Mikhail Shvydkoy: we are trying to meet Azerbaijan’s needs in cultural relations

© Photo: Maria Novoselova/Vestnik Kavkaza

Special Envoy of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation, artistic director of the Moscow Musical Theater Mikhail Shvydkoy spoke with Vestnik Kavkaza correspondent about contacts between Russia and Azerbaijan in cultural and educational sphere after the countries became allies.

- Mikhail Efimovich, what was cultural experience of both Russia and Azerbaijan when they concluded the Declaration on Allied Cooperation?

- We have deep, historical cultural ties with Azerbaijan. This applies to both the Soviet and the pre-Soviet eras. Even in Tsarist Russia, cultural relations were very deep. Baku was an amazing international city, where representatives of all nationalities lived, including the British, Germans, Greeks, and many others.

The relations between Soviet and Russian culture and Azerbaijani culture have always been deep. I will name a few very important names. Tair Salakhov is an outstanding artist belonging to two nations. He has a wonderful portrait of Kara Karayev and an equally wonderful portrait of Mstislav Rostropovich, who is also a Baku native. Kara Karaev studied with Dmitry Shostakovich at the Moscow Conservatory. Rustam Ibragimbekov studied at the highest directing courses in Moscow. Rustam and his brother Maksud wrote in Russian and left works that were read throughout the globe. Maksud Ibragimbekov was an outstanding Azerbaijani writer and a real sage. I had the honor to consider him a friend. He was also published in Russia.

- What is happening with the Russian-Azerbaijani cultural relations after the conclusion of the Declaration on Allied Cooperation?

- We continue what we have always done. For the moment, our main concern is how we will celebrate the 80th birthday of Polad Bulbul oglu. We celebrated his 75th birthday in our theater, then he went to Baku. In honor of his 70th birthday, he performed at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, gave an amazing concert, and then gave a similar concert in Baku.

We are also currently preparing for a concert by wonderful Farhad Badalbeyli, an outstanding pianist, at the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. There will be a concert of Azerbaijani music.

In December, we celebrated the anniversary of Yuli Gusman, who turned 80, and this event brought many people from Russia to Baku. A musical performance about his life was created on the stage of the Musical Comedy Theater. The Gusman brothers, younger Mikhail and elder Yuli, are the bridges that connect Russia and Azerbaijan.

A lot of Russian theaters are on tour in Baku these days, including the Vakhtangov theater, as well as other performers. This happens on a regular basis. Russian writers were at the Book Festival in Baku last year, and this year, a large delegation is also going there. Regular movie weeks take place, and there are many joint projects in the field of cinema. Our museum and library ties are very deep.

A special topic is cultural contacts between our Azerbaijani colleagues and the republics of the North Caucasus. It is safe to say that over the past two years, nothing has changed for the worse and everything is developing.

- How are the allied relations between Russia and Azerbaijan developing in educational sphere?

- We have very good relations with Azerbaijan, not only in culture, but also in the field of education. A branch of Moscow State University has been operating in Baku for many years. A number of other universities are opening branches in Azerbaijan. We can discuss this topic for hours, since the ties between our countries are woven from the living fabric of human relations. This is what makes up a lot of things.

We still try to ensure that we meet the needs of the countries with which we cooperate. I don’t like the word “soft power”, it was coined by a man who, for many years, was the US Deputy Secretary of Defense and headed the Intelligence Committee. But relations in the field of culture cannot be compared with any kind of “power”, these are rather love relations. And love begins with amusement, as Stendhal wrote. We need to amuse each other; we need to offer something that would be interesting, and that’s how we seek to work.