Polad Bulbuloghlu (Azerbaijani: Polad Bülbüloğlu; born February 4, 1945) is a Soviet and Azerbaijani singer, actor, politician, and diplomat. Bulbuloghlu became famous in the Soviet Union with composing jazz-influenced songs with heavy Azerbaijani folk influences in Azerbaijani and Russian languages.[1] He also sang his own songs. Three of his songs became Songs of the Year and he received numerous prestigious awards in the Soviet Union. Bulbuloghlu is a lyrical tenor.
Polad Bulbuloghlu | |
|---|---|
 On the ceremony of rewarding the order of Honour. (2015) | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Polad Mammadov |
| Born | February 4, 1945 |
| Origin | Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR |
| Genres | Pop, folk |
| Occupations | Singer, composer, actor |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Spouse | Bela Rudenko |
Awards:  | |
| Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia | |
| Assumed office 13 April 2006 | |
| President | Ilham Aliyev |
| Preceded by | Ramiz Rizaev |
| Minister of Culture | |
| In office 1988–2006 | |
| President | Heydar Aliyev Ilham Aliyev |
| Succeeded by | Abulfas Garayev |
In the late 1990s, despite having a huge success with a new version arranged by Paul Buckmaster of his old song Gəl Ey Səhər (Come, Hey Morning!) in Turkey and sold-out concerts in Russia, Bulbuloghlu started a political career. He became the Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan and is currently the Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia.[2]
In 2017, he was a candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO.[3] He withdrew his candidacy on October 10 after getting only 2 votes in the first round of the election.
Biography
editBulbuloghlu was born Polad Murtuza oghlu Mammadov on February 4, 1945, in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR. His father was Murtuza Rza oglu Mammadov (1897–1961), better known by sobriquet Bulbul (lit. "nightingale"), a famous Azerbaijani opera singer and a native of Shusha, who exposed Polad to musical culture from an early age.[1] His Batumi-born mother Adelaida Mammadova (née Gasimova, 1922–2015), who was the director of the Bulbul Museum until her death, was the daughter of Rza Gasimov, son of an Azerbaijani merchant from Yerevan, and his wife Ketevan who belonged to the Georgian noble Vezirishvili family.[4][5] Polad studied the piano in a music school and then studied composing in the Baku Academy of Music, under Gara Garayev. By the age of 17 he composed several songs that were performed by professionals, as well as songs for his friend Muslim Magomayev. Bülbüloğlu's singing talent was also discovered on a trip to Moscow with Magomayev, where Bulbuloghlu recorded his own songs in the Azerbaijani language.[6]
In his career, Bulbuloghlu combined modern music style with national Azerbaijani music to create a new musical stream in the Soviet Union. He toured the entire USSR and performed around the world.[1] In 1982, Bülbüloğlu became a National Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR. He participated in the Soviet television program and festival Song of the Year and won the first prize on four occasions. His songs were performed, among others, by Muslim Magomayev, Joseph Kobzon and Lev Leshchenko.[6]
In 1969, Bulbuloghlu became a member of the USSR Union of Composers and the USSR Union of Cinematographers.[7] He composed music for over twenty feature films and had leading roles in several.[1] Among others, he worked with the Russian director Eduard Smolny.[8] Bulbuloghlu has a star at the Moscow Performers' Square, inaugurated in 2000. He received a doctorate of the History of Art from the Azerbaijan National Academy of Culture and holds an honorary professorship in the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts.[1]
Polad's son, Teimur Polad oghlu Bulbul, born in 1975, is a musician in the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio and a Meritorious Artist of the Russian Federation.[9]
Public career
editBulbuloghlu managed the Stage Ensemble of the Azerbaijan SSR (from 1976) and the Azerbaijan National Philharmonic Orchestra for several years (from 1987),[1][6] and in 1988 became the Culture Minister of the Azerbaijan SSR. In 1995 he joined the National Assembly of Azerbaijan.[1] In 2006, Polad left the post of Minister of Culture and moved to Moscow, where he was appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation. In 2017 Polad Bülbüloğlu ran for head of UNESCO, but dropped out of the race.[10]
On August 18, 2024, Polad Bulbuloglu announced that he was leaving the post of Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia. The artist and politician plans to run for the parliament of the republic from the city of Shusha (Nagorno-Karabakh region), where he spent his childhood.[11]
Awards
edit
Kazakhstan – National Award of Peace and Progress (2010) – for special contribution to peace and friendship and resolution of cultural problems in the Turkish-speaking world[12]- International Order of the Patrons of the Century (2006) – for extraordinary achievements in diplomacy[7]
Russia – Order of Friendship (2005) – for development of cultural ties between Russia and Azerbaijan[13]
Azerbaijan – Order of Independence (2005) – for development of Azeri culture[14]
Georgia – Order of Honour (2002)[7]- Song of the Year (1980 – Tell Your Eyes, 1979 – Beloved Country, 1978 – I am in Love, 1977 – Will Be Delighted by the Sun Again)[6]
- Azerbaijan – For service to the Fatherland Order (2nd class)[15]
- Azerbaijan – Heydar Aliyev Order (2020)[16]
Titles
edit- People's Artist of Turkmenistan (2017)[17]
- Om emerit al Republicii Moldova (2005)[7]
- People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR[6]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Russian title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Don't Worry, I am With You 2 | Не бойся, я с тобой 2 | Teimur |
| 2006 | Park of a Soviet Era | Парк советского периода | Himself |
| 1981 | Don't Worry, I am With You | Не бойся, я с тобой | Teimur |
| 1973 | On the Wings of Song | На крыльях песни | |
| 1970 | Rhythms of Apsheron | Ритмы Апшерона | |
| 1970 | "Margaret" Storms | Бушует "Маргарита» | |
| 1966 | Tales of the Russian Forest | Сказки русского леса | |
| 1954 | To the Beloved Nation | Родному народу | |
Source: kino-teatr.ru (in Russian)
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Songs
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Polad Bülbüloğlu – Biography". Kino-teatr.ru (in Russian). October 25, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "Azərbaycanın RF-dakı Səfiri" (in Azerbaijani). Embassy of Azerbaijan in Moscow. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
- ^ "Nine Nominations received for the post of Director-General of UNESCO". UNESCO. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- ^ Brunch with Matvei Ganapolsky. Echo of Moscow. December 13, 2002.
- ^ Ellada Umudlu. Azərbaycan musiqisinin Bülbülü. Azerbaijan Muallimi. June 22, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Bülbüloğlu, Polad". The Russian Stage – 20th Century (in Russian). 2004. p. 99. ISBN 9785224044627. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Bülbüloğlu, Polad". Yandex Dictionaries (in Russian). Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "Year's Best Photographers Honored" (in Russian). Kommersant. August 29, 2000. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "Teimur Bülbül". Azeri.ru (in Russian). December 5, 2005. Archived from the original on March 1, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "Israel Braces for Results as the Vote for UNESCO Head Continues". The Jerusalem Post. October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ "Посол Азербайджана в РФ сообщил о завершении дипмиссии в Москве". TASS (in Russian). August 18, 2024.
- ^ "Nazarbayev Awarded Azerbaijan National Artist Polad Bülbüloğlu with National Award of Peace and Progress". Newskaz.ru (in Russian). December 15, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ^ "Polad Bülbüloğlu Receives Order of Friendship". Peoples.ru (in Russian). January 19, 2007. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ "Polad Polad Bülbüloğlu Received Order of "Istiglal"". Day.az (in Russian). February 3, 2005.
- ^ "Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on awarding the employees of diplomatic services of the Republic of Azerbaijan". president.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ "Ilham Aliyev presented "Heydar Aliyev" Order to Polad Bulbuloghlu". Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ "Turkmenistan: golden age". turkmenistan.gov.tm (in Russian). Retrieved April 30, 2017.
External links
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