8.jpg
August 1, 2019

11th Gabala International Music Festival is inaugurated

Opening of the 11th Gabala International Music Festival, being held with organizational support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, supported by the Culture Ministry and Gilan Holding, took place.

 

A congratulation letter by First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva - who has had exclusive services in the advancement of music culture and its promotion in the country – was read at the ceremony in Gabala Culture Centre.  

 

The letter states:

 

“Respected festival participants, dear friends.

 

I would like to welcome you – the participants of the 11th Gabala International Music Festival – from the bottom of my heart and wish successes to the festival and deliver my good wishes to each of you.  

 

Culture has in all eras been the primary means of intercourse between peoples, and a reliable bridge for mutual relations between civilizations. Today too, relations between world cultures are of significant importance to the modern society’s life, public and political processes occurring in the world, and dialogue between civilizations. Without taking this factor into account, efficiency of cooperation between peoples may not be palpable.

 

Historically, Azerbaijan has made efforts towards mutually enriching various cultures, and strengthening unity between peoples further. International cultural relations, mutual cultural integration are among main priorities in the Azerbaijani state’s policy. It is by no chance that Azerbaijan regularly hosts significant international events – forums, conferences and festivals. We hosted the 5th World Intercultural Dialogue Forum in April this year in the framework of the Baku Process, initiated by Azerbaijan, which has turned into a true global platform for the promotion of intercultural dialogue. In June, the 43rd Session of UNESCO World Heritage Committee took place in Baku. The date on which the session was held is remembered with a significant for us event – Sheki’s historical centre together with Kahn’s Palace was entered on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

 

Following the Resolution of the Azerbaijani President, the year 2019 was declared the Year of Nasimi, to celebrate the 650th anniversary of great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Imadeddin Nasimi. The Nasimi-Poetry, Art and Morality Festival, to be arranged in autumn on this occasion, is expected to be joined by hundreds of participants from a number of world countries. These events, once more testifying to Azerbaijan’s fundamental principles being peace and humanism, bring representatives of different peoples together, regardless of their language, religion, and ethnic relationship. Needless to say, all these are projects that increase efficiency of cultural and spiritual integration of people, and I too, as a goodwill ambassador of UNESCO, am supporting these events.

 

With a growing prestige, the Gabala International Music Festival is recognized as a significant event contributing to the intercultural dialogue. Joined by numerous musicians from around the world, this holiday of friendship and music serves to discovering new talents, exchanging knowledge and research outcomes in this field, and promoting intercultural dialogue.

 

I wish sound health to all participants and endless successes to all creative people”.

 

Chairperson of the Republican Elderlies Board Fattah Heydarov and rector of the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeir Hajibeyli, People’s Artist of USSR, artistic director of the Gabala International Music Festival Farhad Badalbeyli addressed the opening ceremony.

 

After the opening ceremony, the Azerbaijan State Symphonic Orchestra named after Uzeir Hajibeyli performed with an extensive concert programme. At the concert directed by Honoured Person of Art, professor Fakhraddin Kerimov, performances of People’s artists Ulviyya Hajibeyova (piano) and Yegana Akhundova (piano) were applauded by the audience.


PHOTO