Majid Behbudov

Majid Behbudov was born on 18th of April in 1873 in Shusha and died on 6th of September in 1945 in Gazakh. Khanende was one of the eminent followers of Karabakh school of mugam. Having charming and beautiful voice Majid Behbudov in early ages used to give minajat (call of mullah informing about somebody’s death), sang mugam in special parties and in wedding parties.

Even if before he performed in Karabakh and Ganja as khanende, later he moved and lived in Tiflis (Tbilisi) and gave concerts for a long time. He attracted with his beautiful voice listeners and “Grammafon” record studio invited khanende to Riga to record his voice in 1910. In Riga khanende recorded several mugams, tasnifs and folk songs in Mashadi Jamil Amirov’s accompaniment.

Majid Behbudov’s repertoire was very rich and he was considered as a master singer of “Mirza Huseyn Segahy”, “Shushter”, “Chahargah” mugams. He also charmed people not only singing classical mugams, but also singing in other Caucasus peopels’ languages.

Khanende also played a very important role in development of Azerbaijan Opera art. He performed in several mugam operas and operettas created that times. Majid Behbudov was on tours not only in cities of Azerbaijan and Caucasus countries but also in Iran and represented Azerbaijan mugam. Majid Behbudov’s children also played an important role in Azerbaijan culture: having the charming beautiful voice, the Peoples artist of USSR Rashid Behbudov, producer, the Popular artist of Russia Anvar Behbudov, actress, the Honored artist Najiba Behbudova continued family tradition.