Khuraman Gasimova

Biography: Khuraman Gasimova (Azerbaijani: Xuraman Qasımova) is an opera singer and actress from Azerbaijan. Khuraman Gasimova was born on June 6, 1951, in the former Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic capital city of Baku. In 1975 she graduated from Baku Academy of Music. She has been the soloist of Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater since 1976. Her opera repertoire has included roles in the modern works of Azerbaijani composers Fikrat Amirov and Uzeyir Hadjibeyov. In the standard opera canon, Gasimova's repertoire includes the roles of Mimi and Muzetta (La bohème), Desdemona (Otello), Aida (Aida), and Tatiana (Eugene Onegin). While she was in school, she appeared in such films as The Elevator Operator Girl, I wasn't Beautiful then and The Life Examines Us. Later, she achieved success as a singer. In 1981, Gasimova was awarded first prize at the Maria Callas Grand Prix, an international opera competition held in Athens. In 1988, she was awarded the silver medal at the 8th Tchaikovsky International Competition. In 1986, she was named a People’s Artist of Azerbaijan for her creative achievements. She also is a laureate of the State Prize of the Azerbaijani Republic and the Lenin Komsomol Prize. On June 3, 2011 she was named to the Sheref Order (Order of Glory) by the President of Azerbaijan.