Naki and Yulduz Isanbets’ views on Tatar songs and Ilham Shakirov

Shakirov Ilgam (Ilham) Gilmutdinovich (1935-2019) was an outstanding Tatar singer (baritone) and artistic director of the Tatar State Philharmonic (1992-2012). He was a People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1983), People’s Artist of the TASSR (1969) and People’s Artist of the Karakalpak Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (1981). In 1970, he became a Laureate of the State Prize named after G. Tukay and an Honorary citizen of the Sarmanovsky District (2015) and Kazan (2006). In 2003, the Avenue of Stars was opened in Kazan on the central Bauman Street, and one of the stars was named after Ilham Shakirov.