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Laman Ismayilova

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This autumn, the City of Winds has become a unique international arts platform, hosting world-renowned stars of theater, music, dance, and opera, Azernews reports.

Supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF 2025) took place at the city's finest venues, including the Heydar Aliyev Center, the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, the Azerbaijan National Drama Theater, the Azerbaijan State Musical Theater, and many others.

The festival united classics and modernity, global masterpieces and the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, providing a platform for traditions and innovation, a dialogue between East and West.

The large-scale event provided a great platform, which promotes cultural exchange, unites diverse communities and strengthens Baku's position as an international cultural destination.

The Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF 2025) officially started at the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall with a concert of Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov, accompanied by the State Academic Symphony Orchestra. The concert program included works by Gara Garayev, Dmitry Shostakovich and Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

Venetian Dream - City's Enigmatic Beauty and Mysteries

One of the most striking and memorable moments of the festival was a unique performance of "TITIZÉ - A Venetian Dream" directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, the author of productions for Cirque du Soleil, Olympic ceremonies and leading international theaters.

"TITIZÉ - A Venetian Dream" is a wordless, acrobatic circus-theater production by Daniele Finzi Pasca that blends tradition and innovation to evoke the essence of Venice. It is about a fantastical character named Titizé navigating a surreal, dreamlike version of Venice, which combines the city's magic, masquerades, and history with the company's signature style of clownery, acrobatics, and visual poetry.

The set design and performance aim to capture the atmosphere, magic, and mystery of Venice through elements like reflections, masks, and surreal rain.

Shakespearean Passions: Story of Love and Betrayal

"Hamlet, Prince of Denmark" was also a highlight of the festival, masterfully crafted by world-famous stage director Robert Lepage and choreographer Guillaume Cote.

Baku audiences were able to see Lepage's new work long before audiences in many European countries. The world premiere of the play was held in Toronto in April 2024 to great success.

The European premiere took place in May of that year at the International Shakespeare Festival (Le Festivalul International Shakespeare) in Craiova, Romania. Since the play did not tour Europe after that, Baku was able to see it before many European capitals, including Paris.

Robert Lepage first approached the theme of "Hamlet" in the mid-1990s, with a work he presented as a one-man play called "Elsinore." Ten years later, he created a solo play in Moscow called "Hamlet | Collage." Here, a single actor plays all the characters, and the stage is in the form of a tilted, rotating cube. This time, Shakespearean passions flared up on the stage of the Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theater.

"Hamlet, Prince of Denmark" is more than a performance; it's an innovative interpretation in which dance becomes the primary mode of expression. In moments where contemporary choreography blends with classical elements, the poetic lines take on fresh and profound meanings. The performance in Baku was met with great interest.

Leo Tolstoy's Tragedy Re-Imagined On Stage

Furthermore, the festival's guests enjoyed a production "Anna Karenina", directed by Rimas Tuminas, with the participation of Israel's Gesher Theater and the French Les Gemeaux Theater.

Rimas Tuminas created a new adaptation of "Anna Karenina" in 2023, offering a theatrical interpretation of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel. The adaptation explores themes of love, betrayal, and unhappiness.

The audience in the hall watched the stage unfold with rapt attention, and at the performance's conclusion, they greeted the actors with a standing ovation, unwilling to let them leave. Rimas Tuminas' signature theatrical style, reminiscent of "Anna Karenina", shines through in this production, marked by his distinctive blend of steadfast irony and a deeply philosophical perspective on life.

Rite of Spring: Cycles of Life and Death

Yang Liping Contemporary Dance added even more richness to the Baku International Arts Festival.

Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" is re-imagined in a grand-scale interpretation by the Chinese choreographer Yang Liping.

Her adaptation revitalizes Eastern philosophy and ancient rituals, emphasizing the cycles of life and death, and delivers a striking visual and choreographic experience that stands as a truly original work.

It reflects on life, death, sacrifice, and spiritual rebirth, centered on a willing mediator and their journey of purification through sacrifice.

Igor Stravinsky's music, arranged by composer He Xuntian, is enriched with Tibetan intonations, further enhancing the mystical and ritual atmosphere. The performance was created by an international creative team consisting of visual artist Tim Yip, lighting designer Fabiana Piccioli and video artist Tobias Gremmler.

Eternal Masterpieces: Triumph of Classical Music

Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF 2025) has wrapped up with a magnificent classical music concert.

The closing ceremony took place at the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall, bringing together music and art enthusiasts.

Rector of the Baku Music Academy, People's Artist Farhad Badalbayli and renowned violinist and conductor Dmitry Sitkovetsky delighted the audience with their performances.

The concert program featured the Azerbaijan State Academic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Murtuza Bulbul and the Baku State Chamber Orchestra conducted by Fuad Ibrahimov.

The festival brilliantly demonstrated the harmony of tradition and innovation by presenting classical and contemporary art, famous works by world composers, and the rich heritage of Azerbaijani culture.