The 3rd Gabala
International Music Festival has officially opened with a gala concert. A
welcome message of President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO
good will ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva was read out at the opening ceremony.
“The Gabala music festival again opens doors to its participants and guests.
Our festival is taking place in Gabala, one of the most picturesque places in Azerbaijan. The
ruins of fortress walls and temples are evidence that the city was the capital
of a legendary state, Caucasian Albania, in ancient times,” Mrs. Aliyeva said
in her message.
“And it is Caucasian Albania where the traditions of tolerance and mutual
enrichment of cultures – which our country is justly proud of – formed. These
traditions developed when the Great Silk Road ran across Azerbaijan. And
thanks to them Azerbaijan today plays the role of a cultural bridge between
Europe and the East.”
“Today the Gabala festival features both European classical music and
traditional music of Azerbaijan, its pearl – mugham, which was incorporated into
the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
as early as 2003.”
“In a short period of time for a musical event, the festival, which has already
become traditional, reached its main goal – Gabala became a favorite venue to
meet for all music lovers, musicians and audience.”
Mrs. Aliyeva said: “I`m confident that this year`s festival will be another
festive occasion to give us a brilliant sense of unity in the world of music,
which knows no bounds and rivalry.
I wish all the participants and guests successes. Enjoy your time together in a
beautiful atmosphere of our festival!”
Speaking to the opening ceremony, MP Fattah Heydarov, said the festival
contributed to promoting Azerbaijan`s music and traditions worldwide.
He lauded the Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s efforts towards preserving
Azerbaijan`s cultural and spiritual values, and promoting the country`s musical
legacy.
Russian culture minister Alexander Avdeev`s greetings were also read out.
The gala concert which followed the opening ceremony featured the performance
by world-renowned New Russia Symphony Orchestra headed by Yuri Bashmet.
The concert was conducted by Bashmet and Azerbaijani People`s Artist Rauf
Abdullayev. The concert saw the performance of compositions by Prokofiev,
Mozart, Gounod, Puccini, Bizet, Verdi, Rakhmaninov, Piazzolla, Bruch and
Garayev.
The audience at the concert included state and government officials, MPs and
foreign guests, including Romania`s Minister of Culture and National Heritage
Hunor Kelemen.