Mugham concerts held in France as part of planned int'l festival
By Nigar Orujova
Two Azerbaijani mugham (folk music) concerts have been held in France in the frame of the third International Mugham Festival to be held in Baku in March.
An Azerbaijani house operating in France on Saturday hosted an event featuring mugham in the city of Lyon, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and International Mugham Center.
Addressing the event, head of the Azerbaijan House in Paris Mirvari Fataliyeva briefed attendees on the rich Azerbaijani culture, as well as its mugham musical genre.
The event featured Azerbaijani music, which was of great interest for the audience.
Another Azerbaijani mugham concert was given at the Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Paris, supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Azerbaijani Embassy in France and the International Mugham Center. The concert was watched by French public figures, representatives of the diplomatic corps and Azerbaijan diaspora.
Opening the event, Ambassador Elchin Amirbayov noted that in 2003 mugham was recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. He also stressed that the International Mugham Center was established under a decree of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in 2005.
The concert featured performances by young singers Nigar Shabanova and Elnur Zeynalov, who were accompanied by Rovshan Gurbanov on stringed musical instrument tar, Jeyhun Muradov on kamancha, Kamran Karimov on naghara, Chinara Mutallibova on canon and Joshgun Sadigov on balaban.