NEWS

Leyla Badirbayli left a bright mark on the history of Azerbaijani theatrical art.

Her charm and artistic abilities brought to life many female characters from playwrights and world literature classics.

The famous actress is considered a symbol of beauty in the country. She was dubbed the "Azerbaijani beauty".

Since a very young age, Leyla Badirbayli enjoyed dance lessons at an all-girls club where she showed her brilliant dancing and artistic skills. Her sincere love for dance art led her to the Muslim Magomayev Philharmonic Hall.

In 1936, the future actress became a soloist of the Philharmonic's Song and Dance Ensemble.

Leyla Badirbayli debuted in the film industry when she was only 10. She played an episodic role of a pioneer girl in Dziga Vertov's documentary "Three Songs about Lenin".

A year later, Azerbaijan's first female filmmaker Gamar Salamzade invited Leyla to the film "Mischievous children".

Iconic role in musical comedy

In 1945, Badirbayli played the role of Gulchohra in the musical film  "The Cloth Peddler" based on Uzeyir Hajibayli's operetta. The iconic role brought the actress big fame.

"The Cloth Peddler" tells the love story of young Asgar, who wants to get married. He is a rich, successful businessman and has everything he could wish for except for one thing - a lovely wife. However, some old-fashioned traditions do not allow him to choose his own bride.

The film has been shown in 136 countries and translated into 86 languages. Furthermore, the motion picture was re-mastered and colorized in 2013 in Los Angeles at the expense of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The duet of Rashid Behbudov with beautiful Leyla Badirbayli made "The Cloth Peddler"  even more spectacular.

The film broke the record in the number of viewers in almost 50 countries.

Leyla Badirbayli also played memorable roles in such films as "Fatali khan", "Meeting", "Shadows are crawling", "Her great heart", "Koroghlu", "Indomitable Kura", "Sevil", "Boys of our street", "One fine day", "Dervish is blowing up Paris", etc.

The outstanding actress passed away on November 23, 1999. She was buried in the  Alley of Honor.

By the presidential order, the actress's centenary was widely celebrated in Azerbaijan in 2020.

The wonderful actress's memory will live on in the hearts of the people forever.

Baku Museum Center will host Afsana Khabib's personal exhibition on March 4.

The exhibition will consist of a large collection of art piecees that are united by a common theme, such as the love of beauty.

Favolé is translated from Italian as "fairy tales, legends" and echoes the name of the artist herself, because in Azerbaijani "Afsana" means "legend".

Afsana Khabib will delight art lovers with 62 beatiful canvases, united by the idea of ​​a riddle, a multitude of meanings and game. It is no coincidence that most of them are dedicated to such a unique phenomenon of world culture as the Venice Carnival.

A life-sized Venetian masks will be presented on the first day of the exhibition. 

Brightly colored, complex in shape and embossed, these characteristic details of the carnival arem brilliantly reflected in the artist's canvases. Each handmade mast is original and unique. 

Afsana Habib lives and works in Baku. Since childhood, she grew up in a wonderful creative atmosphere.

Afsana Habib's father is an architect, and as a child she always followed her father's drawings with great interest. Having matured, Afsana decided to follow a different path in life and received her higher education at the Azerbaijan University of Economics. After graduating from university, she decided that creativity was her true purpose, a way of life, and it began to take a higher place in her heart.

 After much thought, the artist realized that she wants to be engaged in paintings.

I had the honor to get acquainted with the school of one of the Azerbaijan`s most beloved artists Sakit Mammadov. He accepted me into his team and entrusted me with the secret of his mastery.I really liked the style of opalism - the unique style of teacher's creativity.With the support of Sakit Mammadov, I chose my own creative style of work, based on opalism. But the main thing is the invaluable support that he gave me as a teacher.  I am very grateful to him. The opalism was the cornerstone in my art.  Working in this style, I managed to create my own art technique," said Afsana Habib. 

The artist`s works have been exhibitedin Paris, Rome, London, Moscow, Brussels, Tbilisi and other cities.  Afsana Khabib is a participant in international competitions and the winner of many competitions.

Exhibition opening: March 4, 2022 (admission by invitation only)

Exhibition Dates: March 5th to 10th, 2022 (free admission)

Opening hours: 10:00 – 18:00

Address: Museum Center, Neftchilar Ave., 49

Contacts: +99412 493 5883; +99450 273 2180

E.: museum@museumcenter.az / www.museumcenter.az

Baroque music will sound at the State Philharmonic Hall on March 7.

The gala concert will be held as part of the "Youth Support"  project to mark International Women's Day.

The soloist of the concert  is the laureate of international competitions Tofig Zeynalov (countertenor). The vocalist will perform accompanied by concertmaster Ilaha Ismayilova.

Tofig Zeynalov is the first owner of a rare timbre of voice - a countertenor among students of the Baku Musical Academy. He is a student of the opera singer, Honored Artist Ilham Nazarov (baritone, countertenor).

The concert will take place at the Philharmonic's Chamber and Organ Music Hall. 

Recall that the "Youth Support" project has been held since 2016 to discover and support young talents in Azerbaijan.

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

Within the project, concert programs are traditionally held several times a month at the State Philharmonic Hall.

The programs presented within the project are designed for a wide audience with different musical tastes, including connoisseurs of high academic performance, mugham, jazz, etc.

Students of the Baku Music Academy, the National Conservatory, the Republic Art Gymnasium, Bulbul Secondary Special Music School and many others are taking part in the concerts held as part of the project.

Over the past years, the "Youth Support" project has joined many festivals and competitions such as New Way International Summer Festival 2019  in Germany, the 2020 World Harmony  International Contest of Young Performers.

Broken Pot Media (UK) has produced a documentary about a prisoner of war Natig Gasimov, who went missing in 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The documentary will be screened at Nizami Cinema Center on February 28.

The film director Karan Singh talked with witnesses of those tragic events in in Azerbaijan, Italy, Great Britain and Russia.

The film features an interview with Italian military photographer Enrico Sarsini, who witnessed the interrogation of Natig Gasimov by Armenian servicemen.

Despite the fact that almost 30 years have passed since those events, the mother of Natig Gasimov believes that her son is alive and will return to homeland.

Natig Gasimov was born on January 2, 1971 in Gadabay's Kichik Garamurad village. In 1991, he joined a detachment of volunteers in the first Karabakh war.

In 1992, Natig Gasimov and his comrades were surrounded by the Armenian invaders. After the death of his comrades,  Natig Gasimov resisted the enemy for five days.

Gasimov left the Albanian church only after the Armenians threatened to kill 22 Khojaly residents if he did not surrender.

He kept the flag of Azerbaijan to the last in front of the Armenian aggressors.

Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva has viewed the “Works from the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery” exhibition held at the New Tretyakov Gallery as part of the “Days of Azerbaijan in Moscow”.

The exposition, which features the famous works by People's Artist of Azerbaijan Tahir Salahov, also includes his works such as "Gladiolus", "Portrait of Gara Garayev" and "Aydan".

The exposition also features works by Tahir Salahov in painting genres such as still life, landscape and portrait. Tahir Salahov is a unique artist, whose works reflect the traditions of the peoples of Azerbaijan and Russia. In his works, the artist also combined the centuries-old traditions of Azerbaijani art with the achievements of the European School of Painting.

The European Union Delegation to Azerbaijan will conduct the “FantazEU” Cultural Heritage Festival in Baku from March 1-18.

The “FantazEU Festival” will aim to promote European cultural diversity, with particular focus on European cultural heritage in Azerbaijan including demonstrating links between European and Azerbaijani cultural heritage.

The “FantazEU Festival” will be organized in partnership with EU Member States, with active participation of Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Greece, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden.

“Culture helps us build trust and mutual understanding. Cultural diversity also nurtures innovation and new ways of thinking. It is thanks to cultural diversity that Europe has been able throughout centuries to adapt to a changing world. It is not by chance, that the EU and its Member States stand committed to support and protect cultural diversity. The “FantazEU Festival” will be an important outlet for demonstrating creativity and cultural diversity to the Azerbaijani citizens. It will also contribute to the further development of the “strong partnership” between the EU and Azerbaijan,” said EU Ambassador Peter Michalko.

The full programme of the “FantazEU Festival” can be accessed at the website of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/azerbaijan_en. The Festival will also include a number of indoor and open-air photo exhibitions, concerts, literature evenings, workshops, film screenings and guided tours.

The festival will take place at various cultural and educational venues in Baku, including the International Mugham Center, ADA University, “Nizami” cinema, the Baku Book Center, Art Tower Gallery, and the “The Landmark” Hotel and Business Centre.

The Arts Council of Azerbaijan is providing organizational support under a contract financed by the European Union Delegation to Azerbaijan.

The “FantazEU Festival” is the successor of the Fantazia Cultural Heritage Festival, which had been organized by the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan since 2018. The Festival took its name from the “Fantazia” hamam, which was built in Baku in the end of the 19th century and brought together European and local architectural elements.

‘The Godfather’ will hit theaters in Baku ahead of its 50th anniversary release.

The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's best-selling 1969 novel of the same name. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and James Caan.

The “Azerbaijani carpets – a new look” exhibition has opened at the “Azerbaijan” pavilion at the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy in Moscow as part of the “Days of Azerbaijan in Moscow”.

Jointly organized with “Azerkhalcha” Open Joint-Stock Company, the exhibition features 14 carpets of the Karabakh group, among which four are from the modern collection in a new original format. The exclusive carpets on display are the result of a cooperation between the creative team of “Azerkhalcha” and Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Rashad Alakbarov.

A series of cultural events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation will be held in Moscow from 21 February to 1 March with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The “Azerbaijan” pavilion will also feature a literary project “From mouth to mouth” based on the “Seven Beauties” poem by great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi.

People's Artist Yusif Eyvazov will hold a master class at Moscow State Institute of Music on February 22.

The world-famous opera singer will hold an exclusive lesson for young vocalists, winners of the Moscow Mayor's Grants 20221 in the field of culture and art as well as the students of the Moscow State Institute of Music.

The master class participants have a chance to learn more about vocal art and get professional advice from the opera singer.

Recall that Yusif Eyvazov was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of the Moscow State Institute of Music last year.

Known for his beautiful voice, People's Artist Yusif Eyvazov is a regular guest at the world’s leading opera houses. His name is included in the book "The Best Tenors of the World".

The unique sound of his voice and his vibrant stage presence allow him to combine an active opera career with numerous concert performances.

The opera singer has appeared on numerous recordings for Deutsche Grammophon including a complete recording of Puccini's "Manon Lescaut" live from the Salzburg Festival and with his spouse, soprano Anna Netrebko's on the cross-over album "Romanza".

In 2017, Yusif Eyvazov was awarded the title of People's Artist of Azerbaijan.

Shusha is often considered the cradle of Azerbaijan's music and poetry.

Many prominent musicians like Bulbul (Nightingale), Seyid Shushinski, Khan Shushinski, Uzeyir Hajibayli, Rashid Behbudov, Niyazi, Fikrat Amirov as well as the outstanding writers and thinkers including  Khurshidbanu Natavan, Gasim Bay Zakir, Suleyman Sani Akhundov were also born in this iconic place.

The city's historical and cultural riches have turned it into a prominent cultural center.

By the presidential order, 2022 has been declared the Year of Shusha in Azerbaijan.

In response to the announcement, the Azerbaijani Culture Ministry is planning a number of cultural events and projects.

Many cultural projects will be carried out by the Culture Ministry in order to revitalize Shusha's cultural traditions.

Khari Bulbul Music Festival

As in the previous year, Shusha will host the Khari Bulbul International Music Festival.

The cultural event used to be held in Shusha every year before the city’s occupation by Armenian forces in 1992. The festival was resumed after Shusha's liberation on November 8, 2020.

Last year, the anticipated festival brought together music groups of different nations living in Azerbaijan on Jidir (Jydyr) Plain.

The festival featured folk and classical music concerts in the midst of the breathtaking nature.

The audience also enjoyed the traditional music of different peoples living in Azerbaijan.

The concert themed "Multiculturalism in Azerbaijani music" conveyed the message to the whole world that everyone, regardless of nationality or religion, has a single homeland.

Vagif Poetry Days

The Vagif Poetry Days will once again welcome its guests in 2022.

Until 1991, the cultural event was held annually in Azerbaijan on late national leader Heydar Aliyev's relevant instructions.

In 2021, the Vagif Poetry Days were held for the first time after so many years.

The Vagif Poetry Days were held outside the Molla Panah Vagif Museum-Mausoleum after its reconstruction.

The mausoleum on the grave of the Azerbaijani poet and statesman was built through instructions of the national leader Heydar Aliyev in 1982.

Eye-catching performances, colorful exhibitions, literary symposiums and heart-touching poems were greeted with great interest by the guests of the Vagif Poetry Days 2021.

Khurshidbanu Natavan Festival of Poetry

The city of Shusha will host another literary festival this year. The Khurshidbanu Natavan Festival of Poetry will be held in the city to mark the poetess's 190th anniversary.

Khurshidbanu Natavan, the daughter of Mehdi Gulu-khan, the last ruler of the Karabakh khanate is considered one of the best Azerbaijani lyrical poets.

The legendary poetess was a great example of intelligence, aristocracy, philanthropy, and classic poetry.

Known as a prominent educator of her time, public figure, philanthropist, she won nationwide love. The legendary poetess left a deep trace in the country's cultural and public life.

For the first time, the literary festival will be held in the poetess's homeland. Famous cultural figures will take part in the event.

Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival

Many concerts within the Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival will be held in Shusha.

Since September 18, 1995, Uzeyir Hajibayli's birthday has been celebrated in Azerbaijan as the Day of the National Music.

In 2021, the  festival's first concert was held in Shusha.

The State Song and Dance Ensemble performed at the concert under the baton of People's Artist Agaverdi Pashayev.

People's Artist Mansur Ibrahimov, Honored Artists Gochag Asgarov, Anar Shushali, Nargiz Karimova, Arzu Aliyeva and others pleased the audience with unique examples of Azerbaijan's national music.

Public figures also visited the house of People's Artist Bulbul and Natavan spring, and laid flowers in front of the statues of poetess Natavan, Uzeyir Hajibayli and singer Bulbul.

Cultural gems of Shusha city

The Culture Ministry has launched a new project "Cultural gems of Shusha city".

The project will consist of seven sections for a wide coverage of the city's rich cultural heritage: "Chronicle of Shusha's architecture", "Temple of Azerbaijani music - Shusha", "The hearth of mugham - Shusha", "The school of Karabakh carpet weaving - Shusha", "Literary life of Shusha", "People of Shusha", "Shusha's style of clothing".

Shusha Calling

A radio programme "Shusha Calling" has been launched in Azerbaijan

The radio project is initiated by the Culture Ministry, the State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage as well as AzerNyuMedia and Avto FM.

The project will consist of five parts dedicated to Shusha's culture, history and lifestyle.

The radio programme is aired every Friday. The project manager is Kamran Gasimov, presenter - RJ Yaqut, sound engineer - Yashar Bakhish, consultant - historian Elchin Ahmadov.