The 15th Gabala International Music Festival, initiated and organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, begins on July 29. The event, which will run until August 3, is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Uzeyir Hajibeyli Baku Academy of Music, and "Gilan".
This year's music celebration will feature renowned performers, musical ensembles, and dancers from Azerbaijan, as well as Austria, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
The opening ceremony of the festival will take place on July 29 with a concert by the Student Symphony Orchestra of the Uzeyir Hajibeyli Baku Academy of Music. The evening, conducted by People's Artist Ramiz-Malik Aslanov, will feature works by Azerbaijani and European composers.
On subsequent days of the festival program, Vietnam's "Bronze Drum" and Uzbekistan's "Bek" Doyrachilar ensembles will perform. Soloists from Uzbekistan's "Tashkent Zebolari" Folk Dance Ensemble will also take the stage.
On July 31, the Chamber Orchestra of the DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Center will present a concert program. The orchestra's artistic director is Honored Artist Emil Afrasiyab, and its conductor is Mustafa Mehmandarov. On the same evening, a mugham night will be organized with the participation of renowned performers and laureates of the mugham competition.
On August 1, Austrian pianist Alexander Maria Wagner will perform in a "Chamber Music Evening." The evening will continue with a concert titled "Beloved Music Pieces from World Films" performed by the "Scorrendo" Orchestra. Conducted by Mustafa Mehmandarov, music from films such as "The Last Pass," "I Want Seven Sons," "The Godfather," "The Matrix," and others will be played.
On August 2, the stage will be entrusted to the students of the Baku Academy of Music. Spectators will also be able to watch performances by Moldova's "Fluieraș" Folk Song and Dance Ensemble and the "Millennium" ethno-pop group. Following this, artists from Kazakhstan will present the ballet "Two Carpets," inspired by an ancient Shirvan carpet in the Louvre collection. The idea and libretto for the project were created by Valery Kopeikin.
The closing ceremony of the festival will take place on August 3. The Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli will take the stage under the direction of Honored Artist Fuad Ibrahimov. People's Artists Azer Zeynalov, Dinara Aliyeva, Elchin Azizov, Samir Jafarov, Honored Artists Elnara Mammadova, Sahib Pashazade, and other laureates will perform solo during the evening.
The Gabala International Music Festival, held since 2009, traditionally brings together diverse representatives of world music. Admission to all concert programs during the festival days will be free.