Maiden Tower in Music ![]() Scene from Maiden Tower from the revision made to Badalbeyli's ballet. The new version of the ballet rids the plot of ideological propaganda. This time, there is no father-daughter incestual relationship. The plot is simply: A khan sees a beautiful girl, Gulyanag, in one of the villages that is under his authority. He wants to marry her, but she already has a fiancé, Polad. When the khan tries to force her to marry him, Gulyanag asks him to build a tower, hoping to gain some time. He does so. There's more to the new production than just a new story line. There are new stage sets, new costumes and a new, rich orchestral arrangement by Musa Mirzayev. See "Maiden's Tower Ballet: "New Plot Rids Soviet Propaganda," AI 7.4 (Winter 1999). Photo: Shahin Abbasaliyev _____ |