NEWS

September 18 marks the 135th anniversary of the birth of Uzeyir Hajibayov - a genius personality of the Turkic world, the founder of the Azerbaijan National Composer School, a musicologist - scientist, publicist, playwright, teacher and public figure. His works are among the cultural pearls not only of Azerbaijan, but also of the Turkic world as a whole. Co-organized by the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture and the Azerbaijani Embassy to Bulgaria the musical comedy “Arshin Mal Alan“ by the brilliant composer was staged in the Kadriye Latifova Musical and Theatre in the city with a rich history – Kardzhali on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of Uzeir Hajibayov. The director of the play is the chief director of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre Hafiz Guliyev, the artist is Tomiana Tomova-Nacheva. The premiere was planned for March this year, but due to the announced pandemic, it was postponed and scheduled for this October.

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has made an Instagram post on the occasion of the National Music Day. A post on her official Instagram page says: “On the occasion of the National Music Day, I extend my sincere greetings to everyone who spared no efforts to preserve, develop and promote Azerbaijani music in the world, and wish them great achievements in this case. I respectfully commemorate prominent Azerbaijani composers Uzeyir Hajibayli and Muslim Magomayev whose 135th anniversary we are marking today. May our national music, preserving its traditions, always be enriched with new voices, new performances and approaches!”

President of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva has met with the Hungarian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Viktor Szederkeny.

During the meeting, Gunay Afandiyeva highlighted the activities of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, the events held in the context of the pandemic, and also informed about new projects in the framework of promoting the Turkic heritage in the international arena.

Noting that Hungary is an observer country of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Gunay Afandiyeva stressed the importance of mutual cooperation and joint work to promote the culture of the Turkic world.

Viktor Szederkenyi hailed the activities of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation in protecting the historical and cultural heritage of the Turkic-speaking peoples, as well as strengthening their solidarity. Stressing that Hungary and the Turkic-speaking peoples have common historical roots, he noted the importance of work aimed at promoting and studying this great and rich cultural treasure.

The sides also discussed the implementation of events and projects on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Turcology Department of the University of Budapest, which is celebrated this year.

Prospects of cooperation between the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and the Hungarian Embassy were discussed at the meeting.

 Dear children and adults, block your calendars and join our masterclasses every Tuesday!  10:00 - make a card (5 AZN) 11:00 - make a souvenir carpet (5 AZN) 12:00 - tapestry weaving (10 AZN) 14:30 - shadda (a flat-woven carpet) weaving (5 AZN) 15:30 - make a felt bag with the image of the fairy tale hero (5 AZN) 16:00 - draw national ornament on leather (3AZN) 16:30 - applique on national clothes with woolen threads (3 AZN) The museum will provide all the necessary materials for masterclasses. Dear children, mark your calendars for the upcoming events:  Wednesday, Fairytale Time: 12:00 - Baghchada Guller (Flowers in the Garden) fairytale  Thursday Plays: 11:00 - Shangulum, Shungulum, Mangulum play (3 AZN) 12:00 - Tig-Tig Khanim puppet play (3 AZN) 14:30 - Jirtdan folk puppet play (3 AZN) 15:30 - Fairy Tale of Malikmammad play (3AZN) 16:30 - Jirtdan shadow play (3AZN) On Friday at 17:00, we invite you to join the lecture “History of samovar and benefits of samovar tea“ by Professor Tahir Amiraslanov, the President of the Azerbaijan National Culinary Center.  The museum follows all quarantine rules, sanitary norms, and guidelines, groups of no more than 10 people are allowed.  Entry to the museum is free of charge for children under 6 and adults over 65.  Visit our museum and learn more about the rich and renewed permanent exhibition, as well as enjoy new opportunities created especially for you. Hurry up and spend your leisure time in the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum! Places are limited. Contact: (012) 497 20 57 / +994558603022

A delegation led by Secretary General of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States (Turkic Council) Baghdad Amreyev has visited the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation to meet with its President Gunay Afandiyeva. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Secretaries General of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States Gismat Gozalov, Sultanbek Rayev and other members of the delegation.

Addressing the event, President of the Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva hailed the strengthening authority of the Turkic Council on a global scale and stressed the importance of cooperation between the organizations. She also highlighted the activities of the Foundation, pointing to the new projects aimed at promoting the common heritage of the Turkic-speaking peoples. Mentioning that the building of the Foundation was allocated to the organization by special Order of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Gunay Afandiyeva proposed to hold the Coordination Meeting of the heads of Turkic-speaking organizations in the Foundation in the near future.

Secretary General of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States Baghdad Amreyev spoke about the events and meetings held by the Turkic Council in the midst of the global pandemic. He also noted the important role and chairmanship of Azerbaijan in increasing the authority of the Turkic Council in the international arena. Baghdad Amreyev prased the activities of the Foundation, said that he would actively support the further expansion of fruitful relations between the Turkic Council, the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, and other Turkic-speaking organizations.

The prospects for further cooperation between the Turkic Council and the Foundation, the coordination and consistency of upcoming joint actions, provision for the adoption and conclusion of documents, the topics of the upcoming Summit of the Turkic Council, as well as the Coordination Meeting of the heads of the Turkic-speaking organizations were underlined at the meeting .

The delegation was acquainted with the building of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation. The sides then exchanged keepsakes.

A film by Azerbaijani director Hilal Baydarov, “In Between Dying”, has made it to the lineup of the 77th Venice International Film Festival as it will celebrate its world premiere on September 11.

"In Between Dying" is a 2020 internationally co-produced drama film co-written, edited and directed by Baydarov. It was co-produced by Carlos Reygadas and Joslyn Barnes, while Danny Glover and Susan Cohn Rockefeller serve as executive producers through their company Louverture Films.

The movie tells the love story of Davud, a young man trying to find his "real" family, who completes his life cycle in a single day. When he does find Love, it's in the place he has always lived. But it is too late.

The 77th Venice International Film Festival, organised by La Biennale di Venezia, takes place at Venice Lido from September 2 – 12, 2020.

The aim of the Festival is to raise awareness and promote international cinema in all its forms as art, entertainment and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue. The Festival also organises retrospectives and tributes to major figures as a contribution towards a better understanding of the history of cinema.

“Cholchu” (The Steppe Man), a movie by Azerbaijani filmmaker Shamil Aliyev, was named “Best Feature Film” at the Mirabilia Internation Film Awards, an international bi-montlhy and annual film festival, held in Italy.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the results of the competition were announced online.

The “Steppe Man” tells a story of a young steppe man who lives in remoteness from the city, closely tied to nature. His father teaches him the subtleties of life in the steppe. Soon after his father's death the young man meets a girl from a city. Their meeting becomes a new page in his life, a step to a big life unfamiliar to him before.

The movie has been featured at nearly 85 international film festivals and forums, receiving more than 45 awards.

Azerbaijan State Art Gallery invites you to join a virtual photo-poster exhibition on September 15. 

Supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Defense Ministry, the project aims to promote the country's military power. 

The exhibition will include photographs of artillery weapons, ammunition, military exercises and parades from the relevant archives of the Defense Ministry, posters made by artist Zaur Kantemirov, who is currently working at the State Art Gallery.

The virtual exhibition will be available on the gallery's social networks.

Founded in 1975, Azerbaijan State Art Gallery displays more than 14,000 paintings, graphics, sculptures, decorative and applied arts and contemporary art examples. 

The main activities of the gallery include preservation and restoration of Azerbaijan's cultural heritage, researches on the current situation and prospects of the fine arts and decorative-applied arts and much more. 

The majority of exhibitions in Azerbaijan and abroad are mainly composed of the works stored in the gallery. 

The State Art Gallery regularly successfully holds various art projects, lectures and other events.

Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum continues to conduct lectures by renowned art experts.

The museum invites you to join a lecture on Seljuk Ceramics​ led by Dr. Tarih Dostiyev on September 11.

Dostiyev will narrate the general features of artistic ceramics, which played an important role in the development of Muslim culture in the 11th-12th centuries during the reign of the Seljuk Turks.​ He will also enlighten participants on the Seljuk ceramics from the museum collection.

The number of lecture participants will not exceed 10 people amid quarantine rules. The lecture will be held in Azerbaijani.​

Register for the lecture by clicking on the following link.

Young ballet dancers have gathered at Baku Boulevard to an open-air master class by talented national dancer Farid Kazakov. The master class with students of "1001 nights" dance studio in Baku was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

"I am always glad to share my knowledge and skills with the younger generation. First of all, I want to note the high professionalism of the participants of the master class. These are very talented and hardworking kids dreaming of ballet, stage and high art. Of course, this is the merit of their teachers, and in particular, the artistic director of the school, Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, Associate Professor of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, Ophelia Zeynalova," Kazakov told.

The dancer expressed his hope on holding more joint projects with the dance school.

"It is very pleasant to realize that there are gymnastics and dance schools of such high level in Baku. I am always ready to hold such creative meetings and master classes for future ballet dancers and contribute to the creative, professional development and prosperity of the future of Azerbaijani choreography, "Kazakov said.

After master class, the dancer signed autographs to all participants.

Farid Kazakov has been recently named the country's best young dancer. He won Khazar National Prize 2020 for his professionalism and devotion to dance art. The dancer is being chosen the youngest professional dancer in Azerbaijan for the second year in a row.