Franghiz Ali-Zadeh

Full biography Franghiz Ali-Zadeh

Franghiz Ali-Zadeh is a prominent Azerbaijani composer known for her avant-garde and contemporary compositions that revolve around traditional Azerbaijani music. She was born on May 17, 1947, in Baku, Azerbaijan, and began learning the piano at the age of six. Later, she studied composition at the Baku Conservatory, where she obtained a degree in 1972.

Ali-Zadeh's style is a perfect blend of traditional Azerbaijani music and Western music techniques, which she has pioneered through a unique use of melody, harmony, and rhythm. Her music is well received around the world and has been performed by several distinguished orchestras such as the Kronos Quartet, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.

One of her major works is "Mugam-Sayagi," a chamber concerto for solo violin and chamber ensemble that is based on Azerbaijani mugam, a traditional genre of vocal and instrumental music. It has been performed internationally and has won critical acclaim for its ingenuity and power.

Apart from composing, Ali-Zadeh has also been active in academics and has published several articles on Azerbaijani music in various journals and books. She has also taught composition at the Baku Conservatory and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.

In recognition of her contribution to music, Ali-Zadeh has received several awards, including the International Rostrum of Composers in Paris, the UNESCO International Music Council's International Music Prize, and the Golden Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Overall, Ali-Zadeh's works reflect her deep passion for music and her ambition to create a dialog between traditional and contemporary musical ideas. Her pioneering efforts have made her a celebrated figure in the world of classical music.