Shamsi Badalbeyli

(1911 - 1987)

Director, People’s Artist of Azerbaijan.

In 1976-86 he was chairman of the Azerbaijan Theatre Society.

Famous Azerbaijani director Shamsi Badalbey oglu Badalbeyli was born on February 23, 1911 in a family of intellectuals of Shusha. His father Badal bey Badalbeyli and his uncle Ahmed Agdamski (Badalbeyli) did a great job in reviving the national drama and musical theatre. Badal bey was also a teacher and actor, performing in operettas, operas and theatrical productions.

Shamsi Badalbeyli went on his father’s way and from 1923 to 1927 he studied at the Baku Pedagogical College. He, as an amateur actor, played in the student theatre. In 1927 he entered the class of folk musical instruments of the Azerbaijan State Conservatory. Then he continued his studies in the composition theory class under the leadership of Uzeyir bey Hajibeyov.

As a student, he played at the small orchestra of the National Drama Theatre. Despite the difference in age, he began to be friends with the playwright Jafar Jabbarli, actor and director Ismail Hidayatzade, director and teacher Alexander Tuganov. In 1932 he took part in the preparatory process of several performances as an assistant director.

Taking into account the creative abilities of Shamsi Badalbeyli, in 1933 the Commissariat of Public Education sent him to Moscow for training and internships. Returning to Baku, Shamsi Badalbeyli was recruited by the directors of the Academic National Drama Theatre and worked in this group until 1941.

Appointed artistic director of the Azerbaijan State Theatre of Musical Comedy (1943 - 1949). In 1956-1961 he worked in the theatre as a director, and in 1965-1974 as an artistic director. When the theatre was closed in 1949, he was appointed director of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic. He worked in this post until 1974-1976. From 1976 to 1981 he was elected as a chairman of the Azerbaijan Theatre Society (now the Union of Theatre Workers of Azerbaijan). November 21, 1986 he went to an honorary retirement. Shamsi Badalbeyli, whose work was closely connected with the Musical Comedy Theatre, had done a great job in creating and developing this group.

Shamsi Badalbeyli made performances “Dead people” in Drama Theatre, “Koroglu”, “Asli and Kerem”, “Seville Barber” in the Opera and Ballet Theatre, “Congratulations”, “Durna”, “Arshin Mal Alan”, “Hijran” and others in the Musical Comedy Theatre. In 1957, he staged the opera “Koroglu” at the Opera and Ballet Theatre of Turkmenistan. He created unforgettable characters in the films “Pages of my life”, “Last Pass”, “Find that girl” and others.

A prominent director, talented administrator Shamsi Badal oglu Badalbeyli was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan on June 17, 1943 and the People’s Artist of the Azerbaijan on July 29, 1964 for his great contribution to the development of musical theatre.

Shamsi Badalbeyli died on May 23, 1986 and was buried in the second Alley of Honour. One of the streets in Baku is named after him.