NEWS

Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Culture and General Administration of Press and Publication of the Peoples Republic of China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the translation and publication of works of classic literature.

The document was inked by First Deputy Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Elnur Aliyev and Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Jiang Jianguo.

The main purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding is to support the translation and publication of important works of classic literature of both countries over the next five years.

Shirali Baba Muslimov (also Mislimov), a shepherd from the village of Barzavu in Lerik, Azerbaijan, has been claimed to be the oldest person who ever lived. He claimed to be 168 years old when he died.

Shirali Muslimov was allegedly born on March 26, 1805 and died on September 2 or 4, 1973. In 1966 Azerbaijani film studio shot a documentary film about him “Shirali descended from the mountain”.

He was married 3 times and had 23 children. He became a father of his daughter at the claimed age of 136 years old. Muslumov has never been recognized by the GWR and had no birth certificate.

According to legend, Muslimov worked hard every day, up to 168 years, did not smoke or drink, but ate fruits, vegetables, wholemeal bread, chicken broth, low-fat cheese and yogurt. He had several wives through his lifetime. Muslimov became ill with pneumonia between 1972 and 1973, but survived only to die later in 1973.

Muslimov's story was picked up in 1973 by National Geographic Magazine, which told that on the occasion he still rode horseback and tended an orchard planted in the 1870s. National Geographic later recanted on the claim. The same story was told by the Guinness Book of World Records, stated as unconfirmed along with other similar claims. The 1974 Guinness noted that medical examinations revealed that the men with these extraordinary age claims typically had the physiology of men in their 90 years old. It also stated that these age claims most likely resulted from son father and even son grandfather impersonations in order to avoid the Czarist draft.

His marital status was also controversial. According to National Geographic, he had a 120-year-old wife whom he had married 102 years earlier. However according to his obituary, published by Time magazine, when Shirali Mislimov was 136 years old, he married 57-year-old Khatum-Khanum (1884–1988).

According to him, the angel of death couldn't reach him in the mountainous area.

This bridge is erected over the Askipara river near Yukhari Askipara village of Gazakh district, Azerbaijan. The length of the bridge is 7.3 m, width in the center 2.7 m, and overall height from its arch till the surface of the river is 5.8 m. The bridge is arched and made from rocky stones. The overall appearance of the bridge span is a semi-circle. The top cover of the passageway is of soil. In 1990, the Armenian Armed Forces occupied and burned the Yukhari Askipara village. As a result, the Bridge was demolished by Armenians.

Eurovision Song Contest 2020 has announced the running orders of the contestants. 

Azerbaijan's entry for Eurovision 2022 Nadir Rustamli will perform in the first part of the second semi-final of the contest under the number four.

The order of performance of the contestants is determined by the results of the draw.

Nadir Rustamli will represent Azerbaijan in Turin with the song "Fade To Black"  released on March 21 2022.

The song is written and composed by Thomas Stengaard and Andreas Stone Johansson. Thomas Stengaard songs are well known to Eurovision viewers,Eurovoix reported. 

The songwriter was a part of the teams that produced the Eurovision entries "El Diablo" and "Adrenalina" for Cyprus and San Marino respectively last year.

Swedish songwriter Andreas Stone Johansson is best known for working on 2019 Eurovision entire "Too Late for Love" which was performed and co-written by John Lundvik.

Nadir has been into music since a young age. He took piano lessons for seven years, studied in music school and, while at university and joined a music band "Sunrise" as the front man. In the music band, he also served as the art director for the music band. Moreover, Nadir Rustamli is the winner of the Voice of Azerbaijan singing competition's winner.

Meanwhhile, Eurovision 2022 will take place in Turin, Italy on May 10-14.

Nadir Rustamli will perform in the first part of the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.

As a result of the draw, Azerbaijan's entry will perform on May 12. The first semi-final will take place on May 10.

The Azerbaijani delegation at Eurovision 2022 will be headed by composer and producer Isa Melikov.

Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse  has successully performed in France.

The orchestra performed works by the French and Russian classics Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky under the baton of the national conductor, Honored Artist Fuad Ibrahimov.

The concert "Ode to two greats" was held with the participation of the Orfeon Donostiarra choir conducted by José Antonio San Alfaro.

Speaking about the concert, Fuad Ibrahimov told Trend Life that he was  very pleased to work with such a team, whose professionalism deserves the highest words. He stressed that it is a great honor for  him to represent Azerbaijan in such an evening of classical music.

The concert received a standing ovation from the audience. 

Notably, Fuad Ibrahimov will conduct the Orquesta Clásica Santa Cecilia in Madrid on March 31. The concert will bring together musicians from outh Korea, Brazil, Italy and Spain.

The State Philharmonic Hall will host a jubilee concert of the People's Artist, professor at the Baku Musical Academy Zahra Guliyeva on April 8.

The concert will feature the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra  under the baton of Honored Artist Fuad Ibrahimov.

The Detaşe Violin Ensemble will also please the audience with their performance.

The soloists are the laureates of republican and international competitions Nazrin Aslanli, Farida Rustamova, Osman Mustafazadeh, Jamila Garayusifli, Khadija Mirgulamli and Shukufa Rasulova.

Zahra Guliyeva graduated with honors from the Azerbaijan State Conservatory (1975) (now Baku Music Academy ), where she studied in the class of  the People's Artist  Sarvar Ganiev.

In 1976-1978 she continued her musical education, enrolling in the graduate school of the Leningrad State Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory (now the Petersburg State Conservatory ).

Since 1978 she has been teaching at the Conservatory, from the same year to 1993 she worked as a teacher at the Department of String Instruments.

In the period 1983-1990, the musician hosted the author's program "Tenderness" on the Azerbaijan State Television, where she talks about the art, life and work of both Azerbaijani and world-famous artists.

In 1993, at the invitation of the Turkish Bilkant University, Zahra Guliyeva started teaching in Turkey. At the university, she combined teaching and performing arts.

In 1998, the musician continued her teaching activities at the Macau Conservatory, was active as a performer, gave numerous solo concerts and with an orchestra in various cities of China, as well as in Portugal and Spain.

Returning to Azerbaijan in 2001, Zahra Guliyeva continues her performing and teaching activities to this day.

In addition to the class of performing arts, she gives a lecture on "History of violin art" at the Baku Music Academy.

Zahra Guliyeva has repeatedly performed with concert programs in Turkey, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria, America and Europe.

She is the author of the first textbook in the Azerbaijani language "History of violin art" and textbooks on cello.

The Days of Francophonie will be held in Azerbaijan on April 1-22.

Francophonie Days are celebrated annually all over the world, in French-speaking countries, as well as in countries where French is taught and studied, including Azerbaijan.

This year, the Francophonie Days will be held under the motto "Future Francophonie", to highlight the support of young people and their aspirations, especially in the fields of entrepreneurship, digital technologies and sustainable development.

Many creative projects,  film screenings, exhibitions, competitions and conferences will be held as part of the Francophonie Days.

The International Organisation of La Francophonie was created in 1970. Its mission is to embody the active solidarity between its 88 member states and governments (61 members and 27 observers), which together represent over one-third of the United Nations’ member states and account for a population of over 900 million people, including 300 million French speakers.

IOF organizes political activities and actions of multilateral cooperation that benefit French-speaking populations. Its actions respect cultural and linguistic diversity and serve to promote the French language, peace and sustainable development.

Overall, the days of French language and culture are annual spring event in Azerbaijan that brings French-speaking people together.

Asmar Narimanbayova's art works have been shown in Brussels.

The exposition opened at the Free University of Brussels and included 15 paintings created by the artist over the past two years. Many works soak up the Novruz holiday spirit.

Vibrant and expressive paintings grabbed the attention of the viewers.

The exhibition was co-organized by the Azerbaijani Embassies in Belgium and France, as well as the French-Azerbaijani Dialogue Association and the Caspian Initiative for European Integration and Partnership.

Asmar Narimanbayova lives and works in two cities - Paris and her native Baku.

The artist grew up in the atmosphere of love to art, music and literature. Her father Togrul Narimanbayov was the world-famous Azerbaijani artist and her mother Elmira Huseynova was a sculptor.

Narimanbayova is distinguished by her bold and unique art works.

The artist thrills art connoisseurs with her vibrant paintings in different styles, including impressionism, post-impressionism, cubism and others.

Narimanbayova's works are displayed at prestigious exhibitions, international festivals and symposiums all over the world.

Gurban Pirimov - an outstanding Azerbaijani tar player, who was one of the most prominent disciples of the “father of the Azerbaijani tar” Sadigjan, was born in 1880 in Abdal Gulabli village of Aghdam district.

He became one of the greatest and most beloved tar players, who played an outstanding role in improvement of the Azerbaijani music and its popularization inside and outside of the country.

Pirimov performed together with khanande Jabbar Garyaghdioghlu - a prominent Azerbaijani musician born in Shusha, pearl of Karabakh.

Their mugham trio, which is normally performed by three musicians - tar player, kamancha player and a singer - khanande, who leads the main theme decorating it with improvisations and emotional shades, was popular far away from the boundaries of Azerbaijan and the Caucasus.

Gurban Pirimov occupied a worthy place in the history of the Azerbaijani music. Everyone was enraptured by his performance, how he used to sit near the khanande and hold proudly his tar on his breast.

Pirimov became the knight of the national music. He and his tar became an adornment of the Azerbaijani music for 70 years.

Gurban Pirimov was 85, when he played tar on the stage for the last time and his play was as beautiful, as when he was a 20 year old young, ardent, handsome man.

Great tar player Pirimov died in 1965 in Baku.

In 2017, Azerbaijan marked the 137th birth anniversary of Gurban Primov.

The Ismayilli State Reserve, covering 5,778 hectares of area was established in 1981, to preserve and study endangered plants and animals.

Located in the central parts of the south hang of the Great Caucasus at an altitude of 600-2250 m, the national reserve consists of 2 parts: the Topchu located at a height of 800-2250 m above sea-level and Galinjag, which is a place of preservation for chestnut - leafy oak forests of Alazan-Ayrichay valley. This area of reserve is located at a height of 600-650 m above sea-level.

The area is characterized by cold climate with humid winter and mild-warm climate with equal distribution of rainy days.

The reserve boasts with its enriched flora- 40 species of trees, more than 200 species of herbs, as well as sparse woods, shrubbery, oak beech, ash tree, hornbeam forests, including the wood-surrounding area environed by cherry - plum, hawthorn, cornet-tree, dog rose, medlar and other bushy trees.

About 170 kinds of mammals such as wolf, jackal, grey bear and wood cat have chosen the reserve as their dwelling place. The reserve’s rivers also enriched with all kinds of river fish, including trout, barbell and comb.

Swampy and Mediterranean turtles, river snakes, and other kinds of reptiles can also be found in the reserve.