A STRANGE MAN

His peculiarity lied not only in his attitude to life and people, but also in his character, way of thinking, conversations and behaviour. The voice and manner of performance of the outstanding singer - Azerbaijani mugam performer - were also amazing. Qadir Rustamov's Azerbaijani mugams turned into cries and innermost feelings coming out of the depths.

The owner of such a voice and unique performance skills could not have problems with popularity - he sang on radio and television and performed in concert salons. But he continued to live in his own world created in this big world...

Qadir Rustamov was born on 29 November 1935 in Agdam District. The family, where he grew up, had nine children. His mother Sudaba was a housewife. The breadwinner was their father - Carkaz kisi, who worked at the Agdam factory of primary wool processing. After the start of World War II, he went to the front and was discharged after being wounded. Years later, it was the wounds ob-tained at the front that caused his premature death.

Even though Qadir Rustamov, the middle child, was a great mischief, he was also everyone's favourite. It was also because of the beautiful voice, which already made him stand out then. He liked to get up in the middle of a large courtyard and sing in front of the house. His first listeners - members of the family - did everything possible to encourage his singing. Later, the whole neighbourhood learned about Qadir's talent.

Generally, this magical voice was like a treasure for this family. All his relatives - both paternal and maternal - had beautiful voices.

The boy studied at seven-year school №3 in Agdam District. Although teachers praised him for his good memory and excellent performance, he still went to school with reluctance. After finishing seven classes, he enrolled in secondary school №1. But soon she had to leave it and go to school in the village of Gulluca, after which he went to Baku.

It was 1960. Deciding to continue his studies at the Asaf Zeynalli Special Music School, he submitted his documents there. He was examined by Hacibaba Huseynov. The venerable singer asked the frail, nondescript guy standing in front of him: "What do you want to perform, son?" "Cahargah," he replied. It was not easy to surprise Hacibaba Huseynov with performance. But Qadir Rustamov succeeded in it. Of course, the exam was passed successfully, and he was enrolled in the class of the same Hacibaba Huseynov.

Unfortunately, he was not allowed to graduate from this musical school as he did not know solfeggio. In fact, it was only a pretext. Qadir spent the following two years in the Agdam Special Music School. But he did return to the Asaf Zeynalli School - after 28 years after expulsion. He graduated from it in 1990. And the school, where he was denied education 30 years ago, now invited him to work...

His first appearance on television took place in 1971. He sang accompanied by an ensemble under the direction of tar player Ahsan Dadasov. By this time, Qadir Rustamov was already one of the famous singers. He sang not only at weddings but also at concerts in the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society. At the same time, unlike many, he was not allowed to go on a tour abroad, the reason for which he could not understand.

Wherever he was, Qadir's soul always strove to go home. And in 1972, he returned to Agdam. He bought a house. And at 42, he created a family with Fatima who lived next door. The news of their wedding went across the country. All his musician friends took an active part in it. Qadir Rustamov himself also sang at his wedding.

He had already been fortunate to fall in love once. The fruit of that love, his son Azar, also became a famous singer later. From the marriage with Fatima he had three more children - a daughter and two sons. And Qadir Rustamov was most depressed by the fact that they were destined to grow up not in the land of their ancestors, but in houses built for refugees...

Unfounded Armenian claims to Azerbaijani lands led to a bloody tragedy. When the Armenians occupied the town of Xocali in 1992, the bodies of brutally murdered civilians were taken by helicopter to Agdam. Qadir Rustamov was among those who rushed to the aid. "What I saw on that day will burn my heart until death," the singer said.

However, Qadir Rustamov did not lose hope, even when bloody battles were under way in Karabakh, Armenians plundered and set fire to our villages and towns, and many of his friends were killed. He believed that the machinations of treacherous neighbours would not materialize. Qadir Rustamov spent most of his time with soldiers. He inspired them with his performance.

Yet the war forced the Rustamov family to leave their house in which so much effort and love had been put. A painting by outstanding artist Sattar Bahlulzada "The Mountains", which was presented to him for his birthday in the Agdam Department of Culture, hung in the most prominent place of his home. Near the radio receiver and player presented by his brother, there were rare records of Cabbar Qaryagdioglu, Kecacioglu Mahammad and Xan Susinski. All this was looted and seized by Armenians together with the house.

The singer who was displaced in his own country was given a place at a tent camp in Barda. But when he took his children and arrived, the tent was no longer there. He had to take his family to Oguz, where they rented an apartment. But they were not able to live there for long. The Rustamov family found a new haven in a boarding school, where they had to endure a lot. Then they moved to Baku. Many years later, Qadir Rustamov got a two-bedroom apartment. But it could not replace his house in Agdam. Sometimes he thought of the plates he left there. He wanted to close his eyes and listen to them for hours. At such moments he felt the brunt of the pain and anguish for his native land...

He was never greedy for wealth, money and fame. Vanity was alien to him. He never boasted of his talent and fame and did not want to be called a "great master", perhaps out of modesty, simplicity and pride, and also, out of confidence. After all, Qadir Rustamov became a universal favourite when he was still very young. He inscribed his name in the history of the musical art of Azerbaijan. And this was known to all. He was different from all masters - previous and subsequent - with his voice and art. "Rast", "Cahargah" and other mugams he performed, the folk songs "Sona bulbullar", "Apardi sellar Sarani", "Lacin", "Ay Dili Dili", "Sari galin" and others conquered hearts. He gave a second life to many already forgotten folk songs. The song 'Sona bulbullar" brought special fame to Qadir Rustamov.

The master, who had wide vocal abilities, was invited to the opera. But he refused: "Theatre is not for me." No matter how much they tried, they failed to persuade the stubborn and touchy singer to play the role of Majnun. When the movie "Chords of a Long Life" was filmed in 1981 based on a script by writer Anar, he was invited to play the role of Cabbar Qaryagdioglu. Qadir Rustamov refused again. He agreed only after a personal invitation from Anar. The filming was held in Susa. At first, they assumed that the role would be played by Qadir Rustamov and the songs would be performed by Cabbar Qaryagdioglu. But the voice of Cabbar recorded on a gramophone did not fit. It was decided that Qadir himself would sing.

During the filming, Qadir Rustamov complained about the wig and glued mustache and beard. He plucked his beard and complained. The crew patiently calmed him down. It was not easy to persuade Qadir Rustamov to appear on television. And weddings were the scene and a source of income for him. But even there he did not take all orders. And yet he was never tired of singing folk songs and mugams. I never sang to the sound recording. He rarely gave concerts on state television, but even there he only sang live. When he was asked to sing to the sound recording, he either refused or did not turn up, pretending to be sick.

Honours came to the singer too late. In 1988, he received the title of honoured artist and in 1992 - people's artist. In 1997, he was awarded the Sohrat Order.

Qadir Rustamov wanted only one thing - to return home and die in the land of his ancestors. But the dream of the outstanding singer did not come true. The news that a tumour was found in his head saddened all admirers of this great talent. He fought the ruthless disease for three months later in the Acibadem clinic in Istanbul... on 13 December 2011, Qadir Rustamov passed away.