Shovkat Mammadova

(1897  –  1981)

Vocalist (lyric-coloratura soprano), teacher, musician, first professional singer, People's Artist of the USSR (1938).

In 1948-52 she was the chairman of the Azerbaijan Theatre Society.

Shovkat Mammadova was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, in the family of a shoemaker. His father, felt his daughter's desire for music and sent her to Baku in 1910 with the help of millionaire H.Z. Tagiyev.

In 1911, with the help of Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev and his wife Sona khanum, she enrolled in a music school in Milan, Italy. But in 1912, assistance was discontinued, and Shovkat Mammadova was forced to return to Russia and continue her studies at the Tbilisi School of Music.

In 1915, Shovkat Mammadova entered the Kiev Conservatory (now the Kiev Music Academy).

In 1915, when she studied in Kiev, she married an engineer Yakov Lyubarsky, whom she met in Milan at the time.

Since 1921 she has performed in Russia, France, Italy, Iran and Georgia. During a trip to Italy, she again entered the Milan School of Music, where in 1927-1930 she continued her studies, stopped in 1912.

Later she starts performing at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. In 1923 she created the first publishing department in Azerbaijan and the Baku Higher Theatre School (now the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts). She also gives professional vocal lessons to students of the Azerbaijan State Conservatory until the end of her life.

In 1923, on the initiative of S. Mammadova, the Baku Theatre College was opened, and in 1923-1925 she became the director of this college, as well as a music publishing house.

Rozina (“The Barber of Seville” by J. Rossini), Lakme (“Lakme” by L.Delib), Gilda (“Rigoletto” by G. Verdi), Shahsenem (“Shahsenem” by R.Gliere), Nargiz (“Nargiz” by M Magomayev), Gulchohra (“Arshin Mal Alan” by U. Hajibeyov) and others opened new pages in the history of Azerbaijani opera.