Ilham Aliyev attended reopening of Uzeyir Hajibeyli's house-museum in Shusha

On September 19, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev inaugurated Uzeyir Hajibeyli's house-museum in Shusha, following its restoration.

Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President, provided details about the restored house-museum’s facilities.

The house of Uzeyir Hajibeyli, built in the 19th century, began operating as a house-museum in 1959. Uzeyir Hajibeyli, a prominent composer and the founder of Azerbaijan’s professional music and national opera, had his museum in Shusha until the city was occupied. The museum originally housed 1,700 exhibits, including household items belonging to the Hajibeyli family, the composer’s personal belongings, photographic materials, and books. Following the occupation of Shusha by Armenians, the museum ceased operations, the exhibits were looted, and the building was destroyed. Of the original 1,700 exhibits, only 136 have been preserved.

Restoration work, carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, began in April 2022.

The first floor of the restored house-museum displays documents, information, and various exhibits related to Uzeyir Hajibeyli's family, childhood, and education. The second room on this floor features materials related to Hajibeyli's education at Gori Teacher’s Seminary, his pedagogical activities, and his works and articles, including a fragment of the musical notation from the romance “Sensiz” (Without You).

The second floor showcases posters and programs from premières of Hajibeyli's staged works, photographs of his students and travels, and a fragment of the musical notation from the opera “Koroghlu.”

Additionally, a special wall features sketches of characters from Hajibeyli's staged works, collages of his work programs and posters, and scenes from films based on his compositions.