During 18-26 September 2018, the Uzeir Hajibeyli 10th International Music Festival was held with the joint organizational support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Culture Ministry.
The opening ceremony of the festival took place on September 18, at the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic. The festivals’ opening was dedicated to the 85th anniversary of People’s Artist of USSR, eminent composer Arif Malikov. The first day of the festival, an extensive and colourful concert programme by soloist Murad Adygozalzadeh was presented, accompanied by well-known groups - the State Symphonic Orchestra of Azerbaijan named after Uzeir Hajibeyli (conductor Fakhraddin Kerimov) and the State Choir of Azerbaijan (artistic director Gulbajy Imanova).
On the days of festival, some 30 events were held with participation of renowned musicians and groups from Russia, USA, Turkey, Italy and Slovakia - “New life brass” quintet named after T.Dokshitser , “Dada Gorgud” Chamber Orchestra, Murad Kajlayev, Murad Annamamedov, Sergey Roldugin, Pavel Milyukov, Azer Demirov, Farhad Ashumov etc.
The music festival ended on September 26. The State Symphonic Orchestra named after Uzeir Hajibeyli, directed by Honoured Artist, conductor Eyyub Guliyev, People’s Artist of Russia, renowned violoncellist Sergey Roldugin, and laureate of the P.I. Chaikovskiy International Contest, violinist Pavel Milyukov performed at the closing ceremony.