8th International Music Festival opens in Gabala

/By Azernews/

By Amina Nazarli

Gabala, a world-famous region of Azerbaijan striking with its unique nature, attracted music enthusiasts once again. Azerbaijan's northern city hosted the grandiose opening of the traditional 8th International Music Festival on July 30.

The festival, held since 2009 on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, draws attention with the expanding audience and participants year by year. The program of the current festival is as rich as in previous years.

This year’s edition of the open-air festival brings together world-renowned musicians, art ensembles, soloists and conductors from Azerbaijan and a number of foreign countries. It will also feature a piano contest.

The grand opening ceremony started with reading out of a message of Azerbaijan`s First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva, at an open-air stage outside the Heydar Aliyev Congress Center in Gabala.

“This is the celebration of friendship and music, involving numerous musicians from around the world. Along with the preservation of the rich traditions of our cultural heritage, creating favorable conditions for communication and collaboration of musicians representing different countries, it also contributes to the strengthening of intercultural dialogue,” the message said.

The opening ceremony then featured performance of Azerbaijan State Symphonic Orchestra named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli conducted by People's Artist Rauf Abdullayev. The orchestra performed compositions of outstanding Azerbaijani composers such as Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Niyazi, Fikrat Amirov, Qara Qarayev, as well as famous Puccini, Verdi and Rossi. Soloists included People`s Artist Samir Jafarov, and soloist of Azerbaijan Television and Radio Aytaj Shikhalizade.

The world-famous composer and singer, People`s Artist, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu was a special guest of the festival. He performed folk songs and other compositions together with Azerbaijan State Symphonic Orchestra, which was conducted by his son Murtuza Bulbul.

Sharing his impression of the concert Bulbuloglu said that the festival has great potential. “I would say that this traditional festival held in the lap of beautiful nature, has a great future. We need to develop Gabala festival based on a good foundation. It is clear that the festival has made great progress over the past eight years,” he said.

The Ambassador noted that the Gabala Festival is already known and recognized in the world. "Participation in this musical event has become the dream of many musicians, and they are waiting for an invitation. Famous world s musicians and soloists give concerts on Gabala scene. This is a great success,” he added.

Till August 5, the festival will be attended by prominent musicians, art ensembles, soloists and conductors from Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, the U.S., Italy, France, Spain, Israel, Lithuania and Cuba.