On September 18 and 21 the Musical Olympus Festival participants visited Baku to perform at the Big Concert Hall of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic with the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra. On September 20 they also gave a concert at the International Center of Mugham as part of the IV Uzeyir Hajibeyov International Music Festival. The concerts were attended by approximately 1500 classic music lovers.  

The Musical Olympus cooperation with the Uzeyir Hajibeyov Festival was initiated by a young talented conductor from Azerbaijan and participant of several Musical Olympus festivals Ayyub Guliyev (1st Prize Arturo Toscanini International Conducting Competition, Parma, Italy, 2010 - Giuseppe Sinopoli Award 2010).

“I am deeply excited and overwhelmed, says Ayyub Guliyev. “The Musical Olympus Festival presentation in Baku was a unique and remarkable event in the cultural life of our country. It will not be an overestimation to say that every participant’s performance was a sensation. To tell the truth I have long had this dream. Back in 2010 when I participated in the Musical Olympus Festival presentation at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York I had an idea to bring the Musical Olympus to Baku. I would like to greatly thank Irina Nikitina for the support, love and attention she showed us during the implementation of this project. It is my earnest expectation that the concerts of the world best young musicians will become a tradition with the support of the Musical Olympus Foundation and The Ministry of Culture of the Azerbaijan Republic and we will witness an unforgettable celebration of music, light and joy in Baku every year”.

The concerts featured the Musical Olympus Festival participants of different years: Solenne Paidassi (France), I prize at the 2010 international Long-Thibaud Competition, Paris (France); Signum Quartet (Germany), I prize, International Music Tournament (TIM), Verona, (Italy), 2010; Ashu (USA), I prize, The International Salon de Virtuosi Career 2008, New York (USA); Christoph Croisé (Switzerland), Grand Prize, IBLA Grand Prize International Competition, Ragusa, Sicily (Italy), 2010; Ilya Maximov (Russia), II prize, Maria Canals International Piano Competition, Barcelona (Spain), 2008.

“I was really excited that the audience in Baku gave a sincere and warm welcome to the young musicians. After all, their names were still new to them. Therefore such open-minded and positive attitude to the musicians was very valuable! The audience has a very subtle feeling and can always recognize true artists! – says Irina Nikitina, President of the Musical Olympus Foundation. “I would like to specially thank the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Azerbaijan Republic for this cooperation within the framework of the Hajibeyov International Music Festival. I am glad that Baku has become one of the world cultural capitals that will from now on annually host the Musical Olympus Festival”.

The annual Musical Olympus Festival presents world’s best young musicians. It was founded in 1995 in St Petersburg. At present the Festival is a significant international project, highly estimated by audiences and critics all over the world. The Festival is aimed at supporting young musicians at the beginning of their artistic career, regardless of their nationality and musical specialty, the main selection criteria being expertise and talent. It invites winners of the largest international competitions.