Arts & Culture

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 foundation-placed source told AssA-Irada that the site will also provide information and photos of things belonged to the Sefevids and currently exhibited in reputable museums.
New play
The first night of the play, Shah Ismayil, will be held at the State Youth Theatre on May 27.
A theatre source told AssA-Irada the play staged on a novel of the same name by Kamal Abdulla deals with historical developments in Azerbaijan early in the 16th century and activity of Shah Ismayil Xatai, the founder of the Safavids state.
Qurban Ismayilov, Nasiba Eldarova, Sarvar Aliyev and others are to take the leading parts in the performance staged by Huseynaga Atakisiyev.

Finnish opera based on Azeri poem
Finnish composer Herman Reykhberger has written a symphonic work on Ehtirasli alovlar (Passionate fires) poem by poet Cingiz Alioqlu. In his interview with AssA-Irada the poet has said that the composer is currently writing an opera on Yuxular  saharinda (in the town of dreams), another work by the poet. The opera, embodying rock and classic music, is also recorded on disk in Helsinki. It is not the first time that Finnish composer Cingiz Alioglu refers to the Azeri poet's works. He has previously composed songs on Cingiz Alioglu's poetry and written a ballet on his Qobustan rhythms. The premiere of the ballet will be held at the Helsinki Opera and Ballet Theater in January 2004.

Opera House hosts Israeli  independence day celebrations
The  national independence day of Israel was  marked on May 7. On  this  occasion, Jewish agency Sokhnut and the Israeli culture center in Azerbaijan are to organize a solemn holiday concert at the Opera and Ballet Theater on May 14. A Sokhnut-placed  source  told AssA-Irada that Israeli singer Salea  Bertinin  is  expected to arrive in Baku  for a concert performance. It is also reported that an official banquet is to be arranged at the initiative of the Israeli  embassy.  But the venue and date of the official ceremony are still to be reported.

Photo display of historical monuments on Museum Day
A photo exhibition, Azerbaijani architectural monuments, is to be held at the Sirvansahlar Sarayi [palace of Sirvan rulers] on May 18.
Among the displays are photos of about 30 historical monuments, such as Sirvansahlar Sarayi, the Old City, as well as compounds in Ganca, Gazax, Lacin, Susa and other cities.
A palace-placed source has told AssA-Irada that the exhibition is dedicated to the International Museums Day (18 May).

Georgian artists exhibition
An exhibition, Contemporary Georgian Artists, is to be opened at the Baku Arts Centre on May 17.  A centre-placed source has told AssA-Irada that the event, organised by the Tbilisi-based arts union, Tagiss Gallery, is due to last till May 23.  Among the displays are works by outstanding Georgian artists Medea Vakradze, Olesya Tavadze, Givi Kolelishvili, Tinatin Petviashvili, etc.

Uzbek-Indian film to be shot in Baku
A staging company headed by the renowned Uzbek director, Isamat Erqasov, will arrive in Baku in late May, to shoot some scenes of a film, Love on order, being jointly made by Uzbek and Indian filmmakers.
During his recent trip to Azerbaijan, the Uzbek director told AssA-Irada that the filming will be done at one of the most picturesque places of Baku. As soon as the film is ready, he will present it to Bakuvians.
Isamat Erqasov directed scenes of two other films in Baku.

Local opera singers to join  Mersin festival
Turkey's Mersin city will  host the 10th Festival  of Turkic nations on June 1-9. Turkic Opera artists as well as artists  from  the Azerbaijani State Opera and Ballet Theater are to join  the  TURKSOY-organized  event. Soloists Sabina Asadova and Gulnaz  Ismayilova are to play national songs, excerpts from national operas and some  works by Western European composers.

Muscovites pending first night of well-known Azeri operetta
The first night of Arsin mal alan, an operetta by the renowned Azeri composer Uzeyir Hacibayov will take place in Moscow at the end of May.
Director of the State Opera and Ballet Theatre Hafiz Quliyev, who is in charge of the staging, told AssA-Irada that actors from various Moscow theatres will play parts in the performance.
According to him, Azerbaijani vocalist Samir Cafarov, now studying in Moscow, will play the leading part Asgar, with well-known Russian actress Lada Atlanova to star as Gulcohra.
At the initiative of the Russian Culture Ministry, a number of Moscow-based theatres will stage Arsin mal alan, on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the operetta.
Rasida Behbudova, daughter of the world-class singer Rasid Behbudov, will star as Gulcohra at the performance to be staged at the Telekon Theatre.

Film about renowned Azeri composer
Noted filmmaker and director of the Mugham Theatre, Arif Qaziyev is shooting a documentary about the late renowned Azeri composer Qara Qarayev, on the occasion of his 85th birthday.
The 75-minute film based on a script by Rafiqa Budaqova will include recollections about the luminary by his colleagues, students, as well as nearest and dearest. The sequences shot at the times when he was alive will also be used during the filming. The filming is due to be completed by the end of May.

Camera Theater to stage Norwegian play
On May 30, the Baku Camera Theater will host a play, Ghost, by Norwegian writer Henrich Ikse. The theater has informed AssA-Irada that Honored Artists Nofal Valiyev, Gular Nabiyeva and Leyli Sarifova will star in the play directed by People's Artist Irina Perlova. It is the Norwegian writer's first work staged in Azerbaijan. Young poet Ilqar Fahmi has translated the play into Azeri.

Dress of the year contest
Trade and entertainment center Elite will host a contest called Dress of the year. The Azerbaijan Fashion Association has told AssA-Irada that the event will display collections by young fashion designers in the country. Winners of the contest are reported to be given a right to represent Azerbaijan in international fashion festivals.