Abdylas Maldybaev 

(1906-1978) 

A portrait of Abdylas Maldybaev, the first Kyrgyz composer, is depicted on the front side of the banknote with denomination of 1 Som.  

There are individuals who have the happy and honorable mission of being pioneers, founders in the history of every national culture. Abdylas Maldybaev, a composer, author, singer, founder of professional musical culture of Kyrgyzstan, created the first works of the new era: song, romance, chorus, cantata, oratorio, musical comedy, musical drama, opera, played and sang in all opera productions until the 60s.  

Abdylas Maldybaev was born on June 7, 1906. He loved music since childhood, always participated in the pupil concerts and sang well, thus he was nicknamed “Yrchy bala” (Signing boy). His first song was about pure adolescent love, and the title was tender and affectionate – “Akinai”.  

А. Maldybaev was fond of theater, but his main goal was to compose songs and music. Going on stage for the first time just to replace a sick actor, very soon he was playing in “The Inspector General” by Gogol, “Mutiny” by Furmanov’s, “Zhapalak Zhatpasov” by Shukurbekov.  

А. Maldybaev tried his hand at musical design of the studio’s productions, and later theatrical productions. Thus, the music for the theatrical performance “Karachach” written together with P. Shubin was among the serious works in this sphere.  

The first musical college was opened in Frunze in 1930, Maldybaev became its director, and the theatrical studio was transformed into the state theater. Maldybaev combined work at the music college with work as an actor in the theater, but later he moved to the theater. Since that time, three directions in the musician’s activity have been defined: Maldybaev as a composer, Maldybaev as a singer, and Maldybaev as an actor. Maldybaev was among the authors who laid the ground for the Kyrgyz mass song, chorus, romance, musical drama, cantata and oratorio.  

The Kyrgyz theater has come a long way from the first musical performance “Altyn kyz” to a musical drama “Azhal Orduna” and to an opera production – the first national opera “Aychurek”, which Maldybaev wrote together with V. Vlasov and V. Fere. April 12, 1939 – the day of “Aychurek” premiere – became the birthday of the Kyrgyz national opera.  

А. Maldybaev is a people’s artist of the USSR, laureate of the USSR State Prize and he was awarded with the Order of Lenin.  

The composer’s creative heritage includes about 300 different works, including more than 200 songs and choruses.  

The Kyrgyz National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater of has been named after A. Maldybaev since 1978. A street in Bishkek is named after Maldybaev.