Eldar Mansurov

Composer Eldar Mansurov was born in Baku, on February 28, 1952, in a family of well-known musician and tar player Bahram Mansurov who was a member of the Mansurovs family that has made unparalleled contribution to the development of Azerbaijani composers and musical culture in general. In such an environment, he faced no question when it was time to choose a profession. After graduating from musical school, he was admitted to forte-piano section of Baku musical school named after A. Zeynalli. In 1974, Eldar Mansurov was admitted to Azerbaijan State Conservatory named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov, to composing department and the class of Jevdet Hajiyev, from which he successfully graduated in 1979.

During his youth, Eldar Mansurov participated in many musical forums and rock festivals in the city as part of various rock groups. He was a pianist in 1969 in a famous group of the time called "Experiment OK". In 1970, he participated in prestigious rock festival "Golden Fall" as part of group "Mashal".

He also participated in different forums and festivals during his study at Conservatory, but in serious classical music events. He was awarded with a 3rd place diploma in Republican scientific conference of university students with his research work "History of Mugham Names".

He worked as a professor for a long period. First he taught students at a regular musical school, later at Republican Gymnasium of Culture. Afterwards, his students were grown-up people- students of musical school named after A. Zeynalli, Pedagogical University, and Conservatory. There are citizens of Turkey among his students as well because he taught music in Istanbul for a while.

In parallel with professorship, he also worked in TV. He worked at TV channels "BMTI" and "Lider" as musical editor. He was promoted to the position of Chief Editor of the Main musical shows department at State TV and Radio Committee. He also worked as a musical producer at the House of Music and was promoted up to the Chief Musical Producer.

Now about the most important thing- his works. His list of creative works include rock-opera "Seven Beauties", two ballets- "Cleopatra" and "Olymp", five symphonies, two symphonic poems, violin concert with orchestra, symphonic mugham "Mahur-Hindi", several works for instrumental and camera ensembles and pieces for chorus.

It is worth to mention one of the latest works of Eldar Mansurov. It is "Behramname"- written for national musical instrument tar, rock group and symphonic orchestra. This piece is devoted to his father Behram Mansurov. In terms of style, "Behramname" is a synthesis of old times and modernity, meeting point of the past and the future. We can confidently say that "Behramname"s music has been popular since the day it was written.

Eldar Mansurov's works were used in many movies and theatre plays. And, of course, his songs. The songs composed by him are popular not only in his own country, but also abroad. His songs are played in many countries, in almost all continents of the world.

Eldar Mansurov has been doing research for many years and his topic is related to the history of Azerbaijani mughams. He participated twice in International Symposiums held in Samarkand in 1983 and 1987 in which he presented papers on mughams. His research works about the history of mugham were published several times in Azerbaijan, France, Germany, and Russia.

He is a member of the Union of Composers of USSR and Azerbaijan since 1981 and a member of the Union of Cinematographs since 1999.

Eldar Mansurov was awarded with a title of "Honoured Art worker" in 2005. In 2007, he was elected to be a Secretary of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan. He is married and has two sons.