A grand opening ceremony of the VII Gabala International Music Festival was held.

On July 25, the official opening ceremony of the VII Gabala International Music Festival was held with the organizational support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. At the ceremony, held on the territory in front of the Congress Centre of Heydar Aliyev in Gabala, at first message was read to the participants of the festival from the President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, who played a crucial role in the development and promotion of musical culture of Azerbaijan, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO Mehriban Aliyeva.
Then the Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev, the artistic director of the festival, rector of Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli, people's artist Farhad Badalbeyli on behalf of the President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, MP Mehriban Aliyeva greeted the guests, talented performers and musicians who came from around the world to participate in this grand musical celebration. It was reported that this festival serving the promotion of Azerbaijani culture at the same time is a means of promoting the world's musical traditions of our country. On the initiative and under the leadership of Ms. Mehriban Aliyeva numerous cultural projects are carried out. Gabala International Music Festival, which is one of those cultural activities, with its grandeur won the love of music lovers.
The speakers noted that with the initiative and direct support of the patroness of the Azerbaijan culture - Mehriban Aliyeva, the International Music Festival held in Gabala has become a wonderful tradition. In accordance with the program of the festival brilliant works of Azerbaijani and European composers sound in Gabala stage. This music festival traditionally takes place since 2009, causing a great response both in our country and abroad. Starting from July 25, the ancient city of Gabala again takes the music festival, a grand international project of Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The VII International Music Festival, which will continue until July 31, will be attended by prominent musicians, art collectives, soloists, conductors from Azerbaijan and foreign countries. After the speeches, a grand concert of Italian Symphonic Orchestra was held. At the concert sounded: the overture from the "Koroglu" opera of U.Hajibeyov, Hasan Khan's aria from the "Koroglu" opera, "Azerbaijan" by M.Magomayev, Don Basilio's aria from the "The Barber of Seville" opera of G. Rossini, Delilah's aria from the "Samson and Delilah" opera by C.Saint-Saens, gypsy song from the "Carmen" opera by G.Bizet, Intermezzo from the "Cavalleria Rusticana" opera by P.Mascagni, Canio's aria from the "Pagliacci" opera by R.Leoncavallo, "Rondo Capriccioso" by C.Saint-Saens, Cavaradossi's aria from the opera "Tosca" by G.Puccini, Edgar's aria from the "Lucia di Lammermoor" opera  by G.Donizetti, Rudolph's aria from the "La Boheme" opera by G.Puccini, the song of the Duke from the "Rigoletto" opera by G.Verdi, Calaf's aria of the "Turandot" opera by G.Puccini.