AMusical workIndependent states
Koroghlu (opera)
Uzeyir Hajibeyli's 1937 opera about the folk hero Koroghlu — one of the summits of Azerbaijani classical music.
Koroghlu is based on the folk epic of the same name — the story of a hero who rises against a tyrannical khan, and of his beloved Nigar. The libretto was written by Mammad Said Ordubadi and the verses by Heydar Ismayilov.
It premiered in Baku on 30 April 1937 with Bulbul in the title role and received the USSR State Prize in 1941.
Its overture and choruses are among the best-known pages of Azerbaijani music and are often performed separately in concert.
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Updated: October 1, 2026