HARMONY AND GENIUS

It so happened that in stories about art, much more attention is paid to composers, actors, writers and playwrights, and far less attention - to people who managed to bring them together and create something harmonious and of genius. These days mark 103 years since the birth of one of the greatest Azerbaijani theatre directors Samsi Badalbayli.

One of the biggest advantages of a theatre director is the ability to bring together and organize people, understand each and every one and be a "father" for them in many ways. Not a single theatre - from Shakespeare's Globe to modern experimental theatre - has managed without intrigue. We must confess that, unfortunately, this is the normal state of the theatre. The only thing that the director can do in this case is to understand and reconcile people. This is necessary to ensure that the work of the theatre not only does not stop, but is always at the appropriate level. As the Englishman Pratchett wrote in his book: "In the theatre, there is only one hard and fast rule: the show must go on."

Organizer

Samsi Badalbayli was one of those who were able not only to organize work better than many of their colleagues, but always do it very well. "He was a unique person," the actress of the State Musical Comedy Theatre, Afaq Basirqizi, says in an interview with R+. "He always had a very sensitive approach to the actors, inquired about their lives and problems and always tried to help."

As the actress says, there was a time when actors had very low wages, and Badalbayli went to various authorities, wringing money, holidays and benefits. He tried to ensure that nothing bothers the actors so they can always carry out their work freely. "He was a man of gold and never refused to help anyone," the actress says.

The directorial career of Badalbayli was unusually long. In the 1950s, he staged Hacibayli's "Koroglu" and "Asli and Karam" Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" at the Opera and Ballet Theatre. Badalbayli headed the Musical Comedy Theatre from 1949. However, along with it, he made productions at the National Academic Drama Theatre. He staged "Monsieur Jordan and Dervish Mastali Shah" by Mirza Fatali Axundov, "The Dead" by Calil Mammadquluzada, "King Lear" by Shakespeare and many other performances. Badalbayli's talent was valued so highly that he was invited to other theatres too. He also worked in the Opera and Ballet Theatre in Turkmenistan.

A big and very important advantage for the director was that Badalbayli could always feel the talent and never looked at awards, diplomas and titles. This is precisely why many talented people without regalia, who became famous and received titles later, played in his Musical Comedy Theatre. "He had a great flair for talented actors, and in fact, it was thanks to him that the Musical Comedy Theatre rose to a new level, staging away performances and becoming what it became," Afaq Basirqizi says.

Director's pedigree

We can say that Samsi Badalbayli continued the family tradition. After all, his father Badal Bay and uncle Ahmad Bay did a lot to revive the national music and drama theatre. In addition, his father was a teacher and went onstage as an actor in operas, operettas and dramas.

His first work in the drama theatre was the production of Mirza Fatali Axundov's comedy "Monsieur Jordan and Dervish Mastali Shah", which brought him success. Performances of Samsi Badalbayli stood out for their brightness, colourfulness, subtle musical accompaniment and perfect cast.

He knew how to work with all of the most prominent creative people of that era - composers, playwrights, poets and writers; he consulted Sabit Rahman, Mirza Ibrahimov, Said Rustamov, Fikrat Amirov and Suleyman Alasgarov. He breathed such a life into productions and acting that performances were met with applause not only from spectators but also from harsh critics.

His productions featured famous actors of the time: Lutfali Abdullayev, Alihuseyn Qafqazli, Munavvar Kalantarli, Nasiba Zeynalova and Basir Safaroglu.

Badalbayli, who made an impression as a strict and even harsh man outwardly, really loved humour, and his productions pay considerable attention to healthy humour and laughter.

Devoting all his life to art, Samsi Badalbayli left a mark on the development of cinema. He even starred in a number of films and documentaries, and his roles stood out for their serious approach and natural acting. And now when we watch these films, including the famous "O qızı tapın" ("Find That Girl"), "Axırıncı aşırım" ("The Last Pass"), etc., we are struck by the roles into which the great and unique Samsi Badalbayli breathed life.

Theatrical education in Moscow allowed Badalbayli to produce both performances and operas. But, of course, he made the biggest contribution to his Musical Comedy Theatre - that same young theatre, which had actually taken shape under him, was on a par with other more famous "colleagues" and turned out to be the favourite of the audience. Isn't it the best thing that Badalbayli did as a director, an art director or, as they say today, a manager? 

ABOUT HIM

Samsi Badalbayli was born on 23 February 1911. He was a people's artist of the Azerbaijan SSR. He was the father of USSR People's Artist Farhad Badalbayli and brother of the composer Afrasiab Badalbayli. In 1927-1932, he studied at the State Conservatory. In 1932-1942, he was an assistant director and director at the Azerbaijan State Drama Theatre. In 1943-1949, 1956-1961 and 1963-1974, he was artistic director of the Philharmonic. In 1974-1976, he was director of the Philharmonic. From 1976, he was chairman of the Theatrical Society. He died on 23 May 1986.