Love and Death

Polad Bülbüloğlu
“LOVE AND DEATH”
(A ballet in 2 acts)

Libretto by: Nadezhda Maligina
(based on motifs from the epic “Kitabi Dede Gorgud”)

Conductor: Honored Artist Ayub Guliyev
Choreographer: Honored Art Worker of Russia Nadezhda Maligina
Set Designer: Dmitry Cherbadji, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, Member of the Union of Artists of Russia
Assistant Choreographer: Honored Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan Denis Zayntdinov

“Love and Death” blends national spirit with universal artistic expression.
Inspired by the legendary epic “Kitabi Dede Gorgud,” and set to music by Polad Bülbüloğlu, this ballet explores eternal themes: life and death, love and betrayal, loyalty and hatred.
It celebrates immortal love and the power of heroism in the face of death.

Nadezhda Maligina
Choreographer
Honored Art Worker of Russia

Synopsis

Prologue
A deserted plain, where ancient stones have stood for centuries.
Beside them — Death, forgotten by all.
The stones awaken, ready to tell their timeless tale.

Act I
The Oghuz people are celebrating. The beautiful Bayjan catches Azer’s heart. Yalynjyq falls for her too.
Bayjan chooses Azer after a contest.
Consumed by jealousy, Yalynjyq allies with the Kipchaks and kidnaps the couple.
The Oghuz are defeated. Death reigns.

Act II
In the Kipchak camp, Bayjan is given to Yalynjyq.
She cleverly convinces him to free Azer but never gives him her heart.
Yalynjyq meets his end.
As the Kipchaks celebrate, the Oghuz launch a counterattack.
Bayjan and Azer reunite briefly before being captured again and slain.
Their love transcends death as they ascend to Eternity.
Heroes may fall, but a nation’s spirit endures.