The cultural community of the republic suffered an irreparable loss

The cultural community of the republic suffered an irreplaceable loss - after an extended illnes, at the age of  69, an outstanding singer, pedagogue, Honored Artist of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, People's Artist of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic Sakhabiev Rafail Akhatovich passed away.

R.A.Sakhabiev was born on July 8, 1951 in the village of Shingalchi, the  Nizhnekamsk District, Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1976 he graduated from the Kazan State Conservatory with a degree in singing.

The professional career of an opera singer began in 1974 with the arrival of R.A.Sakhabiev at the Tatar State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after Musa Jalil as an intern. A unique voice (lyrical baritone) and impeccable external features distinguished a talented young man. In 1976, Rafail Akhatovich became a soloist in the main musical theater of the republic, where he worked until the last days of his life.

The work of R.A.Sakhabiev is a glorious era in the musical and performing arts of Tatarstan, associated with the names of outstanding composers R. Yakhin, N. Zhiganov, J. Fayzi, R. Yenikeyev, F. Akhmetov, Sh. Sharifullin and others.

Most of the opera repertoire of R. A. Sakhabiev is the works by Tatar composers, which today make up the golden fund of musical classics of the Republic of Tatarstan. The performance of musical parts - Wafa in the comedy “Slippers” by J. Fayzi, Khan in the opera “Altynchech”, Kanzafarov in “Jalil” by N. Zhiganov - forever entered the name of R. A. Sakhabiev in the history of the Tatar musical theater as a temperamental opera artist, a master of psychological portrait. Everything was subject to the lyrical and dramatic role of Rafail Akhatovich - from foreign operas to a musical, from folk songs to pop music.

Since 1997, Rafail Akhatovich taught at the opera class of the Kazan State Conservatory, where in 2001 he became an assistant professor of the musical theater department. R.A.Sakhabiev conducted active work with youth, in different years he was a member of the jury of the Tatar-Bashkir Song Contest and the Tatar Zhyry contest.

In the past, R.A.Sakhabiev’s performances were often broadcast on radio and television. He was the idol of thousands of fans, his songs in his performance were inherent in depth, inner intelligence, poetic charm.

For outstanding services in the field of opera, Rafail Akhatovich was awarded the title "Honored Artist of TASSR" in 1980, and another seven years later was awarded the title of "People's Artist of TASSR."

In the memoirs of friends and colleagues, R. A. Sakhabiev - a brilliant singer with a rich concert repertoire, an impressive artist, a pleasant conversationalist with a subtle sense of humor, had great authority in the professional music community.

The bright memory of Rafail Akhatovich Sakhabiev, an outstanding singer, talented artist, teacher, will be forever preserved in our hearts.

Minister of Culture Republic of Tatarstan                                                          I.Kh. Ayupova