Azerbaijani music played in Israel

Yegyana Salman, Director of the Azerbaijani Cultural Center under the International Association Israel-Azerbaijan

In recent years, relations between Azerbaijan and Israel develop intensively in all spheres. According to sociologists, only culture can be a bridge to mutual understanding. Culture is able to transfer a nation’s spirit and play a leading role in rapprochement between nations.

Azerbaijani Days took place in Israel. They were organized by the International Association Israel-Azerbaijan ‘AzIs’ and Heydar Aliyev Fund. AzIs promotes culture and history of Azerbaijan. In various towns and residential areas of Israel scientific conferences, workshops, art and photo exhibitions, concerts were held; documentaries were demonstrated; festive events, memorial nights devoted to national heroes and tragic pages in the Azerbaijani history were organized. The theme tune of almost all the arrangements was one of the most dreadful pages in the Azerbaijani history – the Khodjaly tragedy. Russian and Hebrew-speaking mass media, Internet, TV, and radio were involved in the broadcasting of the arrangements. It was done to give more information about Azerbaijan, its history, culture, national traditions, achievements in the sphere of economy, as well as the complicated geopolitical situation.

Performances by a string quartet which played compositions by Azerbaijani authors were also a significant event. The first performance took place in Tel Aviv at the gala night devoted to Azerbaijan Independence Day. Many guests of the event had never heard Azerbaijani music before. The audience was amazed at wonderful, magical, beautiful music. Works by Uzeir Gadjibekov, Kara Karayev, Tofik Kuliyev were played.

Famous arias and fragments from national operettas, songs from movies composed by legends of Azerbaijani classic music and adapted for a string quartet by the director of the quartet Leonid Barshtak didn’t lose their national colour and sounded lively and naturally. The other surprise of the evening was a performance by a young opera singer, student of Jerusalem Musical Academy Miryam Hadjiyeva. She is thought to be a promising singer. The final of the concert was symbolic. Children of musicians, who were born and raised in Israel, came on the stage. Young violinists played a waltz from Kara Karayev’s ‘Seven Beauties.’ Elder musicians caught up the music. And then the State Symphonic Orchestra of Azerbaijan joined them. The melody made Israel and Azerbaijan closer.

AzIs intends to organize such events in the future, as Azerbaijani culture can be interesting, charming for any person, any nation who will try to understand it. Music is the only international language which shouldn’t be translated. Art eliminates borders and says truth about Azerbaijani, its ancient history, talented people, wonderful nature, and ancient national traditions.