The 2nd International Rostropovich Music Festival started in Baku

The 2nd International Rostropovich Music Festival started in Baku on December 9.

The festival that will bring together world-known musicians is co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Rostropovich Foundation.

Earlier in the day, President of the Rostropovich Foundation, daughter of the late cellist Olga Rostropovich gave a press conference.

She said “My father loved Baku very much so it is not accidental that we decided to hold the festival in Baku. Uzeyir Hajibeyli Azerbaijan State Symphonic Orchestra, Child-Youth Symphonic Orchestra, ‘Moscow Soloists’ Chamber Orchestra of Russia, famous conductor Yujin Kon and violinist Ray Chan from America, famous Italian vocalists Angela Cara, Mario Malagnini, Zayan As, Catarina Carneus, well-known Russian violinist and conductor Maxim Vengerov and the band of cellists, famous French cellist Javier Philips, laureate of international contests, Honor Artist of Azerbaijan, pianist Murad Adygozelzade, outstanding opera singers, laureates of international contests Makvala Kasrashvili, Badri Mausuradze, soloists of the Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Performance Center Irina Dubrovskaya, Elchin Ezizov and others have been invited to the Festival”.

The six-day festival brings together the Azerbaijan State Symphonic Orchestra, Moscow Soloists chamber ensemble as well as prominent cellists, conductors and sopranos from the USA, Italy, Russia and Azerbaijan.

Orchestra and chorus Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi will perform Verdi’s Requiem at the Heydar Aliyev Palace to commemorate nationwide leader of Azeri people Heydar Aliyev. An exhibition featuring Rostropovich’s life and work will also be held at the Palace as part of the festival on December 12.

The festival will feature performance of compositions by Giuseppe Verdi, Gorge Bizet, Giacomo Puccini and Pietro Mascagni.