Gabala hosts 2nd “Winter Tale” International Music Festival

The city of Gabala on February 5 hosted the opening concert of the 2nd “Winter Tale” International Music Festival, bringing together musicians and art lovers from Azerbaijan and abroad.

The festival is organised by the Uzeyir Hajibeyli Baku Music Academy with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Ministry of Culture and Gilan. Held for the second consecutive year, the event continues the tradition of the Gabala International Music Festival, which has taken place in the city since 2009.

The opening concert was held at the Heydar Aliyev Congress Center in Gabala and was dedicated to the musical legacy of prominent Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev. People’s Artists Farhad Badalbeyli and Murad Adigozalzade performed alongside the Azerbaijan State String Quartet.

Speaking ahead of the concert, Zahra Guliyeva, Professor at the Baku Music Academy and People’s Artist, described the festival as a significant cultural event, noting that chamber music concerts traditionally precede the official opening of the Gabala festival. She said the evening was dedicated to the memory of Gara Garayev, who made major contributions to world music and educated generations of composers.

The programme included Garayev’s String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, music from the film Man Settles, Preludes in A major and F major, as well as piano quintets by Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Performances by the musicians were met with strong audience appreciation.

Organisers said the festival programme will continue with concerts by the Symphony Orchestra of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, a chamber music evening titled “Baku–Naples: Music Bridge” featuring Azerbaijani and Italian composers, and a flamenco-jazz night, “Azerbaijan–Spain: Two Countries, One Music,” with invited artists from Spain.