The smallest country can be as strong as the biggest ones, if its peoples realize their rights and are able to defend them.
Heydar Aliyev
Gabala International Music Festival is starting
On July 29, the 15th Gabala International Music Festival, at the initiative of and organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, enjoying the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeir Hajibeyli, and Gilan Company, is starting.
At the festival, which will continue until August 3rd, world-renowned performers and music groups will come together in Gabala.
Along with Azerbaijan, musicians and dancers from Austria, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Vietnam will participate in this music festival.
İnauguration of the 15th Gabala International Music Festival will take place on July 29th with a concert by the Students Symphonic Orchestra of the Baku Music Academy name after Uzeir Hajibeyli, conducted by People’s Artist Ramiz-Melik Aslanov. Works by Azerbaijani and European composers will be performed at the music evening.
On the following day of the festival, the audience will listen to the performances of “Bronze Drum” Ensemble of Vietnam, “Bek” Tambourine (Doyra) Players Ensemble from Uzbekistan, and watch performances of “Tashkent Zebolary” Popular Dance Ensemble of Uzbekistan.
On July 31st, the Chamber Orchestra of the DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Centre will perform with a concert programme, with artistic management by Honoured Artist Emil Afrasiab, conducted by Mustafa Mehmandarov. A mugham evening will be organized at the festival, on the same day, with participation of favourite mugham performers and laureates of mugham contests.
On August 1st, the 4th day of the festival, Austrian pianist Alexander Maria will perform at the Chamber Music Evening. Another feature of this evening is the concert programme called “Favourite soundtracks from world movies”. With Mustafa Mehmandarov’s artistic management and direction, the Scorrendo Orchestra will perform household-name soundtracks from Azerbaijani and foreign movies, such as “The Last Mountain Pass”, “I Would Like to have Seven Sons”, “Godfather”, “The Matrix”, “The Meeting”, “The Bodyguard”, “Schindler’s List”, “James Bond” etc.
On August 2nd, the stage will be placed at the disposal of students of the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeir Hajibeyli. Works by Azerbaijani and foreign composers will be performed at the concert to be presented by young musicians.
On the same day, Moldova’s “Fluieraș” Popular Song and Dance Ensemble and “Millenium” Ethno-pop Group also will perform before the audience.
Then, the ballet “Two Carpets, made drawing inspiration from ancient Shirvan carpets that are entered on the list of the Louvre Collection, will be demonstrated by artists coming from Kazakhstan. Author of the project’s idea and author of libretto is Valeri Kopeykin.
The International Music Festival will come to an end on August 3rd, with a concert of the Azerbaijan State Symphonic Orchestra named after Uzeir Hajibeyli, to be directed by Honoured Artist Fuad Ibrahimov. The evening will be decorated by performances of People’s artists Azer Zeynalov (tenor), Dinara Aliyeva (soprano), Elchin Azizov (baritone), Samir Jafarov (tenor), Honoured artists Elnara Mammadova (lyrical-coloratura soprano), Sahib Pashazadeh (tar), and laureates of international contests.
Having been held since 2009, the Gabala International Music Festival has become an important address of international cultural dialogue, bringing together, for years, various images of the world music in a single space. This music platform is not only the triumph of classical works, but also, an intercultural bridge uniting peoples, crossing borders, and remembered by unforgettable moments full of music.
To be organized in the summer season following the tradition, this year too, this international cultural event promises bright performances.
Concert programmes on the festival days are free to attend.