Berta Dovidova (Uzbek: Берта Довидова; 20 December 1922, Yazyavan – 1 August 2007, Tashkent) was an Uzbek and Soviet singer and music teacher, People's Artist of the Uzbek SSR (1964).[1] She is best known as the first female performer of maqams, the traditional musical style of Central Asia.[2]
Berta Dovidova | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 December 1922 Yazyavan, Uzbekistan |
| Died | 1 August 2007 (aged 84) Tashkent, Uzbekistan |
| Occupation | singer |
| Awards | People’s Artist of the Uzbek SSR, Uzbek State Order of El-Yurt |
Life edit
Berta Dovidova was born on 20 December 1922 in Yazyavan, Uzbek SSR.[3] Her family belonged to Bukharan Jews.[4] When Dovidova was 11 or 12 years old her father died and the family moved to Tashkent to live with her uncle, the mother's brother.[3]
When Dovidova graduated from the 4th grade of school, she was admitted to the Medical College named after Y. Akhunbabayev, and after graduating in 1938 worked until 1941 as a nurse in the old town polyclinic. With the outbreak of the World War II she worked in Tashkent military hospital for three years.[3]
In 1943, an ensemble led by Yunus Rajabi visited the hospital where Dovidova worked, and after hearing Dovidova singing invited her to work at Tashkent Radio.[5] Davidova joined the choir under the Uzbek Radio and Television Committee in 1943 and has been a member of the Uzbek ensemble since 1945.[6]
Career edit
In 1958, the Maqam ensemble under the State Committee on Television and Radion Broadcasting of Uzbekistan under the leadership of Yunus Rajabi was created.[5] Dovidova has been a leading singer in the Maqam ensemble of the State Committee for Radio and Television since 1960.[6]
Dovidova was the first female performed of maqams, the traditional music style of Central Asia.[5]
In 1964, Dovidova was awarded a title of People's Artist of Uzbek SSR.[1]
Dovidova's repertoire consisted of maqams and classical songs: “Munojot”, “Bayot II”, “Bayot V”, “Nasri bayot”, “Talkini bayot”, “Taronai bayot”, “Samarkand ushshoghi”, “Figon”, “Dugoh”, “Khayolim senda”, classical and modern songs such as "Yor Armugoni", "Dilnavozim", "Gulistonim mening", "Bakht", "Kuylagaiman", "Yodimdasiz".[6] Her songs were included to the “Golden Fund” of Uzbek radio.[1]
In 1975, a TV film “Munojot” (“A prayer”) was shot about Davidova.
In 1999, she was awarded Uzbek State Order of El-Yurt (Honor of Country).[6]
Berta Dovidova died on 1 August 2007 in Tashkent.
In 2013, a Dovidova commemoration meeting took place at the Center for National Arts in Tashkent organized by the Fund Forum and the State Conservatory.[2]
Personal life edit
In 1948, Dovidova married a military doctor Rakhim Makhmudov, however they broke up soon, and she was raising their son alone.[3]
Awards edit
- Order "El-yurt hurmati" (1998)
- Medal "For Distinguished Labour" (1959)
References edit
- ^ a b c "В Ташкенте состоялся вечер памяти выдающейся певицы макомов Берты Давыдовой". UzReport.news (in Russian). Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Память исполнительницы макомов Берты Давыдовой почтили в Ташкенте". Газета.uz (in Russian). 25 June 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Берта Давыдова: "Я согласна со своей судьбой"". Письма о Ташкенте (in Russian). Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "100 аёл: Бувижонларимизнинг енгил бўлмаган ҳаёти". BBC News O'zbek (in Uzbek (Cyrillic script)). Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ a b c "Берта Давыдова и Шашмаком, как одна из самых важных и интереснейших страниц истории музыкального искусства нашего края - Kultura.uz". www.kultura.uz. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Berta Davidova. 65 yillik tarixga ega ijro & 51 qo'shiqdan iborat "Munojot" albomi | Xurshid Davron kutubxonasi". kh-davron.uz. Retrieved 19 December 2020.