An Unforgettable Hero: Köroğlu

KÖROĞLU, ONE OF THE biggest heroes of the Turkish history, became a symbol of revolt against tyranny, enslavement and colonization from Anatolian territory to Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. He should be remembered as not only a hero, but also a poet and composer. Azerbaijani composer Üzeyir Hacıbeyli’s a ‘Köroğlu Opera’ in 1937 aims partly to achieve this. The opera will be put on stage in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkey (Ankara) in September under the general art directorship of Prof. Eflatun Neimetzade. The organization, in which 260 artists and technicians are involved, is the biggest opera project created by the Turkic world till now.