The world-renowned ballet Legend of Love to be again onstage in Baku!
The ballet Legend of Love - one of the masterpieces of the world classic music - by eminent composer, People’s Artist Arif Melikov is again staged after more than half a century in the homeland of the author, enjoying the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
On September 18 and 19, presentation of the ballet Legend of Love will take place at the Heydar Aliyev Palace. With its magnificent music, staging and arrangement, the Legend of Love is going to create a true holiday on the Day of National Music.
The show will be demonstrated with staging of famous choreographer Yuri Grigorovich, stage arrangement by well-known artist Simon Virsaladze, where the ballet troupe of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of Azerbaijan, dancers of the Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble and students of the Baku Chorographic Academy will perform. The work will be performed by the State Symphonic Orchestra named after Uzeir Hajibeyli, conducted by People’s Artist Yalchyn Adygozalzade.
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has made 250 costumes, as well as decorations and essential elements for stage, based on the sketches of Simon Virsaladze, for this historical presentation.
Arif Melikov has composed the ballet “The Legend of Love” to the libretto based on the play “Farhad and Shirin” by eminent Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet. Arif Melikov started working on the work, which was composed of 3 acts and 7 scenes, since 1958, finishing it at the end of two year’s period.
The premiere of the ballet Legend of Love took place at the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theatre ( now the Saint-Petersburg State Academic Maria Theatre) on March 23, 1961. Staging choreographer of the show was Yuri Grigorovich, with the artist being Simon Virsaladze, and conductor maestro Niyazi. And the show’s premiere in Azerbaijan took place at the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of Azerbaijan in July 1962.
So far, the ballet Legend of Love has been shown on many stages around the world. The work was repeatedly presented at over 60 theatres of various countries, staged by eminent choreographers. The work has been welcomed in a number of countries such as USA, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, the Great Britain, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Türkiye, Ukraine, Japan etc.
Presentation of the Legend of Love, a masterpiece of Arif Melikov, in “The Year of Heydar Aliyev” is not a coincidence. The year of 2023 is a 100th jubilee of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and 90th jubilee of eminent composer Arif Melikov. National Leader Heydar Aliyev used to value Arif Melikov highly, as an artist and a human. And Arif Malikov reflected his respect and esteem for National Leader Heydar Aliyev in his creativity, devoting his 8th symphony called “Eternity” to the National Leader.
Sale of tickets for the 18th and 19th September demonstrations of the Legend of Love will soon start at ticket offices of the city and on the website iTicket.az.