Baku hosts 3rd int'l Rostropovich festival

The 3rd International Rostropovich festival has kicked off in Azerbaijan`s capital with a solemn ceremony at the Muslim Magomayev Philharmonic Hall.

The festival is co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Mstislav Rostropovich Foundation.

The ceremony was opened by Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev and President of the Rostropovich Foundation Olga Rostropovich.

The week-long festival provides a brilliant opportunity for classical music lovers to enjoy works by outstanding Azeri and world composers.

The event will see participation of the Azerbaijan State Symphonic Orchestra and New Russia state symphonic orchestra as well as cellists David Geringas and Amanda Forsyth, violinist Pinchas Zukerman, pianists Murad Adygozalzade and Philip Kopachevsky, singers Samir Jafarov and Elchin Azizov, and conductors Yuri Bashmet, Christian Badea, Rauf Abdullayev, Paul Watkins and Maksim Vengerov.

Rostropovich thanked the Azeri government for “showing high respect” towards her father.

Garayev praised the Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s role in organizing the annual festival.

He said: “The event, an initiative of Azerbaijan`s first lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, has become a real music festival which every year brings together world`s famous musicians in Azerbaijan`s capital.”

The festival will feature a series of concerts at the Heydar Aliyev Palace, State Philharmonic Hall and Rostropovich House Museum.

A special concert, called A Tribute to Heydar Aliyev, will be arranged on December 12 to mark the Azerbaijani national leader's anniversary.

/AzerTaj/