140TH ANNIVERSARY OF UZEYIR HAJIBEYLI CELEBRATED IN THE NETHERLANDS WITH A PERFORMANCE OF THE OPERA “LEYLI AND MAJNUN”
The 140th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli and the National Music Day were celebrated with solemnity in the Netherlands. On this occasion, the pearl of Azerbaijani music — the opera “Leyli and Majnun” — was performed at Theater De Vaillant in The Hague.
The event was organized by the Azerbaijan–Netherlands Odlar Yurdu Society with the support of the State Committee for Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan. During the official part of the event, the national anthem of Azerbaijan was played, and the memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country was honored with a minute of silence.
Opening the event, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Netherlands Mammad Ahmadzada delivered an address highlighting the role of Uzeyir Hajibeyli, founder of the Azerbaijani school of composition, in the history of national culture. He emphasized Hajibeyli’s multifaceted creativity, his ability to unite the musical achievements of East and West, his promotion of Azerbaijani music on the international stage, and his valuable contributions to the ideology of Azerbaijanism. The ambassador also noted that Hajibeyli was born in Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, and stressed the historical and spiritual importance of holding anniversary events in liberated Shusha and Karabakh, describing them as both a tribute to the great composer’s memory and a symbol of national return.
Later, the chair of the Azerbaijan–Netherlands Land of Fire Society, musician Frangiz Baghirova, spoke about the historical significance of “Leyli and Majnun”, its creation, and its first performers. She emphasized that the opera left an indelible mark in music history as the first opera not only in Azerbaijan but also in the entire Eastern world. Baghirova noted that the opera was based on rich folklore traditions, particularly mughams and folk songs, and through the synthesis of folk and Western music, laid the foundation for the mugham-opera genre. She added that over time, “Leyli and Majnun” became a shining example of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage, staged both at home and abroad, and was recognized by UNESCO in 2008 as a jubilee of universal significance.
In the artistic part of the evening, selected excerpts from the opera were performed by Azerbaijani singers and musicians living in the Netherlands and Germany. The role of Leyli was performed by Vusala Jabir, soloist of the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theater, while the role of Majnun was sung by talented artist Nahmetaga Aliyev. Javid Salimov accompanied on the tar, with Sabina Mammadova on piano.
The performances were warmly received and applauded by the audience. In conclusion, Ambassador Ahmadzadeh expressed his gratitude to Baghirova for her efforts in organizing this remarkable musical evening, as well as to the performers and musicians for creating unforgettable moments for lovers of art. Special letters of appreciation were presented to the participating artists.
The event not only introduced Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage to the Dutch public but also contributed to strengthening cultural dialogue and mutual understanding between peoples through music.
