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Buta Festival presents Niyazi in London: a concert of classical music from Azerbaijan - PHOTOSESSION

Buta Festival presents Niyazi in London: a concert of classical music from Azerbaijan - <span style="color: red;">PHOTOSESSION

11 December 2014 12:26 (UTC +04:00)

He shot to fame as a 26-year-old, stepping up at the last moment to conduct a prestigious operatic premiere at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre and becoming an overnight sensation throughout the USSR. As a conductor he was a renowned interpreter of his compatriots’ music; as a composer he developed a powerful blend of western classical styles and the traditions of his native land. This concert, under the baton of leading Azerbaijani conductor Yalchin Adigezalov, explores both facets of Niyazi’s legacy.

The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will play his unique blend of Western classical music and the traditional sounds of Azerbaijan. The concert will include Gulchohra’s aria from Arshin Mal Alan, and feature soloists Nazrin Rashidova (violin) and Seljan Nasiblii (soprano). The popular symphonic mugam "Rast", which intends to inspire courage and good cheer in listeners, will conclude the concert.

The 2014/15 Buta arts festival runs over five months and includes events across London showcasing everything from the ancient skills of Azerbaijani carpet making, the creativity of the country’s contemporary photographers, the unmistakable sounds of our jazz musicians and the excitement of live performances in the medium of modern immersive theatre. The festival launched with a sell-out performance at the Royal Albert Hall, where Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli made a surprise appearance singing Time to Say Salam.

The festival also involves cutting edge contemporary art exhibitions at the Saatchi Gallery and Louise Blouin Foundation, while performances at venues from the Barbican to Guildhall explore the full range of Azerbaijan’s music from classical to contemporary. Throughout the festival, seven artists from the Yarat Contemporary Art Space will display their work in public locations across London.

Nasib Piriev, Buta Arts Centre Director, said “As a fan of maestro Niyazi’s music, I am especially proud to bring his music to the London audience. The unique blend of classical Western influences with our native mugham personifies Azerbaijan today – a country true to its tradition, but open to the world.”