Background
This could be expected, since he was the son of Zulfugar Adigozalov (1898–1963), a prominent "khananda" singer of Azerbaijani mugham.
This could be expected, since he was the son of Zulfugar Adigozalov (1898–1963), a prominent "khananda" singer of Azerbaijani mugham.
Vasif Adigozalov was greatly influenced by Gara Garayev (1918-1982), the distinguished Azerbaijani composer and teacher with whom Vasif had studied at the Azerbaijan Conservatory in 1953-1959.
Vasif Adigozalov excelled both as composer and performer. He majored in Piano as well as Composition at the Azerbaijani Conservatory (now Baku Music Academy). His piano professor was Simuzar Guliyeva and throughout his career, he gave numerous concerts on stage as a pianist and accompanist.
In the early 1960s, he accompanied legendary Azerbaijani singer Rashid Behbudov (1915–1989).
Later on, he pursued a solo career and performed his own pieces. Although Adigozalov had become seriously ill in the last few years of his life, he continued to carry out his responsibilities both at the Azerbaijan Composers" Union where he was Chairman (1990–2006), as well as the Music Academy where he had taught since 1961, and where he had chaired the Department of Choral Conducting (1992–2006).
Had Vasif Adigozalov only written "Carnation" (1960), which dozens of Azerbaijani singers have performed in various arrangements, it would have been sufficient enough for him to assume an honorable place in the history of Azerbaijani music and culture. Adigozalov wrote "Carnation" at the age of 25, as a tribute to Natavan (1832–1897), a famous 19th century poetess and ruler of Karabakh - a mountainous region known for being a cultural center in Azerbaijan.
Vasif Adigozalov"s works continue to be appreciated and performed by Azerbaijani pianists of all generations.