EVERLASTING LOVE IN HIP-HOP RHYTHM

Azerbaijan's first musical - a performance in the hip-hop genre about the eternal love of Layla and Majnun - was staged under the slogal of "Legend Returns" at the Heydar Aliyev Palace on 17 December. The premiere dedicated to the 870th anniversary of Nizami Gancavi on the basis of a joint project between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the US embassy in Azerbaijan and the Irali public union caused a great sensation and had a full house. The poem "Layla and Majnun" from great Nizami's famous "Five" was written in 1188. And 103 years ago, another great Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hacibayov staged the first opera in the East - "Layla and Majnun".

This time the story of eternal love was presented in the format of a musical, which is in fashion in our time. We should specify right at the start that the idea caused mixed reactions in the audience. The audience, however, was divided into two camps as usual: those who liked the bold idea of the organizers and those who were against this kind of innovation. There was the same range of opinions among well-known cultural figures and artists, as well as show business and TV stars, who had come to see the new musical. Among the guests was the US ambassador to Azerbaijan, Matthew Bryza, who attracted journalists' attention. "I am delighted that the work of the great Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hacibayov is presented along with American hip-hop culture. I am very pleased that the well-known American choreographer Charles Lawrence from my hometown of Chicago participated in the preparation of this project," the ambassador said. According to Bryza, Chicago and Baku are his two favourite cities, which the project connected with a cultural bridge.

The main roles in the musicals were played by Natavan Habibi (Layla) and Elsad Jose (Majnun). The performance also featured People's Artist Alim Qasimov (Majnun's father), Elnur Mammadov (Ibn Salam), Azad Sabanov (Zayd), Oksana Rasulova (Zaynab) and the meyxana master Agamirza Mammadov (Layla's father). The modern version of "Layla and Majnun" also had new characters - The Sun Man (Natiq Sirinov), the Wind (Alofsar Rahimov) and the Devil (M. Murad). The latter, by the way, is the composer of this musical project. Musical instruments - tar, kamanca, ud and balaban - were used in the arrangement of the musical parts. The choreographer Charles Lawrence was specially invited from Chicago for the choreography of the musical (written and directed by Irada Gozalova). The main characters of the musical danced clearly and coherently. But it seemed that they lacked a real Broadway extravaganza and energy. According to Charles Lawrence, rehearsals took almost two months. "I am amazed at your actors' capacity for work and the hospitality of the Azerbaijani audience," the choreographer said.

The setting of the play combined both pomposity and minimalism. Art Director Rasad Alakbarov was able to place on the stage of the Heydar Aliyev Palace two rooms for modern lovers Zayd and Zaynab, a magnificent tent for Layla and Ibn Salam, and the garden where Layla and Majnun met. The huge screen on the wall made it even more spectacular - the measured pace of the musical made it possible to watch the video: Games of wild animals, a desert scorched by the sun and wind and the last sunrise in Majnun's life. Incidentally, the "fathers" of the main characters of the love story, Alim Qasimov and Agamirza Mammadov, too, called on their children for wisdom through the huge screen. The virtual performance of the older generation was welcomed with thunderous applause.

As for the evaluation of the performance in general, we will refrain from criticism, bearing in mind that the project "Layla and Majnun" is the first experience of staging a musical in our country. And this is important in itself. Clearly, the performance will be developed, comments made by professionals will be taken into account, and there will be less mistakes and errors, while viewers will become even more delighted. The main thing is that the team is full of ideas and focuses on creative quests. Indeed, according to Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Adalat Valiyev, the musical "Layla and Majnun" may go on tour around the country and far beyond. And this is a huge responsibility...