GERMAN CONDUCTOR: ARMENIA IS NOT REPRESENTED IN MUNICH FESTIVAL BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW ANY ORCHESTRA OF THIS COUNTRY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 2 2007

Munich Opera Festival art director Cornelia von Kersssenbrrok is
visiting Azerbaijan.

The visit took place at the invitation of Azerbaijan State Academic
Opera and Ballet Theater. She is invited to Azerbaijan to conduct the
"Traviata" opera to be staged at the Opera and Ballet Theater. German
conductor held a press conference for media at the theater building
today.

Head of the Theater press service Shukufa Aghayeva told the conference
that many distinguished representatives of Azerbaijani vocal art will
perform in the spectacle. Young vocalists Samir Jafarov (Alfred),
Avaz Abdullayev (Jorj Jermon), honored artists Gulnaz Ismayilova, Ali
Asgarov, Hasan Enami, Akram Poladov will star in the opera. Shukufa
Aghamirzayeva said Cornelia von Kerssenbrok appears on the stages
of "Grand Opera", "La Skala", "Kovent-garden", "Metropoliten Opera"
,"Vienna Opera. She said she was invited by the director of Academic
Opera and Ballet Theater Akif Malikov. "I am very happy that I am
in Azerbaijan. For many years I have been cooperating with this
theater and it gives me pleasure. Some years ago I conducted Verdi’s
"Rigoletto" in this stage. I did not imagine that I could find such
high quality art centre with professional staff in the Caucasus. On the
recommendation of Akif Malikov I invited Azerbaijan State Symphonic
Orchestra to play at Munich Opera Festival led by me. Symphonic
Orchestra of Opera and Ballet Theater, a group of soloists of the
theater and artists of State Choir under the leadership of national
artist Gulbaji Imanova will participate in the next festival in July,
2007," she said.

The head of the festival said that Munich Opera Festival is one of
the most famous festivals in Europe.

"Representatives of 62 countries are expected to participate in the
festival this year. Musicians from not only European countries, but
also from Latin America will participate at the festival. Azerbaijani
musicians will perform at the final concert of the festival, along
with the musicians of the leading symphonic orchestras of Europe.

Works by famous composers of the world will be performed at the
concert. Night Azerbaijani music is planed to be organized in the
festival. Azerbaijani Symphonic Orchestra will perform works by Uzeyir
Hajibayov, Gara Garayev and Fikret Amirov. Armenia has never been
represented at the festival. I do not know any orchestra in Armenia,"
she said.

Agamirzayeva said that Gulnaz Ismayilova, Ekrem Poladov, Evez
Abdullayev, Ferdi Aliyev, Aliahmad Ibrahimov, Seide Sherifeliyeva,
Anar Shushali and others will act in the performances "Barber of
Seville" and "Masquerade".

The press secretary said that orchestra and soloists of the theater
will for the first time participate in a commercial project.