Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 6 / Trend E. Tariverdiyeva /
A concert of Azerbaijani music has been performed in Greece, Farhad Badalbeyli, rector of Baku Music Academy, told Trend. The Azerbaijani Embassy in Greece organized the symphonic concert.
"Our embassy in Greece organized the concert with full responsibility. Great managerial work was conducted," Badalbeyli said.
Before the concert, Greek television showed clips of Azerbaijani artists. A waltz by Kara Karayev was heard on the radio.
"All this pleased the Greek public. So, the concert was sold out," Badalbeyli said.
"There were about 200 invitations for the representatives of the diplomatic missions of various countries accredited to Greece, while the remaining 800 tickets were bought by lovers of classical music," he said.
The concert was held at the Athens Philharmonic, the musician said. The feature of this Philharmonic is the quality of its acoustics. These are among the best in the world, he said.
"The Greeks were struck by the level of the works by Azerbaijani composers. It was a great academic concert," Badalbeyli said.
He said that Azad Aliyev conducted the symphony orchestra. Four soloists participated.
"I soloed as a pianist. The other three soloists were vocalists Gulnaz Asadova, Sabina Ismailova and Javid Samadov, our young baritone, who is studying in Italy," Badalbeyli said.
The works of Azerbaijani composers, including "Layla and Majnun" by Uzeir Hajibeyov, "Azerbaijan" by Muslum Magomaev, Piano Concerto by Fikret Amirov and Elmira Nasirova, and world classics were performed at the concert, he said.
"The orchestra performed two my works: 'Shusha' for two sopranos and 'The Plea of Two Women Ave Maria'," Badalbeyli said.
He said that maestro Byron will visit Azerbaijan in April to perform works by Greek composers.
The Greek side invited the symphony orchestra again next season, Badalbeyli said.
"I was invited to give several master classes in Greece. If I have time, I will give lessons with pleasure. But first and foremost my students are my priority," the rector said.