(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, May 11. Shusha - beautifuland magical, majestic and noble, proud and free, and loved bymillions of Azerbaijanis! As the city celebrates major milestonesin its history, Great Leader Heydar Aliyev's 101st birthday and theHeydar Aliyev Foundation's 20th anniversary, Azerbaijani PresidentIlham Aliyev recently handed over apartment keys to the firstresidents to return to their native Shusha after 32 years! A newhistory of Shusha city begins!
Significantly, the 7th Kharibulbul International music Festival,organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry ofCulture of Azerbaijan from May 11 through 13, was grandly opened inShusha, Trend correspondent reports from the event's site.
The festival is held in Shusha and Lachin for three days. Thecity of Shusha has been declared the Cultural Capital of theIslamic World for 2024. President of the Republic of AzerbaijanIlham Aliyev signed a decree on events in this regard in Novemberlast year.
The event is attended by numerous musicians from many countriesaround the world, and contributes to the preservation of the wealthof traditions of our cultural heritage as well as to thestrengthening of intercultural dialog, creating favorableconditions for communication and cooperation between musiciansrepresenting different countries.
The festival's guests include state and public figures,representatives of culture and science, creative intellectuals, andyoung people.
The opening concert of the Year Shusha - Cultural Capital of theIslamic World - 2024 and the 7th Kharibulbul International MusicFestival, with the participation of famous masters of arts andyoung talents, musicians and vocalists, performers of mugham,classical and folk music, and choreographic groups, was presentedat Jidir Duzu Plain. Among the participants of the festival areperformers and creative groups from ISESCO member countries, alongwith Azerbaijan, the UAE, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Qatar,Guinea, Morocco, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan.
One of the brightest moments was the performance by theequestrian group on 27 Karabakh horses, which solemnly marched toJidir Duzu with the flags of ISESCO member countries.
Famous performers from different countries took part in theconcert: People's Artists of Azerbaijan Arif Babayev, GulyanagMammadova, Polad Bulbuloglu, Zeynab Khanlarova, ZulfiyaKhanbabayeva, Sevda Alekperzada, Honored Artist of KazakhstanAlisher Karimov, Aboubacar Sylla from Guinea, People's Artist ofUzbekistan Nasiba Abdullayeva, Husnu Shenlendirci from Türkiye, aswell as the Ashugi group, Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble,Almazyood (UAE), "Sendja Community" (Indonesia), "Qılıncrəqqasları" (Sword Dance) (Qatar), "Tizwit" (Morocco), "Anadoluateshi" (Türkiye), song and dance ensemble "Navbahor" (Uzbekistan)and others. The audience enthusiastically applauded the amazingperformances of the artists. The festive program ended with a jointperformance of the composition "Səsin gəlsin, Xarı Bülbül" by allparticipants. Indeed, Kharibulbul is a symbol of love and peace, areal treasure of Azerbaijan, and a symbol of victory in the 44-daySecond Karabakh War.
People's Artist of the USSR, internationally renowned performerZeynab Khanlarova: "I have participated several times in theKharibulbul Festival as a guest, but for the first time, Iperformed on this grand stage. It is a great joy and pride toperform in Shusha!"
People's Artist, celebrated mugham performer Arif Babayev:"Shusha and Karabakh are our glorious history, pride, and joy. Theconcert at Jidir Duzu was organized at the highest level and gaveall of us a great celebration of musical art."
"The Kharibulbul International Music Festival is the summons ofour hearts! I have been to many countries in the world andparticipated in hundreds of festivals, but there can be nocomparison with Shusha and this great festival of music,creativity, peace, beauty, and freedom. These are truly happy days,and this year coincided with the 20th anniversary of the HeydarAliyev Foundation and the 101st anniversary of Great Leader HeydarAliyev. Thanks to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice PresidentMehriban Aliyeva, our country is known all over the world asprosperous in all spheres, with its ancient history, culture, andtraditions. It truly is worth living and creating, and we should beproud of Azerbaijan for that," said People's Artist, outstandingtar performer Ramiz Guliyev.
People's artist, chief director of the State Academic RussianDrama Theater named after Samad Vurgun, head of the community ofEuropean Jews Alexander Sharovsky: "The time of war has passed; thetime of creation, happiness, and great achievements have come, I have been in Shusha more often than in Baku, and I seethe grandiose changes taking place here with my own eyes. The otherday, I visited Khankendi, where I was the last time 35 years ago,and I was filled with tears of happiness. The organization of thefestival on the 101st anniversary of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev,the architect of modern, free, independent, and democraticAzerbaijan, is a very significant event inscribed in the gloriouschronicle of the country's history."
People's Artist of the USSR, Rector of Baku Music Academy namedafter Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Farkhad Badalbeyli: "KharibulbulInternational Festival is being held at a time when Armenianrevanchism is making an attempt to emerge, and this festival, aswell as the active construction of roads, buildings, airports, andrestoration of architectural monuments in Karabakh, is also thebest answer to these "absent-minded neighbors" who are trying tofollow their aggressive actions instead of peace. The main thing isthat the Heydar Aliyev Foundation continues its creative work, andtherefore I congratulate everyone on this great holiday!".
People's Artist, Director of the State Academic Philharmonicnamed after Muslim Magomayev Murad Adigozalzade: "After theliberation of Shusha city from occupation, the festival is held forthe fourth time, and it is a very significant event in the life ofour country. When Farkhad Badalbeyli and I traveled here and sawthe changes taking place, amazing roads, and active construction,we were overwhelmed with bright emotions. Shusha is the gold of ourcountry, and the fact that from now on we hold grandiose projectsin different spheres here is a great happiness, and I would likethis holiday to always continue. I would like to emphasize thatthis is an international festival where guests from differentcountries come, get acquainted with our culture and traditions, ourbeautiful country and people, show their art, and leave here withthe most wonderful impressions. We used to be proud of the GabalaInternational Festival, which became widely known all over theworld, and now, with special joy, we present to the people of theworld the Kharibulbul Festival, which is crucial for the nation'sadvancement."
People's Artist, singer Zulfiya Khanbabaeva: "I can say a lot ofthings, but the emotions are so overwhelming to me that for abouttwenty years I have been performing the composition "ShushaMountains," finally after liberation from the occupation, for thefirst time here on the big stage at Jidir Duzu. "I feel very proudof my country and people!"
Since 1989, the Kharibulbul Music Festival, named after theflower that symbolizes Shusha city, has taken place. The festivalwas held in May of the same year in Abdal, Gulabli village ofAghdam district, in connection with the 100th anniversary of thefamous khanende (singer), teacher, and People's Artist SeyidShushinsky. It continued in Shusha and ended with a concert inAghdam. Since 1990, the Kharibulbul Festival has acquiredinternational status. During the Karabakh conflict, the mainconcerts of the festival were held in Aghdam. Some concerts for thefestival were also held in Barda and Aghjabadi. After theliberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation during the 44-dayII Karabakh war, which ended with the historical victory of thecountry, the festival returned to Shusha again. This year, thefestival will expand to Lachin city as well.
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