Today.Az » Arts & Entertainment » 100th jubilee of great composer marked in Moscow
29 June 2018 [15:37] - Today.Az


By Azernews


By Laman Ismayilova

An exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani composer, People's Artist of USSR, academician Gara Garayev solemnly opened in the Russian National Museum of Music on June 27.

Director of the museum Mikhail Brizgalov said that the exhibition was prepared by specialists from several museums and archives of Azerbaijan and Russia, as composer's work is closely connected with the culture of both countries.

The exposition presents about a hundred exhibits: composer's creative sketches and personal belongings, archival records and a collection of photographs, Trend Life reported. 

But the crown of the exhibition, of course, was the portrait of Gara Garayev, who since 1962 has not left the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery as one of the most valuable exhibits.

The portrait of Gara Garayev by friend, People's Artist of the USSR Tahir Salahov became a central exhibit. The work  has been kept at Tretyakov Gallery since 1962 as one of the most valuable exhibits.

Tahir Salahov captured the composer in an atmosphere of concentrated meditation, invariably next to the piano.

He told about the history of the portrait and his relations with Gara Garayev. The artist said that his personal exhibition was held in the Russian National Museum of Music a few years ago.

After passing the school of genius Dmitry Shostakovich, Gara Garayev used to work with creative people to showcase their talent.

One of his students, Azerbaijan's ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu said that Gara Garayev taught him not only music, but also humanity.

"In the class of Gara Garayev, we studied not only the art of composing skills, but also learned the basics of life, because he was a man of extraordinary erudition and encyclopedic knowledge. And if I had any success in ministerial or diplomatic work, it's because I never forgot the lessons of my teacher," he added.

Garayev's work covers almost all musical genres: ballets, operas, symphonic and chamber works, romances, music for films and plays. His works are included in the treasury of musical classical art and cinema. Expressive, romantic-emotional, colorful style of Garayev is closely connected with the principles of folk music. His works were applauded by listeners of Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Japan, Egypt, the USA and many other countries. The composer is the owner of two Stalin Prizes (1946, 1948) - for the opera "Vatan" ("Homeland") and for the symphonic poem "Leyli and Majnun", the owner of the Lenin Prize (1967) for the music of the ballet "The Path of Thunder".

Gara Garayev went through thorns to the stars. Almost all of his creations reflected the national motives of Azerbaijan.

The head of Center of Russian-Azerbaijani Friendship Natalia Krasovskaya said that the works of the outstanding Azerbaijani composer are included in the gold fund of the world musical culture. She stressed that the legacy that Gara Garayev left to the Azerbaijani and Russian peoples is inexhaustible in depth and richness. So future generations will discover something new in this bottomless treasury.

At the opening ceremony, congratulations came from the Azerbaijani Minister of Culture Abulfas Garayev.

"I regard the attention to the work of Gara Garayev as a sign of respect to the entire Azerbaijani people and their culture. This exhibition will become a significant artistic event, and an important symbol in the cultural and creative ties between Azerbaijan and Russia," the message said.

"Gara Garayev not only made a truly great contribution to the development of the Azerbaijani music school, but also became a model of serving the art, which is still used by many composers around the world," said Dmitry Saveliev, head of the Russia-Azerbaijan Interparliamentary Friendship Group.

"It is only natural that Garayev's centennial anniversary is widely celebrated in Moscow, as the composer has become a truly significant figure for both Azerbaijan and Russia, which are friendly to us. Gara Garayev was and will always remain one of those people, thanks to which respect and mutual understanding between our peoples develop," he added.

Director of the Azerbaijan State Museum of Music Art Alla Bayramova expressed her gratitude for the long-term cooperation with the Russian National Museum of Music and special attention to Azerbaijani art and music.

After the exhibition, guests enjoyed a concert of works by Gara Garayev. The laureate of international competitions Riad Mammadov, holder of presidential scholarship, student of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory Nazkhanim Dadasheva, graduate of the Russian Institute of Theatrical Art Ayla Dobreva, and violinist Stanislav Samoylov performed on the stage.

Representatives of the Russian public, musical universities of the capital, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, members of the composer's family, as well as representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora took part in the event.

Notably, the exhibition will last until August 26.













































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