National Leader Heydar Aliyev's 90th anniversary marked in Canada - PHOTOS

Azerbaijan`s Embassy in Canada has held a concert on the 90th anniversary of national leader, founder and architect of modern Azerbaijani state Heydar Aliyev at the National Gallery of Canada, in Ottawa.

Prior to the concert, Azerbaijan`s ambassador to Canada Farid Shafiyev provided an insight into activity and life of national leader Heydar Aliyev.

He also stressed the role of the national leader in the field of developing statehood and strengthening the independence.

The event featured concert by Artistic Director of the Niagara International Chamber Music Festival Atis Bankas and “Quartetto Gelato” ensemble.

The musicians performed music pieces by the well-known European composers, as well as Azerbaijani mugham.

Violinist Atis Bankas has served as Artistic Director of Windermere Music Festival and the Muskoka Lakes Music Festival, and presently is Artistic Director of the Niagara International Chamber Music Festival, and Director of the International School for Musical Arts.

Virtuosic showpieces, romantic tenor arias, pyrotechnical solos, blazing gypsy show pieces, multi-instrument mastery and a World Accordion Champion – this is Quartetto Gelato.

The previous recordings, which have played a huge role in the group’s astonishing popularity, with sales in the hundreds of thousands, are "Musica Latina", “Quartetto Gelato Travels the Orient Express”, “Neapolitan Café”, “Aria Fresca”, “Rustic Chivalry”, and their debut recording, simply entitled “Quartetto Gelato”.