Mailov brothers

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 the city Baku such as the Mailov Theatre (now known as the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater).[1][2] The Mailov brothers also sponsored many investment projects in Armenia as well.[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.[5][9] They were also successful in the caviar trade becoming the first company that produced caviar in Russia.[6] Due to their success in the caviar industry, the family was known as the "Kings of fish roe".[2]

After the Russian Revolution however, the Mailyan family sought refuge in France.[10]

Mailyan theatre

Mailov Theatre (now Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater)

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 Baku.[12][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.[16] If the opera house was completed under a year, the costs of construction would be paid by him. The opera house was built in 10 months and Taghiev paid for the promised expense.[16]

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 till this day.[16]

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.[7][8][9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Азербайджанский театр оперы и балета (in Russian). Кино-театр. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Русские и армянские миллионеры (Title translated from Russian: Russian and Armenian millionaires" (in Russian). Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  3. ↑ Gaziyan, Alvard (2008). ИНТЕРЕСНЫЙ ДОКУМЕНТ ОБ ЭКСПЕДИЦИИ БРАТЬЕВ МАИЛЯНОВ (1919 г.) (PDF). Patma-Banasirakan Handes (in Russian). Armenian National Academy of Sciences. 2: 244–251. ISSN 0135-0536. Retrieved 18 February 2013. Title translated from Russian: "Interesting Document about the Expedition of Mailov Brothers"
  4. ↑ Промышленность, строительство и архитектура Армении (issue 7–12) (in Russian). Armenian National Academy of Sciences. 1987. 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.
  5. 1 2 Alieva, edited by Leila (2009). The Baku oil and local communities : a history (PDF). Baku: Center for National and International Studies. p. 126. ISBN 978-9952-26-036-6. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  6. 1 2 Lean, edited by Huberta von Voss ; translated by Alasdair (2007). Portraits of hope : Armenians in the contemporary world (1st English ed.). New York: Berghahn Books. p. 222. ISBN 9781845452575. Retrieved 18 February 2013. Mouchegh Petrossian married the great-granddaughter of Lazarus Mailoff, the first producer of caviar in Russia.
  7. 1 2 US Archives, RG 256, 184.021/304/364
  8. 1 2 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
  9. 1 2 Hovannisian, [by] Richard G. (1971). The republic of Armenia. (2. print. ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 145. ISBN 9780520018051. 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.
  10. ↑ Saffron, Inga (The Mailoffs were also refugees from the revolution, but before fleeing to Paris, they had operated an armada of sturgeon boats in Baku.). Caviar the strange history and uncertain future of the world's most coveted delicacy (1st ed.). New York: Broadway Books. pp. 127–128. ISBN 9780767911191. Retrieved 10 March 2013. Check date values in: |date=, |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  11. ↑ (Russian) On Baku for Those Who Has Never Been There by Elena Kolmanovskaya. Baku Pages. 31 March 2003
  12. 1 2 Aliyev, Seymur (5 December 2012). "Genesis of Oriental opera". Azernews. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  13. ↑ "Opera & Ballet Theatre". Hg2 Baku. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  14. ↑ (Russian) The Opera and Ballet Theatre by Manaf Suleymanov. The Past Days. 1990
  15. ↑ Armenia-Russia: The dialogue in the space of artistic culture, Materials of International symposium, Moscow 2010, p. 16 (by Dr. M. Gasparyan)
  16. 1 2 3 4 Opera in Azerbaijan by Azer Rezayev. Azerbaijan International. #5.4. Winter 1997
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