Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

The 4th Silk Way international music festival featuring bands performing national music, dance, folklore and theater from Azerbaijan and abroad started in the Sheki region, northwestern Azerbaijan, on June 28.

The event, which is being organized by the Azerbaijan Composers Union and the Sheki Executive Power and runs until July 4, is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

In accordance with the program of the festival, dance groups from CIS countries have given a concert at Summer Theater in Sheki.

Performances by Altinay State Dance Ensemble of Kazakhstan, Khoroshki State Academic Dance Ensemble of Belarus, Zebo State Academic Dance Ensemble of Tajikistan, Pandora Performers duo of Ukraine, Ak Maral National Academic Dance Ensemble of Kyrgyzstan, Flueras National Song and Dance Ensemble of Moldova, Ofrain Dance Theatre of Uzbekistan and Beryozka State Academic Dance Ensemble of Russia were met with applause.

This time the start of the festival saw a novelty. First, the "Seven Beauties" ballet by outstanding Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev was staged. The ballet, which was performed by troupes of Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, was admired by delegations from foreign countries, distinguished guests and the public.

At the end of the concert, Head of Sheki City Executive Power Elkhan Usubov and Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu noted that the Silk Way music festival was a remarkable event in the cultural life of Azerbaijan.

These festivals promote the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people.

Holding such a grand music festival, which has become a wonderful tradition, in Sheki, is not by mere chance. For centuries this beautiful city, which is located along the route of the ancient Silk Road, was an important center of art and commerce. Today Sheki is a unique place that has preserved the culture of urban planning inherent to medieval towns.

Rare historical and architectural monuments of the city - caravanserais, mosques, minarets, walls, bridges, etc. - indicate the ancient architectural style of Sheki.