Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

A book "Arshin mal alan - 100" was published with the support of the Culture and Tourism Ministry to honor the creativity of great composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Trend Life reported.

The publication mainly consists of the materials, kept in Uzeyir Hajibeyli's Home Museum. The book includes Hajibeyli's memories, notes, manuscripts, various theater posters, announcements, invitations, photographs and other materials.

The book with three subheadings named "Arshin mal alan on the Azerbaijani stage", "Arshin mal alan on the screens" and "Arshin mal alan in languages and on stages of various countries" creates a wide picture of the 100-year history of the work.

“Arshin Mal Alan” (" The Cloth Peddler") is comic and romantic operetta by the founder of Azerbaijani opera and classical music Uzeyir Hajibeyli.

The Cloth Peddler tells the love story of young Aska, who wants to get married. He is a rich, successful businessman and has everything he could wish for except for one thing-a wife. Tradition does not allow him to choose his own bride.

But Askar has a modern mentality and wants to choose his bride himself. Askar's friend Suleyman suggests that Askar disguises himself as a cloth peddler, gain entrance into the courtyard of private homes where all the women will gather around him to purchase his goods.

So Askar wanders from house to house as a poor peddler selling fabric. Eventually, he meets Gulchohra, the beautiful daughter of Sultan bey, a wealthy merchant. Askar decides Gulchohra is the one he wants to marry. She, too, falls in love with him, although she knows him only as a peddler.

The story ends happily, four couples celebrate their marriages together. Askar marries Gulchohra. Suleyman marries Gulchohra's cousin, Asiya. Askar's servant, Valli, falls in love with Sultan bey's servant, Telli. The widower, Sultan bey, falls in love with Suleyman's widowed aunt.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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