Fiery dances from different nationalities grace Azerbaijan
By Laman Sadigova
A fiery and colorful evening of dance performances from folk groups representing Turkey, Japan, as well as various nationalities that live in Azerbaijan, took place at the VI International Music Festival "Silk Road” in Sheki.
11 different natioanlities—Lezgins, Russian, Talysh, Tatars, Udis, Tats, Ingiloys, Kurds, Meskhetian Turks, Avars and Sahour—pleased guests of festival with their unique cultures, rituals, traditions, songs, and dances over the two days of the festival.
Folklore collectives came on stage all together to sing “Azerbaijan” song by the legendary Muslim Magomayev.
The festival gave the chance to showcase Sheki’s rich culture and art, its hospitality, and originality. For many centuries, the city was an important centre of art. Today Sheki is a unique place that has preserved the urban culture inherent in medieval towns. Sheki’s historical and architectural monuments – caravanserais, mosques, minarets, walls and bridges – display the ancient architectural style of the city.
The uniqueness and originality of the Silk Road Festival is that all of its activities are carried out against the backdrop of stunning landmarks - the Palace of Sheki Khans, historical complex Yukhari Karvansaray, the Albanian church in Kish village and others.
A mugam concert of the instrumental ensemble under the direction of the honored artist Sahib Pashazade, in the Palace of Sheki Khans brought the festival to a close on July 5.
Mugam, folk songs and tesnifs were performed by the young singer and soloist of the Opera Academic and Ballet, Arzu Aliyeva.
The closing ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Azerbaijani Union of Composers, UNESCO Artist for Peace, Firangiz Alizadeh, and chief executive of Sheki Elkhan Usubov, who thanked all the participants and guests of the festival.
After the official part of the closing ceremony, a concert by the symphonic orchestra "Sinfonietta Baku" Azerbaijan Composers Union concluded the evening.
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