Azerbaijani president and first lady inaugurate Aghdam Mugham Center Reviving Karabakh’s cultural heritage / PHOTO

On May 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inauguration of the Aghdam Mugham Center.

Minister of Culture Adil Karimli briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the facilities at the center, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The foundation of the Aghdam Mugham Center was laid in May 2023 by President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.

The center features a café, a cinema hall, a library, and two dance studios. Its 507-seat concert hall is fully equipped to host various cultural events, including mugham performances. Additional facilities include 14 classrooms, an exhibition hall, a conference room, and other amenities.

An open-air amphitheater with a seating capacity of 615 has also been built on the center’s premises.

The Mugham Center is expected to play a key role in reviving the cultural heritage of the Karabakh region before the occupation, promoting the ancient art of mugham, fostering its teaching and appreciation, and inspiring a love for this unique musical tradition among the younger generation.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, led by First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, has made substantial contributions to the development and global recognition of mugham. Thanks to the Foundation’s efforts and initiatives, numerous national and international projects have been implemented in this field. As a result, Azerbaijani mugham has been inscribed on UNESCO’s list of the “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.”

President Ilham Aliyev later addressed the event.

Following the address, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva enjoyed a concert program dedicated to the occasion.