“Zümrüd quşu”: Nigar Suleyman’s Musical Message of Hope and Renewal
- WOMCO
- May 21
- 3 min read
Nigar Suleyman was awarded the Gold Prize in the Film/Game Music category for her composition Zümrüd quşu ("Phoenix") at the 2025 Season 2 Erik Satie International Music Competition.
Could you share the inspiration behind "Zümrüd quşu" and the message you hope to convey through it?
The inspiration behind "Zümrüd quşu" came from the script of my friend, director Roustam Sadigli’s film of the same name. The message it aims to convey is one of renewal — letting go of the past, leaving behind pain and sorrow. This soundtrack was composed in 2020 specifically for the reincarnation scene. Initially, it was titled "Reincarnation," but later renamed to match the title of the film.
The cover of Zümrüd quşu
What was your creative process like while composing "Zümrüd quşu"? How did you approach the structure and dynamics of the piece?
The creative process was very fast. From the beginning, the director’s instruction was clear: the cello had to be involved, and the music needed to express a sense of spiritual renewal.
How did you collaborate with the musicians for the recording, and were there any memorable moments during the session?
We didn’t have access to a professional recording environment. At that time, the COVID-19 pandemic had just begun, and all studios were closed. We had to record using a microphone at a music café in Baku called Etud Baku. The original score didn’t include any percussion, but while we were playing cello and piano, a guest listener, Nicat Pashazadeh, spontaneously joined in on percussion. It worked so well that we agreed percussion should definitely be part of the piece.
A special thanks goes to cellist Eyyub Aliyev, who performed the piece almost entirely from memory, in a single take.
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and thank anyone (such as mentors, supporters, or other team members)?
The first people I would like to thank are my family, especially my mother. They have always been my greatest support, emotionally and spiritually.
I’m also sincerely grateful to Roustam Sadigli, who encouraged me to write my first soundtrack and opened the door to the world of film music. I never imagined I would pursue this path further. I hope he continues directing, as he is truly talented in this field.
To the performers — Eyyub Aliyev and Nicat Pashazadeh, and to my teachers: I can’t mention them all by name, as there are many, including both formal and spiritual mentors, and composers whose classes I’ve attended. But I want to express special thanks to my harmony teacher, Kəmalə Şıxəliyeva.
And, of course, to my friends, who have always stood by me and endured the emotional struggles of my creative process — thank you.
Biography
Nigar Suleyman (b. September 8, 1999, Baku, Azerbaijan) is a composer known for her emotionally rich and stylistically diverse works spanning concert music and film soundtracks. A graduate of the Bulbul Specialized Music School, she studied composition under Pika Akhundova and choral conducting with Yulizana Kukhmazova. She later earned her bachelor’s degree in classical composition at the Baku Music Academy under Jeyhun
Allahverdiyev.
Her early works, including Dance of the Darkness, performed by the Gara Garayev String Orchestra, and chamber pieces like 7 Miniatures for Clarinet and Flute, gained national attention. Nigar’s compositions have received international recognition, earning awards in competitions such as CaspiArt (Turkey) and Russia’s “Stars’ Project.” As a performer she earned 2nd laureate prize of the International Jazz Festival held in Baku.
In 2022, she participated in the Uzeyir Hajibeyli Festival, and her diploma work, Triptych-Symphony, was performed in 2024 by the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra. She was also a winner in Cadenza Contemporary Orchestra’s “Call for Scores.”
As an Erasmus student at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, she explored electroacoustic composition, studying sound engineering and contemporary music history. She premiered works in venues like Tallinna Raekoda and the Azerbaijani House in Tallinn. During this time, she took lessons from notable composers such as Türkar Qasımzadə, Ayaz Qəmbərli, Tahir İbişov, Malle Maltis, Liisa Hirsch, Einnike Leppik, Alexander Khubeev,
Anton Safronov, Deginq Wien, Anton Svetlichny, among others.
Her portfolio includes music for over 10 film directors, more than 100 arrangements for various ensembles, and soundtracks for short films, a TV series, and theatrical productions. She was a musical editor for Isadora Duncan in Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theatre and did arrangements for the Ritual Mobile Theatre.
Nigar is a laureate of the “World’s Best Classical Musicians” competition, an alumnus of the Ensemble Musikfabrik Brass Academy, and a trainee composer of the 13th Tchaikovsky Academy.
