The first concert and the grand opening of the 12th Gabala Music Festival were held

The grand opening of the 12th Gabala Music Festival was held on the open-air stage of the Qafqaz Resort Hotel. First, a letter of congratulations from the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, whose merits in developing and promoting musical culture in our country are exceptional, was read out. The opening ceremony was also attended by the Head of the Department of Humanitarian Policy, Diaspora, Multiculturalism and Religious Issues of the Presidential Administration Farah Aliyeva and the Minister of Culture Anar Kerimov, as well as the Minister of Education Emin Amrullayev, who said: "This year festival is slightly different in its essence, but it coincides with a historical event. Today we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Baku Music Academy. The Baku Music Academy isn't a usual higher educational institution, as it has trained a number of stellar musicians and artists of Azerbaijan and the whole world for 100 years of its existence. At the same time, I believe that the Baku Music Academy holds a unique position in the set of values and identity of every Azerbaijani. It is crucial for two reasons. First of all, this center of education, science, and music plays a special role in forming the classified heritage of Azerbaijani music to pass down through generations. At the same time, it is an exceptional higher educational institution in terms of integrating world music and culture into Azerbaijan." Rector of the Hajibeyov Baku Academy of Music, People's Artist of the USSR and Azerbaijan, professor, artistic director of the Gabala Music Festival Farhad Badalbeyli also noted in his speech that festival is dedicated to a significant event – the 100th anniversary of the Baku Music Academy. He wished success to the Gabala Music Festival. After the opening ceremony, a Separate Exemplary Military Band of the Ministry of Defense came out with an extensive concert program. The artistic director and the chief bandmaster of the orchestra is the head of the Military Band Service of the Master Personnel Administration of the Ministry of Defense, People's Artist, Major General Yusif Akhundzade. At the beginning of the concert, the band performed the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the "Overture" from the opera "Koroglu" by U.Hajibeyov. Aynur Isgandarli (vocal), Arslan Novrasli (tar), Kanan Gadimov (vocal), Gulnar Gudratli (khananda), Namig Gurbanov (zurna, balaban) and Anar Huseynov (naghara) performed at the concert, conducted by the head of the band, Honored Artist, Lieutenant Colonel Rufat Akhundzade and bandmaster Senior Lieutenant Elnur Gurbanov. The audience greeted their performances with applause.