NEWS

The theaters have been quarantined worldwide due to the threat of spreading coronavirus infection. The pandemic made adjustments to all spheres of theatrical life.

As a result, all  performances, premieres, tours, theater meetings and festivals were canceled. Coronavirus changed the lives of everyone. Although theaters are closed, they continue to delight their viewers with online shows, meetings, workshops and much more. Moreover, many virtual events are organized especially for theaters.

Azerbaijani theater workers are invited to take part in virtual International Scientific Theater Conference 2020 on May 11.

The event will cover a wide range of issues: how quarantine influenced the work of theaters; the pros and cons of online impressions; distance theater training and others.

The organizing committee include Ph.D. Elchin Jafarov (Azerbaijan), Ph.D., Associate Professor Anara Erkebai (Kazakhstan), Doctor of Art, Professor Lasha Chkhartishvili (Georgia).

The main purpose of the scientific conference is to discuss the theater’s ability to preserve ideological and artistic impact on the viewer through the Internet.

Theater experts, critics, cultural experts,directors, actors, playwrights, managers, stage designers,  theater teachers as well as  journalists are invited to participate in the conference.

For more information, please contact:

onlinetheatrecon@gmail.com

Azerbaijan National Art Museum has presented a video project, featuring reknown architect and art critic Elchin Aliyev. 

As part of the project, Elchin Aliyev and his children delighted readers with a fairy tale from the book "Magic Monuments of Azerbaijan". 

Notably,  "Magic Monuments of Azerbaijan" is the first children's publication in the history of Azerbaijan about architectural monuments of our country.

In the book, the author Elchin Aliyev describes the country`s most famous architectural gems. The book is illustrated by the famous artist Nusrat Hajiyev.

For more information, please visit the museum`s Facebook. 

From 1988 till the collapse of the USSR, Elchin Aliyev had been Chairman of the South-Caucasian Section, the USSR Society of Young Architects.

His professional membership includes the Azerbaijan Union of Architects (from 1989), Board thereof, and the Azerbaijan Union of Designers  (from 1998). 

The reknown architect has developed and implemented more than 70 architectural and design projects. He is the author of 14 books and 140 scientific articles in the field of architecture, design and town planning.

His projects have been awarded in Russia, Iran, the US, Turkey, France, Germany and Georgia.

The Azerbaijan Union of Architects has repeatedly recognized Elchin T.Aliyev the best architect in the country. He was awarded the “Honorary Gold Badge” of the Azerbaijan Union of Architects. 

He has also been awarded Diplomas and Letters-of-Gratitude by foreign national unions of architects and designers, the International Association of Unions of Architects, Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, and other governmental, public and international organisations.

From 2012 to 2017 he worked as the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Union of Architects. He is a member of the Commission on work with youth of the International Union of Architects.

Currently Elchin Aliyev is the President of the Baku Architectural Club. He is Professor of Western University in Baku.

"Gənclərə dəstək" project has joined campaigns "Bizi birləşdirən mədəniyyət" (United by Culture) and "Gələcəyin üçün evdə qal!" (Stay home for your future), co-organized by the Azerbaijan Cultural Ministry and Medeniyyet TV.

Within the framework of the "Week of Uzeyir Hajibeyli" on the Medeniyyet TV channel, the project participants brilliantly performed beautiful music pieces by the outstanding Azerbaijani composer. 

The project brought together talented musicians, including laureate of international competitions, student of the Republican Arts Gymnasium Sarah Tagizade (vocal), student of Baku Musical College  Sona Ismayilzade (piano), young vocalist Teymur Kazimov, winner of international competitions, student of the Baku Music Academy Jabir Aliyev (trumpet), talented pianist Arif Amirov, soloist of the Azerbaijan State Orchestra of Folk Instruments Natavan Hasanova (canon), students of Republican Arts Gymnasium Sevda Jabrailova, Natavan Hajiyeva, Samida Mammadova, leading piano accompanist, head teacher of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory Svetlana Ahmadova and Lumineux Choir.

Their wonderful performance left no one indifferent. 

Initiated by the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, "Gənclərə dəstək" project aims at discovering and supporting young talents in Azerbaijan.

The project is headed by the director of the State Philharmonic Hall, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Murad Adigozalzade, project coordinator - Ayla Karimova Zaharia.

The concert programs, organized as part of this initiative, address the wide audience with different preferences and tastes. 

After TV series about love story of Muslim Magomayev, the audience began to show even greater interest in the work and life of the legendary Azerbaijani singer and composer.

As a result, Muslim Magomayev and Tamara Sinyavskaya were among the most-searched personalities in Russian Wikipedia for March according to "Mediaaslovo" film studio. 

The TV Serials about Muslim Magomayev was aired on Russian First Channel.

The developments in the TV series are taking place in the late 1960s - early 1970s. The shooting took place in Moscow and Baku.

The film tells about beautiful love story of Muslim Magomayev and opera singer Tamara Sinyavskaya. 

The main roles in TV series were played by Milosh Bikovich and Irina Antonenko. The film cast also included Ksenia Babkina, Svetlana Ustinova, Maria Shalayeva, Nikita Tarasov, Alena Ivchenko, Maxim Lagashkin and others.

The film was directed by Dmitry Tyurin and Roman Prigunov, script writers - Daria Vorotintseva and Nina Shulika. It was shot by the media companies Mediaslovo and Amedia Production.

Famous for his beautiful voice, Muslim Magomayev made great contribution to the Azerbaijani music. His creative activity occupies a special place in the country’s music history.

The idol of millions became famous around the USSR at the age of 19 after a stellar performance at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow. He became known in Europe after a successful performance at the Youth Festival in Helsinki, Finland.

A very important stage in mastering his vocals skills even further was his training in the La Scala Opera Theater in Milan. Muslim's stay in Italy – a country of innumerable art treasures and the home of belcanto – in the 1960s was not only beneficial for his singing, but also affected his inner world.

At the age of 30, Magomayev was one of the youngest recipients of the highest artistic title, People's Artist of the USSR. He also received numerous awards for his contribution to opera and popular music in the Soviet Union.

The legendary singer also wrote songs, film soundtracks and music for theater performances. In addition, he played in films and acted as a host in television and radio broadcasts. He also loved to paint pictures, but called it his hobby.

In his later life, Magomayev struggled with a serious heart condition. In 1998, Magomayev officially ended his musical career and gave only a few performances together with his wife.

One of the greatest singers of the 20th century died of a heart failure in Moscow on October 25, 2008, and was laid to rest in Baku.

Gobustan State Historical and Artistic Reserve invites you to join a contest of handicrafts as part of "My Home is My New Workplace" action, launched by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture.

To participate in the competition, send a photo of your handicrafts, indicating your name, surname and contact number to gobustan2020@gmail.com.

First of all, photos of handicrafts will be evaluated at the first stage by a jury consisting of employees of  Gobustan State Historical and Artistic Reserve .

The  winner will be determined after the end of the quarantine regime. The exhibition and sale of all craft products will be organized as well. The winners will be awarded with the certificates by the Gobustan State Historical and Artistic Reserve.

Gobustan is home to one of the world's largest ancient petroglyphs collections. Settled since the 8th millennium BC, the area contains more than 600,000 distinct paintings, going as far back as 20,000 years to as recent as 5,000 years ago. 

The rock paintings dating back to 8 millenniums reflect different hunting scenes, ceremonial and ritual processes of the habitants of these places. Gobustan petroglyphs were repeatedly investigated by the famous Norwegian explorer and adventurer Thor Heyerdahl, who recognized local boats petroglyphs as the oldest known images of pirogue in the world.

Most of the rock engravings depict primitive men, animals, battle-pieces, ritual dances, bullfights, boats with armed oarsmen, warriors with lances in their hands, camel caravans, pictures of sun and stars.

Gobustan was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2007.

Azerbaijan State Art Gallery has opened a virtual exhibition as part of "Evdə qal, qalib gəl" (Stay at home and win) action. 

The exhibition "My sweet home" features art works of Azerbaijani artists, including Mammad Mustafayev, Tagi Taghiyev, Hafiz Zeynalov, Boyukagha Mirzazade, Niyaz Najafov, Fuad Gafarov, Chingiz Farzaliyev, Faig Aghayev and many others.

The project aroused great interest among art lovers. 

Initiated by the State Art Gallery, the project is organized with the support of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture.

Among the art pieces presented are the works of Tagi Tagiyev, Rasim Babayev, Latif Feizullayev, Davud Kazimov, Mikhail Abdullayev, Togrul Narimanbayov and others.

You can get acquainted with the works of famous Azerbaijani artists on the gallery`s Facebook.

Azerbaijan National Art Museum has launched a family art project. 

By subscribing to the museum’s  Facebook, everyone has a chance to enjoy informative lectures, watch master classes from museum specialists, join in reading books, talk with famous art and cultural figures, participate in contests, quizzes and much more. The program starts at 19:00 and lasts one hour. 

Founded in 1937, the National Art Museum consists of two buildings standing next to each other.

Over 3,000 items in 60 rooms are on permanent display at the museum. Moreover, about 12,000 items are kept in storage.

Art connoisseurs have a chance to enjoy the best examples of decorative-applied arts of Western Europe.

Art works of Italian, French, German and Polish painters are displayed at the museum.

The second edifice built in 1885 houses Eastern art, represented particularly by Persian, Turkish, Chinese and Japanese art.

Russian art is represented by paintings of Karl Briullov, Alexey Venetsianov, Vasily Vereshchagin, Isaac Levitan, Vladimir Makovsky, Valentin Serov, Vladimir Borovikovsky, Vasily Tropinin, Konstantin Korovin and Ivan Shishkin. There are also restored samples of Russian avant-garde.

The works of Azerbaijani artists Mir Mohsun Navvab, Bahruz Kangarli, Tahir Salahov, Azim Azimzade, Salam Salamzade, Vidadi Narimanbeyov, Mikail Abdullayev, Togrul Narimanbeyov and sculptor Omar Eldarov are also kept in the museum halls.

International Mugham Center has launched  online projects during social isolation.

The center presents three projects to the audience. The first one is informative, it focuses on the appeals of mugam performers to the audience.

The second project provides for mugam concerts, which can also be viewed on social networks.

The third project presents lectures about famous mugham singers, whose busts adorn the lobby of the Center, as well as expositions of ancient musical instruments. The projects aim at promotion of mugham and national musical instruments.

Notably, International Mugham Center offers interesting and enjoyable leisure activities during social isolation days.

"The necessary emergency measures were taken by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev against the spread of coronavirus in our country. President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva appealed to the people, urging them not to leave their homes without special need and to observe a quarantine regime. Today, the state is taking all measures in the fight against coronavirus and to protect the health and lives of people. We must all be united in the fight against coronavirus. We are confident that as a result of the efforts made by the state, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev,  the current situation will be resolved in near future, "the Center said in a statement," the message said.

Famous for its spectacular concerts, scientific-theoretical and research projects, the Center is now switching to online projects, which can be found on Facebook and Instagram.

Azerbaijan State Choir Chapel will please music lovers with online concert on April 12.

The concert will be held as part of the campaign "Bizi birləşdirən mədəniyyət" (United by Culture) co-organized by the Azerbaijan Cultural Ministry and Medeniyyet TV.

The choir chapel will perform works of world-famous composers. The event starts at 14:30.

Since 1966, the State Choir Chapel operates under the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic. 

The choir’s repertoire includes more than a thousand works by Azerbaijani and foreign composers as well as folk songs.

The art director and chief conductor of the Azerbaijan State Capella Choir is People’s Artist of Azerbaijan Gulbaji Imanova.

Over the past years, the choir has successfully performed at music festivals and concerts held both in Azerbaijan and abroad.

The Azerbaijani National Carpet Museum has released a new catalogue dedicated to the "The Future of Traditions" by Aydin Rajabov.

The publication was presented to mark the 75th anniversary of the artist. His personal exhibition was held at the museum last year. 

The illustrated catalog prepared by the museum contains interesting materials about the art works included in the exhibition.

For more information, please visit the museum`s official website.

Founded in 1967, Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum displays some of the best examples of the carpet weaving art.

The museum, initiated by Latif Karimov, an outstanding scientist and carpet weaver is beautiful inside and out. The new building of the Carpet Museum, designed in the form of a rolled carpet, opened in the Baku Seaside Park in 2014 and all carpets were transferred to this museum.

Today the museum hosts many events, such as exhibitions, international symposiums, and conferences.

In 2019, the museum received the national status for its significant contribution in popularization and promotion of the Azerbaijani Carpet Weaving Art.