HOBBY OF THE SOUL

Emin Agalarov's long-awaited concert, held at the Green Theatre on 9 July, was a great success. After a series of successful concerts in Moscow, the singer performed a new programme in Baku called "Emin Live Baku 2010". Agalarov Jr presented the audience with songs from his new, fourth, album called "Devotion", which was recorded in London. But first things first...

An audience of all ages had come to listen to the successful young businessman and talented artist. Not only young people, but also adults and representatives of various professions could be seen at the Green Theatre. Among them were Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Qarayev, Tamara Sinyavskaya, wife of the late legendary singer Muslim Magomayev, fashion designer Faxriyya Xalafova, chess player Teymur Racabov, AZAL chief Cahangir Asgarov and others. There were many Azerbaijani stars present, many of whom need to learn from Emin's ability to stay relaxed on stage and sing, as they say, "live", without lip-synching. A few minutes before the concert, the Green Theatre was visited by his spouse Leyla Aliyeva and her sister Arzu Aliyeva.

Emin appeared on stage accompanied by a professional musical ensemble and three lovely female backing vocalists. The first song "Stick Together" provoked rapturous applause. In conjunction with computer effects on a screen, the show created a stunning atmosphere under the open sky. Drops of water on the huge screen turned into hot flames and the flame of a candle into a fathomless starry sky. The new concert programme included the singer's well-known hits "Up To You", "Still" and "Without You" and songs from his new album "Devotion". Emin talked a great deal with the audience, with evident pleasure. He declared that he was proud to be Azerbaijani. He related how in the past his mother Irina Iosifovna, who was present along with his grandmother, asked him "to keep the music down". "Mom, now you're ready to come from distant America to listen to my music?" Emin joked.

Before singing a cover-version of the song "My Way" by the legendary Frank Sinatra, Emin said that he would like to dedicate it to one of the most significant figures in his life. Muslim Magomayev appeared on the screen, performing the song "Blue Eternity". This was perhaps the most touching moment of the evening. The audience was so moved by this "return" to the past for a few minutes that the great artist was given a standing ovation. Emin watched the audience's reaction and smiled happily. After all, Muslim Magomedovich was one of the teachers who helped him polish his performance skills. By the way, it was not by chance that in 2007 the Russian media published sensational news - after ten years of silence, Muslim Magomayev was to return to the stage to sing a duet with commercial director of the Crocus Group and singer Emin Agalarov. This momentous event occurred on 17 September 2007, on the outstanding singer's birthday. Muslim Magomayev introduced Emin to those present as his successor and sang with him that same song by Frank Sinatra - "My Way". During the performance of the legendary song, the People's Artist of the USSR symbolically handed over the microphone to the talented artist Emin Agalarov.

During the Baku concert, lyrical blues songs soon evolved into classical rock and roll ballads. Emin began to sing a cover version for another of his favourite artists - Elvis Presley. Respecters of quality music also heard a cover version of the well-known "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me", which was more measured than the original. By the way, Agalarov Jr. is not afraid of possible comparisons with Elvis Presley, on the contrary, he provokes them. On the CD "Devotion", you can hear the voice of the rock and roll king in the background after "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me", but, Emin does not lose his originality or appeal with this comparison, emerging from the test with credit.

Perhaps that's why the writer's own songs compare well with the standards of the world's stage performed by Emin? Staying within the chosen genre, the artist experiments a lot and willingly. Despite this, he always senses the exact point beyond which experiment would be inappropriate. He sang the best hit of the 20th century "Unchained Melody", known from the film "Ghost", to piano accompaniment, and it was better without the frills. At the end of the song, he grabbed a red rose and walked towards his beloved wife, Leyla. He sang the famous song about love for her. The two hours went by like a breeze and, after the concert, the audience did not want to leave, giving Emin a standing ovation; he returned to the stage to perform two more rock songs. It should be noted that the concert was a charity performance- the money from ticket sales will go to children in orphanages.

By the way, Emin admits that music is not just a hobby for him. "Music is a part of me, and I treat it as seriously and reverently as business, for example. I compose and make notes every day. For me, it is no less responsible than business," says the singer.

He is equally effective, regardless of the concert format - whether with a big band or a chamber quartet. He always moves freely about the stage, but his charisma and the professionalism of his musicians from the first chord, rivet the attention of any audience.

According to Russian music critics, Emin's is the style of new romantic music which will soon become "the music of the aristocracy of the new millennium". It has an exquisite drive and a secular gloss, coupled with perfectly aligned accompaniment. It is a tradition ideally projected for the present.

Emin works in the contemporary rock ballad style, based on a combination of classical rock ballads and computer technology. His music is a journey into the elegant world of English-language electronic rock and roll.

The singer presented his first solo album, "EMIN Still" four years ago in Moscow. Then he released the albums "EMIN Incredible" (2007) and "EMIN Obsession" (2008) and filmed several videos. The first big solo concert took place in May last year in Moscow, with representatives of the cultural and business elite in attendance. His idols are Elvis Presley, Adriano Celentano, Muslim Magomayev, Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra, Sting and Robbie Williams. He studied at a Swiss school and a New York college.