Näcip Cihanov

Who was Näcip Cihanov?

Näcip Ğayaz ulı Cihanov — Tatar Cyrillic: Нәҗип Гаяз улы Җиһанов, pronounced; Russian: Нази́б Гая́зович Жига́нов; anglicised as Najip Jihanov or, more usually, Nazib Gayazovich Zhiganov — was a Tatar composer, teacher and statesman. He was born on 15 January [O.S. 2 January] 1911 in Uralsk; he died on 2 June 1988.

Cihanov wrote eight operas, three ballets, 15 symphonies, other symphonic works, the cantata Republic of Mine, camera-instrumental compositions, and romances and songs.

Granted the titles of People's Artist of the USSR and Hero of Socialist Labour, Cihanov served as artistic leader of the Tatar Opera and Ballet from 1941 to 1943, chairman of Tatarstan's Composers Union from 1939 to 1977, and rector of Kazan Conservatory from 1945 to 1988. He was made professor in 1953; Kazan Conservatory was renamed in his honor in 2000. In his capacity as statesman, he served as a deputy in the Supreme Soviet of RSFSR, the Tatar ASSR, and indeed the Soviet Union.