Muxtor Ashrafiy

As a conductor and composer, Mukhtar Ashrafi showcased Uzbek art in Egypt, Iran, India, Ceylon, and a number of European countries.

Mukhtar Ashrafi was born in 1912 in Bukhara. A budding artist who fell in love with national music from childhood, he mastered instruments like the dutar and tanbur, received his first music lessons at the Bukhara Oriental School, then at the Samarkand Uzbek Music and Choreography Institute, and mastered the fields of composition and conducting under the guidance of N. N. Mironov.

In 1931, Mukhtar Ashrafi was appointed artistic director and conductor of the Uzbek Musical Drama Theater in Tashkent. His creative and organizational skills were first manifested at this theater, where he co-created the first Uzbek operas "Bo’ron" and "Ulug’ kanal" with his mentor S. N. Vasilenko.

An extremely prolific creator, throughout his life, Mukhtar Ashrafi created 7 operas, ballets, 3 musical dramas, 2 symphonies, 4 cantatas, music for dramatic plays and films, and romances and songs.

The symphonic works of the composer are distinguished by the richness of their themes. In particular, his symphonies titled "Qahramonlik" and "G’oliblarga shon sharaflar" are noteworthy. They make extensive use of the melodies and rhythms of Uzbek folk music.

His "Bayram uvertyurasi," "Tinchlik tarafdorlarining yurishi," and other scores sound joyful and solemn, and his cantatas and choral works are distinguished by their brightness and nationality. His songs and romances such as "Jonim mening," "Kashmirda," "Subhidam," and "Kel" won a place in the hearts of listeners with their lyrical mood, sincere emotions, and variety of images.

The artist is the author of the musical drama "Ichkarida," "Mirzo Izzat Hindistonda," film music for "Opa-singil Rahmonovalar" and "Semurg’," and "Hind kundaliklari," as well as a number of essays and over ten literary and journalistic articles.

For over 40 years, Ashrafi worked actively as an opera and symphonic music conductor, enriching his repertoire with rare works.

In addition to his works like "Dilorom," "Shoir qalbi," and "Sevgi tumori" (ballet), operas such as "Aida," "Carmen," "Prince Igor," "The Queen of Spades," "Pagliacci," and "Iolanta," and ballets such as "Swan Lake," "Spartacus," "Don Juan," "The Fountain of Bakhchisarai," and "The Nutcracker" are among them.

His pedagogical activity, multifaceted and prolific creativity were highly valued. He is a recipient of foreign orders and medals, the title of "People's Artist," State Prizes, and awards named after Gamal Abdel Nasser and Jawaharlal Nehru.

The great figure of Uzbek culture, Mukhtar Ashrafi, passed away in Tashkent in 1975.

An extremely prolific creator, throughout his life, Mukhtar Ashrafi created 7 operas, ballets, 3 musical dramas, 2 symphonies, 4 cantatas, music for dramatic plays and films, and romances and songs. The composer's symphonic works are distinguished by the richness of their themes.

His name has been immortalized by being given to the Tashkent State Conservatory, the Bukhara Art College and music schools, as well as streets in Tashkent and Bukhara.