Kara Karayev is an outstanding composer of the twentieth century whose legacy is acknowledged and acclaimed far beyond the borders of Azerbaijan, his native country. With melodies that sing while telling a story, his music’s moving, unforgettable expression is colored by modern, extremely expressive harmonies. All of this makes Karayev’s art exceptionally complex: he succeeds in creating a universe of sound that captures the audience. Kara Karayev studied violin and piano at Baku Conservatory, and went on to study composition at Moscow Conservatory in the class of Dmitri Shostakovich, who always held Karayev in the highest esteem. Most of the works presented here by pianist Elnara Ismailova have been recorded on this album for the first time in celebration of the 100th birthday of this largely unknown Azerbaidjanian composer.
