“I get convinced that Baku managed to preserve its identity, including in music'

"I get convinced that Baku managed to preserve its identity including in music," Leyla Aliyeva says.

"The transition from one year to another is accompanied by many pleasant feelings and sensations.

Here are the wonderful smell of the Christmas tree and magnificent rustling of wrappers of the uncomplicated presents and unforgettable taste of festive dishes and eye pleasing rainbow of friends’ outfits. And, of course, music. Beginning with the dear-to-soul "The forest raised a Christmas tree" and ending with lots of hits of recent years, which are heard in every house every year", Editor-in-Chief of Baku magazine Leyla Aliyeva writes on her page.

This year's first issue of the "Baku" magazine traditionally begins with the message of Editor-in-Chief Leyla Aliyeva to her readers. The message was titled ‘Good mood’. And this time, being in love with her hometown, Leyla Aliyeva, talking about the Christmas mood of the Baku residents, on the musical traditions of Baku, again and again fills the hearts of readers with love for the capital of Azerbaijan.

Speaking of identity in the musical culture of the city, Leyla Aliyeva writes: "Once again, I am convinced that Baku has managed to preserve its identity, including in music."

"In the past year there was a lot of good music: you could hear the participants of the International Mugham Festival and soloists of "Helikon Opera", enjoy performances by jazz luminaries and visit the concerts within Gabala festival, recall the rich heritage of Qara Qarayev, Muslim Magomayev, evenings on their memory."

The Editor-in-Chief primarily recalls "the genius of Uzeyir Hajibeyli, which gave the opportunity to our mugham ashugs and culture to merge with European music". "His influence on Azerbaijani musical culture was so powerful that even on the level of home direction he could fix this synthesis of East and West.

"It was owing to Hajibayli that tar and violin, cello and kamancha, oud and piano could hold charming dialogues, and great singer Bulbul could perform arias and mugham. Harmonious blend of tradition and innovation was laid by the composer in the musical education system, which now gives Bakuvians an opportunity to shine on stages as the Berlin Opera and during Eurovision," the article says.

According to Leyla Aliyeva, music is learnt everywhere in Baku where at least a few people indifferent to music gather, and a tradition of KVN evenings laid by Yuli Gusman, Elchin Azizov’s way from KVN to the Bolshoi Theater, incongruous jazz – mugham compositions by Isfar Sarabsky are a beautiful example of this. Mrs. Aliyeva writes: "Many phenomena contributed to the musical culture of Baku residents.

Through this they are able to create a luxurious mix of the best things and feel the music as uplifting good wine. That's right, the new year of 2014 starts in good spirits, surrounded by wonderful friends and the sounds of the favorite hits of Baku."

The new edition of the informative magazine "Baku" this time provides an opportunity to get acquainted with the most interesting events in the cultural life of the capital of Azerbaijan over the past few months. These include the Concert of the Grand Symphony Orchestra of Tchaikovsky commemorating national leader Heydar Aliyev and the world premiere of the international exhibition of the Rocket Center of the USA at the Heydar Aliyev Center, premiere of the film about Muslim Magomayev "From Birth to Eternity " at the stage of UNS, premiere of the film "Don`t be afraid, I`m with you. 1919" at the Heydar Aliyev Palace, Baku Jazz festival and lectures of artist Taus Makhacheva in mugham Center, Lalla Essaydi’s solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art , and the international festival of tourism films in the cinema center of Nizami.

The "Special Report" on the presentation of the Heydar Aliyev Center and interviews with the project architect, world famous Zaha Hadid speak about the arrival of the architects of the world’s major bureaus, planners and designers in Baku to assess the role of the Centre in the world architecture and demonstrate its potential as an exhibition and concert venue.

Another companion of the magazine is the founder of "Gelikon Opera" Dmitry Bertman. In early November D. Bertman presented the opera "Siberia" and a gala concert "Love is forever" to Baku viewers at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

And in a favorite category "Bakinity" the famous Russian TV viewer Vladislav Flyarkovsky talks about his childhood town. "Baku will never be on the list of the dull cities where there are many lonely people. There will always be an interlocutor," he said.

Interview of journalist Vlada Topcheva with granddaughter of the Baku millionaire and philanthropist Aga Musa Nagiyev is posted in "Cases and feelings" section. "My grandfather believed in fate and prophecy, and set a goal to build 100 homes and live to be 100 years old. But he managed to build only 98," Dilara Nagieva says.

"There is no better way to illustrate a book than go on a journey," the authors of "Once in city N" project say. The names of the novels stored in Trister, Seville, Ho Chi Minh City, Chicago, Prague and Baku are available in the 39th issue of the magazine.

The edition also contains a report from Moscow-hosted evening marking the 60th anniversary of prominent businessman, major philanthropist, one of the founders of the All-Russian Azerbaijanis Congress Aydin Gurbanov. "Father for me is a pattern of a real man and a true patriot of his homeland. I really hope that I can convey this attitude to my son, whose name is also Aydin Gurbanov," the son of the philanthropist, head of the Aydin Gurbanov Foundation, board member of WAC Samad Gurbanov said. He also announced the fund’s decision to build a mosque in the Zira settlement near Baku as a follow-up to his father`s noble work.

(AzerTac)