Kazan has bid farewell to the legendary singer Ilgam Shakirov

(KZN.RU, January 18). Kazan has bid farewell to Ilgam Shakirov, an outstanding representative of the Tatar musical culture, People's Artist of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan, laureate of the State Prize of the RT named after G. Tukai.

The memorial service was held today at the Tatar State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after M. Jalil. Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, Mintimer Shaimiev, the State Councilor of the RT, Farid Mukhametshin, the chairman of the State Council of the RT, Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, Alexey Pesoshin, the prime minister of the RT, heads of ministries and departments of the RT, and representatives of the creative community took part in the service. The ceremony was attended by representatives of various regions of Russia, including the delegation of the Astrakhan region and others.

The civil memorial service was held by Vasil Shaihrazievm the deputy prime minister of the RT, the chairman of the National Council “Milli Shura” of the World Tatar Congress.

“Today we are bidding farewell to the legend of the Tatar variety art, Ilgam Shakirov. Thanks to his talent and unique voice, the Tatar folk song became widely known throughout the world. They say about such people that he once came to this world to be remembered forever. Ilgam Shakirov will always remain the standard of Tatar vocal art”, said Rustam Minnikhanov.

He noted that a special program to preserving the memory of the great performer will be adopted in the republic. In a couple of months, the construction of a large concert hall for 3 thousand seats will be completed at the international exhibition center “Kazan Expo”. The President of the RT proposed to give the new concert hall the name of Ilgam Shakirov.

Mintimer Shaimiev said that the death of Ilgam Shakirov is a huge loss for the Tatar people. “We have found many Tatar folk songs, poems of our great poets through his work: “Kara urman”, “Teftileu”, “Tugan avylym” and many others. We need to carefully keep the memory of this great man. In particular, it is necessary to organize a festival named after Ilham Shakirov”, noted Mintimer Shaimiev.

“We are proud to have lived with him at the same time. Ilgam Shakirov is loved in all countries where Tatars live, in Australia, Finland, and Germany. Many books will be written about him, his rich heritage will be carefully studied”, said Zilya Sungatullina, a People’s Artist of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan.

Colleagues and friends of Ilgam Shakirov spoke at the ceremony as well. Vasil Shaikhraziyev read out several telegrams with words of condolence that came to the address of the republic’s leadership from different parts of Russia and foreign countries.

After the service, the artist was honored with applause, according to tradition. Ilgam Shakirov will be buried at the Novo-Tatar cemetery in Kazan, according to the official portal of the Government of the RT.

For reference:

Ilgam Shakirov is a legendary singer who won the recognition of millions of listeners and devoted his whole life to promoting Tatar national musical art. He was born on February 15, 1935, in Yana Bulyak Village, Sarmanovskiy district of the RT (now Tukaevsky district). In 1954, after graduating from the Tlyanche-Tamak Secondary School, I. Shakirov entered the Kazan Musical College. A year later, he was accepted into the vocal department of the Kazan State Conservatory in the class of E. Ambrosimova and Z.  Bairasheva.

The whole creative life of Ilgam Shakirov is associated with the Gabdulla Tukai Tatar State Philharmonia, where he came in 1960 after graduating from the Kazan State Conservatory as a vocalist.

The repertoire of Ilgam Shakirov includes more than 500 works. Many works of Ilgam Shakirov wrote himself and they became a national treasure. He made an invaluable contribution to the preservation and development of the musical art of the Tatar people and the national concert scene. Ilgam Shakirov died on the 84th year of life.