"Intizar" (2-Act Opera)

Age Rating: 6+

Composer: Firangiz Alizade
Librettist: Nargiz Pashayeva
Genre: Contemporary Opera
Language: Azerbaijani
Duration of Performance: 3 hours

Conductor: Eyub Guliyev (Honored Artist)
Stage Director: Hafiz Guliyev (Honored Artist)

Roles and Performers:

• Seyid – Ekrem Poladov
• Asli – Garine Kerimova
• Stranger – Ilham Nezerov
• Angel – Inara Babayeva
• Arif – Farid Aliyev
• Lost (Itkin) – Fahmin Ahmedli
• Two Brides – Sabina Vahabzade, Farida Mammadova
• Wounded Villager – Tural Agasiev

Brief Summary of the Opera:

Act I

Scene One
A beautiful view of a small village nestled in the mountains at sunset.

A happy event is expected in the family of Seyid and Asli. Their daughter Melak is about to be engaged. The preparations for tomorrow’s wedding are in full swing. The village girls come to congratulate Melak.

The one who is most joyful is Melak’s little brother.

The sun sets. Seyid returns home from the mountains.

The family greets him.

Melak descends into the garden and meets Arif, who is waiting for her. The young couple shares their best wishes and eagerly awaits tomorrow’s wedding.

A dervish flutters around them like a bird of happiness.

Scene Two
It is night. Lightning strikes. A heavy rainstorm begins. In the darkness, the stage fills with terrifying creatures. They crawl on the ground like snakes. The Stranger, who leads the dark forces, knocks on Seyid’s door, pretending to be an old sick man asking for help. Asli and Melak protest, but Seyid, being hospitable, lets the Stranger into his yard.

The dark forces celebrate their first, but important victory, surrounding Seyid’s house.

Scene Three
It is dawn. Seyid prays to the Almighty. Then he introduces his family to the guest and leaves for the mountains. The Stranger thinks about how to achieve his secret goals.

Asli and her young son watch the Stranger, feeling the imminent danger. This unease keeps them on edge.

The Stranger hypocritically thanks Seyid for his hospitality.

Melak, in her own world, asks her mother for permission to go to the spring to say goodbye to her friends. She hopes to meet Arif again.

Asli sends the children off and stays behind. She is very worried. She prays for the safety of her children from harm.

Scene Four
At the spring.

Two brides talk about the upcoming village wedding. They discuss Melak’s beauty and her love for Arif.

Melak enters, searching for Arif. Just then, Itkin, Seyid’s adopted son, arrives at the spring. He also loves Melak but hesitates to confess his feelings. Seeing her at the spring, he becomes angry and demands that she return home immediately.

At that moment, a Wounded Villager arrives in the village. He speaks of terrible events that happened in his village: bandits raided their homes and set their village on fire.

The villagers are in confusion. They do not yet understand what has happened.

Act II

Scene One
Arif returns from the mountains and encounters refugees who have been displaced from their homes. He enters the village leading the group. Arif is saddened that such terrible events happened on the day of his wedding.

The refugees ask Arif for help. Arif prepares to fight the invaders.

Itkin enters and suggests that Arif flee.

Arif becomes angry at Itkin’s words. The bodies of the murdered villagers are brought in, and among them is Seyid’s body.

Arif steps forward to protect his people. However, a bullet strikes him in the heart. His death causes a great shock among the people.

The bandits, led by the Stranger, enter the stage.

Itkin begs them for mercy. But the bandits are merciless. They ask where Seyid’s family is, especially the beautiful Melak. Itkin informs them that they have fled.

Realizing that his plans have failed, the Stranger becomes enraged and kills Itkin. After his death, the Stranger notices a medallion on Itkin’s chest, which is identical to one he wears. In horror, he realizes that he killed his own son many years ago in the mountains.

Scene Two
Asli, with her children, tries to escape across the snow-covered mountain paths. The snowstorm separates them.

Melak can no longer walk. She dies from the cold.

Asli frantically searches for her child. She finds her frozen son and brings him to Melak. Asli’s grief is immeasurable.

Over the body of her frozen child, Asli sings a lament resembling a lullaby. The Dervish dances a sorrowful dance, covering Melak’s body with a white bridal veil. He brings Arif’s body to Melak, reuniting the lovers in heaven.

Scene Three
The beautiful land is filled with terrible fires and devastation. Asli, with her last hope, tries to save her youngest son. Their path is blocked by cliffs, deep ravines, and huge flames.

But by a miracle, although Asli perishes, her son survives and is able to overcome all the calamities.

This child is protected by God, and his survival carries great symbolic meaning. No dark force can destroy the people’s hope! Everyone waits for the savior, reaching their hands to the sky.

And suddenly, a Rider on a White Horse appears in the sky — the savior of the people!