Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 5 June, the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre named after Alisher Navoi in Tashkent hosted a grand concert in honor of the 140th anniversary of Uzeyir Hajibeyli — the renowned Azerbaijani composer, founder of the national school of composition, musicologist, playwright, and educator.

The event was organized by the Heydar Aliyev Azerbaijan Cultural Center under the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Uzbekistan, in cooperation with the theatre. It brought together distinguished musicians and performers from both Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Fariz Mammadov, Counselor of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Uzbekistan, opened the evening with a welcome speech. He noted that this year, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the 140th anniversary of Hajibeyli is being celebrated at the state level — a clear testament to the enduring significance of the composer’s legacy.

“Uzeyir Hajibeyli, the creator of the first opera in the Muslim East — Leyli and Majnun — and composer of the operas Koroghlu, operettas Arshin Mal Alan and If Not That One, Then This One, opened a new chapter in the musical culture of Azerbaijan and the entire East,” the diplomat emphasized.

Akif Marifli, Director of the Heydar Aliyev Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Uzbekistan, highlighted the profound impact of Hajibeyli’s multifaceted work on the cultural development of not only Azerbaijan but the entire Turkic world, including Uzbekistan. He recalled that the composer’s works have been regularly performed on the stages of Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara since the early 20th century, contributing significantly to the development of Uzbek musical theatre.

The theatre’s chief director, Khaydarali Kosimov, thanked the organizers for the opportunity to take part in such a major cultural event. He noted that Azerbaijani music holds an important place in the cultural life of Uzbekistan: “Mughams and Azerbaijani folk songs are heard at nearly every celebration and wedding in our country,” he remarked.

The evening opened with the overture from Hajibeyli’s opera Koroghlu, conducted by Mustafa Mehmandarov, conductor of the Uzeyir Hajibeyli Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra.

The concert program featured stars from the Azerbaijani and Uzbek music scenes, including soloists Nigar Jafarova and Atesh Garaev from the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theatre, People’s Artist of Uzbekistan Samandar Alimov, and soloist Malika Normatova. They performed some of Hajibeyli’s most beloved arias and romances, such as Nigar’s aria from Koroghlu, the duet of Asgar and Gulchohra from Arshin Mal Alan, and the romance Sevgili Canan, among others.

The orchestra also presented Ceremonial March by Muslim Magomayev, the symphonic suite Caravan by Soltan Hajibeyov, Azerbaijani Capriccio by Fikret Amirov, Khorezm Festive Procession by Suleiman Yudakov, and other works.

Each piece was met with prolonged applause from the audience, who warmly received the performers.

Among the guests were representatives of the Embassy of Azerbaijan, the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, Uzbek cultural and academic figures, members of civil society organizations, and classical music enthusiasts.