The X Gabala International Music Festival reflects coexistence, harmony of peoples, cultures, religions and music.
A few days ago, I was sitting in the magnificent and beautiful city of Gabala, listening with my Israeli friends to Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 4 for piano and orchestra performed by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Once again, I thought the Republic of Azerbaijan – this remarkable, prestigious and hospitable country of the South Caucasus, and Israel’s strategic partner in Eurasia – has become the center of attraction for excellent musicians, a real platform for friendship, cooperation, partnership, tolerance and true multiculturalism. I am proud that the famous orchestra participated at the X Gabala International Festival. The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this season, was founded as the Palestine Broadcasting Service Orchestra in the late 1930s. In 1948, it became the National Radio Orchestra and was known as the “Kol Israel Orchestra.” In the 1970s, the orchestra was expanded into the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra of the Israel Broadcasting Authority.
