The evening was supposed to begin under the open sky, but it started with rain. Just as everything was ready for the opening of the third Fidan Hajiyeva International Opera Festival at the Summer Theatre of the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall, a heavy downpour swept across Baku. Nature changed the plans, but it could not dampen the festive mood of the occasion.
Guests moved to the Philharmonic's welcoming foyer, where the festival was officially opened in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. There were several reasons to celebrate that evening. For the first time in Azerbaijan, a classical arts festival of such scale will run for three months, from September 7 to December 7.
Around 30 musical and cultural events will be held during this period not only in Baku and various regions of Azerbaijan, but also at international venues in Paris, London, Milan and Minsk. The festival is dedicated to a double anniversary of its founder, People's Artist of Azerbaijan and renowned opera singer Fidan Hajiyeva: her 50th birthday and 30 years of professional artistic activity in Azerbaijan and on international stages. The evening was filled with congratulations, warm wishes and words of appreciation for the celebrated singer.
Well-known figures from the fields of culture, science and education attended the opening, presenting Hajiyeva with flowers and gifts and wishing her many more years of success on stage. The evening's host, renowned television presenter Saleh Bagirov, introduced the festival's extensive programme, emphasizing its unprecedented scale and international reach. The festival, however, is conceived as much more than a series of concerts.
Its programme combines opera and chamber music evenings, symphonic concerts, master classes, literary and artistic gatherings, and educational projects. Particular attention is being paid to younger audiences. Some events will be held at leading higher education institutions across the country, giving young listeners an opportunity to discover classical music in a more direct and engaging setting.
One of the key projects is "Young Voices Sound into the Future." As Fidan Hajiyeva noted, its main aim is to discover new talent and provide young vocalists with genuine opportunities for professional development. Emerging performers will have the chance to share the stage with established artists, take part in solo concerts and present their work to wider audiences. In this way, the festival creates a space where the rich traditions of Azerbaijan's vocal school meet a new generation of voices.
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