Echoes of Azerbaijani opera resonate in the Netherlands Celebrating Uzeyir Hajibeyov’s anniversary / PHOTO

Fragments of Azerbaijan's famed opera “Leyli and Majnun” were performed at the De Vaillant Theater in The Hague (Netherlands) to mark the 140th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov.

The event was organized with the support of Azerbaijan's state committee overseeing work with the Diaspora, together with the “Odlar Yurdu” society. It was attended by members of the diplomatic corps accredited in the Netherlands, as well as representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora from various cities across the Dutch Kingdom, according to Azertac.

In her opening remarks, Firangiz Baghirova, the Chairperson of the “Odlar Yurdu” society, spoke to the audience about the life and creative legacy of the composer, as well as the opera “Leyli and Majnun,” which marked the first opera written in the Islamic world in 1908.

This was followed by the sounding of the national anthems of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, after which the memory of those who gave their lives for the independence of the homeland was honoured with a moment of silence.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Netherlands, Mammad Ahmadzada, also spoke to the audience at the event.

The role of Leyli was performed by the former soloist of the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theater, Vusala Jabir, while the part of Majnun was performed by Nahmetagha Aliyev, an apprentice of Azerbaijan's famed singer, late-Arif Babayev. Their performance was accompanied by Javid Salimov on the tar string instrument and Sabina Mammadova on the piano.

By Nazrin Sadigova