Azerbaijani folk singer performs in London
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijani mugham (folk music) singer Gochag Asgarov has performed at the concert hall of BBC Radio 3 in London, AzerTac state news agency reported.
Asgarov successfully performed together with musicians and his student Fidan Hajiyeva.
Representatives of UK-based Azerbaijani organizations and the diaspora watched the concert.
Speaking to journalists following his performance, Asgarov said Hajiyeva was his first student and that he was proud of her.
Earlier, organizers of the World Music Expo festival, an international world music support and development project, included the performance of Asgarov in the well-known Taste of East CD.
Gochag Askarov experienced a colorful life that was however full of danger before becoming a famous mugham singer. Born in the Fizuli region, which is currently in the Armenia-occupied part of Azerbaijan, he spent his childhood in that magnificently beautiful place with rich nature, which evokes talents in creative people.
In 1992 when Armenia launched a war against Azerbaijan Gochag volunteered to the battle. In that war Gochag got an eye wound and lost his home.
Afterwards, upon coming to Baku, Gochag studied in a number of musical institutions.
Asgarov's international debut and first solo concert took place on February 15, 2007 at the stage of the London Brunei Gallery theater.
Performances by prominent Azerbaijani mugham singers Alim Gasimov, Fargana Gasimova and Gochag Asgarov were included in a BBC-3 Radio CD in January 2012.
Azerbaijan's traditional folk music, mugham, began to enter world cultural heritage at the beginning of the last century.
In 2003, UNESCO recognized mugham as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Vocal-instrumental varieties of such compositions are performed by a group of musicians, consisting of a singer - khanende, playing on a gaval (percussion instrument), and stringed musical instruments tar and kemancha.
The mugham, whose roots go far back into history, is regarded as a pearl of Azerbaijani musical art and is frequently applied music among singers and bands all over the world.