Veronica Dudarova: Baku - Vladikavkaz - Moscow

Yesterday, the Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory hosted a concert dedicated to the 100th birthday of Veronica Dudarova - the first female conductor in Russian history. She recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as a woman who worked with major orchestras for more than 50 years. 

On December 5 she would have turned 100. Dudarova was born in Baku, she received musical education at the music school for gifted children of the Baku Conservatory, where students studied under Austrian conductor Stefan Strasser. She headed Moscow State Symphony Orchestra for nearly three decades. 

"She was a conductor in different Moscow halls, she started her career as conductor of the Moscow Children's Theater. In 1960, she had a brilliant debut at the Bolshoi Theater. She participated in big events - operas, concerts. At the time she showed her unusual and bright talent," Russian President's special representative for international cultural cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi said. "She became People's Artist of the Soviet Union in 1977. It was also unusual, because at that time you had to be older to receive this rank. But she absolutely deserved it."

Shvydkoi also praised Dudarova's teachers: "Amazing school - she studied under conductors Nikolay Anosov and Leo Ginzburg. They were refined musicians. But a great role was also played by unusual temperament. It's Caucasus, after all! Both South Caucasus, Baku, where she was born, and North Caucasus give a special energy and temperament. It's impossible not to mention her fans - Yuri Temirkanov, who lived near Ossetia, in Kabarda, and another Ossetian - Valery Gergiev. Ossetia gave our country a lot of conductors, including Tugan Sokhiev, but Veronica Dudarova was, of course, above everyone else, everyone loved her. She was extremely beautiful woman. I was just a boy, but I remember how she appeared near the stage. It encouraged State Orchestra's musicians not only as a conductor, but also as amazingly beautiful woman."

"People say conductor is not women's profession. It's not true! When Veronika Dudarova was standing near the stage she had such aura, such power in her gestures, in her eyes, she absolutely controlled the orchestra," Honored Artist of Russia Zhanna Dozortseva said.

Azerbaijan's ambassador to Russia, musician, Polad Bulbuloglu, spoke about the period when Dudarova lived in Baku: "Veronika Dudarova is one of those outstanding musicians that were born in Baku. A lot of musicians with world renowned names were born in our city. We are very proud of that. 100 years is quite serious date. She's not with us anymore, but music makes so that she still lives even after her physical life has ended. Veronika Dudarova often visited Baku, conducted our orchestra. Farhad Badalbeyli, great pianist, laureate of international competitions, People's Artist of the Soviet Union, rector of Music Academy was one of her friends. She often performed together with him, took him on tours, which a big deal at the time, because it was difficult to leave the country, and it was especially difficult to take an entire orchestra and soloists from different republics abroad. But she was absolutely tireless person. I was lucky, because I had an opportunity to speak with her personally thanks to Farhad, we spoke many times in company of friends, gathering both in Baku and in Moscow. She was an outstanding woman. Now we are preparing a series of concerts dedicated to her. Thanks to everyone who does it. We should never forget such outstanding people."

Polad Bulbuloglu

Yesterday, the Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory opened a photo exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Dudarova "The Fiery Bolero". This exhibition was prepared by the Ministry of Culture of North Ossetia with the support of republic's head Vyacheslav Bitarov. Exhibition's guests could photos and documentary materials from collection of the Theatre Arts Museum of North Ossetia. Ex-president of North Ossetia, deputy chairman of the Russian Commission for UNESCO, Alexander Dzasokhov said in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza: "Veronika Dudarova was born, grew and developed as a person in the capital of Azerbaijan - Baku. Her entire life she spoke about Baku, about Azerbaijanis, Azerbaijani audience very warmly. Today, USSR People's Artist Polad Bulbuloglu was among the participants of our conversation, and we remembered about Heydar Aliyev, who did a lot for cultural figures, including for Veronika Dudarova."

Alexander Dzasokhov