3rd Gabala International Music Festival officially opened - PHOTOS

3rd Gabala International Music Festival has officially opened with a gala concert.
A welcome message of President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO good will ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva was read out at the opening ceremony.

“The Gabala music festival again opens doors to its participants and guests. Our festival is taking place in Gabala, one of the most picturesque places in Azerbaijan. The ruins of fortress walls and temples are evidence that the city was the capital of a legendary state, Caucasian Albania, in ancient times,” Mrs. Aliyeva said in her message.

“And it is Caucasian Albania where the traditions of tolerance and mutual enrichment of cultures – which our country is justly proud of – formed. These traditions developed when the Great Silk Road ran across Azerbaijan. And thanks to them Azerbaijan today plays the role of a cultural bridge between Europe and the East.”

“Today the Gabala festival features both European classical music and traditional music of Azerbaijan, its pearl – mugham, which was incorporated into the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as early as 2003.”

“In a short period of time for a musical event, the festival, which has already become traditional, reached its main goal – Gabala became a favorite venue to meet for all music lovers, musicians and audience.”

Mrs. Aliyeva said: “I`m confident that this year`s festival will be another festive occasion to give us a brilliant sense of unity in the world of music, which knows no bounds and rivalry. I wish all the participants and guests successes. Enjoy your time together in a beautiful atmosphere of our festival!”

Speaking to the opening ceremony, MP Fattah Heydarov, said the festival contributed to promoting Azerbaijan`s music and traditions worldwide.

He lauded the Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s efforts towards preserving Azerbaijan`s cultural and spiritual values, and promoting the country`s musical legacy. Russian culture minister Alexander Avdeev`s greetings were also read out.

The gala concert which followed the opening ceremony featured the performance by world-renowned New Russia Symphony Orchestra headed by Yuri Bashmet.
The concert was conducted by Bashmet and Azerbaijani People`s Artist Rauf Abdullayev.

The concert saw the performance of compositions by Prokofiev, Mozart, Gounod, Puccini, Bizet, Verdi, Rakhmaninov, Piazzolla, Bruch and Garayev.
The audience at the concert included state and government officials, MPs and foreign guests, including Romania`s Minister of Culture and National Heritage Hunor Kelemen.


/AzerTAc/

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