Grand opening ceremony of the X Gabala International Music Festival was held.

Grand opening ceremony of the X Gabala International Music Festival held under the organization of Heydar Aliyev Foundation and with support of “Gilan Holding” took place on July 31. Letter of congratulations of First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Republic, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO Mehriban Aliyeva servicing highly for development and promotion of music culture in our country, was read for the participants of the festival at the ceremony held on the open stage set in front of Heydar Aliyev Congress Center in Gabala city. The letter is as the following: Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends. Esteemed participants of the festival and guests. I am greeting heartily everyone - the participants and guests of Gabala International Music Festival. Our meetings held in this beautiful area of Azerbaijan have already become a good tradition. For the first time we met you in The First Gabala International Classical Music Festival in 2009. And we are celebrating important jubilee today. It is already the 10th year that Gabala has been receiving the participants and guests of the bright music holiday. Gaining sympathy and support of this festival in Azerbaijan that has very rich cultural heritage and music traditions is praiseworthy. Our country granted to the music world such coryphaeus as Uzeyir Hajibayli, Gara Garayev, Niyazi, Fikrat Amirov, Muslum Magomayev, Bulbul and Rashid Behbudov. Mugham, ashig art, folk song and dances exist from the depth of the centuries to our modern era. In Azerbaijan classical music art was always highly estimated. Azerbaijan is the country where the first opera in East and Muslim worlds was created and produced. It's no coincidence that our country got unofficially the name “Musical capital” in the region. Numerous music festivals on different kind and genres are organized unceasingly in Azerbaijan. Gabala festival takes a special place among them. This festival is not held in the capital, but in Gabala that is one of the most ancient and beautiful areas of Azerbaijan, being the capital of Caucasian Albania centuries ago. This place chosen to hold the festival reflects ancient history of Azerbaijan, rich cultural heritage of our people as well as today’s achievements of socio-economic development of our country and its regions. We can confidently say that we achieved many successes during the last years. Gabala festival paved the way for new and good tradition in cultural life of Azerbaijan and the whole southern Caucasus, and took fitting place among international music events. It gains increasingly in profile among classical music professionals and its lovers. Every year world known player and collectives take the stage of the festival. Our ancient Gabala became the best rendezvous of the people who love this art - musicians, audience and critics. There is incredibly positive environmental for creative association and mutual understanding in here. This great music and friendship holiday which player and collectives from many countries and different continents participate in, does not acquaint the international music public only with cultural assets of Azerbaijan. It also gives good opportunities to make relations and connections of friendship among musicians representing different countries, and contributes intra-cultures and intra-civilizations dialogue to be supported. Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends. Some of you have already been to our countries, but it is the first visit to Azerbaijan for others. Our country is known for its kindness and hospitality. Azerbaijani people are always open for new ideas, as well as maintain its rich historical and cultural heritage. 2018th year is significant for us. The 100-year jubilee of formation of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic - that had multinational and multi-party parliament for the first time in the whole Muslim East, and where women were granted equal voting rights as men, is celebrated this year. Our people’s historical option related to democracy and freedom remained unchanged both hundred years ago and now. We are always glad to meet guests. Geographic growth of Gabala International Music Festival year by year, and swelling the ranks of its friends and devoted lovers from many countries prove it. Current jubilee festival and friendly environment here will again show that there is no limit and obstacle for true art. Nowadays rather interesting and rich festival program is expected for us. Both famous stars and young musicians will take to the stage of the festival. I am sure that the 10th jubilee Gabala International Music Festival will become an important page of cultural life, cause us to have interesting meetings and leave pleasant impressions on us. I wish all of you luck, peace, prosperity and well-being”. Then chairperson of Republic Council of Elders, Deputy of Milli Majlis Fattah Heydarov who made a speech, said: The international music festival expanded the reputation of our Gabala all over the world during last 10 years. We thank First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Republic, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva who paved the way for its organization from its first formation till now, whose congratulations we have just heard, and senior author of our these successes. We express profound gratitude to Ms.Aliyeva for the works that she did in organization of events held for our Azerbaijan today and in direction of bettering pecuniary and immaterial welfare of Azerbaijani human and making our country to be known in the world. Today Azerbaijan is such a state that is seemed from everywhere of the world. There is stable place in this hard time in our world when wars, conflicts and economic difficulties reign. It is our native Azerbaijan that is seemed with its light from everywhere”. During the speech, Rector of Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibayli, People’s Artist, and Art Director of Gabala International Music Festival Farhad Badalbayli noted that also this year’s festival coincides with the period when 100 year jubilee of composer of genius Gara Garayev is held, and stressed that this jubilee is very great occurrence in cultural life of Azerbaijan. He wished successes to Gabala International Music Festival. After the opening ceremony, Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra named after Uzeyir Hajibayli performed with wide concert program.