"I WASN'T PLANNING ON LOVE…"

He came across as a strange man, not very well suited to his surroundings. He was 20-25 minutes late and was not bothered too much about the impression he was making. I took it as a symptom of celebrity. "Of course - I was thinking to myself - freezing in a light overcoat in the unpredictable Baku wind. This is what celebrities are like: no sense of time, no sense of responsibility to others. They focus only on themselves…" (I didn't know at that point that the celebrity would turn out to be a very pleasant, communicable and even humorous person!) And just as I was about to leave, he appeared; behind the monument to Uzeyir Hacibayov. And when he waved to me, I felt sorry I didn't have a camera with me, because the shot - an idol from the past, Uzeyir Hacibayov, and an idol of the present, Murad Huseynov - would be a dream photo for any photographer. On the other hand, to use my mobile would have been embarrassing - a national star is certainly worth a lot more. Anyhow, we met. Murad Huseynov, many times a winner of international competitions, associate professor of piano music at the U. Hacibayov Academy of Music. He graduated from the Baku Conservatory, majoring in piano, then completed a post-graduate course at the same academy, followed by a course at the Music Academy in Paris and finally at the Moscow Conservatory. He explained apologetically that he had got stuck in traffic. I looked askance at the celebrity and thought to myself, "Why am I not surprised?!"

It was very difficult to get the conversational ball rolling. He would shy away from personal questions, providing general answers instead. Time was running out and I hadn't heard anything other than textbook answers to different questions about him. I began to feel bored and slightly irritated. I tried to look into this handsome man's eyes, but could not see them. I could hear his voice, not him! My God! I had never interviewed anyone like him. I was speaking to a man who was hiding behind hackneyed terms and phrases, very reluctant to show himself the way he is when he plays for an audience. Where is the divine connection between him and the composer? Where are the feelings which flow from musician to listener? Does he experience any emotion at all? No, he can't. He was giving the impression of being a pragmatist, knowing exactly what he wants, but devoid of normal human emotions, programmed for success. Hmm, sad. How did he manage to achieve great success in international competitions with such a rational approach to life? How can his solo concerts produce such unforgettable sensations, bringing him fame and glory to Azerbaijan? In fact, he had just returned from one of the oldest international art festivals, Art-November-2009 in Moscow, leaving behind an indelible impression of Azerbaijani musicians. Only the best of the best are invited to the festival, and our compatriot Murad Huseynov is among them. Of course, this is very gratifying; not only for him, but also for the country. The solo concert Murad Huseynov played at Marina Tsvetayeva's house-museum, and then a second concert (the Brahms quintet) played together with the New Russian Quartet at the Chamber Hall of the Moscow International Music House are not easily forgotten. This son of Azerbaijan attracted the attention of viewers, the media, colleagues and musical critics. Some may not consider such fame as anything very important. So what! After all, this is not war on a battlefield! But if you consider the size of Azerbaijan, it is extremely important, and such triumphs are equal to battlefield victories, because they contribute to the improvement of the country's image. But how can I make him be more sincere? We spoke for an hour about universally accepted concepts and our conversation resembled an exchange of knowledge about psychology, the figurative arts, architecture, literature… It seemed he was ready to deliver lectures on any subject! This could have lasted a lot longer, and I finally decided to ruffle the celebrity with an indecorous question.

- Do you often get blind drunk with your friends?

He didn't understand and asked me to repeat the question, slightly bewildered at the colloquialism.

- Yes, do you get plastered at bachelor parties? I explained. 

He seemed to awaken from the programmed tone of the conversation and looked at me fixedly. Then his look softened and he became almost childishly credulous.

- But why? he asked in surprise. What is the point of doing that?

- There isn't any! Absolutely none! Never had a drop too much, not even tried to cut loose with friends, let your hair down? Are you capable of doing crazy things?

Murad took some time to think and then looked at me even more fixedly. He could not comprehend the reason for the question. What connection was there between him and such crazy things? Then he said, "Everything is good in its season. This is in the past for me. If I understand the essence of the question correctly, then let me say that nothing human is alien to me. Yes, indeed…My profession demands greater concentration and does not allow me to do crazy things or to be absent-minded. I understood in my childhood, and from my inclination towards self-analysis and self-discipline, that I should spend the time I have been given on something more important than crazy things, more rationally and wisely. 

- Oh! You are a pragmatist then? But how does this dovetail with your performing talent?

- I don't think these things dovetail with each other. This is the result of the constant mental and spiritual work this profession teaches me. Even now, as we talk, I can hear music somewhere deep inside me. I don't know what music, but I can definitely hear it…

- I see. So crazy things are alien to you …

- I don't see the point in doing them. In essence, they help you to escape from problems. But why? Problems should be solved, or else they will keep following you.

- Are you really so programmed to be correct? Or is this just appearance?

- I don't know. It is difficult to analyse oneself objectively. I don't consider myself to be correct, but I have always aspired to perfection.

- What does money mean to you?

- The possibility of not being able to afford everything.

- What do you mean?

- Money can buy material things, but not spiritual or moral qualities. It can't buy friends, for instance. Money can't buy dedication or fidelity.

- Do you think all this is of any value in our pragmatic age?

- I do! Throughout history, God has created situations in which these human qualities have manifested themselves, thus confirming everyone's desire to have friends with such qualities.

- Can you be a faithful friend?

- If I am friends with someone, I stay that way. There are relationships which have lasted from childhood, but there are people I met at competitions. There is some kinship, and sometimes it seems that I have known someone all my life.

- What can you say about love?

- What do you want to hear?

- For example, the fact that besides music's absolute hold on you, you are also governed by certain feelings.

- Are you looking for a romantic story about my love? Don't expect any details. This is a very intimate area which I don't discuss, even with friends. It is only mine. I can only say that I married someone I love. This lady impressed me.

- How?

- This will hardly be original, but when I saw her, I immediately understood that it would be interesting for me to be together with her. I want to look at her and not to part with her. This is destiny. I believe in it. I wasn't planning on love. It caught me off guard.

- To be honest, you come across as someone not very prone to this feeling, or unable to express it…

- Have you been to my concerts?

- I haven't …

- Then come. All the masterpieces of world music have been composed under the influence of love. Take Chopin, Beethoven, Scriabin… All their thoughts were permeated by this feeling. All their lives were full of love. I am no exception. In fact, I am further confirmation.

- You are not enraptured, you are not sentimental. In fact, you are quite reserved and businesslike. You are the complete opposite of my idea of a man fond of the music of the centuries. Is there anything in the world that could soften you?

- Oh yes. My son, my little boy who gives me incomparable joy. He gives me a deep feeling of connection with the world, with life, with eternity which contains both the past and the future.

- You are a philosopher!

- Yes, perhaps. A musician should also be a philosopher!

Seeing my bewilderment, he burst out laughing, and I saw a completely different expression in his eyes. He suddenly became very young, not the same, reserved man I had met. He then told me a great deal about music, European art, relations between world cultures, the mutual impact and enrichment of teachers and students, and many other things he is interested in.

- You really are communicative!

- Didn't I say that nothing human is alien to me?

- What concerts stand out the most for you?

- The one on 20 November 2006 in the UNS theatre. It was designed by Nargiz Pasayeva, professor and president of the Baku branch of Moscow State University. She is the art director of the theatre. It was called Impression and the programme included the works of French composers, reflecting the evolution of music from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Every composition was accompanied by an artistic, figurative illustration on the screen. This made the project unique and attractive. I feel great when I recall that concert, and I am very grateful to Nargiz Pasayeva for it.

- Are you a self-sufficient man?

- Perhaps I am. But there are things I need to improve on.

- What else do you wish for yourself? 

- From the standpoint of my art I want new trips, because they stipulate growth and renewal, both professional and intellectual…

- What do you dream about?

- I want to play in concert halls I haven't been to - Carnegie Hall (USA), Playel (Paris), the Concertgebouw (Holland)…

- What formed you as a personality?

- Everything. All types of art. Architecture, literature, arts, music, cinema…

- How about you as a musician? You are not just famous. You are talented. Not many people have won prizes three times for the best performance of music by French composers, or been honoured for that by French composers. It is common knowledge that no-one can perform the music of French composers better than the French.

- The point is that I have always liked learning. First at the Bul-Bul school, then the conservatory, and then on the post-graduate programme… Our musical school is rooted in Russian piano music. And I received this education here in Baku. Therefore, when the opportunity to study in Paris presented itself, I was very glad and I studied their approach to the profession for three years. And when I received a proposal to further improve my skills at the Moscow conservatory, I didn't turn that down either. As a result, I was formed as a musician in the Baku-Paris-Moscow triangle, in which musical cultures of the East and West merge. 

- Are you working on a new programme?

- I am. And it will combine all the schools. Thus the solo programme will include works by European, Azerbaijani and Russian composers. 

- Which Azerbaijani composers?

- Qara Qarayev, Fikrat Amirov, Covdat Haciyev, Arif Malikov, Firangiz Alizada, Xayam Mirzazada, Vaqif Mustafazada…

- What does it feel like to be exceptional?

- I don't feel exceptional. I don't think about this at all. I just live with music. And this is absolutely normal for a performer. I am not alone!

- And don't you envy others who are also called special?

- Why? I can always learn from special people.

- Don't you want to live in another, more secure country?

- I could have done that. I have received offers to work in Turkey. But I didn't, and don't, want to leave. I don't see any reason. I feel at home here because I work, I do what I like and my family is with me. I am a happy man because my profession combines everything, even my hobby, which includes different types and genres of art.

- When is your next tour, and where?

- Next year I will travel to Croatia, Turkey, Hungary, the UK…

- Will your family travel with you? 

- They certainly will when the child grows up a little.

- What would you like your son to be?

- Difficult question. I want a lot for him. I could say many words, but they would all be quite plain. I want him to be happy and healthy; I want him to live in the country he loves and have faithful friends… I want him to enjoy what he does. And I want us to be friends, real and true friends.