* Azeri, Ecuadorian musicians to release joint album * A joint Salam Hola concert project with Azerbaijani and Ecuadorian musicians will be carried on, as the first concert held at the Republican Palace of Baku last October held the interest of the audience. * The organizer and initiator of the concert, composer Siyavus Karimi has told AssA-Irada the second concert will be arranged after its financial problems are settled, as    organizational expenses for the first concert cons...... полностью

* 90th jubilee of Azerbaijani operetta to be marked * Azerbaijani people are marking the 90th jubilee of the first national operetta, Arshin Mal Alan (retail merchant), by great composer Uzeyir Hacibayov, this year. * The Arshin Mal Alan film based on the operetta of the same name, written by Uzeyir Hajibayov in 1913, was first produced in 1945, with Rasid Behbudov playing the leading part. The film was dubbed in 86 languages and shown in most countries. * The operetta will also be staged in Sa...... полностью

* Website to the founder of the Sefevids State * An Internet site dedicated to Sah Ismayil Xatai, the eminent ruler who founded the Sefevids State and an Azeri poet, is to open at the end of May. * At the initiative of the Sah Ismayil Xatai Foundation, the site, set up in the Azeri and English languages, has compiled extensive information about the life Sah Ismayil, or Ismayil the First, lived, as well as his achievements, the renaissance of the Azeri culture and arts during his reign. * A foun...... полностью

* Opera and Ballet Theatre  film * French TV journalist Maksim Mardukhayev arrived in Baku to make a film about the Azerbaijani State Opera and Ballet Theatre. * The theatre's press office told AssA-Irada that Maksim Mardukhayev had shot similar films about more five well-known theatres. * During his last year's visit, Mardukhayev filmed a 52-minute documentary about the plight of refugee and IDP children in Imisli District. The documentary is to be presented in Baku and Imisli as part of...... полностью

* Azeri diva to play Toska on Bolshoi Theatre stage * Soloists of the Azerbaijani State Theatre of Opera and Ballet will perform, for the first time, at the famous Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow, Russia. Opera diva Qarina Karimova and Honoured Opera Singer Akram Poladov are expected to play the leading parts, Toska and hangman respectively, in the Toska opera performance on the accompaniment of the Bolshoi Theatre's troupe. * The Azeri theatre officials and Russian Culture Minister Mikhail Shvedkoi ...... полностью

* President Aliyev played by Polish actor * Tadeus Hook, a Polish actor, was invited to play the part of Heydar Aliyev, president of Azerbaijan, in a historical-feature film currently being made "Black Mark", according to the producer, Vagif Mustafayev. The film is being made in the street running from Olimp, the former sports shop now a furniture salon, up to Salyan barracks quarter. Entry into the filming site is blocked by lorries. The starring company includes local celebrities as well as a...... полностью

* Azeri-Indian festival * A festival of Azerbaijani-Indian cultural relations will be held on the initiative of the Rashid Behbudov Fund in May in Baku. The fund told AssA-Irada that the event would be organized on the occasion of 50th anniversary of great Azerbaijani singer,  who was known for his friendly relations with India. The musician made his first tour to India in 1952 and upon returning, shared his impressions in the book "In Far India", which is being translated into English. Ac...... полностью

* Forty steps to the top of the art * "40 Paintings of Forty Artists" is the title of the exhibition to officially commence at 6.30 p.m. on the 19 February 2003 in the Absheron Art Gallery. In fact, the exhibition consists of two parts, the opening event being its first part. The next exhibition will include forty graphic works of forty well-known Azeri artists. All the works put on show at the first and the second exhibition will be selected from our Gallery's collection. Our main goal certain...... полностью

Cultural organization of Turkic countries meets * The 19th meeting of TURKSOY, the cultural organization of Turkic nations, concluded its work in Baku on Thursday with a news conference on the results of the two-day event. Azerbaijani Minister for Culture said more Turkic autonomous regions of Russia, including Altai, Yakutiya (Saha), had become TURKSOY members during the conference.  He added that the next gathering would take place in Russia's Hakasiya, whoose Minister of Culture Natalie ...... полностью

Qobustan to be registered in UNESCO World Heritage List * Arrived in Baku at the invitation of Azerbaijani Minister of Culture Polad Bulbuloglu on January 21, UNESCO Deputy Secretary-general on cultural issues Miner Bushenaki has met with Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, chairman of the standing parliamentary commission on culture and head of UN Baku office on Thursday. Besides, he visited the Alley of Martyrs, the Old City, the Sirvansah Palace. Bushenaki has told Polad Bulbuloglu that Qobu...... полностью