Renowned Azerbaijani ballet master, People’s Artist, and Presidential personal pension recipient Maqsud Mammadov died on April 13, 2026, in his 97th year.

Axar.az informs, born on May 30, 1929, in Ganja, Mammadov developed an interest in dance at an early age.

After entering the Baku Choreography School, he was later sent to the Moscow Choreography School in recognition of his exceptional talent, graduating in 1950. In 1951, he began his long association with the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater.

He quickly earned a reputation as a gifted and dedicated performer, appearing in leading roles from both international and Azerbaijani ballet repertoire. Among the notable parts he performed were Siegfried in Swan Lake, Albert in Giselle, Basil in Don Quixote, Polad in Maiden Tower, Azad in Gulshan, Farhad in Legend of Love, and Lenni in Along the Thunderous Roads.

Alongside his wife, celebrated ballerina and People’s Artist Rafiqa Akhundova, he also staged a number of acclaimed productions, including Khazar Ballad by Tofiq Bakikhanov, Gobustan Shadows and Kaleidoscope by Faraj Garayev, Azerbaijan Suite by Rauf Hajiyev, Mugham by Nazim Aliverdibeyov, and Babek by Ashin Alizadeh.

During his career, Mammadov also worked in Egypt, Yemen, Algeria, Turkiye, and Sweden, contributing to the promotion of Azerbaijani choreography internationally.

In recognition of his contributions to national culture, he was awarded the title of Honored Artist in 1955 and People’s Artist in 1970. He received the Shohrat Order in 2019 and had been a Presidential personal pension recipient since 2002.

The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan expressed condolences over his passing and extended sympathy to his family and relatives.