Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater
The theatre was built at the request of magnate Daniel Mailov and
funded by magnate Zeynalabdin
Taghiyev. In 1910, famous Russian soprano Antonina
Nezhdanova visited Baku giving several concerts at
various clubs and performance venues. On a ball organized on the occasion
of Nezhdanova's departure at the local casino, she was asked whether she would
like to visit Baku again. Her response was negative followed by a concern that
in a city of so many wealthy people no one would fund the construction of a decent
opera theatre where singers could fully demonstrate their musical talent.
Daniel Mailov who had grown to admire both Nezhdanova's voice and persona
during her tour decided to use this opportunity and offered her to revisit Baku
in one year to attend the opening of a new opera theatre, which he would order
to build in her honour. According to an urban legend, Mailov and his
brother were not invited to a housewarming ball of a famous opera singer
from Baku whose
new house (now the head office of SOCAR)
was one of the most outstanding pieces of architecture in the city. The Mailovs
therefore decided to erect a building of their own outdoing the
"tactless" singer.
The Russian architect and civil engineer- descent Nikolai Bayev designed
the architectural sketch of the theatre. However the construction of such
grandiose building in a year was unheard of at the time and required many
safety measures to be taken. The Mailovs decided not to wait for the approval
of the City Council but were ordered to stop the construction as it violated
building regulations. Soon Bayev managed to convince the city legislature and
received its approval. Azeri magnate Zeynalabdin Taghiyev who had earlier
sponsored the construction of the Taghiyev Theatre (present-day Azerbaijan State Musical Comedy
Theatre) expressed his doubts that the new theatre
could be fully constructed in such a short period of time. Daniel Mailov laid a
bet: if the Mailovs did not manage to get the theatre built on time, they would
offer it to Taghiyev as a gift; if the theatre was indeed built by 1911, Taghiyev
would have to cover all the building expenses.
The Russian architect and civil engineer- descent Nikolai Bayev designed
the architectural sketch of the theatre. However the construction of such
grandiose building in a year was unheard of at the time and required many
safety measures to be taken. The Mailovs decided not to wait for the approval
of the City Council but were ordered to stop the construction as it violated
building regulations. Soon Bayev managed to convince the city legislature and
received its approval. Azeri magnate Zeynalabdin Taghiyev who had earlier
sponsored the construction of the Taghiyev Theatre (present-day Azerbaijan State Musical Comedy
Theatre) expressed his doubts that the new theatre
could be fully constructed in such a short period of time. Daniel Mailov laid a
bet: if the Mailovs did not manage to get the theatre built on time, they would
offer it to Taghiyev as a gift; if the theatre was indeed built by 1911, Taghiyev
would have to cover all the building expenses.
