Juan David Latorre
On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of Victory Day, which is celebrated in Azerbaijan every 8 November, the Embassy of the Caucasus country organized last Wednesday a solemn concert entitled “The Voice of Peace” and a subsequent reception.
In his opening speech, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Ramiz Hasanov, stressed that 8 November is a significant date in the memory of the Azerbaijani people: the date on which justice was restored and territorial integrity was guaranteed. Hasanov stated that “Victory, the result of successful foreign and domestic policy established by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, was achieved under the visionary leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, with the solidarity of the people and the heroism and sacrifice of our Army”.
The ambassador stressed that, “in accordance with the principles of international law and UN Security Council resolutions, Azerbaijan restored its sovereignty and territorial integrity, ending the conflict of almost thirty years. This historic victory ushered in a new era of peace and regional cooperation”.
He also noted that “the initialling of the Joint Declaration and the Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Treaty on 8 August represents an important step towards reconciliation and normalization of the regional situation”. The ambassador stressed that Azerbaijan is the main driver of peace and reconciliation, and that the international community highly values Azerbaijan’s appeals for the future, regional cooperation and peace. He also stressed that the victory of 8 November is a valuable legacy for future generations to live in peace and solidarity. “This victory not only symbolizes the national unity and unwavering will of the Azerbaijani people, he said, but also embodies the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation in the region”.
The event was attended by more than 200 guests, including senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, members of the Cortes Generales, officials of state institutions, representatives of the Diplomatic Corps and international organizations, ambassadors, authorities of the Madrid City Council, as well as public and political personalities, representatives of the Azerbaijani community and cultural circles.
The concert featured an outstanding musical program performed by renowned Azerbaijani saz master, Emeritus Artist, Shahriyar Imanov, and pianist, jazz master and composer Etibar Asadli. His performance, which aroused great enthusiasm among the audience, was met with thunderous applause. Attendees enjoyed Azerbaijani music and jazz-mugham improvisations. After the concert, in an atmosphere of friendship and cordiality, a reception was held.
Heritage of the Silk Road, Azerbaijani music is a crossroads between the ancient and the modern. In its essence lives the mugam, a form of spiritual improvisation that transcends the melody to become contemplation, memory and inner healing. Mugham is the classical form of Azerbaijani music, an art of great improvisation transmitted orally from teacher to disciple. It is played with traditional instruments such as tar and kamancha and its strength lies in the freedom of expression rather than in the score. Declared Intangible Heritage by UNESCO in 2008, it is structured in seven main modes, each linked to an emotional state. Composers such as U. Hajibeyov or G. Garayev took it from the traditional to the symphonic and contemporary scene, making it a living bridge between legacy and modern creation.
Azerbaijani jazz emerges from the dialogue between the improvisational freedom of jazz and the modal richness of mugam, creating a deeply expressive style rooted in the country’s cultural identity. Born in Baku in the 1920s-30s, it flourished after independence thanks to its own creative scene. His founding figure is Vagif Mustafazadeh, pioneer in integrating mugam into jazz and inspiration for later generations.
