Mailov brothers explained
The Mailyan brothers (also spelled Mailoff) (Armenian: Մայիլյան եղբայրներ) were oil magnates, businessmen, and philanthropists of Armenian descent.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Some sources consider them to be the first producers of caviar in Russia.[6] They were also known for sponsoring numerous cultural projects in Baku, such as the Mailov Theatre (now known as the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater), in addition to many investment projects in Armenia.[7] [8]
Overview
The Mailyan brothers consisted of three brothers: Daniel, Ivan (Hovhannes), and Lazarus (Yeghia). The brothers were industrial capitalists who amassed a major fortune from oil.[9] They were also successful in the caviar trade, founding the first company that produced caviar in Russia. Due to their success in the caviar industry, they were known as the "Kings of fish roe".
However, after the Russian Revolution, the Mailyan family sought refuge in France.[10]
Mailyan theatre
According to legend, a famous opera-soprano singer (which according to sources is either Antonina Nezhdanova or a certain Italian opera singer) visited Baku and had many performances in various casinos and residences in the city.[11] [12] However, when asked if she would return to Baku, she refused because she found that there was no decent opera house in the city.[13] Daniel Mailov, who admired the personality and voice of the opera singer, commissioned an opera house to be built under the condition that she return to the city.[14]
The theatre was commissioned by the Mailyan brothers and was built by ethnic Armenian[15] architect Nikolai Bayev.[16] The project was also funded by the Azeri oil baron Zeynalabdin Taghiyev who challenged the Mailyan brothers in completing the project in a year. If the opera house was completed within a year, he would pay the costs of construction. The opera house was built in 10 months and Taghiev paid as promised.
When first opened in 1911, the theatre was known as the Mailyan Theatre. It is now known as the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater and continues to serve Baku residents until this day.
Philanthropy in Armenia
The Mailyan brothers sponsored many projects in the First Republic of Armenia. The most important of which was the financial grant of 2 million rubles in February 1919 to fund the expedition of surveyors for potential industrial output, mineral extracts, soil, and other minerals needed for the reconstruction of the country.
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: ru:Азербайджанский театр оперы и балета. http://kino-teatr.ru/teatr/687/. Кино-театр. 18 February 2013. Russian.
- Web site: Русские и армянские миллионеры (Title translated from Russian: Russian and Armenian millionaires. 18 February 2013. Russian. https://web.archive.org/web/20140508231508/http://noev-kovcheg.1gb.ru/article.asp?n=87&a=22. 8 May 2014. dead.
- Gaziyan. Alvard. ru:ИНТЕРЕСНЫЙ ДОКУМЕНТ ОБ ЭКСПЕДИЦИИ БРАТЬЕВ МАИЛЯНОВ (1919 г.). Patma-Banasirakan Handes. 2008. 2. 244–251. http://hpj.asj-oa.am/2540/1/2008-2%28244%29.pdf. 18 February 2013. Armenian National Academy of Sciences. Russian. 0135-0536. Title translated from Russian: "Interesting Document about the Expedition of Mailov Brothers".
- Book: https://istina.msu.ru/journals/8702730/. ru:Промышленность, строительство и архитектура Армении. 1987. Armenian National Academy of Sciences. Russian. issue 7–12. Первые свои конструктивные новшества в крупном масштабе он осуществил при строительстве здания театра братьев Маиловых (Маилянов) в Баку (теперь – Государственный театр оперы и балета) в 1910 – 1911 годах..
- Book: Alieva. Leila. The Baku oil and local communities: a history. 2009. Center for National and International Studies. Baku. 978-9952-26-036-6. 19 February 2013. 126.
- Book: Huberta von Voss . Alasdair Lean. Portraits of hope: Armenians in the contemporary world. 2007. Berghahn Books. New York. 9781845452575. 1st English. 18 February 2013. 222. Mouchegh Petrossian married the great-granddaughter of Lazarus Mailoff, the first producer of caviar in Russia..
- US Archives, RG 256, 184.021/304/364
- Republic of Armenia Archives, File 421/1, H.H. Hay Teghekagir Biuro Parisum, 1919 t., no 59; File 66a/3, Bulletin no. 34; File 132/31, H.H. Pativrakutiun, 1920
- Book: Hovannisian, [by] Richard G.. The republic of Armenia.. 1971. University of California Press. Berkeley. 9780520018051. 2. print.. 145. In February teams of civil and mining engineers and technicians from other parts of the Caucasus and from southern Russia were employed to study the soil, survey the mineral deposits, assess the industrial potential, and formulate plans for the reconstruction of Armenia. This important project was financed through a grant of 2 million rubles from the Mailov brothers, oil magnates who had amassed a fortune in Baku before the World War.. registration.
- Book: Saffron, Inga. Caviar: the strange history and uncertain future of the world's most coveted delicacy. 2002. Broadway Books. New York. 9780767911191. 127–128. registration. 1st. 10 March 2013. The Mailoffs were also refugees from the revolution, but before fleeing to Paris, they had operated an armada of sturgeon boats in Baku..
- On Baku for Those Who Has Never Been There by Elena Kolmanovskaya. Baku Pages. 31 March 2003
- News: Aliyev. Seymur. Genesis of Oriental opera. 10 March 2013. Azernews. 5 December 2012.
- Web site: Opera & Ballet Theatre. Hg2 Baku. 10 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130114063915/http://www.hg2baku.com/sights/theatre/---opera-ballet-theatre---baku-azerbaijan. 14 January 2013. dead.
- The Opera and Ballet Theatre by Manaf Suleymanov. The Past Days. 1990
- http://sias.ru/upload/iblock/763/Kazarian_140x205.pdf Armenia-Russia: The dialogue in the space of artistic culture, Materials of International symposium, Moscow 2010, p. 16 (by Dr. M. Gasparyan)
- http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/54_folder/54_articles/54_opera.html Opera in Azerbaijan