Inauguration of the Space of Mugham 7th International Music Festival takes place
On June 17, inauguration of the Space of Mugham 7th International Music Festival took place at the Heydar Aliyev Palace.
Aiming at promoting the art of mugham - a pearl of Azerbaijan’s rich music heritage, on an international scale, the traditional festival is organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture.
The National Conservatoire of Azerbaijan also provides an organizational support to the festival, which will continue until June 22nd.
Over 200 performers, critics and guests from over 25 countries, including Türkiye, Germany, Spain, Morocco, Iraq, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Canada, India, Norway, Russia, the Great Britain, USA, Japan and Switzerland, joined this year’s festival.
Minister of Culture Adil Kerimli, renowned persons of culture and science, as well as representatives of the participating countries attended the opening ceremony.
Hosts of the evening provided information about the history and development stages of the art of mugham.
It was brought to attention that President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has been providing constant support to all areas of our culture, including the development and promotion of music and mugham art. Azerbaijan’s First Vice-president, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva has been a great patroness of our culture and the great mugham. It’s no coincidence that, namely, thanks to endeavours and care of Mehriban Aliyeva, the Azerbaijani mugham was entered on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the World. The first festival “Space of Mugham” was organized following the initiative and by the support of Mehriban Aliyeva in 2009.
Then, the festival’s grandiose gala-concert, entitled “Bayaty”, was presented.
Performances of musicians and groups from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Morocco, Spain, Iraq, UAE, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Canada, India and Mongolia with their ethnic and cultural richness were listened to.
The Gala-concert ended by a musical piece called “Where mugham exists...” performed by People’s Artist Alim Gasymov and his group.
A mugham contest will also be held, within the framework of the festival “Space of Mugham”, with participation of young talents from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and China.
The festival’s program will also include a symposium associated with the theoretical and practical legacy of Safiaddin Urmavi, a prominent 13th-century music expert, an interactive voice performance on the basis of the programme “Music hour” of the Azerbaijani radio of the 1950s and 60s in Icherisheher, and a music marathon “Mugham 12”. Master classes will also be organized along the festival with participation of renowned mugham performers of Azerbaijan.
The contest’s closing ceremony will be held in free Garabagh, the cradle of mugham, in Aghdam Mugham Centre.
