Rustam Abdullaev

Rustam Abdullaev is a composer and educator. In his creative work, he frequently turns to chamber-vocal and chamber-instrumental genres, songs, romances, and children's songs. He is an active participant in many festivals and music competitions. He has been awarded the title of "Art Worker of the Republic of Uzbekistan" and the Republic State Prize.

Composer and educator Rustam Abdullaev was born in Khiva in 1947. Initially, he studied in the composition and music theory department of the Hamza Secondary Special School under the guidance of educator R. Vildanov. From 1967 to 1972, he studied at the composition faculty of the Tashkent State Conservatory under Professor V.F. Gienko, and later completed his postgraduate studies at the Tashkent State Conservatory named after M. Ashrafiy under the guidance of B.I. Zeydman.

His creative work is rich and multifaceted. Three of his operas, "Shodimulk", "Sadoqat", and "Xivaning ordeni" (*The Order of Khiva*), have been staged at the State Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater named after A. Navoi and the Samarkand Opera and Ballet Theater.

In 1984–1985, a ballet-oratorio written by the composer based on the work of playwright O‘lmas Umarbekov was staged at the State Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater named after A. Navoi.

Later, he wrote 3 symphonic poems and a cycle for voice and piano based on the poems of Uzbek and Japanese poets. As R. Abdullaev is an accomplished pianist, he understands and feels piano music very well. He created works such as a prelude and fugue, 9 variations for piano, 5 concertos for piano (1972), "Navro‘z taronalari" (*Navruz Melodies*, 1998), and "Tay ohanglari" (*Thai Melodies*, 1991).

In his creative work, the composer frequently turns to chamber-vocal and chamber-instrumental genres, songs, romances, and children's songs. He is an active participant in many festivals and music competitions. He first participated in the First Festival of Young Composers held in Saint Petersburg in 1971, and in 1972, his first piano concerto was performed during the Decade of Uzbekistan in Kazakhstan.

He also actively participated in the Uzbekistan Music Festival held in Georgia (1972), the II Festival of Young Composers in Saint Petersburg (1976), the "Young Composers' Competition" in Moscow, the Week of Uzbek Music (1977), and meetings of composers from Poland and neighboring foreign countries (1985). Additionally, his author's concerts were held in Turkmenistan and at the "Stavropol Autumn" festival (1985). During the Decade of Uzbekistan in Ukraine (1991) and the music festival of composers from neighboring foreign countries (1991), his piano concerto was performed in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.

He also participated in the "Swedish Autumn" festival (1991). Especially in the years of independence, at a time when the doors to the world were opened wide for artists, Rustam Abdullaev's creativity blossomed. The "Children's Album" written by the composer at the request of the Thai people and his piano concerto, "Thai Melodies", were performed several times. The "Bulbulcha" children's choir of the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan performed several of R. Abdullaev's songs with great success in cities in Turkey. At the request of South Korea, in 1992, he completed a piece for string quartet and concertos for piano and chamber orchestra.

For many years, the composer has been combining creative work with educational and public activities.

Working as an educator at the Tashkent State Conservatory named after M. Ashrafiy, he continues to contribute to the training of young composers and instrumentalists. He has been working as a secretary of the Union of Composers of Uzbekistan since 1985, and since September 8, 1995, he has served as the chairman of the Union of Composers of Uzbekistan. R. Abdullaev's works have been successfully performed not only in our homeland but also in near and far foreign countries. In 1993, he participated in the world premiere in Bangkok, Thailand, with his 3rd piano concerto, while the world premiere of his 4th concerto, written for piano and chamber orchestra at the request of South Korea, took place in 1994, and the premiere of his 5th piano concerto took place in concerts held in Bangkok from September 25 to October 2, 1995. In 1995, he also performed his 1st piano and orchestra concerto in Bangkok.

The services of talented composer and educator R. Abdullaev to the development of Uzbek musical art were recognized in 1997 with the title of "Art Worker of the Republic of Uzbekistan" and the Republic State Prize.