The music of Dmitri Shostakovich, virtuoso performances by internationally renowned artists, a dialogue between Eastern and Western musical traditions, and an atmosphere celebrating the arts marked the opening of the second Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF) at the Muslim Magomayev Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall. Held from October 28 to November 8 with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture, the festival has brought together musicians, theatre professionals, dancers and creative ensembles from Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Monaco, Russia, the United States, France and other countries. The programme features more than 20 events, including concerts, ballet and theatre performances, film screenings, meetings with artists and masterclasses.
The opening of BIAF marked more than the beginning of the festival programm. It offered a musical journey in which the classical heritage of world composers intertwined with national traditions and cultural ties connecting different countries. This year, the works of Dmitri Shostakovich occupy a special place in the programme.
The musical component of the festival is dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the birth of the great composer, whose life and artistic career were closely connected with Azerbaijan. Shostakovich visited Baku several times, performed there, interacted with Azerbaijani musicians and had a significant influence on the development of the country’s school of composition. One of the festival’s principal guests is internationally renowned violinist, conductor and composer Dmitry Sitkovetsky, who was born in Baku and holds a special place in contemporary classical music.
Today marks the opening of the second Baku International Arts Festival. I am delighted that so little time has passed since the first wonderful festival and that we are already meeting again. This year’s programme offers a wide variety of genres and features outstanding performers.
At the same time, it is entirely fitting that Shostakovich occupies the central place in the opening concert. When people ask me what period I grew up in, I say the era of Shostakovich. It is much the same as saying that people in Vienna in the early 19th century lived in the era of Beethoven.
There is practically no difference,” Sitkovetsky said, highlighting the composer’s special connection with Baku. The musician also discussed the history of Shostakovich’s relationship with Azerbaijani pianist and composer Elmira Nazirova. She studied composition under him and became one of the prominent figures connecting the musical cultures of Moscow and Baku.
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