Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

Canada-Azerbaijan House of Friendship and Cultural Interrelations named after Heydar Aliyev was solemnly opened in Canada.

The establishment of the House of Friendship was initiated by national conductor and composer, Honored Artist of Culture Ismayil Hajiyev, who annually conducts symphonic concerts of Azerbaijani music and Days of Azerbaijani mugham as part of the International Niagara Festival, as well as his brother - the Director General of the Heydar Aliyev Transcontinental Festival, associate professor of the Baku Music Academy Mikayil Hajiyev.

The initiative of the Hajiyev brothers was warmly supported by the Governor of Niagara Province of Canada, Lord Gerry Borough.

The main goal of the Canada-Azerbaijan Friendship House is to strengthen and deepen the cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Canada, as well as the US and the leading countries of Europe and Asia.

In an interview with Azertag, Mikail Hajiyev said that at present the House of Friendship is preparing for a large cultural event. Azerbaijani and West European symphonic music will sound in Carnegie Hall, in New York.

The concert will feature outstanding musicians from Canada, the United States and Azerbaijan. Gerry Borough, who is a great lover of Azerbaijani mugham, suggested that one day of the event should be devoted to mugham.

The Canada-Azerbaijan House of Friendship and Cultural Interrelations could establish close contacts with the chief conductor of the St. Petersburg State Opera and Ballet Theater, People's Artist of the Russian Federation Valery Gergiev.

Russian conductor worked closely with Ismayil Hajiyev many times. Together they studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with the famous teacher, Professor Ilya Musin. At present, Gergiev received the scores of works by outstanding Azerbaijani musical classics for their performance in different countries of the world. Further plans include the staging of Uzeyir Hajibeyov's opera "Koroglu" at the Mariinsky Theater, as well as the invitation of talented musicians from Azerbaijan to Canada to participate in the International Niagara Festival.

"Thanks to the work of the President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President of Azerbaijan, the head of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, the authority of Azerbaijani culture and art in the world has grown so much that we are offered to conduct concerts of Azerbaijani music not only in Canada and the United States, but also in Europe - Great Britain, Germany, France, etc. It is also proposed to open similar houses of friendship in other leading countries of the world," said Hajiyev.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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