Azerbaijani culture to take center stage at famous Swiss festival Septembre Musical Montreux-Vevey

For the first time, Azerbaijan Culture Days are being held as within the framework of a famous Swiss music festival held on the shores of the Geneva Lake.

A rich musical amd artistic performance will await the audience at the Septembre Musical Montreux-Vevey classical music festival in Switzerland on September 14, as Azerbaijani APA reports.

An Azerbaijani delegation led by Culture Minister Adil Karimli has arrived in the Swiss city of Montreux to take part in the events and will be joined by the newly appointed ambassador to the country, Vagif Sadigov.

The Azerbaijan Culture Days programme features performances by Murad Huseynov, Afig Abbasova, Sevda Alakbarzadeh, Yusif Eyvazov, Alim Qasimov, Elvin Haji Ganiev, Elmina Hasan, Fuad Ibrahimov, Isfar Sarabski, Jaila Seidova, Azer Zade and other Azerbaijani artists. Performances by the Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble and an evening dedicated to Azerbaijani jazz are also scheduled.

The Montreux classical music festival was founded in 1946 and is considered one of Switzerland’s oldest classical music festivals after the Lucerne Festival. It was founded by Manuel Roth.

One of the most notable episodes in the festival’s history was a performance by Igor Stravinsky. In 1956, the world-renowned composer and conductor personally led a programme featuring his own works.

Over the years, the festival stage has hosted prominent musicians including Yehudi Menuhin, Arthur Rubinstein, Isaac Stern, Martha Argerich, Radu Lupu, Mikhail Pletnev, Valery Gergiev, Daniil Trifonov and Yuja Wang. Despite its classical focus, the festival also hosted a concert by the legendary rock band Pink Floyd in September 1971.

This year marks the festival’s 80th edition and will be running from September 9 to 18. The anniversary programme is built around the concept “Classic & Lab”, bringing together traditional classical music with jazz and experimental musical formats.

Concerts are being held not only at the Auditorium Stravinski but also at historic and prominent venues including Chillon Castle, Caux Palace, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace and Théâtre Le Reflet in Vevey.

By Nazrin Sadigova