Nezavisimaya gazeta: Gabala competes with Verbier
‘Gabala competes with Verbier. Music forum in Azerbaijan becomes a global festival’. This is the title of the article by Viktoriya Panfilova, correspondent at Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya gazeta, member of the foreign journalists group covering the Gabala Music Festival.
The article says: ‘The 2nd International Music Festival was held in Gabala Town of Azerbaijan from July 25 to August 5. It is already the second year that performers, classic music connoisseurs and lovers from all over the world come here. Gabala that was not long ago one of the district centers in the country becomes a music and culture center of Azerbaijan’.
Interviewed by the newspaper, Art Director of the Festival, People’s Artist of USSR and Azerbaijan, Rector of Baku Music Academy Farhad Badalbeyli said the Festival is eminent, because, for instance, unlike Rostropovich Festival it is held not in Baku but in Gabala. This town has very ancient history. For long time it has been the capital of Caucasian Albania. This land is famous with a unique nature, beautiful mountains, kind people. It is not by chance that Gabala is called ‘little Switzerland’. Musicians and guests of the Festival remember here Verbier Festival held in Switzerland.
Yuri Bashmet said ‘It is better here than Verbier’.
V.Panfilova writes the idea to hold the Festival in Gabala was not generated by chance. 2 years ago manufacture of Dutch BELTMANN pianos started here. A high-level tourist complex operates in Gabala. It is not known which one arose first – the idea of piano factory, hotel, or Festival. But it is clear that everything was created around the Festival. Partaking at this festival is a huge honor now.
This is confirmed by the list of musicians having arrived in Gabala: London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, world-famous performers – violinist Chloe Hanslip, tenor Emilio Pons, pianist Boris Berezovsky, conductor and cellist Dmitry Yablonsky, pianists Farhad Badalbeyli and Murad Adygozalzade, conductor Rauf Abdullayev changed the Festival into a significant event for true music lovers. Young stars sparkle on the Gabala stage too. Maybe baritone Javid Samadov will get a global popularity after this festival.
According to Farhad Badalbeyli, the Festival is attended by not only classic music lovers but also Gabala residents who for the first time listen to a divine music by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Schubert, Brahms, Hajibeyli performed by a symphonic orchestra live. They open a new world for themselves. Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, said: ‘These days we all – both viewers and musicians will be united by music. The language of music requires no interpretation. Irrespective of nation, religion, this language is clear to everyone’. It is just Mrs Aliyeva who initiates hosting international music festivals in Azerbaijan. UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova presented UNESCO`s Mozart Gold Medal to Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva for merits in strengthening the intercultural dialogue.
By the unanimous opinion of participants, the Festival‘s fame grows. This year the Festival was more grandiose than previous one, and the next year it will be larger and brighter. The Festival involves musicians from all over the world. The list of attendees of the Festival 2011 has already been made. Because of lack of place some will join the event next year. Yalchyn Adygozalov, the professor at Baku Music Academy, Honor Figure of Art, said in the interview to the newspaper: ‘What else can promote a country? Politics, culture and sport. This is the best visiting card’.