Scientists, cultural and art workers, university professors and students, Azerbaijanis living here, and journalists participated in the event.
At the event organized at the Azerbaijan Cultural Center, participants first got acquainted with a photo exhibition dedicated to Azerbaijani music called “Our National Music,” a book stand, and a composition of Azerbaijani musical instruments.
The Deputy Director of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center, Nadir Alimirzayev, opened the event with a speech, stating that September 18 is the birthday of Uzeyir Hajibeyli, the founder of professional music art in Azerbaijan and the author of the first opera in the East. Our national musical culture owes a great deal of gratitude to Uzeyir Hajibeyli for its highest peaks. Deputy Director N. Alimirzayev also mentioned that Uzeyir Hajibeyli remained in music history as the author of the first opera staged in 1908.
N. Alimirzayev stated that on the eve of the 110th anniversary of the genius composer's birth, September 18 was declared National Music Day by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, in 1995. This day brings joy to the spirit of the genius composer Uzeyir as Azerbaijani music is resounding in dear Karabakh, in Shusha. He further emphasized that the visit of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to the friendly country on August 22-23 this year, and the important documents signed during the visit, have given an impetus to the elevation of our relations.
The Executive Director of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Friendship Society, Professor Erkin Nuriddinov, speaking next, touched on the existing relations between the two countries, stating that these relations have strengthened recently, and particularly emphasized the significant role of the Heydar Aliyev Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Uzbekistan in the enhancement of cultural relations.
The artistic part of the event featured performances of national dances by the “Azerbaijan” dance ensemble, which operates under the Cultural Center.
At the end of the event, a colorized version of the 1946 film “Arshin Mal Alan” based on the operetta of the same name by the genius composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli, realized as a project of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and subtitled in Uzbek by the Heydar Aliyev Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Uzbekistan, was presented to the audience.
