Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

French Siam Festival is entirely devoted to Azerbaijani national music for the first time.

The festival is being held with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's organizational support at the Siam Castle located on Jura Mountains of France. It is aimed at introducing Azerbaijan's cultural treasures in France.

In the opening ceremony of the festival, Pierre Thilloy, the primary initiator and Head of the Festival, the author of the work "Khojaly-613", talked about Azerbaijan's rich music history and heritage.

He thanked the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and its president Mehriban Aliyeva, as well Azerbaijan's Embassy in France for their support to the festival.

Forty-seven works would be performed at the festival, which has brought together over 100 composers, performers and musicians from around the world, Thilloy noted.

"For the first time, Azerbaijan's music is presented in the festival as a guest," he said.

He said this is mainly linked with Azerbaijan's status as the chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which began in May.

The adviser to Azerbaijan's Embassy, Elmar Mammadov talked about the events recently held with the organizational support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan's Embassy in France in various regions of France. He also thanked Thilloy for dedicating this year's festival wholly to Azerbaijani music.

On the very first day of the festival, works by famous Azerbaijani composers, Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Fikret Amirov, Suleyman Alaskarov, Vagif Adigozalov, Khayyam Mirzazade, Musa Mirzayev, Firangiz Alizadeh and others, were performed by Azerbaijani and French musicians.

Audiences warmly welcomed the songs by Greta Komur, Pierre Thilloy and Erica Escribano, musical pieces performed by Sylvia Garrett on flute and other musicians, "Abraxas" work by Thilloy, created under the impression of the Azerbaijani national music.

Guests of the festival had also enjoyed performances by Azerbaijan's artists Murad Huseynov, Jazz performer Emil Afrasiyab, young singers (khanendehs) Arzu Aliyeva, Ehtiram Huseynov, who were accompanied with Elshan Mansurov and Malik Mansurov, as well as Husameddin Azizov.

The festival will continue until July 11.