(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Laman Ismayilova Read more After more than 60 years, the ballet "The Legend of Love" by the
outstanding composer, People's Artist Arif Malikov (1933 – 2019)
has been once again shown in the composer's homeland.
The large-scale cultural event took place in the Heydar Aliyev
Palace on National music Day within the opening ceremony of the
15th Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival, Azernews reports.
The event was co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and
the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry.
The ballet lovers were looking forward to enjoying "The Legend
of Love", a masterpiece of an outstanding composer, which conquered
the world scene.
The ballet performance became a bright and the best gift for the
audience on National Music Day.
Before the start of the long-awaited show, the guests of the
event looked with great interest at the banners and the posters for
the ballet which was staged in different years on prestigious
theater stages.
A banner with Arif Malikov's photographs, reflecting his
creative path, was also in the center of the attention.
Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Executive Director of
Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov, Head of the Department for
Humanitarian Policy, Diaspora Issues, Multiculturalism and Religion
of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Farah Aliyeva, the
Culture Minister Adil Karimli, government and public figures,
representatives of culture and science, creative intelligentsia and
youth, diplomatic missions attended the ballet show.
The performance aroused great interest not only among the local
audience; numerous guests from around the world came to see "The
Legend of Love", including the artistic director of the Arena di
Verona Stefano Trespidi, the founder of the FAZIOLI piano factory
Paolo Fazioli as well as renown ballet dancer, People's Artist of
Russia Nikolay Tsiskaridze, who once embodied Farhad in the ballet
"Legend of Love", when it was staged in the Russian Bolshoi
Theater.
Before the show, People's Artist of the USSR and Azerbaijan,
professor, rector of the Baku Music Academy, well-known pianist,
composer Farhad Badalbayli and director of the Azerbaijan State
Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, People's Artist of Azerbaijan,
world famous opera singer were invited to the stage Yusif
Eyvazov.
In his speech, Farhad Badalbayli emphasized that the cultural
community had long been waiting for the show of the ballet "The
Legend of Love" on the Azerbaijani stage.
"Arif Malikov has always dreamed that this ballet would be shown
in Azerbaijan. Finally it happened, we will see this masterpiece on
the Azerbaijani stage on National Music Day. I express my deep
gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Culture Ministry in
this regard. The ballet show is a bright gift for the 15th Uzeyir
Hajibayli International Music Festival. A lot of work was done, the
whole troupe worked day and night to show us this premiere," said
Farhad Badalbayli.
Yusif Eyvazov noted that there were many foreign guests in the
auditorium. Speaking about the ballet, the People's Artist of
Azerbaijan emphasized that "The Legend of Love" has wonderful music
by the great composer Arif Malikov, amazing choreography by the
brilliant Yury Grigorovich and magnificent stage design by the
famous artist Simon Virsaladze. Ballet is included in the treasury
of world art, and to this day continues to conquer the hearts of
millions.
Then the curtain was raised, and the audience started to watch
the ballet with bated breath.
"The Legend of Love" has such an attractive, magical effect that
the audience literally did not take their eyes off the stage.
Music, choreography, storyline, scenery, costumes and, of course,
polished movements, impetuosity of jumps, incredible charisma of
the ballet dancers made the production very spectacular.
For the historical show, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation prepared
more than 200 costumes, as well as scenery and props based on
original sketches by artist Simon Virsaladze.
Soloists of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet
Theater, the Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble, as well as soloists
invited from foreign theaters took part in the performance.
The role of Princess Mehmene Banu was performed by the leading
soloist of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater,
laureate of international ballet competitions Ayan Eyvazova,
laureate of international ballet competitions, the premier of the
Russian Bolshoi Theater Denis Rodkin played the role of Farhad,
while the leading soloist of the Russian Bolshoi Theater, winner of
the international ballet competitions Maria Vinogradova embodied
Shirin on the stage.
The music was performed by the Azerbaijan State Symphony
Orchestra under the baton of the People's Artist, Yalchin
Adigozalov.
The ballet was staged by famous choreographer Yury Grigorovich,
while well-known artist Simon Virsaladze worked on the stage
design.
The choreographers of the premiere performance in Baku were Yury
Grigorovich's assistants - the chief choreographer of the
Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Honored Artist
of Russia Ruslan Pronin and Oksana Tsvetnitskaya.
During intermissions, the audience shared their impressions with
great pleasure, talking about how they were fascinated by the
composer's music, how filigree the choreography was, and the ballet
dancers' polished and smooth movements.
Renowned ballet dancer, People's Artist of Russia Nikolay
Tsiskaridze was among the honorable guests of the event.
"I was one of the main performers in this ballet production,
when it was staged in the Russian Bolshoi Theater. It was
impossible to get a role in the ballet "The Legend of Love" - on
the one hand, it is a very virtuoso performance, and on the other,
it is a production where only the most important stars performed.
When I was assigned to prepare a part at a very young age, it
became a great approval for me. I was lucky to dance this role
several times not only with the choreographer, but also with the
composer. I came to Baku because of my love for the unique composer
Arif Malikov. I truly believe that this is one of the greatest
scores written in world musical culture for ballet. I am very glad
that the ballet has been staged in Baku, the composer's homeland.
In fact, I also waited a very long time for the performance to be
staged in Azerbaijan. Arif Malikov told me that I would dance in
it. Unfortunately, it didn't happen... However, now my student is
dancing in the production, which is also very nice, so a part of me
comes on stage. I hope that Arif Malikov's soul is happy now," said
Tsiskaridze.
The Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Guo Min expressed her
admiration with the ballet.
"It is a great honor for me to attend the premiere show, to
enjoy this amazing ballet. The demonstration of "The Legend of
Love" in Baku is a great event, and the audience present at the
show was very lucky. Azerbaijan is a country with a rich culture.
We really hope that this ballet will be shown to Chinese viewers,"
the ambassador said.
Director of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet
Theater, People's Artist of Azerbaijan, world famous opera singer
Yusif Eyvazov noted that September 18 brought together several
significant dates - National Music Day, the birthday of the great
Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayli and the premiere of the
ballet "The Legend of Love", which after more than 60 years, shown
on the Azerbaijani stage.
"This is a historical, exciting and very happy day for all of
us. For this I express my deep gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev
Foundation. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First
Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva show great attention
and care to the national culture and art. A number of major
projects are being implemented in the cultural field," Yusif
Eyvazov stressed.
People's Artist of Azerbaijan, Vice-Rector of the Baku Academy
of Choreography Tarana Muradova, called the premiere show a great
holiday.
"The Legend of Love is a big story that has spread at theaters
all over the world. World-famous soloists have performed in the
ballet. I am glad that the first ballet that I watched in my youth
was "The Legend of Love". I always wanted Arif Malikov's ballet to
live on the Azerbaijani stage. It is gratifying that in the ballet
production we can see the soloists of the Azerbaijan State Academic
Opera and Ballet Theater, as well as guest artists. I am sure that
this ballet will live for centuries, and we, in turn, will try to
pass on our art, our culture, our love of dance from generation to
generation," she said.
People's Artist of Azerbaijan, professor Arif Huseynov said it
is extremely pleasant that viewers see Arif Malikov's masterpiece
in high quality.
"The Legend of Love has been demonstrated all over the world,
and now it is finally on the Azerbaijani stage. Great music,
magnificent scenery, costumes... I am delighted with the
production. I congratulate all the spectators on this significant
event," said Arif Huseynov.
Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of the Baku Academy of
Choreography, acting rector Mammadzade called the ballet show in
Baku a grandiose event.
"For us artists, this is a significant day, we have been waiting
for this day for a very long time. A grandiose event has happened -
"The Legend of Love" is on the Azerbaijani stage. This is, of
course, a brilliant performance. A huge amount of work has been
done, for which we are grateful to everyone who contributed to
working on the production," said Naila Mammadzade.
Azerbaijani composer and pianist Kamala Alizade, a student of
Arif Malikov said that the "The Legend of Love" is a work that will
live forever.
"Arif Jahangirovich really waited and believed that this day
would come. The ballet "The Legend of Love" is a work that will
live forever. And the fact that so many spectators came to the show
is proof of this. Friends close to Arif Malikov are here, this is
also for them a great, touching event. I had the honor of studying
with Arif Malikov, and I will say that these were not only music
lessons, but also life lessons," noted Kamala Alizade.
Nadezhda Rovenko from Petrozavodsk (Republic of Karelia, Russia)
came to Azerbaijan for the first time, and on her birthday she
decided to attend a ballet show.
"My husband and I came to the Azerbaijani capital for a week`s
vacation. We saw a poster for "The Legend of Love" and decided to
watch it. We love the art of ballet and always visit theaters in
every country, in every city where we visit. We are familiar with
Azerbaijani music, with the work of Polad Bulbuloglu, Muslim
Magomayev. And thanks to the ballet show, we will get acquainted
with the work of the Azerbaijani composer Arif Malikov," she
said.
The ballet performance was greeted by the audience with
deafening applause and shouts of "Bravo!"
The audience did not let the artists leave the stage for a long
time, expressing their gratitude for the delightful evening with
prolonged applause.
After the viewing, the audience discussed the ballet for a long
time, some admired the artistry and plasticity of the artists,
others tried to describe the emotions from the perception of the
music, others admired the costumes and scenery. But they all agreed
that "The Legend of Love" is a real masterpiece.
After the ballet show, People's Artist of Azerbaijan, professor,
famous conductor Yalchin Adigozalov noted that now Arif Malikov's
ballet will invariably appear on the Azerbaijani stage.
"I congratulate everyone on the magnificent opening of the 15th
Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival. For many years, we
dreamed that the ballet "Legend of Love" would be staged on the
Baku stage. And now we have achieved this goal. Unfortunately, on
this significant day with us there is no outstanding composer Arif
Malikov, but I am sure his soul is happy. This world-famous work
will always be on the Azerbaijani stage. The production involved a
large creative cast, masters of art. After the show, we all saw the
reaction of the audience, they greeted the artists standing. Music
by Arif Malikov is a masterpiece. There are many works in the
Azerbaijani musical culture that we are proud of, but "The Legend
of Love" has conquered the whole world. The ballet has been staged
in 60 countries," said Yalchin Adigozalov.
The leading soloist of the Russian Bolshoi Theater, laureate of
international ballet competitions Maria Vinogradova noted that the
performance went very well, leaving the most wonderful
impressions.
"I am glad that Denis Rodkin and I came to Baku and danced the
premiere of a grandiose performance. Music is the first thing that
moves us as artists in a performance, and Arif Malikov's music is
so amazing, multifaceted that the soul sings when we dance," said
Maria Vinogradova.
"It's very pleasant to be in Baku, the homeland of the
outstanding Azerbaijani composer Arif Malikov. I was lucky enough
to work with him personally, it was 2014, when Yuri Grigorovich was
making a new edition of "The Legend of Love". I would like to note
that the orchestra in Baku performed very clearly, there was not
one false note. When an orchestra sounds with such dedication,
dancing is many times more pleasant, it lifts you to a new level.
I'll also say about the audience's reaction, I've probably never
heard such applause after I danced my first variation, it's quite
complex and the viewers appreciated it," Denis Rodkin added.
Note that Arif Malikov composed the ballet "The Legend of Love"
to a libretto by the famous Turkish poet Nazim Hikmat based on the
drama "Farhad and Shirin".
The ballet premiered on March 23, 1961 at the Leningrad Opera
and Ballet Theater (now The State Academic Mariinsky Theatre in St.
Petersburg).
In July 1962, the ballet premiered at Azerbaijan State Academic
Opera and Ballet Theater.