestigious Beethoven Festivals in Germany and France. We vied for the right to take part in the Beethoven Festival back in 2002 and we won it. One could say we got a music Oscar. This is why we were invited to the Beethoven Festival in 2013. 

- Maestro, what attracts you more: to play opera and ballet music or strictly symphonic music?

- It does not make much difference to me. The most important thing is to have good music and perform it decently. 

- Being so busy, how do you manage to remain so cheerful, optimistic and full of vigour for creative work?

- It is because I deal with young and creative people. Do you know that creativity prolongs life? By the highest standards, I have obtained what I wanted. The inspired faces of both the musicians and the grateful audience make me very happy. This means that I have lived, worked and studied not in vain. 

- Who are your favourite composers? 

- Those are, above all, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Shostakovich, Qara Qarayev and Fikrat Amirov.

- How do you like to work? 

- I have a rigid rule: all work planned for the day must be done on time; this is why I leave no matters unfinished. 

- Do you perform during your visits to Baku? 

- In 2009, I brought my orchestra to my home country and it made a good impression taking part in the 11th Qabala Festival. The level of this music forum is very high and I think it has a great future.

- People say that you collect funny stories. Will you tell us some? 

- With pleasure. I like not only collecting jokes and anecdotes but also telling them. In Soviet times, the authorities were reluctant to let wives go abroad together with their husbands. This is why men had to attach an additional statement that they were ill. For example, I have hypertension or a diseased heart and I need care. Slava Rostropovich, a person original in everything, wrote a statement to the contrary. "I am an absolutely healthy man. This is why I ask your permission for my wife to go with me abroad. The life of a touring musician is such that, in any state of mind and health, the performer must find the strength to walk onto the stage and play in such a manner as if nothing has happened".

I remember another joke. A doctor comes to a patent in plaster and asks him about his health. The patient asks: "Doctor, when I recover, will I be able to play the violin?" "Of course" replies the doctor. "But I have never played the violin," the patient says in surprise. The next story is about luck, in a sense. Before going to Baku, my wife and I called in Naples where Georges Bizet's opera "Carmen" was on for seven days running. The costly tickets for the show had been sold out one year before. My wife and I came long before the beginning and, just imagine, we managed to get tickets from a ticket scalper. Performing at the San Carlo Theatre were iconic stars including conductor Zubin Mehta. 

- Do you have time for rest, for your hobby? 

- To speak honestly, I have no time for that in Istanbul. When I visit Baku I stay in my country house in Bilgah and go fishing. If the catch is good, I may invite 20 guests and treat them to Turkish-style fish cakes of my own make. I can even disclose the secret of the recipe. First you take bones out of the fish, mix it with onions and mince it, add some yellow Turkish cheese Kasar , mould cakes, roll them in flour and fry. It will be good to garnish it with boiled rice adding carrot and green peas. Any fish will do. 

- What are your plans for the near future? 

- A performance of Fikrat Amirov's symphony Nizami is scheduled for April this year. It will be played in Istanbul for the first time ever. In May, we are giving a concert with opera soloists to perform arias and ensembles from popular operas. 

- Maestro, I wish you good health, success and luck in your creative work.